Garden Management
Gardens can be a major consumer of water in both residential and larger settings. This category recognises the significant impact that water efficient garden design, construction and plant selection can have on water consumption and garden maintenance. Entries are open to landscape design professionals, plant wholesalers and retailers that actively promote and practice water efficient garden habits.
WINNER
Greenmark Landscapes, Olinda
| Based around stormwater reuse and the iconic Australian billabong, Greenmark Landscapes’ environmentally sustainable display garden in Olinda has the capacity to capture and store more than 703KL of rain and stormwater annually* - or more than 5,200 bathtubs**. The water sensitive garden that provides stormwater for the site’s home and office is self-sufficient, with water bills that reflect only a drainage charge. A constructed billabong is central to the design, helping to trap and conserve stormwater, to irrigate (until established), drought tolerate plants, support indigenous water plants (which can survive natural dry periods if the billabong dries out), and to support fire-fighting and wildlife populations. It also acts as a natural lap pool for cooling off. The billabong is fed by rain and excess stormwater flowing from the roof, two water tanks and a fire tank. Stormwater drains also redirect driveway runoff into the billabong, whilst a small creek takes run off water from the heated outdoor shower into the billabong. Extensive mulching, plant zoning, composting and on-site sewage treatment ensure that the garden remains beautiful, water wise and low maintenance. |
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FINALIST
Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne (RBG) continues to review and improve its impressive water conservation program, resulting in a 60 per cent water reduction for irrigation purposes compared to 12 years ago when improvements first began – equating to savings of 144ML or more than 57 Olympic sized swimming pools***.
Overall, more than 900ML have been saved since 1994-95 or more than 360 Olympic sized swimming pools.
Savings have been achieved through improvements including updating to a contemporary, new automatic irrigation control system able to measure and calculate the precise water needs of the landscape; further investment in staff training and awareness programs; increasing mulch used on garden beds by 30 percent; and continuing to convert cool-season grasses to warm-season types, which use around 30 per cent less water.
RBG has also achieved an 18 per cent reduction in domestic water consumption for 2005-2006, compared with the previous financial year.
Importantly, the RBG communicates its water wise practices to the public, staff, students and industry.
** Calculation based on an average bathtub size of 135 litres.
*** Calculation based on FINA-standard Olympic-sized swimming pool at 2.5ML.