13 Best Reasons To Preserve Balwyn Urban Wetlands
Urban wetlands are now recognised as an important part of the landscaping of public spaces. Landscaping urban wetlands and surrounding areas can be a challenge for landscapers, not least of which is controlling the runoff from the landscape work. For example, exposed aggregate concrete etching can create acid runoff which can pollute nearby wetlands, groundwater, and streams.
The landscaping contractor needs to be mindful of that and ensure runoffs are controlled or adequately diluted. One solution for this is to use sandbags to direct the water runoff from exposing concrete to where the next crossover is being constructed. This is not just eco landscaping, it is responsible landscaping.
Balwyn Community Centre Urban Wetlands Redevelopment
For our recent landscaping project at Balwyn Community Centre, the design by landscape architects, ACLA, included a few landscape design changes to the urban wetlands. These were aimed at improving the safety and amenity of the urban wetlands whilst preserving their character and biodiversity. This type of landscape design is essential where there is a wetland close to a public space like Balwyn Community Centre.
Balwyn Urban Wetlands Landscape Construction
One of the major changes to the landscape involved reshaping the wetland with an excavator. The pool was also made shallower and a rock beach using 70mm river pebble was added. This landscaping work required draining the wetland and letting it dry enough to safely use the excavator.
Draining a wetland like this requires a permit from the EPA to avoid any pollution problems in the stormwater system. A childproof fence was constructed around the wetlands for the safety of children using the Balwyn Community Centre playground. Making the pool shallower with a pebble beach also improved the safety of the wetland.
A fallen tree trunk becomes part of the urban wetlands project
Late into the project, a large eucalyptus tree fell onto the fence and destroyed part of it. As with native bushland, fallen tree trunks create habitats for insects and native fauna, so Boroondara City Council and the landscape architect, ACLA, decided to keep the tree trunk inside the wetland. Refilling of the refurbished wetlands was by natural runoff from the landscaped area.
Why do we put this effort into preserving urban wetlands and Coastal wetlands?
Wetlands are some of the most productive ecosystems in the entire world, providing a range of benefits for both people and the environment. Wetlands are defined as an area of land where the soil is covered by water for either all of the year or only certain times of the year.
They may be man-made or naturally formed, and the water itself may be static or free flowing, fresh, brackish, or saline. Examples of wetlands include lakes, lagoons, billabongs, swaps, marshes, mudflats, mangroves, peatlands, and even coral reefs.
The conservation and restoration of these ecosystems is essential for protecting biodiversity, water quality, flora and fauna, and areas deemed to be of cultural significance. Below, we explore these reasons in further detail.
- Important Sites for Biodiversity
Wetlands are the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems. Often referred to as "biological super systems," they produce large volumes of food that support a remarkable level of biodiversity. In relation to the number and variety of species supported, wetlands are as rich as rainforests and coral reefs. In fact, the International Union for Conservation of Nature estimated that 126,000 described species rely on freshwater habitats alone, and 45% of all fish live in freshwater wetlands.
- Protect and improve water quality
Maintaining and improving water quality is one of the most important benefits that wetlands can provide. Wetlands have the capacity to act as filtering systems, removing sediment, nutrients, and pollutants from water. They do this by slowing down water flows from upstream, reducing erosion and preventing sediment from being transported downstream.
Soils and the vegetation in urban wetlands can capture, process, and store both nutrients and contaminants. In addition to this, they can reduce harmful bacteria and pathogens in the water prior to it being returned to groundwater.
- Providing Habitats for Aquatic Animals
For many aquatic animals, inland wetlands are the only habitat in which they can survive. The wetlands provide all the food, water and shelter that aquatic animals require. Wetlands provide a safe habitat for feeding, spawning and nursery sites for native fish such as Freshwater Catfish, Blue-spot Gobi, and Long-finned Eel. Overall, healthy wetlands sustain healthy wildlife and fish populations as they contribute to large amounts of nutrients, ultimately resulting in better high-functioning ecosystems.
- Store Stormwater And Floodwaters
With the rise of urban development across major cities, the management of storm water is a cause of great concern. Excessive stormwater and floodwaters caused by the increase in non-porous or impervious grounds can cause significant economic burden and damage to infrastructure.
However, urban wetlands are nature’s detention basins, providing a space for floodwaters to be temporarily stored, retained long-term, or even returned to the water table. Urban wetlands that are in positions downstream in residential areas are valuable at controlling localised floods. The preservation and restoration of wetlands are a natural alternative to expensive dredge operations and levees.
- Maintain Surface Water Flow During Dry Periods
The water supply in wetlands is constantly changing; it can be filled by rainfall or drained by groundwater. In Australia, water flows are highly variable both within and between years. Wetlands have the ability to reduce water flow velocity with densely populated water vegetation.
Wetlands have a rich biodiversity of plants that have evolved to suit these varying conditions. This ensures that, during the drier months, the wetlands can maintain surface water flow to sustain the habitat for both the vegetation and animals.
- Protect Our Shores From Wave Action
Coastal wetlands, such as estuaries and marshes, are an integral part of shore protection schemes as they can provide suitable protection from wave action along with creating species diversification.
Coastal wetlands provide a buffer zone that is biologically diverse, which ensures that the exposed shoreline vegetation is maintained. Erosion is also prevented by absorbing wave energy.
- Provide Habitat For Plants
Wetlands contain a wide diversity of life, supporting animals and plants that are often found nowhere else. In fact, in Australia, thousands of plant species grow in wetlands, ranging from mosses and grasses to shrubs and trees.
Wetland plant communities are often protected as they contain flora that is endangered under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. Some common plants found in wetlands include lignum, the common reed, and river red gums.
- Provide Habitat For Animals
The biodiversity of animals in wetlands is also well documented. Huge numbers of birds, frogs, mammals, and reptiles spend all or part of their life cycles in wetlands, which provide habitat and food sources for them to survive.
Common wetland birds include the Australasian Grebe, Pacific Black Duck, and Great Egret. In relation to frogs, the most common species found in wetlands are the Striped Marsh Frog, Brown-striped Grass Frog, Spotted Grass Frog, Green Tree Frog, and Red-eyed Green Tree Frog.
Of the mammal species, the Swamp Rat, Platypus, Fishing Bat, Common Planigale, Common Blossom-Bat, Eastern Chestnut Mouse, and the Pale Field Rat all live within wetlands. Many different species of reptiles also thrive in wetland environments, including turtles, water skinks, and snakes.
- Are Culturally Significant
It is important to acknowledge that wetlands are also culturally significant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Wetlands have Aboriginal cultural and historical significance and are important for science and education.
- Ability To Absorb Pollutants
Due to the nature of drainage within urban areas, stormwater is often directed to wetlands. This water is often polluted with sediment, microorganisms, phosphorous, and nitrogen. A healthy, biodiverse wetland has the ability to ‘absorb’ these pollutants. Wetlands can filter these pollutants, reducing the load through processes in aerobic and anaerobic ecological conditions.
- Wildlife Corridors
A wildlife corridor is any area of native vegetation that is located between two or more larger areas. It is a ’stepping stone’ for migrating animals to use in-between native landscapes.
Wetland wildlife corridors provide this function for many waterbirds, allowing them to safely migrate while providing shelter and food. In addition to providing a refuge for migrating animals, wetland wildlife corridors also enable interbreeding and colonisation of plants native to the local area.
Significant wildlife corridors close to Balwyn Community Centre include the anniversary bicycle path through Deepdene and East Kew as well as the chain of parks along the Yarra river. These parks include Burke Road Billabong Reserve and Hays Paddock in East Kew as well as Bellbird Park in Kew.
- Recreational Use
Many coastal and inland wetlands are popular for tourism and recreational activities such as swimming, hiking, boating, fishing, camping, and birdwatching. They are places of beauty that can be a great source of relaxation and recreation.
- Recharging Groundwater
Wetlands recharge groundwater when they become so clogged with water that the soil can no longer retain it and the water leaks down into the aquifer. This is important as the process of leaching not only recharges the groundwater, but in doing so it also absorbs the bacterial loading of the excess water, ensuring that the groundwater is replenished with less contaminated water.
Landscaping with Urban Wetlands
A trend we are seeing is that landscape architects, local governments, and developers are preserving and even adding wetlands to landscape redevelopments. Private developers are now creating wetlands and pools to provide a tranquil place for employees and visitors.
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References and further reading
REFERENCE LIST
Acreman, M. and Holden, J. (2013). How Wetlands Affect Floods. Wetlands, [online] 33(5), pp.773–786. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13157-013-0473-2 [Accessed 1 Sep. 2020].
(2018a). Plants in wetlands. [online] NSW Environment, Energy and Science. Available at: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/water/wetlands/plants-and-animals-in-wetlands/plants [Accessed 1 Sep. 2020].
(2018c). Why wetlands are important. [online] NSW Environment, Energy and Science. Available at: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/water/wetlands/why-wetlands-are-important [Accessed 1 Sep. 2020].
(2019). Plants and animals in wetlands. [online] NSW Environment, Energy and Science. Available at: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/water/wetlands/plants-and-animals-in-wetlands [Accessed 1 Sep. 2020].
(2020). Mammals in wetlands. [online] NSW Environment, Energy and Science. Available at: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/water/wetlands/plants-and-animals-in-wetlands/mammals [Accessed 1 Sep. 2020].
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. (2016a). Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. [online] Available at: https://www.environment.gov.au/water/wetlands/publications/factsheet-wetlands-water-quality#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20most%20important,nutrients%20and%20pollutants%20from%20water. [Accessed 1 Sep. 2020].
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. (2016b). Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. [online] Available at: https://www.environment.gov.au/water/wetlands/publications/factsheet-wetlands-water-changes [Accessed 1 Sep. 2020].
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. (2020). Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. [online] Available at: https://www.environment.gov.au/water/wetlands/about [Accessed 1 Sep. 2020].
Healthy wetlands, healthy fi sh populations What are wetlands? (n.d.). [online] Available at: https://www.mdba.gov.au/sites/default/files/archived/mdbc-NFS-reports/2200_factsheet_Fish_and_wetlands.pdf [Accessed 1 Sep. 2020].
Melbournewater.com.au. (2017). Animals of the wetland | Melbourne Water. [online] Available at: https://www.melbournewater.com.au/media/1401 [Accessed 1 Sep. 2020].
Sciencedirect.com. (2015). Groundwater Recharge - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. [online] Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/groundwater-recharge [Accessed 1 Sep. 2020].
Shore Erosion Control Guidelines Marsh Creation Maryland Department of the Environment Wetlands and Waterways Program. (2006). [online] Available at: http://ccrm.vims.edu/livingshorelines/documents/Promotional/shore_erosion_bosch.pdf [Accessed 1 Sep. 2020].
Urban Bushland Council WA. (2018). Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary. [online] Available at: https://www.bushlandperth.org.au/treasures/eric-singleton-bird-sanctuary/ [Accessed 1 Sep. 2020].
US EPA,ORD (2017). Wetlands | US EPA. [online] US EPA. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/report-environment/wetlands [Accessed 1 Sep. 2020].
US EPA,OW (2015). Why are Wetlands Important? | US EPA. [online] US EPA. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/why-are-wetlands-important [Accessed 1 Sep. 2020].
Vermont.gov. (2020). Wetland Functions and Values: Surface and Ground Water Protection | Department of Environmental Conservation. [online] Available at: https://dec.vermont.gov/watershed/wetlands/functions/water-quality [Accessed 1 Sep. 2020].
World Wetlands Day - celebrating wetland biodiversity (2010). World Wetlands Day - celebrating wetland biodiversity. [online] IUCN. Available at: https://www.iucn.org/content/world-wetlands-day-celebrating-wetland-biodiversity [Accessed 1 Sep. 2020].
Water Sensitive Urban Design. City of Boroondara
Tennis Court Construction BCC
Tennis court construction requires attention to detail and a very solid foundation. First of all, the area must be excavated to a good depth. Any organic material under the tennis court will eventually rot away, leaving a void under the tennis court. This could lead to an eventual low point and spoil the playing surface. After clearing the organic matter, the sub-grade below the tennis court is flattened. Ideally, the court should be designed with a north–south orientation, but this is not always possible in residential home tennis courts.
The geotextile layer for your tennis court
A geotextile layer is laid over the sub-grade to block any root growth from nearby trees and ensure the subgrade does not affect drainage of the road base by oozing up and filling the voids.
Tennis Court Solid Road Base Foundation
The road base material was spread evenly over the area, followed by even more flattening. It is essential that a robust foundation be created to maintain the stability of the playing surface. The thick layer of road base should be at least 150 mm after it has been flattened and compressed to ensure a stable foundation for the tennis court.
Tennis Court Asphalting
Ideally, two different layers of asphalt should be used in the tennis court base with two different specifications. The lower layer of asphalt is a thicker, coarser asphalt, with the upper layer much finer. The fine upper layer needs to be as flat as possible. The court is constructed to shed water in two planes and it is essential that puddles do not form on the surface.
Tennis Court Cushioning Layer
The optional cushioning layer is an ideal choice for residential and club tennis courts. The cushioning layer reduces impact on a tennis player’s feet, ankles, and knees. By providing a small amount of flexibility, it also makes the upper playing surface more durable. The playing surface is much less likely to crack and peel if it is bonded to a surface with a little bit of "give". The Australian open surface uses Plexicushion.
The Playing Surface
Modern material technology has given the customer a wide range of choices for the playing surface itself. Many people will remember when the Australian Open was played at Kooyong on grass surfaces. Grass courts are still common for tennis tournaments in Great Britain, most notably Wimbledon. In the countries in continental Europe, clay courts often use a clay system known as "en tout cas", meaning "in any case". Although this is a French phrase, the company, En tout cas, is British. They came up with a clever solution to the problems caused by water on clay tennis surfaces. The solution is to use crushed brick, which greatly improves drainage. Most clay courts today use crushed brick as the main constituent of the surface.
The Balwyn Community Centre Tennis Court
Tennis courts in public spaces like the Balwyn Community Centre need to be low maintenance and durable. The landscape architects, ACLA, wisely chose Euroclay for the playing surface. This is a surface that provides all of the features of a clay tennis surface with very low maintenance. It even looks and plays like en tout cas, but does not require rolling or watering. Even better, tennis can still be played in wet conditions. Ideal for the diehard tennis enthusiast homeowner.
https://youtu.be/X1ssfmwrpjE
Tennis Court Repair
The landscaping project at Balwyn Community Centre also involved making repairs to an adjoining court. A large tree near the tennis court had caused damage due to the tree root growing into the court. It was necessary to dig a trench between the tree and the court to install a root barrier to prevent further damage. All of the roots under the court had to be removed as organic material rotting away under a court can lead to further damage in the future.
What is Euroclay?
Euroclay is a UV stabilised polyethylene carpet with a sand infill. Polyethylene is a very tough material that is also very stain resistant. It is also relatively inexpensive, so using this type of construction will save money in both construction and maintenance.
Other types of construction
There are, of course, other types of court construction techniques. The lower layers can be concrete or can be permeable materials with drainage systems. The goal in all of these is to provide a playing surface that is durable, even, well drained, and provides a fair game for all players.
Landscape Design of Tennis Courts
The courts need to be designed and constructed with a slight fall to shed water. It is essential that the water drains to the outside of the court and into the surrounding area. It is important that any gardens near the courts are designed and constructed so that material from the gardens cannot wash onto the court playing surface.
Consideration should also be given to player safety with any garden edging or branches near the court. Tennis players often need to go into the nearby gardens to retrieve tennis balls, so this should also be considered. Some fast growing climbing plants would be a good option for some privacy around a residential tennis court.
Contact Red's Landscaping for an integrated Tennis Court and Landscaping package.
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More information
Balwyn Landscaping - Commercial Project
Balwyn is an inner eastern suburb of Melbourne and lies in the northern part of the city of Boroondara. It was in this area that grazier John Gardiner settled near the point where Gardiners creek meets the Yarra River. The commercial editor of the Argus, Andrew Murray built house named Balwyn which gives the area its name.
How far is Balwyn from the Melbourne CBD?
Balwyn is only 10 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD and in an easterly direction. It was once serviced by the outer loop railway station at Deepdene.
Balwyn Community Centre
The Balwyn Community Centre, at 412 Whitehorse Road, Surrey Hills, was upgraded to ensure it would continue to support the needs of the local Balwyn Community. As well as the upgrades to the buildings, there was landscaping work for the parkland, natural wetlands, exposed aggregate concrete pathways and tennis courts. For this project, we were able to showcase all of our commercial landscaping services.
https://youtu.be/eqRPIeGS24U
Landscaping Balwyn Community Centre: The Scope of Works
The hard landscaping for the Community Centre
The scope of work for this project included the following hard landscaping construction;
- Plain, coloured and exposed aggregate concrete,
- In-situ or poured in place concrete garden retaining walls,
- Exposed aggregate concrete driveway crossovers,
- Concrete upstands, edges, ramps, stairs and landings.
The soft landscaping for Balwyn Community Centre
The scope of work for this project included the following soft landscaping installations:
- The planting of advanced indigenous trees
- The application of appropriate fertilizers
- Lawn areas
- The planting of native grasses and ornamental plants
- Aggregate and Gravel
- Imported top soil to Australian Standards
- A sophisticated Irrigation System
- Areas of mass planting
- Mulched garden beds
- Planting of Australian Native Shrubs
- Garden edging.
Existing trees at the Balwyn Community Centre
The existing trees on the site included the following:
- Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)
- River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis)
- Narrow leaved black Peppermint (Eucalyptus nicholii)
- Lemon scented gum (Corymbia citriodora)
- Prickly leaved Paperbark (Melaleuca styphelioides)
- Forest Oak (Allocasuarina torulosa)
- Drooping She-oak (Allocasuarina verticilata)
- Smooth Barked Apple (Angophora Costata)
Almost all of these existing trees were kept in the new landscape design.
Native Urban Wetlands
Later in the project, rehabilitation of native wetlands was added, including a child proof fence.
Tennis Court Repairs and Reconstruction
Part of the landscaping included repairs to a tennis court and the construction of another tennis court. A good sports surface must be stable, therefore the new tennis court was constructed with asphalt over 300 mm of roadbase.
Synthetic clay Tennis Court surface
A low maintenance synthetic clay tennis court surface was required to laid over the asphalt. Therefore, the surface chosen was Grassports Policlay. In addition to being low maintenance, Grassports Policlay is a fast draining low maintenance water free tennis surface resulting in the ideal surface for public tennis courts.
A high quality sporting surface was required, therefore the asphalt layers were flattened rigorously in preparation. The very thick roadbase foundation will also help to maintain the stability of the playing surface. Root barriers we also installed to prevent invasive tree roots causing any unevenness to the playing surface.
Soft play surfaces
The soft play coloured surfaces in the landscape was required, so an EPDM wetpour rubber was chosen. In addition to its great colour range, EPDM is a synthetic rubber widely used in the automotive industry. Similarly, its mechanical properties make it ideal for this application. For instance, it has great UV stability, abrasion resistance, ozone resistance and it is water proof. So, the material used was Playkote which was installed as a rubber wet pour over SBR underlay. In addition to the added height, the SBR underlay makes the play surface a little softer. The colourful kids scooter track in Teal, Lime Green and Light Blue Laykold was constructed by Grand Slam Surfaces.
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Balwyn Outdoor Gym Equipment
Environmentally Friendly Garden Furniture
Garden furniture including picnic tables, benches and seats were installed to add to the public amenity. In addition to the the amenity and aesthetic provided, recycled materials were also used. To this end, the material used was Enviroslat. Enviroslat is an environmentally friendly low maintenance material produced from HDPE waste mixed with recycled cellulose. The recycled cellulose hardwood waste and rice husks.
Table Tennis Table
The finished Balwyn Commercial landscaping Project
https://youtu.be/X1ssfmwrpjE
About the Balwyn Community Centre Commercial Landscaping Project
Landscape Architects: ACLA Consultants landscape architects.
Building Construction: CICG
Customer: City of Boroondara
Hume Global Learning Centre – Sunbury
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