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Traffic Islands
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.
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.
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.
Noisy Miner feeding on Grevillea in Traffic Island - Photo Marghanita da Cruz 3 February 2009
Local Provenance Dianellas thriving. 29 April 2009
- March 2010 - A Pink Flower blooms in Island 2.
- 19 January 2010 - in a very variable January - very hot, cool, humid, wet and dry - the dianellas, grevillea Lanigera and Pandorena in island 2 are doing well. The Pandorena may even become as rampant as the star jasmine, which is doing fine in islands 3,4,5,6. What looks like a grass has died in island 7, but this is possibly due to the construction and maintenance work by the Energy Australia and St brendan's. The Juniperina is continuing to thrive (and seed) in Island 8. The sandstone has been damaged in island 1
- 13 November 2009 - Council plants star jasmine in Islands 3,4,5,6
- 2nd October 2009 - There is a lot of litter and weeds in island 1 but the original plants are doing well. The dianellas in island 2 are in bloom and seem to benefit from the overflowing drains. It would appear that plants have been stolen from islands 3 and 4 or there is a problem with the soil, island 3 incorporates a sydney water point and island 4 originally suffered from subsidance. The two forms of grevillea in islands 5, 6, 7 and 8 seem to be doing well - though island 5 seems to be missing some plants.
- 7th July 2009 - In June 2009, Bicycle lanes were painted in Collins St...traffic islands 1, 4, 5 and 8 cut into the bicycle lanes. The recently planted Grevillea looks like it is suffering from possible flooding of the traffic islands, due to blocking of drains after heavy rain. Islands 2, 3, 6, 7
- LMC planted Grevillea gaudi chaudi in traffic islands 2,5,6 and 7 in the last week of May 2009
- Between 29th April and 7th May, Poorinda Royal Mantle were planted in island3 and island 4
- 29 April 2009: The Local Provenance Dianella's, from the RBCNN in Traffic Island 2 continue to thrive as does the original Poorinda in island 1. The prickly grevillea in island 8 is doing well. However, the plants (and weeds) in islands 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are struggling.
- 3 February 2009: A noisy myna was seen and subsequently photographed feeding on the Grevillea which is thriving in Island 1. Islands 1 & 2 have been tended, weeded and leaf litter clogging the drain, after rain, has been added to them. Plants in Island 2 and Island 8 are doing well. However the plants in island 4, 5 and 6 are struggling. The water leak (now fixed) in island 3 may have killed the plants in the island - the council crew have advised they are waiting for cooler weather before replanting the islands.
- 4 October 2008: Added Dianella Laevis tubestock, from RBCNN, to island 2, the Pandorea and original Lanigera are established. The original Poorinda has had most success in island1 but has struggled in the others particularly island8 and island7where a spiky grevillea has been added to discourage the kids from trampling the islands. A Poorinda has established in island3 and in island4 where it wasn't eroding. The Lanigera has been more successful in island5 and island6, as are the weeds.
- 12 March 2008: Added Pandorea pandorana tubestock to island 2
- 27 February 2008: Day after a storm. There is still erosion in island4. The lanigera in Island 1 has all but disappeared, though the Poorinda seems to have got established. Neither species in Island2, Island3 or Island7 are doing very well. Islands5 and 6 have been planted out but may also be benefitting from better drainage. Island 8 has been replanted with prickly native plants to discourage the kids from trampling it. A local provenance Dianella Caerulea from the Rozelle Bay Community Native Nursery was planted in island2 today.
- 14 June 2007: Flooding due to blocked drains.. Eventually this water will make its way into Sydney harbour via the Federal Park Wetlands.
- Approximately 7.15am, 30 April 2007 - Island 4, is still suffering erosion and the plants in Island 8 still seem to be suffering from School Traffic. In Island 5 lavender and other exotics are coexisting. Poorinda and Lanigera are doing well in Island 1, Island 2, Island 3, Island 6 and Island 7 are doing well - limited maintenance. This is in stark contrast to the "drought" tolerent plants in the beds along Booth St, which have suffered in the periodic, heavy Sydney rains. The Red Callistomons, which put on a spectacular bloom elsewhere, when the drought broke, had unfortunately been replaced, with exotics in Booth St.
- On 24 Jan 2007, with light rain falling, and in time for the new school year additional Pooringa and Lanigera were planted in the islands. Island 4, is still suffering erosion. The plants in Island 8 had suffered the greates attrition and it will be interesting to note how long the new plants will survive the children and trees. Some of the original stock seems to now be well established in the other beds Island 1, Island 2,
Island 3, Island 5 - lavendar and some other exotics have also been planted in this bed, Island 6,
Island 7.
- 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
- 4 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.
