What was once a desolate piece of land has today become a thriving habitat for wildlife
Located in Sydney’s south, Cronulla Business Park exemplifies eco-friendly and sustainable practices. The project was completed in 2008 for Australand, which enlisted the services of ESD Landscape Contractors to help develop an old sand quarry into commercial and residential properties.
With the help of ESD Landscape Contractors, what was once a vacant and desolate piece of land has today become a thriving habitat for wildlife.
As part of the project, ESD constructed three frog ponds as a permanent replacement habitat for the endangered green and golden bell frogs. The ponds provided the frogs with a food source and created a natural and sustainable environment for insects, frogs, reptiles and birdlife.
Other work undertaken by ESD included erosion control, wetland plantings of perched water lakes, bird habitat, rehabilitation of heathland, hydromulching, soil amelioration, bush regeneration, and bitou bush removal.
“A big component of the site was the wetlands, which were designed to filter drainage water and return stormwater through constructed wetlands to groundwater in an unpolluted state,” says Robert Griffith, General Manager of ESD Landscape Contractors.
ESD’s extensive experience in environmentally sensitive work enabled the company to meet complex compliance issues and practically implement methods to restore ecological communities for the re-establishment of flora and fauna.
Cronulla Business Park, however, didn’t come without its challenges. The 26 hectares of sand and sodic soils, the 35-degree slopes and almost constant prevailing winds off the ocean caused the sand to shift and impeded plant establishment. Special equipment was required for working in the deep sand, as well as for the importation and installation of 20,000m³ of planting media.
Provenance plants were sourced and propagated and the project involved planting and establishing 400,000 plants within short construction windows and with limited water. Stringent environmental standards were monitored by the EPA and local authorities.
“The site primarily consisted of constantly moving sand dunes,” says Robert. “We were able to stabilise the dunes, however, to stop this occurring.”
Aside from amphibians, birds also feature prominently on the site. Since its completion, large numbers of birds, from a variety of genus, have been observed. This illustrates the high-value habitat that was created by ESD on this project.
ESD’s involvement in this major project enabled Australand to turn derelict land into a marketable subdivision. The project also illustrates an impressive edge in constructing eco-friendly environments.
Contact
ESD Landscape Contractors Pty Ltd
Ph: 02 9986 1741
Web: www.esdland.com.au
Project Particulars
Client: Australand
Landscape Architect: James Mather Delaney Design
Landscape Contractor: ESD Landscape Contractors Pty Ltd.
