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Transport

Vegetation on Streets, Traffic Islands and Curb Blisters.

tree enclosed in blisterTree in desperate need of water

Reported to LMC 3 Oct 2014: "The tree and plants in the curb blister, in Collins street in front of St Brendan's School, at the corner of Collins Street and Trafalgar Streets Annandale is in desperate need of WSUD, to capture runoff. See attached photograph. Water Management work at this intersection has been allocated in the budget."

Island 1 on 2nd Oct 2014 and Islands 2,3,4,5,6 on 11 Sep 2014

Moss Photosynthesising in Porous Driveway

moss growing between bricksThis moss was photographed growing in a driveway on the Northern side of Johnston Street Annandale on 11 June 2014. A porous surface allows water to soak in an replenish the ground water levels, and plants to spring up and convert CO2 to O2.

tree trunk surrounded by bitumen and carsPhotographs & Video of World Environment Day - 5 June 2014

At the intersection of Collins and Trafalgar Street: Kerb Blister 1; Kerb Blister 2; Kerb Blister 4;
Waterfall, bypasses Kerb Blister 4; Kerb Blister 5; Kerb Blister 7; Kerb Blister 8. Key to Kerb Blisters at cnr of Collins and Trafalgar Streets is below.

Puddle at impervious Crossing, as water flows past Kerb Blister 8;
Tree fights for Water, Northern side of Collins Street east of Johnston's Lane;
Tree deprived of Water, Northern side of Collins Street, west of Trafalgar Street;
and Tree tantalised with water, Johnston Street after $800,000 RMS Work (20 May - 3 June 2014)!

Annandale, World Environment Day 2014 by Marghanita da Cruz: view short video

Taylor Street

In 2012, swales were constructed and planted in Taylor Street south - the plants are thriving. In late 2013, Modified Curb Blisters, which trap runoff, were installed at the intersection of Piper and Annandale Streets, and planted with sedges and dianellas...Kerb Blister with water channelmore.

branch with yellow flowersIn 2005/6 a number of traffic islands were installed in Annandale. The purpose of these islands was two fold. To prevent illegal parking on street corners, thus improving the safety of Pedestrians, and to "green" the area. Paved, curved traffic slowing islands in the middle of the road were also introduced in Trafalgar St, at the Piper St intersection.

Verge vegetation in Booth St

During 2005, the red callistomon (bottle brush) trees were replaced in Booth St, with an introduced species and the beds were also replanted with "drought tolerant" plants including Murraya and Star Jasmine. No recognition is given to the reality that Australian Natives, particularly those that are specific to the Sydney Basin would also have adapted to the local weather patterns - which at other times includes high humidity and prolonged heavy rain at times.

gutter overflowing into traffic blisterIn general Star Jasmine was used in the traffic islands, but two species of Grevillea have been planted in the islands at the intersection of Trafalgar and Collins St. This affords an opportunity to monitor the appearance and viability of alternate australian plants as street vegetation. This Street Tree in Collins St planted in 2006 and photographed in July 2006 replaced a previous tree who grew into two trunks one of which was leaning on its protective framework.

It should be noted that kangaroo paw were planted at the round about at the intersection of Nelson and Booth St - however, kangaroo paw originate from Western Australia - which has a very different climate and soil to the Sydney Basin. The soils are more sandy, basic - due to the prevalance of limestone. The climate is much less humid.

Key for Islands in IntersectionMonitoring of Vegetation in Traffic Islands at Trafalgar/Collins St Intersection

The islands in the intersection of Trafalgar and Collins St, were built in late March 2006, following an onsite meeting with Residents in early February 2006.

Three types of RTA approved Grevillea were planted originally.

red spidery flower with green spiky leaves and a green and a black seed pod Subsequently the LMC added a spikey grevillea (possibly Grevillea juniperina Red) to islands 7 & 8. Dianella Laevis and Pandorea Pandorana tubestock from the RBCNN have been added to Island 2. Wahlenbergia Gracilis (Australian Bluebell) must also have been present in the Dianella Tubestock. A perenial Hibiscus geranioides has also popped up.

One of the issues about the islands, is they cannot be seen by drivers, when parking their vehicles. The use of vegetation with some height or wider beds, could alleviate this problem in other similar situations.

  • Tuft of Dianella and Wahlenbergia Gracilis (Australian Bluebell) which has gone to seed in island 2 (3 February 2009).

    approx 7.15am 21 December 2006, after rain the day and night before. There are flowers on the Poorinda. Leaves were regularly raked from drain and added to Island 1 and Island 2. Though the rain water drain adjoining island 1 often overflows when it rains, usefully increasing the water reaching the plants in the adjoining island.Island 4 had again suffered erosion at the western end. plants in Island 3, Island 5, Island 6 were doing well, most of the plants in Island 7 and Island 8 which adjoin the school seemed to have perished. This is likely due to pedestrian traffic through the islands and the tree in island 8.
  • 26 October 2006-There has been some attrition of the plants. Island 8 in front of the school has suffered the worst from Children playing on it and possibly the inclusion of the tree. The soil needs topping up, in island 4, in particular. The author, has personally swept up leaves from the street and topped up islands 1 & 2 as well as using them to mulch her own garden. However, when this idea was suggested to the council workers, sweeping up leaves and lawn clippings, the author was advised they were not permitted to do this with the lawn clippings and other green matter they sweep up from the street and verges. See state of islands 3,5,6,7
  • creeper blooming profusely4 July 2006: island 1, island 2
  • 20 April 2006: island 1 island 8
  • 7.15am on 7th April 2006. Note, the Lanigera was planted in islands 1 & 8 on 6th April 2006 and the Poorinda was planted sometime later: Traffic Island 6, Traffic Island 7, Traffic Island 5, Traffic Island 8, Traffic Island 4, Traffic Island 1, Traffic Island 3, Traffic Island 2.
  • See Monitoring the plants in the traffic islands from January 2007