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Vegetation on Streets, Traffic Islands and Curb Blisters.

In 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.

In 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.

Monitoring 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.

• Lanigera (Mt Tamboritha Form) and
• Poorinda (Royal Mantle)
• Grevillea Gaudi Chaudii

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.

See Monitoring the plants in the traffic islands from January 2007

This page www.ramin.com.au/annandale/trafficislands.shtml last updated: 4 May .