Australasian Parks & Leisure #18.3

& leisureparksA U S T R A L A S I A N

Volume 18.3 Spring 2015

ISSN: 1446-5604

Bringing the Great Outdoors into the City

Managing Public Open Space

PLA National Conference

SPRING 2015Parks, Environment, Biodiversity and Conservation

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ANZ Tennis Hot Shots (ANZTHS) is Tennis Australia’s official developmental program specially designed for primary aged kids. ANZTHS uses low-compression tennis balls, smaller courts and racquets, and is designed to get more kids playing tennis more often.

In the past 12 months over 750,000 children have experienced ANZTHS which provides a fun and friendly environment where families and kids can get involved in tennis, within their local community.

To find out more about ANZ Tennis Hot Shots or how you can arrange for courts to be developed in your local area visit hotshots.tennis.com.au

ANZTHS courts can be developed anywhere, including our parks, sporting facilities and schools!

ANZ Tennis Hot Shots

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Spring 2015 | AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE 3

Features

8 Urban Forest Strategy

10 2015 Regional Award Winners

12 Exciting New Vision

16 Managing Public Open Space

18 Re-defi ning the Last

Resting Place

22 Natural or Unnerving

25 The Climate Institute

26 Managing Healthy Parks for

Healthy People

28 The Challenge of

Providing Challenge

30 Melton Botanic Gardens

34 What’s really Changing Parks

Management?

38 Bringing the Great Outdoors

into the City

42 One Step Closer

44 Countdown to NZRA National

Conference

48 Water: How Much, When

and Where

50 Sports Ground Management

54 Coast Under Renewal

58 Building Value Online

59 PLA National Conference

60 New Benchmark in Urban

Regeneration

62 Getting to Know Tim Sargent

64 Vale – Elery Hamilton-Smith AM

CONTENTS

38

30

34

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the publishers. The publishers believe all the information supplied in this book to be correct at the time of printing. They are not, however, in a position to make a

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endeavour has been made to ensure complete accuracy, the publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

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* Recommended retail priceISSN 1446-5604

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Please pass on or recycle this magazine.

PRODUCTION EDITORNatalie Raad

[email protected] COORDINATOR

Garry HenshallMobile: 0418 509 708

[email protected]

Shant SafarianASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

(& NSW SALES)Emil Montibeler: 0411 424 335

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ADVERTISING SENIOR DESIGNERMartha Rubazewicz

ADVERTISING PRODUCTION COORDINATORTaposhi Sarwat

CHAIRMAN/CEO Prema PereraPUBLISHER

Janice WilliamsCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

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EDITORIAL PRODUCTION MANAGER

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COVER IMAGEKings Park

Image supplied by: Kings Park, WA

Regulars

4 From the PLA President & CEO

6 From the NZRA Chair & CEO

14 Generate Update

68 Research Connections

74 PLA Advisory Update

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4 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Spring 2015

holistic way as we manage them.This edition is dedicated to Parks,

Environment, Biodiversity and Conservation and will highlight some of the best practice and thinking occurring in this area.

Parks are complex spaces and their management requires sound knowledge of the users of the space, but also how they impact the space and how these impacts are responded to, so as to ensure that these spaces are managed eff ectively and improved to meet the changing needs of our communities, particularly as building densities increase and the only real contact with nature is the local park.

Landscape treatment in these spaces need to respond to the local conditions but also create interest for users as well as protect and foster habitat for local wildlife. Our industry doesn’t just maintain these spaces but also supports many volunteer groups who improve the biodiversity of these areas through planting programs and fauna monitoring.

Our members have great skills and knowledge and are adaptable as they continue to support the good management of these spaces for the enjoyment of others (not just parks but many other facilities and

programs) and having started my career in horticulture too long ago to remember and transitioning into other areas, it continues to amaze me the level of change and adaptability that has occurred in these years and how the industry has advanced to become a highly respected profession that supports the wellbeing of all Australians.

The upcoming National Conference in October and our Awards of Excellence will showcase some great examples of leading professionals, facilities and programs, so I hope you can make it to the conference and see this great work through the speakers at the conference, the tradeshow participants and the awards.

I have had the chance to attend a couple of the regional awards and there is some tremendous work going on in our industry that we all need to be very proud of.

The conference this year is shaping up to be a fantastic event with some great speakers and social events and I look forward to seeing you there and returning to my old home town as I know Sydney always puts on a good show.

Kevin LowePLA National President

KEVIN LOWE PLA National President

FROM THE PLA PRESIDENT

I hear the same words a lot these days - “we are busy” – and although this is a good thing for our industry, it’s important that we take the time to

refl ect on our own wellbeing and look at balancing our time to look after ourselves so that we continue doing the good work that we do.

This spring edition is a reminder to get out and appreciate the various natural and built spaces we provide for our communities.

Parks off er so much in the way of regenerating our wellbeing. These spaces are many things to many people. Along with being important parts of our urban fabric, they are also places of habitat for wildlife and living ecosystems that replenish the air and fi lter our waterways and need to be considered in a

As we all know, billions of dollars are spent annually on public parks that have many benefi ts including places for physical activity, meeting points for families, protecting and promoting conservation and the environment and adding economic value to homes and businesses by increasing property values in communities and cities.

It’s our job as park managers and professionals to continuously go into bat for these unspoken jewels and to promote not only their benefi ts, but also the need for recognition by all levels of government of the great number of professions involved in park management. The skills and expertise required to manage parks (that communities are accustomed to) comes from many of our members including the open space planner strategically assessing the type of park, the landscape architect designing them, the grounds person maintaining them, the arborist taking care of the trees, the sports turf specialist managing and optimising use, through to

the maintenance crews regularly inspecting parks for their safety and standard compliance - all makes for an incredible workforce of professionals and a signifi cant employment ratio for something which is often taken for granted.

Its dedicated professionals that PLA recognises as ‘the people behind the places’ that are promoting the positive aspects of parks to our communities. In the words of a great Victorian social thinker approximately 165 years ago when commenting on the great cities of the world:

“The measure of any great civilisation is in its cities, and a measure of a city’s greatness is to be found in the quality of its public spaces, its parks and its squares.” John Ruskin c1850

Keep up the great work and PLA looks forward to continuing servicing you, our members and the broader sector and advocating on your behalf.

Mark BandPLA Chief Executive Offi cer

MARK BAND PLA Chief Executive Offi cer

FROM THE PLA CEO

As an organisation that has a key focus on ‘parks’, PLA and our members understand the importance of these valuable

assets. In many instances parks are taken for granted by communities and to an extent some levels of government that just accept ‘they are there’. On the other hand however, they can often be political when competing uses are introduced which some may not see as compatible with city parks. Regardless of which way you look at them, cities would be very bleak places without them.

Parks and Leisure Australia would like to thank our National Partners:

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challenges of budget or income cuts, compliance costs and paperwork, it can be easy to get frustrated or perhaps caught up in the daily grind and forget for a moment your true purpose, which for most people in our industry is about making a diff erence. It doesn’t matter whether that ‘diff erence’ is increasing biodiversity in an area through careful park planning and species selection; helping a client or customer overcome a new physical challenge; securing funding for sport club operations; or planning and developing facilities that meet the needs of an increasingly diverse community. What matters is that what we do, little or big, makes a diff erence to someone or in fact many someone’s.

Have you taken the time lately to sit back for a minute and think about what makes you passionate about the recreation industry and what you have done this week to make a diff erence? I imagine you will be surprised how positive and reinvigorated you will feel.

One way to help make sure that we keep making a positive diff erence, that we stay dynamic and we reach as many people as possible with our work is to ensure that as industry professionals we stay engaged, keep learning and applying new knowledge to our communities. The NZRA National Conference

2015 at Te Papa in Wellington from Wednesday 18 to Thursday 19 November 2015 is an opportunity to do just that.

The Conference Organising Committee has been hard at work since last year, pulling together what promises to be a fantastic program with a breadth and depth that provides something for all sectors of our industry. I look forward to seeing many of you at the National Conference where we will have the opportunity to build our industry knowledge and skill through fresh, thought-provoking presentations. It’s also a great networking opportunity, and promises some colourful social events. In good old NZRA tradition make sure you bring your dancing shoes for the awards night as we have the opportunity to celebrate the excellence and real diff erence that our industry makes in style.

If you are an NZRA member you also have an opportunity to make a diff erence to NZRA by voting in the Board Elections process, which is currently underway. Please take the time to carefully consider the applicants for the Board and exercise your vote to make a diff erence to NZRA organisationally.

Kiri PopeNZRA Chair

professional development opportunities; and to help recreation trainers and course providers get their events in front of the right audience.

We hope that NextStep will become the one-stop-shop for recreation professionals and providers. Recreation providers can use the platform to promote upcoming courses, training opportunities or events to the people that matter. And recreation professionals will be able to fi nd the training, events and courses needed to develop their careers.

To date we’ve had a positive response. In the fi rst few weeks of operation we had 75 courses from 25 providers listed and the platform had more than 1,000 visitors.

Organisations like the New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association, Physical Education New Zealand and Skills Active were among the fi rst organisations to get on board to present their events, and we expect the platform will continue to grow and improve over time.

We welcome ideas for improvements and have a form on the site where people can submit feedback.

Also in the digital space, we are developing a digital advocacy micro-site.

From our research across the New Zealand recreation industry we’ve identifi ed three top priorities for advocacy. These are: greater recognition of the economic

and social value of recreation; grow local and central government investment in recreation; and increased development opportunities for recreation workers to support a sustainable industry that meets the needs and expectations of participants.

Our advocacy micro-site will focus on each of these three priorities and provide access to news items, relevant research and other information demonstrating the benefi ts of recreation, the need for ongoing investment, and the importance of greater recognition for those working in the recreation industry.

While the micro-site has been developed by NZRA, we are keen to encourage other recreation industry players to use it to assist their own advocacy work. Stronger combined advocacy will have positive outcomes for all in the sector.

We need to work together to change the way decision makers look at investment in the sector.

Because in the long run investing in recreation has numerous benefi ts - it has the potential to save money on healthcare, bring communities together, and generate economic growth through increased tourism. And that has positive outcomes for everyone.

Andrew LeslieNZRA CEO

KIRI POPENZRA Chair

ANDREW LESLIENZRA CEO

FROM THE NZRA CHAIR

FROM THE NZRA CEO

When I was preparing to write this column I heard a story about a young boy, with health and learning

issues, who had been a real and constant challenge for his adoptive parents. Then he found basketball and in doing so discovered a true passion that got him off the couch, away from electronic gaming, engaged and enjoying life.

The story made me refl ect on the diff erence our industry makes at the grass roots level. It also reminded me it is both a privilege and a responsibility to be working in such a dynamic, community-driven industry that allows us to positively shape the lives of individuals and communities on a daily basis.

At times, when you are facing the

Having immediate access to information on our smartphones, tablets or other devices is something that’s a

given in today’s digital world. We want it now and wherever we are, whether we are in the street or up a mountain.

While it’s easy to launch a new online service or website, it must have a point of diff erence, be easy to use, and fulfi l a need.

Being useful, intuitive and making it easy for people to fi nd recreation industry workshops, conferences, events and other opportunities are some of the aims of NextStep, a professional development portal, launched by NZRA in July.

NextStep has been developed to solve two problems at once – to make it easier for workers who are stretched for time to fi nd

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We often think of the trees as the lungs of our city, but they are also, in some ways, our heart

and soul. The whole community owns our trees and our future trees… there are few political, budget or policy decisions that must deliver for people in 100 years. In politics, so much is driven by the artifi cial three- or four-year election cycle. Not this plan. Our trees are too important.

(Hon. Robert Doyle, Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Herald Sun, 9 January 2011).

The urban forest is a critical element of cities which contributes to the health and wellbeing of urban inhabitants. In creating resilient communities it is necessary to develop strategies that deal with climate change, the urban heat island eff ect, population growth, urban intensifi cation and cultural identity.

The urban forest in the City of Melbourne composed of approximately 70,000 trees in the public realm, is capable of reducing stormwater runoff , providing shade and cooling, as well as connecting communities by creating a sense of place and enhancing streets and spaces for recreation.

The Urban Forest Strategy developed by the City of Melbourne in 20121 set strategies, standards and targets for promoting a resilient city that will be able to maintain its ecological functions under periods of constant environmental pressures. Implementation of the associated programs has led to incremental increase in canopy cover, replacement of the ageing tree population, increased surface permeability and diversifi cation of green infrastructure.

In so doing, Melbourne has confi rmed and strengthened its renowned reputation as Australia’s

‘garden city’, and contributes to its status over the past decade as being high amongst or on top of the ‘world’s most liveable cities’.

The Urban Forest Strategy has established a program for the immediate to long-term development of an adaptable and resilient forest, based on targets for increasing canopy cover, species diversity, surface permeability, water management and community participation – all of which take full account of the inherent economic, social and environmental benefi ts of increasing urban vegetation.

In 2014, the Urban Forest Strategy received the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects Victoria Medal for Landscape Architecture, which cited that the program demonstrated ‘extraordinary leadership in urban sustainability … [providing] an exemplar of how to transform policy into practice to create a distinctive and liveable city, whilst providing a common ground for sharing and building community links to place… The project marks a transformational change in the way the urban forest is considered and managed in the city. By demonstrating the essential social and economic and environmental services that trees provide, the strategy clearly articulates the benefi ts that nature can deliver in creating liveable cities.’

In 2011, the City of Melbourne began to address the multiple challenges of its ageing tree population which had aggregated over a decade of drought. Recognising that close to 23 per cent of the tree population could be lost by 2020 and 39 per cent by 2030 – including the impending potential loss of much of the mature Elm population which has distinctive cultural value in Melbourne’s parks and streetscapes – the urban forest strategy set about planning ahead for the future of Melbourne’s trees in a way that both responded to climate change and

urban expansion, equally as reinforcing Melbourne’s character and enhancing the health and wellbeing of its inhabitants.

Specifi c targets of the urban forest strategy include:• 40 per cent canopy cover by

2040;• 5:10:20 will be the maximum

percentage of the tree population composition by species:genus:family;

• 90 per cent of the tree population will be healthy by 2040, doubling the city’s tree canopy cover to reduce the urban heat island (UHI) eff ect and cool the city by 4°C;

• Investing in stormwater harvesting to reduce reliance on potable water and secure the city’s water supply;

• Expanding green open space by 7.6 per cent throughout the city to increase fl ood mitigation capacity and contribute to evapo-transpirative cooling;

• Mapping and calculating the useful life expectancy (ULE) of trees throughout the municipality to determine sequencing of replacement planting programs;

• Thermal mapping and analysis of the city to direct cooling interventions to the areas most impacted; and

• Diversifying the variety of tree and other vegetation species planted to protect the urban forest and minimise impact from emerging threats due to climate change.

A signifi cant function of green infrastructure planning for the city is the blending of science, art and community. While the scientifi c basis established the potential environmental services benefi ts of the urban forest, and formed the foundation for setting aspirational yet realistic targets, there is little doubt that trees and other plantations create beautiful landscapes that can be co-designed with the community.

A hallmark of developing the

CITY OF MELBOURNE’S URBAN FOREST STRATEGY – MAKING A GREAT CITY GREENER

URBAN FOREST STRATEGYWORDS: IAN SHEARS, MANAGER URBAN SUSTAINABILITY, CITY OF MELBOURNE

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vision, objectives and implementation framework for the Urban Forest Strategy was the integrated planning processes with stakeholders from the public and political domain, as well as community engagement forums to provide the opportunity for ongoing interaction and feedback.

What began as a six-month community engagement program evolved into an array of collaborative partnerships that represented a new way of working for the City of Melbourne, and refl ects ‘green governance’ of the public asset.

Many channels for engagement were utilised, including a ‘World Café Eco-City Forum’, online engagement through Participate Melbourne, a corporate website page, video content, articles and editorials in the mainstream media, and an ‘Urban Forest Art and Design Competition’.2

In recognising this transformative process, AILA also cited that ‘a prescient engagement program based on continual citizen involvement evolved to generate unprecedented support for the strategy, with the development of Precinct Plans and a program for implementation where the community is empowered to make decisions about their own streets. The City of Melbourne [is committed] to delivering an ecologically sustainable city where, by example, the community is encouraged to take positive action and be part of the solution at a local level.’

Over the past four years the Council has committed an average of $10m annually above ‘business-as-usual’ expenses for implementation of the program. In conjunction with the Royal Botanic Gardens, the City of

Melbourne has started researching and trialling a range of generally unavailable tree species for diversifying the urban forest.

Stormwater harvesting and water sensitive urban design projects have been implemented for improving total water cycle management throughout the urban catchment.3 All these projects have been initiated in diverse situations throughout the city, not only located in high profi le locations; therefore they represent a variety of effi cient solutions that readily allow scalability and transferability to other urban circumstances.

The strategy has also formed the basis for the development of other associated policies and outcomes such as the Urban Forest Diversity Guidelines4, urban forest community engagement plan, urban forest Precinct Plans5, master plans for avenues and boulevards, the Growing Green Guide,6 the exceptional tree register, and the Urban Ecology and Biodiversity Strategy.7

Most recently, the initiative has led to the development of Australia’s fi rst comprehensive guide to growing and maintaining tree populations in urban areas under the Vision2020208 program in association with the City of Melbourne and Victorian Government.9

By understanding the quantity, diversity and health of the City’s urban forest, the City of Melbourne is able to monitor and review planting programs, species selection and green infrastructure management projects. The development of a genuinely participatory program will continue to facilitate the integration of academics, professionals and the community in

the decision-making process.The development of an urban forest

strategy with long-term planning horizons sets a worldwide example on how cities can implement a ‘whole-of-forest’ approach to understanding and managing its response to climate change and urban growth, and adapting the urban landscape for future resilience.

The City of Melbourne has demonstrated how well-designed urban forest management continues to deliver ecological, economic and social benefi ts while enhancing the city’s biodiversity, health and wellbeing.10

1. http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/sustainability/urbanforest/pages/urbanforest.aspx

2. http://melbourneurbanforestvisual.com.au

3. https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Sustainability/SavingWater/Pages/Watersensitivedesign.aspx

4. https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Sustainability/UrbanForest/Documents/Urban_Forest_Diversity_Guidelines.pdf

5. http://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/urban-forest-precinct-plans

6. http://growinggreenguide.org 7. http://participate.melbourne.vic.

gov.au/nature 8. http://202020vision.com.au 9. http://202020vision.com.au/

media/41948/urban-forest-strategy-workbook.pdf

10. Excerpt from ‘Heat Island to a “City in a Forest” ’, Urban Anthologies: Learning from our Cities, publication of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Urbanization, Vol.III

Shared community vision for precinct plans. Urban forest art and design competition.

Urban forest strategy and precinct plans.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2015 REGIONAL AWARD WINNERSWE WISH YOU ALL THE VERY BEST OF LUCK FOR THE NATIONAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE AND

LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN SYDNEY.

The National Awards of Excellence will be held at the stunning Dockside Pavilion in Sydney on Wednesday

28 October, 2015. Hosted by Costa Georgiadis, Gardening Australia.

Costa is a landscape architect who has an all-consuming passion for plants and people - he knows how to bring out the best in both of them. Dress: Formal Entertainment: Radio City CatsWe look forward to seeing you there!For more information visit: www.parksleisure.com.au

This event is proudly sponsored by Toro Australia and GLG.

NSW/ACTEvents Award

Ku-ring-gai Council - St Ives Medieval FaireInclusive & Connected Communities

Award

North Sydney Council - Streets Alive in North SydneyLeisure Facilities: Development Award

Warringah Council - Warringah Creative SpaceLeisure and/or Open Space: Planning

Award

Warringah Council - Narrabeen Lagoon Trail - Middle Creek to South CreekParks and Open Space: Development

Award

Parramatta City Council - Parramatta River Foreshore Links 2013 - 2015Playspace: Major ($0.5M +) Award

Warringah Council - Collaroy All-abilities PlaygroundPlayspace: Minor (<$0.5M) Award

North Sydney Council - Three Playspaces for Less than $0.5MResearch Project Award

City of Sydney - Signifi cant Tree RegisterUse of Technology Award

City of Sydney- Signifi cant Tree Register Website

QLDEvents Award

Toowoomba Regional Council - Toowoomba Carnival of FlowersInclusive & Connected Communities Award

Toowoomba Regional Council - The CHANGE Project

Leisure Facilities: Development Award

Council of the City of Gold Coast - Gold Coast Aquatic CentreLeisure and/or Open Space: Planning

Award

Bundaberg Regional Council - Active By Community Design - The Redevelopment of Boreham ParkParks and Open Space: Development

Award

Place Design Group - Jezzine BarracksPlayspace: Major ($0.5M +) Award

Frew Park Exceptional Playground - The Play WorksPlayspace: Minor (<$0.5M) Award

Bundaberg Regional Council - Active By Community Design - The Redevelopment of Boreham Park Research Project Award

Bundaberg Regional Council - Active By Community Design - The Redevelopment of Boreham ParkUse of Technology Award

Moreton Bay Regional Council - Sports Demand Modelling Tool

SA/NT Events Award

YMCA Australia - YMCA Swimathon 2015Inclusive & Connected Communities Award

City of Marion - The Rajah Community, Roger Rasheed Sports Foundation and the City of Marion Partnership ProjectLeisure Facilities: Development Award

City of Marion - The Rajah Project - A Rajah Community, Roger Rasheed Sports Foundation and City of Marion PartnershipLeisure and/or Open Space: Planning

Award

City of Salisbury - Heyford Reserve RegenerationParks and Open Space: Development

Award

City of Onkaparinga - Frank Hilton Landfi ll Remediation ProjectPlayspace: Major ($0.5M +) Award

ASPECT Studios - Port Adelaide Renewal: Hart’s Mill SurroundsPlayspace: Minor (<$0.5M) Award

Campbelltown City Council - Outback Adventure Park, Anderson Court

VIC/TAS Events Award

City of Port Phillip - Connor’s Run

Inclusive & Connected Communities

Award

Maribyrnong City Council - Maribyrnong/Moonee Valley Community Cricket CupLeisure Facilities: Development Award

Hume City Council - Hume Tennis and Community CentreLeisure and/or Open Space: Planning

Award

City of Greater Geelong - Innovative Regional Planning for SportParks and Open Space: Development

Award

City of Melbourne and Victoria Department of Health - Return to Royal ParkPlayspace: Major ($0.5M +) Award

Parks Victoria - Brimbank Park Playscape: a special place for children to play, learn and grow in naturePlayspace: Minor (<$0.5M) Award

City of Port Phillip - Lyell Iffl a Reserve UpgradeResearch Project Award

Smart Connection Consultancy - The Smart Guide to Synthetic Sports Surfaces Industry Research and Recognition ProgramUse of Technology Award

People and Parks Foundation - Active in Parks website

WAEvents Award

City of Karratha - City of Karratha’s 2014 Cossack Art AwardsInclusive & Connected Communities

Award

City of Bayswater - Have a Go Day, Count Me In ProjectLeisure Facilities: Development Award

City of Canning - Cannington LeisureplexLeisure and/or Open Space: Planning

Award

City of South Perth - South Perth Foreshore Strategy and Management Plan - SPF PlanParks and Open Space: Development

Award

Shire of Esperance - Esperance Waterfront - A World Class Foreshore DevelopmentPlayspace: Major ($0.5M +) Award

City of Melville - Carawatha ParkPlayspace: Minor (<$0.5M) Award

City of Subiaco - Theatre Gardens PlayspaceUse of Technology Award

City of Busselton - Geothermal Heating Project: Geographe Leisure Centre

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BUILD | MAINTAIN | SUSSTAINNBUILD | MAINTAIN

Proudly partnering with PLA to make Australia’s local parks the best in the world.

Learn more about GLG at www.glgcorp.com.au

» GROUNDS

» PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

» WEED CONTROL

» SLASHING

» SPORTS TURF

» TREES

» LANDSCAPE

» ENVIRONMENTAL

» MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT

GLG GreenLife Group is an open space facility services specialist. Our services include:

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An iconic conservatory, a new cafe and visitor centre and a state-of-the-art seed bank are among the exciting new

additions released in the master plan for the Australian National Botanic Gardens.

Undoubtedly the most signifi cant upgrade in the Gardens’ 45-year history, this innovative vision seeks to drive new visitor experiences, new business opportunities and boost the Gardens’ scientifi c and conservation work.

Launched in June 2015 after extensive community and stakeholder consultation, the master plan provides the framework for the Gardens’ future infrastructure needs over the next 20 years and gives a long-

term development framework that will ensure the Gardens remain at the forefront of contemporary gardens world-wide.

The Executive Director, Judy West said: “A key objective of the master plan was to develop new infrastructure and attractions that will support the growth of the Gardens’ through visitor, educational and recreational opportunities - without impacting on the precious living collection”.

The Gardens engaged one of Australia’s most experienced master planning teams, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and Taylor Cullity Lethlean, who also developed the award-winning design for the National Arboretum Canberra.

The Master Plan focuses on the three key precincts of the Gardens:

CORE PRECINCTAim of this area is to focus on welcoming visitors, enabling them to quickly orientate themselves and plan their visit. Emphasis has been placed on developing a central hub featuring the Visitor Centre, Cafe and Function Centre, Event Amphitheatre and Nature Play Terrace.

EXCITING NEW VISIONMASTER PLAN OUTLINES NEW VISION FOR THE

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENSNORTHERN PRECINCTA range of ‘back of house’ functions will be consolidated into a new integrated-service zone, including the new National Seed Bank and maintenance depot.

BUSHLAND PRECINCTAn area which lies to the south of the existing Gardens perimeter, will focus on ecotourism and a treetop adventure course, utilising the bushland setting. An initial development will be a walking track that links to the nearby National Arboretum.

A centrepiece of the master plan is a state-of-the-art glass conservatory to be constructed in the core precinct and through its outstanding architectural design will become an iconic feature of the Gardens. It will display plants from Australia’s tropics as well as threatened species, and provide spaces for educational and visitor experiences.

The priority to increase the Gardens’ scientifi c and conservation work will drive the design and construction of a new world class National Seed Bank which is commensurate with the Garden’s national role in seed banking native plant species to act as insurance against extinction in the wild.

Australian National Botanic GardensMASTER PLAN OVERVIEW a snapshot of future opportunities

Alive with the future

Artist's impression of proposed new Conservatory

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native plant species to act as insurance against extinction in the wild.

The completed master plan provides creative and sustainable directions for the Australian National Botanic Gardens that will enhance the ‘bushland’ character of the Gardens and most importantly, will integrate the existing landscape with the built environment.

By utilising the existing footprint of current buildings it will ensure that future development works will not impact on the living collection.

“This is an ambitious vision which will take an estimated $25 million and up to 20 years to fully realise, but we’re rolling up our sleeves and getting started. The plan promises an exciting

future for one of Australia’s world-class institutions,” said Judy.

An initial $5 million has already been committed to start implementing the plan, of which the Gardens have earmarked for key priorities such as the new seed bank and the conservatory displaying tropical native plants. Further funding to bring this blueprint to life is being sought through partnerships forged between government, the philanthropy sector and the business community.

In addition to this support, long-time champions The Friends of the Gardens have pledged $200k for an interactive tree house that visitors can enjoy while engaging with the Australian landscape.

Planned developments for the Gardens will provide the Canberra tourism industry with a boost, helping to attract more visitors to the nation’s capital through features such as a new gateway entry experience, larger visitor centre, an innovative nature play area, outdoor public art and ecotourism experiences in the bushland precinct.

Visitors to the Gardens will be able to see the fi rst ‘building blocks’ of the new master plan within the next 24 months with a number of projects planned for completion within the next fi ve years.

The full master plan can be viewed at: www.nationalbotanicgardens.gov.au/gardens

“PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS FOR THE GARDENS WILL PROVIDE THE CANBERRA TOURISM INDUSTRY WITH A BOOST, HELPING TO ATTRACT MORE VISITORS TO THE

NATION’S CAPITAL.”

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Artist's impression of future Visitor Centre

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The New Zealand horticulture industry is growing and thriving. With more than 50,000 people employed, it is an exciting

industry with a lot of opportunities to grow and further careers.

The New Zealand government has identifi ed that 15,000 qualifi ed employees are required by 2025 within the industry. Who of these are going to be our young leaders of the future?

EMPLOYERS As an employer what can you do to encourage the growth of the young people in your organisation? How are you training and up-skilling to produce your future leaders?

It only takes one small step, it might be taking along your young employees to the up and coming Young Horticulturalist of the Year competition being held in Auckland this November. This allows them to experience

the industry and excitement of the day, create connections and may inspire them to compete in the sector competitions the following year, giving them a taste of the industry in a unique context.

Young people are your future, with the ability to model the values of your company, to be mentored and have succession plans in place for future roles, how can you ensure your young people shine?

EMPLOYEES There are several ways you are able to enhance and develop yourself and your career, such as industry training, self development, involvement in organisational groups and sector competitions. Such proactive approaches would enable you to ask yourself – “Is this the fi eld I want to stay in? How do I broaden my skills to cover a wider range of sectors? Where do I want to be in fi ve

years? Where can my career take me?”The key to self development is wanting

to go further and having the drive and belief that there is something more for you to learn and strive for. You don’t have to be in Hi-Viz clothing and steel caps if your aspiration is for bigger, better and greater things. The beauty with horticulture is that there are many opportunities, the fi elds are so vast and your skills can transfer across multiple sectors.

You can also be a part of groups like Generate. This is a group of young professionals who together are building a united and thriving parks and recreation sector.

By actively creating development opportunities for parks and recreational young professionals, it is very easy to become a member and stay connected with “young horties”, and to be involved and have a voice for young people.

PROPELLING SPORT AND RECREATION LEADERS FORWARD

THROUGH PROJECT-BASED MENTORING

WORDS: LEIGH CORNES

OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND

The 2015 Young Amenity Horticulturalist of the Year competition, held in Auckland.

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My next step came a few years later when I decided that I wanted to take my career further. To become a decision maker, I started looking at job descriptions and what skills I would need to obtain to make that next step. I soon realised that to go from a gardener to a higher offi ce-based role would be more like a leap and would involve not just up-skilling but personal growth and development.

This came in the form of an amenity sector competition which is held yearly. It was a two-day national completion that tested skills and knowledge of the industry against other young amenity horticulturalists from across the country.

It was truly a test of character. I was overwhelmed when I received the title of Young Amenity Horticulturalist of the year in 2010 and went on to the next phase of the competition. I then had to compete against the other winners of the other sectors within horticulture – this was another step up in competition which not only tested my knowledge and abilities but self-confi dence and determination to do the very best. Unfortunately I didn’t place, coming fourth, but won some sections and taking away some amazing prizes.

This gave me the confi dence to go further and have conversations with heads of the industry and allowed me to put myself out there. This didn’t give me all the tools I needed -- I went on to complete my diploma in horticulture, and this then

gave me a much better opportunity to take my career forward. I was also lucky enough to be set up with a mentor who helped support me in applying for my current position -- today I am a Project Leader for Natural Environments. I am still looking for ways to develop both professionally and personally and actively seek ways to develop myself further, part of this is helping other young people see their potential and encourage them to take their next step.

FINAL THOUGHTSA note to fi nish for the employers: our young people are the future of horticulture, let’s allow them to fl ourish and take the opportunities to better themselves to grow and learn.

This might mean taking someone under your wing and mentoring them. How can you impart your knowledge and ensure the legacy that you have developed is carried on?

Employees, when you see an opportunity to be surrounded with like-minded young people jump at the chance to take it, it may mean you have to approach your employer and state your case of why you think you should go along and what potential benefi ts you will receive from this but that in itself is character building, it will show your employer your willingness to put yourself out there and how much it means to you.

LEIGH’S STORY I have seen the benefi ts of the industry; where it can take you and what it has to off er, I too asked myself the pointed questions, I allowed myself to dream and this is a snap shot of my journey.

I started my horticulture journey as a young 16 year old in a nursery as an apprentice loving the outdoors and learning about native plants. I soon became increasingly interested in where the plants go once they left the nursery, which took me to my second apprenticeship in amenity horticulture thriving on the knowledge of the bigger picture of ecosystems.

Just another day on the job for Leigh, holding a Green Tree Lizard from Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park in Hamilton, New Zealand.

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MAITLAND CITY COUNCIL, LOWER HUNTER VALLEY, NSWMaitland City Council in the Lower Hunter Valley of NSW has 58 hectares of parks with 48 sports fi elds across 32 sporting facilities, including cricket, soccer, rugby league and baseball grounds. In February 2014 council purchased a Toro® Groundsmaster® 360 Quad Steer™, a Toro® Groundsmaster® 4700 Plus and a Toro® Reelmaster® 5510 mower.

The Council’s Coordinator of Recreation and Noxious Weeds, Brian Worboys, said cylinder reel mowers had been chosen because they provided a better quality mow and more aesthetically pleasing fi nish to the Council’s main cricket and rugby league grounds.

“Our key objectives in getting the new equipment were to improve the quality of the sports grounds and lift productivity. Since we took delivery of the new mowers, we have seen signifi cant improvement in the overall cut, fi nish and aesthetics of the sports grounds.”

Because the new mowers were highly versatile and signifi cantly more powerful than the machines they replaced, the Council was also getting the increased productivity it had sought.

Parks and Gardens Managers and Turf Managers around Australia are faced with the never-ending challenges of managing public

open space.As urban densities and population

growth increase, they aff ect the liveability and access to open space. Sustainable water use, improvement of management practices and ever-reducing fi nances are topics high on the agenda at most councils and sporting clubs.

Have you ever wondered how other turf managers have dealt with these issues?

JOHN XXIII COLLEGE, MT CLAREMONT, PERTHGavin Castiglioni, Grounds Manager at John XXIII College at Mt Claremont in Perth is faced with sandy soils, periods of extreme heat and limited access to water.

In the July 2012 school holidays, the school installed a Toro® Sentinel® central control system to replace an old domestic irrigation system. The old system operated 20 stations with a set number of valves per station. It was infl exible and could not be changed or adjusted.

Castiglioni says: “The advantages of a central irrigation control system include being able to individualise valves for fl ushing and checking water quality and better programming of schedules, especially in periods of hot weather.

“It also allows me to use the water we are allocated more wisely. We have an annual allocation of 138,000 kilolitres. It’s tight, especially in really dry years, but by using strategic watering programs, we can make it go further.”

Since the system has been installed, he has noted a substantial saving in the amount of water being used.

MANAGING PUBLIC OPEN SPACEOVERCOMING THE

CHALLENGES OF MANAGING

PUBLIC OPEN SPACE

Learn from the experience of others who have dealt with the issues of maintaining parks, gardens and sports fi elds and attend the Q&A session on “Overcoming the challenges of managing public open space” at the PLA Conference in Sydney (Community, Recreation and Urban Planning stream). Get your questions answered by a panel of experts from the fi eld who “live and breathe” management and maintenance of open space. The panel will consist of Jeff Dominikovich, Managing Director at GreenLife Group; Matthew Wilson, Principal at irrigation consultancy Total Irrigation Designers; and Greg Ewings, Manager Facilities and Services at Cootamundra Shire Council. This session is sponsored by Toro Australia. Toro Australia and GreenLife Group are also proud to announce their joint sponsorship of the PLA’s Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner.

PLA Groundmaster® 7200

Glen Eira Council

WORDS: M LLOYD

TRINITY COLLEGE, KEW, VICTORIATrinity College in Kew, Victoria, were on the lookout for a central irrigation control system that would save time and increase convenience for their ground staff .

The Toro® Sentinel® system that was chosen allows staff to access the irrigation system remotely via their smart phones or mobile devices such as iPads to change settings or timings. With the sports fi elds located 10 kilometres away from the school grounds, this has proved to be a big benefi t for the school.

As schools often have limited resources to maintain their large grassed and garden areas, it is vital for turf managers to know exactly where and how much water they use. With Sentinel’s fl ow optimisation capabilities, program start times can be automatically set to maximise system pump effi ciency and fl ow optimisation while ensuring demand does not exceed preset limits. This optimisation also helps to shorten watering times and this been a big benefi t to Trinity College.

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Since The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT) was established in 2010, our staff has worked tirelessly to challenge

the prevailing stereotype of cemeteries as uninviting places visited by the public only on unfortunate occasions. People are beginning to realise that cemeteries off er unique benefi ts to the communities they serve, and in their own subtle way, are every bit as vital and vibrant as any public open space.

Over the past fi ve years, GMCT has introduced a range of strategies to demystify our 18 sites and recast our 400+ hectares of beautiful parkland as a signifi cant public asset, and a network of active community hubs.

RETHINKING CEMETERIESCemeteries are often referred to as memorial parks, yet they occupy a diff erent place in the public consciousness to other parks and gardens.

Traditionally, the large, open parcels of land set aside for cemeteries have been viewed as ‘separate’ from the community at large; considered by many to be too melancholy to warrant visiting outside of a scheduled memorial service or burial. However, cemeteries demand constant upkeep and maintenance ‘in perpetuity’, which means, in our ever-expanding cities and urban sprawl they are guaranteed to make an important, long-term contribution to the broader realm of public open spaces. This critical role should not be underestimated.

As green spaces in Melbourne’s built-up areas come under pressure from increasing population density, public cemeteries will continue to provide peaceful sanctuaries for local communities for generations to come. To this end, GMCT has made engaging with local communities a strategic priority, and to encourage and support

RE-DEFINING ‘THE LAST RESTING PLACE’WORDS: JACQUI BRIGGS-WEATHERILL, CEO, THE GREATER METROPOLITAN CEMETERIES TRUST AND MITCHELL WELCH, CUSTOMER CARE OFFICER

their engagement in both the future development of our sites, and in their day-to-day use.

A SIGNIFICANT UNDERTAKINGGMCT was founded in 2010 to oversee the amalgamation of eight existing trusts. Today, GMCT manages 18 active and historical cemeteries across Melbourne’s inner East, West and North.

With more than 400 hectares of land, and two as-yet undeveloped ‘greenfi eld’ sites of around 100 hectares each, the total area under our care across Melbourne’s north, east and west, is more than 80 times the playing surface of the MCG, or an area greater than all the City of Melbourne’s public parks combined.

Cemeteries operate within fi ve distinct phases: concept, establishment, active, transitional and perpetual. GMCT’s sites cover the spectrum: some are in pre-planning; some are in use as working cemeteries; and others are in a state of semi or full-retirement - no longer in use for burials, yet still diligently maintained - in perpetuity - as sites of historical and cultural signifi cance.

The modern working cemetery presents a unique set of challenges for administrators. In addition to the logistical demands common to most public open spaces, we are fi rst and

GMCT FAST FACTS• 18 cemeteries and memorial parks across Melbourne’s greater metropolitan region

• 400+ hectares of developed parkland

• 200+ hectares of additional land across two ‘greenfi eld’ sites

Fawkner Memorial Park -

Chinese Ancestral Garden

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foremost a primary service provider. The co-ordination of burials, cremations and interments – as well as memorialisation - requires a large and dedicated team of operational staff , a precise and reliable Geographic Information System (GIS) integrated with a Cemetery Management System (CMS), and a network of allied service providers in areas such as hospitality, fl oristry and functions.

While other public open spaces

might call in a project manager to oversee individual public works projects, a working cemetery is always in operation, always growing. We employ planners, engineers and – as the demand for mausoleum interments continues to grow – we also engage architects, structural engineers and stone masons. In other words, a cemetery is – perhaps counter-intuitively – one of the liveliest varieties of public open spaces there is.

A DELICATE BALANCECemeteries demand the highest standards of dignity and respect. As public open spaces, they need to be “visitable” and engaging, while maintaining the sanctity of the space and integrity of its purpose. This constitutes a delicate balance: where open expanses of lawn might typically encourage play, under the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2003 (Vic), ball sports are actually prohibited on cemetery grounds. However, our parks are used for informal, passive recreation: dog walking, jogging, evening strolls. There are precious few quiet, contemplative spaces in our

increasingly urbanised landscape, and these low-impact activities allow locals to make the most of our green spaces without disrupting the atmosphere of peaceful refl ection for mourners visiting loved ones.

Our cemeteries are also the sites of enduring memorials to the legacies of notable Victorians including pioneer John Batman (Fawkner Memorial Park), opera singer Dame Nellie Melba (Lilydale Lawn Cemetery), fi lmmaker F.W. Thring (Burwood Cemetery), Victorian Premier John Cain Senior (Preston Cemetery), and Aussie Rules legend Jock McHale (Coburg Pine Ridge Cemetery).

We work with local historical societies to welcome genealogists, historians and interested locals, while a number of ‘Friends of the Cemetery’ groups have been established and have been successful in welcoming members of the community to the respective cemeteries to participate in working bees and community events. Our partnership with these groups fosters a sense of community connectedness and ownership.

In addition to Open Days, public memorial services, and religious

“A CEMETERY IS – PERHAPS COUNTER-INTUITIVELY – ONE OF THE LIVELIEST VARIETIES OF PUBLIC OPEN SPACES THERE IS.”

GMCT FAST FACTS• 29 major building assets

• 95 minor building assets

• 34 kilometres of fencing

• 13 kilometres of gravel roads, paths & tracks

• 35 kilometres of paved roads

• 759 signs and counting

Fawkner Memorial Park

Templestowe Cemetery



observances, GMCT has introduced unique events – such as free rose pruning demonstrations - to draw visitors through the gates to experience the space from a diff erent perspective. This type of activity helps ‘demystify’ cemeteries, while also off ering something back to the community in terms of specialist knowledge.

OUR NATURAL RESOURCESWith sites across 11 local government areas – an enormous geographical spread – GMCT’s land holdings represent a diverse range of ecologies. Although we are a not-for-profi t organisation, GMCT aims to make the most of natural resources – our landscapes, fl ora and fauna – to return a cultural and social dividend to the communities we serve.

One of the greatest comforts to our clients is to know that death is part of a natural cycle, so we have an imperative to ensure that the natural environment is conserved and maintained in keeping with community expectations.

Sustainability is one of our core values and we are committed to protecting remnant indigenous vegetation occurring at a number of our sites. Fawkner Memorial Park and Williamstown Cemetery are both listed on the Victorian Heritage Register – both trees and landscape elements are protected – and other sites have local heritage coverage. Truganina Cemetery in Melbourne’s West contains plants protected under federal and state legislation: the critically endangered Spiny Rice-fl ower (Pimelea spinescens subsp. Spinescens), and the Button Winklewort (Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides). Native orchids grow on two of our sites, and vital creek systems intersect another two. Most are havens and refuges for wildlife, and over 75 bird species have been surveyed within the grounds of Fawkner Memorial Park and Northern Memorial Park.

Ponds, water features and even wetlands are key features of many of our cemeteries, and as we continue to grow, water sensitive urban design principles and habitat retention plans have been incorporated into forward planning.

While we have more than 20,000 rose bushes planted across 18 sites (most are a memorial for cremated remains) and many other ‘traditional’ features, there is growing demand for ‘natural’ burials, and a growing preference for native fl ora. GMCT

off ers natural burial options at Healesville Cemetery, bush burials at Anderson’s Creek Cemetery, and water-wise boulder gardens across many of our sites.

In the future, our arbours and tree-lined avenues might even come to embody the very people being commemorated; the latest industry development, still in its research phase, is a burial method where cremated remains are incorporated into the root-ball of a sapling. The cremated remains feed the tree with essential minerals as it grows, thus completing the natural cycle of life and death in a symbolic, meaningful way.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTUREAs with everything, community and individual perceptions of death, funeral rites and memorialisation will continue to change over time. As such, the role of cemeteries and memorial parks will also change to meet the needs and expectations of current and future communities. There is huge scope for these spaces to play a vital role within the community, beyond the core mandate to “manage the disposal of human remains”.

A key focus for GMCT is the development of our existing cemeteries and memorial parks and new land acquisition, ensuring they meet the diverse needs of our communities. For GMCT, “place activation” will take centre stage - creating spaces that people want to spend time in.

GMCT is currently planning the development of a number of new greenfi eld sites which will provide new opportunities for memorialisation and interment services to meet the new and emerging needs of our communities.

We are seeing a trend in new memorial parks towards incorporation of even more urban green spaces, increased tree canopies, greater biodiversity and more use of natural burial products towards greener and more sustainable end of life practices. It’s an exciting time to be working in this sector and we feel privileged to be able to manage such a large urban expanse of public open spaces on behalf of all Victorians.

The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust [email protected]

GMCT FAST FACTS• 20,000 individual rose bushes (approximately)• 15,000 trees (approximately)• 75+ species of bird identifi ed at• Fawkner Memorial Park and Northern Memorial Park

Lilydale Memorial Park



Attitudes towards death and dying in early New Zealand society tended to be shrouded in secrecy, fear and

misunderstanding.This permeated those professions that

took care of the dead, such as undertakers and grave diggers. Grave diggers in particular were seen as the lowest rung of society; it was a job few wanted to take on or be associated with. Often those attracted to this work came with notorious reputations for drunkenness and involvement with criminal activity.

This attitude towards those in the cemetery profession was reinforced by some of the practices of the medical establishment in nineteenth century Britain, where dead bodies were acquired by dubious means for dissection and teaching purposes from asylums and grave robbers wanting to earn a profi t.

In recent times we have seen an

opening up and greater acceptance of death and disposal of the dead.

Recent research has shown a trend towards funerals becoming more personalised, with greater involvement of families in the care and fi nal preparation of their loved ones and burial rituals.

Burial legislation in New Zealand places high value on respect for the dignity of the dead. But despite this, funeral directors, cemetery and crematoria staff , and the rest of the workforce supporting the death care industry continue to receive poor recognition and status.

THE INDUSTRY TODAY – A SURVEY OF 21ST CENTURY PERCEPTIONSThis lack of recognition was highlighted in the fi ndings of a recent study conducted by the New Zealand Cemeteries and Crematoria Collective and Waikato Institute of Technology.

The Professional Status of Cemetery Related Industry Workers in New Zealand study surveyed 26 staff working for funeral directors services and at public and private cemeteries and crematoria across New Zealand.

It aimed to determine their level of qualifi cation and to gauge their perceptions of the importance of qualifi cations in relation to the professional status of their profession.

The survey found that the majority of respondents (73 per cent) believed cemetery, crematorium and funeral director service workers did not receive the professional status they deserved.

Many respondents suggested this was largely due to misunderstanding about the specialist skills and diverse roles of those who work in the industry. There was also a perception the industry did not have “high professional standards” because it lacked a wide range of professional qualifi cations.

NATURAL OR UNNERVINGWORDS: MICHELLE RIVERS AND ERIC HAYCOCK

New Zealand places a high value on respect for the dignity of the dead.

IMPROVING THE STATUS OF THE CEMETERY-RELATED WORKER

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Funeral directors generally felt they held more status than cemetery workers because they carried out less manual roles and there were more opportunities to gain formal qualifi cations.

The survey’s fi ndings also revealed that more than two thirds (74 per cent) of those who held a formal qualifi cation were in administration or management.

This was an interesting result given that more than 50 per cent of respondents felt there was a lack of management skills in the industry.

Another interesting fi nding was that, while 60 per cent of respondents worked in operational roles, only four per cent held a cemetery or crematoria related qualifi cation. These results are concerning given that 81 per cent of survey respondents had worked in the industry for fi ve or more years.

Factors that were seen as deterrents to obtaining formal qualifi cations included fi nancial restraints, individuals’ perception

of their ability to obtain a qualifi cation while working, and proximity to tertiary institutions.

The majority of survey respondents agreed work experience in the industry was more valuable than a form of qualifi cation, and that the focus should be on people’s competencies rather than on qualifi cations. However, the majority also agreed that formal qualifi cations would enhance the professional status of the cemetery industry related worker.

Respondents generally felt there was lack of awareness about what working in the industry entailed. They believed the industry was highly emotive, stressful and required a great deal of tact and sensitivity when dealing with grieving families.

Respondents mentioned that they worked with people at their most vulnerable, and highlighted the personal and organisational risk when mistakes occurred, not to mention the devastating impact on families. Industry workers saw people at their best and

their worst and dealt regularly with family disputes and estrangement.

Some survey respondents mentioned recruitment diffi culties, saying the specialist nature of the profession meant most recruits were taken on as trainees without experience or relevant qualifi cations, and trained up on the job.

It is not surprising therefore to discover how diffi cult it is to recruit people to the cemetery related industry, despite the job security it off ers. The low value and social stigma attached to the work means only a select and special few are brave enough to take it on.

HOW THEN, DOES THE INDUSTRY IMPROVE ITS IMAGE?Survey respondents suggested a variety of actions they believed would improve awareness of the responsibility and complexity of cemetery, crematoria, and funeral service work.

Common themes were education, raising public awareness through a media campaign, a nationally, and ideally internationally, recognised qualifi cation and professional development program. Some respondents also felt that a form of “light regulation” would help to raise awareness of the value provided by the industry and lift the professional status of those working within it.

There were also some ideas for how the types of training available to the sector might be improved, and how it could best be delivered. These included a suggestion that training providers should make sure qualifi cations were specifi c and relevant to the industry, and that course tutors had industry knowledge. One respondent suggested that modules and unit standards developed for the industry should cover working with grieving families, confl ict management, and keeping yourself mentally well.

Other suggestions stressed the need for training providers to determine qualifi cation criteria for diff erent levels of industry positions, from operational through to managerial. One respondent said qualifi cation at diploma level should

“THE INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO BATTLE FOR RECOGNITION OF THE SELFLESS AND, AT TIMES, UNGLAMOROUS BUT HUGELY IMPORTANT WORK IT DOES.”

Many believe that service workers in the industry do not receive the professional respect they deserve.



be available for management staff , and at least certifi cate level for administration and operational staff . Another suggested that practicum based qualifi cations should be available for sextons and cremator operators, with the option to attain trade certifi cation.

ARE INDUSTRY TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES ADEQUATE?The fi ndings suggested that formal qualifi cations could help lift the professional standing of the industry but the survey’s scope did not extend to looking into how to address the gaps in professional qualifi cations and thus raise the status of the industry.

Further study is needed in order to address this need appropriately. However, the 2015 survey did provide some insights into the perceived availability of qualifi cations to some professions within the industry.

Survey respondents working for funeral director services believed there were more training opportunities available to them and that the industry had done a good job of providing formal qualifi cations at an appropriate level. For example, the Wellington Institute of Technology off ers the New Zealand Diploma in Funeral Directing and Embalming and the funeral industry training organisation, Funeral Service Training Trust, off ers short entry level courses on funeral directing.

However, it was clear from the survey fi ndings that those working directly in cemetery and crematoria services, particularly in operational roles, were either

unaware of the qualifi cations available or felt those qualifi cations were limited or irrelevant to their roles.

Provision of training for the cemetery sector has been provided up until recently by Horticulture Industry Training Organisation, which has now amalgamated with other industry sectors to become the Primary Industry Training Organisation (PrITO).

Unit standards in grave digging are off ered as part of a National Certifi cate in Horticulture (Level 3) under the cemetery options strand. This qualifi cation sits within the New Zealand Qualifi cations Authority (NZQA) framework. These have been on off er to cemetery industry related workers for the past six years. More recently, work has been undertaken by PrITO to include cremation unit standards and to develop a National Certifi cate in Cemetery and Cremation (Level 4) with the possibility of extending this to a Level 6 qualifi cation.

This has been halted due to NZQA, which has overarching responsibility for qualifi cations in New Zealand, undertaking

the Targeted Review of Qualifi cations. The aim of the review is to reduce the number of qualifi cations on the NZQA framework in response to sector concerns about the the clarity and relevance of qualifi cations.

The Targeted Review of Qualifi cation process was recently completed for horticulture-related qualifi cations, some of which include strands for cemetery and cremation services. The review has seen the approval of the cemetery strands as part of the National Certifi cate in Horticulture (Level 3), and New Zealand Certifi cate in Horticulture Services (Level 4).

All of these changes are occurring while the Burial and Cremation Act 1964 is under review. There is a proposal to increase regulation in relation to crematoriums and funeral directors, and speculation this will involve some accreditation for those who perform these roles. This indicates that training and qualifi cations will be even more important to the industry.

This period of rapid change within the industry provides an ideal time to review its status and the qualifi cations available to industry workers.

FINAL THOUGHTSPeople working in the cemeteries, crematoria and funeral directors industry are constantly exposed to death and grief. This can have an insidious aff ect, and burnout among industry workers is more common than is talked about.

Death is almost always an unplanned event, and those working in the industry are expected to dedicate themselves to long and unsociable hours with modest pay.

Yet, despite this, there are many dedicated and competent people who work in the industry. As one of the respondents attested to, it’s more about a vocation than just a job. Unfortunately the industry continues to battle for recognition of the selfl ess and, at times, unglamorous but hugely important work it does.

It is hoped that this study will bring some light and understanding to this.

STUDY OVERVIEW AND METHODThe Professional status of Cemetery Related Industry Workers in New Zealand study was undertaken as part of a partnership between the Waikato Institute of Technology’s Science and Primary Industries Centre and the New Zealand Cemeteries and Crematoria Collective. The research aimed to test the hypothesis that cemetery-related workers perceived that they did not receive the professional status they deserved, and that this was infl uenced by the availability or obtainment of formal qualifi cations.

The research’s primary tool was a qualitative survey, consisting of 16 questions. This survey was distributed to 40 potential respondents, including cemetery, crematoria and funeral care service managers, working in private and publically owned facilities. Of the 40 who were invited to complete the survey, 26 (65 per cent) responded.



THE CLIMATE INSTITUTEWORDS: KRISTINA STEFANOVA, THE CLIMATE INSTITUTE

A SPORT AND CLIMATE IMPACTS REPORT HAS FOUND THAT

MANY SPORTS ARE STRUGGLING TO ADAPT TO, OR PREPARE

FOR, THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

John Connor, CEO of The Climate Institute states: “Climate change is putting our weather on steroids. With greater warming, more extreme heat,

changes in rainfall and more intense storms, there are questions about just how far we can push players in elite and local sport.

“Heat, fl ood, drought and rising seas will increasingly aff ect sports facilities and events across the country. Questions also grow about whether the way some of our sport is played, or watched, is sustainable.”

The Climate Institute recently welcomed the launch of the Sports Environment Alliance (SEA), a new not-for-profi t, membership-based organisation focused on urging sport to take action and provide leadership in the environmental arena. ”I look forward to SEA boosting the work of sports administrators and participants in building greater climate resilience while reducing environmental impacts. Their work on the ground and helping tackle broader policy issues will be greatly appreciated.” John stated.

Andrew Demetriou, former head of the AFL and Board Member of The Climate Institute spoke at the SEA launch event. “Like other areas of our society and economy, we can’t aff ord to sit on the sidelines on this issue. There are key challenges ahead and now is the time to be developing a sustainable blueprint that addresses and off ers a pathway to a sustainable low-carbon future.”

John Connor will be discussing ‘Can Sports tackle the Climate Challenge? Managing unavoidable impacts while helping avoid the unmanageable’ on Day 1 of the PLA National Conference, 25-28 October, Sydney.

Whilst qualifi ed as a lawyer, John has spent over 20 years working in a variety of policy and advocacy roles with organisations including World Vision, Make Poverty History, the Australian Conservation Foundation and the NSW Nature Conservation Council.

Since joining The Climate Institute as CEO in 2007, John has been a leading analyst and commentator on the rollercoaster that has been Australia’s domestic and international carbon policy and overseen the Institute’s additional focus on institutional investors and climate risk.

John has worked on numerous government and business advisory panels, currently including the NSW Government’s Climate Council. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Corporate Directors and a Board Member of the Environment Defenders Offi ce and the Asset Owners Disclosure Project. He is also a “Governator” with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition.

For more information on the PLA National Conference call +61 8 8332 0130 or visit www.parksleisure.com.au or to contact the Climate Institute [email protected]

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Dutchie has been working as a trainee ranger at Werribee Park, half an hour from Melbourne’s CBD, for the

past three years. He turns up every day on time, runs the kitchen and works in the nursery at the Werribee Kitchen Garden. He is fl uent in Thai, Karen, Burmese and English and is one of the translators for local park staff . On the way home, he takes the bus with volunteers to ensure they get off at the right stop. Dutchie also has a learning disability. He cannot read or write. With the help of his community, Dutchie has completed his Certifi cate 2 in Horticulture.

Dutchie is part of a horticultural and cultural revolution at Werribee Park, that has seen volunteers, including the Karen people from Burma, transforming the park into a place of work, play and a place for communities to fi nd a home and sense of belonging - to connect with each other.

Parks Victoria’s Director Business Aff airs and Innovation, Fran Horsley says Werribee Park is a perfect case study in the Healthy Parks Healthy People approach to management, which acknowledges the integral link between

nature and human health and embeds it into park practice.

“The staff and volunteers at Werribee identifi ed a park need and a people need. With the help of migrant service AMES and the Brotherhood of St Laurence, they developed a program called Working Beyond the Boundaries. It has resulted in a working community kitchen garden with Karen volunteers, which has delivered employment, social opportunities and food for the community.

“In doing, so they have demonstrated why the Healthy Parks Healthy People approach to managing parks is taking off around the globe. To enable healthy park connections and for parks to thrive, we need to fi nd new ways for communities to connect with and value them.

“I suspect we will look back on the work done by the volunteers at Werribee over the past few years as being a turning point for a park of increasing horticultural signifi cance.”

Parks Victoria instigated the Healthy Parks Healthy People approach in 1995 in response to the growth in physical inactivity and lifestyle related health problems such as obesity, and Type 2 diabetes. The capacity for parks to be part

of the health solution was evident.Since then it has evolved to be a more

comprehensive approach that recognises connection to nature is essential for human health and wellbeing and that people who understand and value nature in turn care, advocate, invest and act for healthy parks. The fi rst Healthy Parks Healthy People Conference was held in Melbourne in 2010. The organisation then co-hosted the Health and Wellbeing Stream with the US National Park Service at the IUCN World Parks Congress 2014 in Sydney last year.

The United States, Ontario, South Korea and New Zealand are among the adopters of Healthy Parks Healthy People with many states around Australia also using the approach. Parks Victoria is working even more closely with the IUCN and now the World Health Organisation to embed the approach onto policy, partnerships, funding and actions that deliver on the outcome of creating healthier parks and people.

“It’s great to see the enthusiasm for Healthy Parks Healthy People,” said Ms Horsley. “The thinking – that people and their environment are intrinsically linked – is not new. Aboriginal Traditional

WORDS: DAVID PETTY, MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA, PARKS VICTORIA

MANAGING HEALTHY PARKS FOR HEALTHY PEOPLE

Trailrider

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Owners have long believed, you look after Country, and Country looks after you. Nature is something we live within and are part of.”

The Healthy Parks Healthy People

approach consists of four principles:

1. The wellbeing of all societies depends on healthy ecosystems

2. Parks nurture healthy ecosystems 3. Contact with nature is essential

for improving emotional, physical and spiritual health and wellbeing

4. Parks are fundamental to economic growth and to vibrant and healthy communities

“The approach requires many sectors – health, environment, parks, planning, development and education – to work together to provide a better outcome for all,” said Ms Horsley.

“As with the example at Werribee Park, the power of an innovative idea is really evident, and the people and the park are really benefi tting as a result. When people value parks, they will help make healthy parks.”

Ms Horsley said the research around the health benefi ts of nature was increasingly clear with more than 600 articles recently analysed by Deakin University, acknowledging the links

between health and nature.“Parks deliver clean air and water and

are a buff er against climate change. They bring economic benefi ts as well as social and cultural benefi ts. Research shows that time spent in nature, or even just looking at nature, is good for our physical and mental health.”

Ms Horsley said empowering communities around parks was critical to the success of Healthy Parks Healthy People.

“The research tells us, time in green space is so much better for your health than inside, and will ease the pressure on the health system. What we hear a lot of around Werribee Park, is that it has given people a reason to get up in the morning. Communities would otherwise be isolated or congregating in urban areas without access to green space.”

VICTORIAN EXAMPLES OF HEALTHY PARKS HEALTHY PEOPLE IN ACTION

Healthy Parks Healthy People

accessible parks

Four years ago, keen bushwalker, retired university lecturer and suff erer of MS, Dr David Stratton approached Parks Victoria with the idea of purchasing an all-terrain wheelchair for use in the

Grampians National Park. There are now all-terrain and beach wheelchairs in parks across the state. Programs inviting volunteer pushers or “Sherpas” across Victoria have also been developed.


protecting parks

Deer populations across Victoria have proved an issue for park managers with threatened species trampled and habitat destroyed for endangered species like the Leadbeaters possum. Two years ago, Parks Victoria commenced a Healthy Parks Healthy People partnership with volunteers from the Australian Deer Association and Sporting Shooters Association Australia to help manage populations in critical areas, including Dandenong Ranges, Alpine and Wilsons Promontory national parks and Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve. The volunteers continue to help restore habitat across the state.

Healthy Parks Healthy

People monitoring

Volunteers play a key role in helping to monitor the health of marine protected areas across Victoria. Through Sea Search, the Great Victorian Fish Count, Reef Life Surveys and, most recently, marine bioscan programs (a snap-shot, audio-visual, research, community engagement, park health check) with Museum Victoria, volunteers regularly don wetsuits with Parks Victoria staff to help manage representative areas of Victoria’s spectacular marine habitat.


connecting kids

The Junior Ranger and Bush Kinder programs take a fun, educational approach to connecting kids with nature through formal and informal programs in Victoria’s parks. Programs are designed to foster a life-long love for nature.


environmental benefi ts

The Living Murray Initiative, Australia’s largest river restoration program, was established in 2002 in response to the declining health of the Murray River system. The project is a partnership of the Australian, NSW, Victorian, South Australian and ACT governments.

Years of planning, design and works have since been progressed at icon sites involving multiple agencies and many Parks Victoria staff . Parks are benefi tting from the watering by providing wetland habitat for native fi sh, frogs, turtles and waterbirds and water for stressed River Red Gums. People are benefi tting from a restored landscape.

“THE CAPACITY FOR PARKS TO BE PART OF THE HEALTH SOLUTION WAS

EVIDENT.”

Hsar Thein Ju and Dutchie

Connecting children to nature

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THE CHALLENGE OF PROVIDING CHALLENGEWORDS: RUSSELL TROY, FORPARK STATE MANAGER NSW/ACT

CLIMBING, MOVEMENT AND RISK-TAKING IN PLAYGROUNDS

It’s common knowledge that over the past few decades the way our children play has changed immensely. Tightening legislation,

political correctness, structured play environments, over-protective parents, the internet and a huge range of electronic devices have altered the way in which the next generations interact with their environment and develop.

My children have been playing with fi re … literally. In the school holidays just gone, I took my children to their grandparent’s farm for a week; 6000 acres of open space and fresh air. We all loved it. Raising three children in the heart of Sydney has given me a greater appreciation of the free play opportunities I had in my childhood and the limitations of an urban upbringing.

This experience reminded me of how important it is to expose my children to risk and challenge. I grew up around acres of dirt, trees, dams, motorbikes and farming; they have less on their door step opportunities. My 11-year old daughter isn’t even allowed to try high-jump at the school sports carnival unless we sign a permission slip. All of this got me thinking further about my job as a designer of playgrounds.

GOOD DESIGN “Design for Play: A guide to creating successful play spaces” published by Play England is a wonderful guide some of you may be familiar with. It lists ‘The 10 principles for designing successful play spaces’ as follows:

• ‘bespoke’• well located• use of natural elements• wide range of play experiences• accessible to both disabled and

non-disabled children• meet community needs• allow children of diff erent ages to

play together• opportunities to experience risk and

challenge• sustainable and appropriately

maintained• allow for change and evolution

It’s often diffi cult to satisfy all of these principals unless the playground is a regional facility with enough space and funding. The majority of play spaces are relatively small which means there has to be a compromise in some way. This is not to say they are poor, on the contrary these spaces are critical to each neighbourhood. It just means playground designers need to assess and prioritise the principles depending on the site and the purchaser.

If we are to prioritise these design principles, we would of course get many diff erences of opinion. But in this generation of increasingly sedentary children, I believe we must place particular emphasis, where possible, on active-play, involving climbing, movement and risk-taking.

Most of us already know why these activities are important and why they should be prioritised:

CLIMBINGFrom infancy, children climb and explore the world around them. There is an inherent need to test one’s skills, develop them and conquer great heights. They develop a great sense of achievement and self-confi dence. What’s more, climbing engages the whole body, improving balance, coordination and decision-making skills.

MOVEMENTMovement plays a critical role in the development of a child’s motor skills, integration of the senses (e.g. hand/eye coordination), balance, perception of the body in space and a greater understanding of simple physics.

Beyond the commonly recognised senses of sight, sound, taste, smell and touch, humans also rely on the use of some very important “hidden senses”, critical for coordination and well-being:

• Vestibular sense allows us to sense body movement, direction and acceleration and to attain and maintain postural equilibrium and balance. It is responsible for the movement of body parts in unison and bilateral coordination.

• Proprioception, or the kinesthetic sense, provides the brain with information on the relative positions of the parts of the body – or “body sense”. This sense helps with all coordinated movement.

RISK-TAKINGRisk is an inherent part of life and play is a way to develop skills for the future. To cotton-wool a child reduces their ability to assess risk and judgement of consequences, serving as a hindrance to becoming a well-developed independent adult. In a playground environment we need to ensure these are “managed risks”, or “foreseeable risks”. We want children to test and fi nd their boundaries. THE DESIGNERS CHALLENGEWe all want to build wonderfully active, exciting spaces that are non-prescriptive, challenging and open ended, but we often face practical barriers that hinder the process – the challenges of providing challenge.

SCOPE OF THE WORK - COST AND SPACE CONSIDERATIONS Climbing items have higher “free heights of fall”, hence greater “impact area” requirements with thicker synthetic surfacing. In addition, most motion items have “free space” requirements meaning they cannot be overlapped by adjacent fall zones. So when a brief asks for rubber wetpour, shade, drainage, formal edging and landscaping on top of playground equipment, within a small-medium budget, the biggest losers can be the more challenging items which are lost in the process of getting a minimal quantity of play events for the design.

MEETING THE EXPECTATIONS OF ALL VESTED PARTIESChildren naturally desire climbing, motion and risk-taking, whilst adults can tend to be more risk-averse. Some parents want their children to face

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challenges whilst others cotton-wool their kids and asset owners don’t want either concerns about liability or complaints from parents.

AUDITORS AND INTERPRETING THE STANDARDSWe all generally agree that managed risk is good, but some auditors may see the world in a diff erent light. Grey areas that can be seen as acceptable risk can be easily “failed” by some auditors as standards are still open to interpretation. This type of situation highlights the need for designers to work alongside auditors to assess acceptable risk, which ultimately assists all parties concerned.

INNOVATIVE WAYS TO GET IT RIGHTOver the years as a playground designer I have developed a set of my own guidelines that I follow when designing neighbourhood playgrounds which appease the necessary stakeholder whilst maintaining important elements of challenge.

GRADUATED CLIMBING CHALLENGESEnsure your playground looks to provide some graduated climbing opportunities. Include items like “rope-based” equipment that move, sway, twist, warp and bend so that each time a child moves up they are faced with a new challenge. No two climbs will be the same. This engages the vestibular and proprioceptive senses as the body is constantly forced to re-balance and adjust.

The specifi c use of “graduated challenges” is also clever. Why have multiple activities on an all-ages playground that cater singularly for each age group or ability. There are clever products available that allow for all ages and abilities to use them to a level that suits them and that they determine themselves.

GET THEM MOVINGIf possible, provide for movement and, ideally, varied forms of movement.

PROVIDE SOME RISKPush the boundaries a little. Don’t be scared of the risk-averse. If it doesn’t

provide enough risk, then children will naturally search for that risk elsewhere. Without making the playground a nervous parent’s nightmare, try to build in clever opportunities for the kids to make decisions of calculated risk.

LOOK AT NEIGHBOURING PLAYGROUNDSDo research ab out the neighbourhood play spaces and make sure each playground is diff erent to the playground down the road. Whether budget or limited space, try to prioritise those items that aren’t catered for in nearby play spaces. It should have a diff erent set of challenges, risks and movement opportunities.

CONCLUSIONWe all want to provide challenging and interesting playgrounds for our children. The aim should be to consider all aspects of good playground design, but let us be sure to provide, wherever possible, some graduated climbing, varying modes of motion and opportunities to make risk-taking decisions.

Coopers, RAA and South Australian Tourism Commission, to name but a few.If your business needs outstanding ideas that stand out, call John Baker on 8217 9100.

WE CREATE IDEAS THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE.

TO MAKE BRANDSIMPOSSIBLE TO FORGET.

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MELTON BOTANIC GARDENS I

t’s one of the newest in Australia, but thanks to a group of local green-thumbed enthusiasts, the Melton Botanic Garden will grow

and prosper for many years to come.With support from Melton City

Council and community volunteers, the Friends of the Melton Botanic Garden have poured more than 60,000 hours, along with their heart and soul, into creating an important natural asset in the centre of town.

Since the fi rst eucalypt was planted in 2011, the group has established approximately 30 per cent of the 25 hectare site, transforming a bare patch of land into an impressive garden and gathering place for the community.

HOW IT BEGANThe Melton Botanic Garden commenced with a community forum on 21 August 2003 to determine the level of community interest in the establishment of a Botanic Garden in Melton and as a consequence, the Friends of the Melton Botanic Garden (FMBG) was established on 24 September 2003 and became incorporated later that year.

A report into the feasibility of a botanic garden in Melton concluded that a Melton Botanic Garden could:

• improve conservation • lift community pride • increase education and

employment opportunities • have a positive impact on tourism• improve the open space needs,

leisure and recreation pursuits for local residents

In February 2004 the FMBG requested Town Centre Park be utilised by the group to allow development of a Botanic Garden. Approval was granted by Council which allowed the group to undertake further planning on the garden.

The Friends of the Melton Botanic Garden developed a concept plan with funding provided by Council’s Adopt a Park program in 2006. Further funding was provided by Council 2007 to develop the concept plan to a master plan, with the master plan report released in April 2009. Council approved the renaming of Town Centre Park to Melton Botanic Garden in 2009.

WORDS: ADRIAN COPE, OPEN SPACE PLANNING COORDINATOR, MELTON CITY COUNCIL, AND JOHN BENTLEY, PRESIDENT, FRIENDS OF THE MELTON BOTANIC GARDEN

Friends of the Melton

Botanic Gardens plant trees.

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Melton Botanic Garden was gazetted by Vic Place Names in February 2011.

ESTABLISHING THE GARDENSThe master plan proved to be a catalyst in encouraging the community to be involved with funding being raised and initial works commencing in June 2011 with the planting of eucalypts in the Dryland Eucalyptus Arboretum at the north end of the garden.

The FMBG have continued to develop the garden by joining with Central Victoria Group Training (CVGT) to utilise Work for the Dole participants and volunteers to provide physical resources required for the garden establishment.

The master plan maximises the lake and waterway as well as the remanent vegetation within the garden but also identifi es a range of geographic and specialised themes for development including:

• Eucalyptus Arboretum• Western Australian plants• South Australian plants• Californian and central and south

American plants• South African plants• Mediterranean plants• Children’s Garden• Indigenous People’s Garden and

Bush Foods

A comunity of volunteers help to plant

trees near the lake.



provide physical resources required for the garden establishment.

The master plan maximises the lake and waterway as well as the remanent vegetation within the garden but also identifi es a range of geographic and specialised themes for development including:

• Eucalyptus Arboretum• Western Australian plants• South Australian plants• Californian and central and south

American plants• South African plants• Mediterranean plants• Children’s Garden• Indigenous People’s Garden and

Bush Foods2012 saw the establishment of a depot to facilitate a base for the works program associated with the garden followed by a nursery within the depot compound in 2013. The nursery was to propagate plants for the development but has evolved into a source of funding through plant sales as well as a facility to provide training and education for the community.

The FMBG hosted the Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand Inc - Victorian Branch network meeting in March 2012 which had 75 participants from botanic gardens around Victoria. The Friends of the Melton Botanic Garden hosted the AGM of the Association of Friends of Botanic Gardens at the depot in 2013.

Works commenced at the northern section of the garden and in fi ve years approximately 30 per cent of the area of the 25ha garden being developed with the South African section currently under development.

ACHIEVEMENTSThe FMBG have been a very successful community group, obtaining funding for the project from donations and sales of plants that are produced in the

nursery as well as with some key external grants being:

• Vision for Werribee Plains 2009 and 2011 grants

• Melbourne Water grants• Bjarne Dahl Trust 2011• City of Melton Environmental and

Community grants• Aspire Villawood grant• CVGT Community grants• Commonwealth Volunteer grants

Gardening personality, Jane Edmanson OAM, became Patron of the FMBG in 2012 and makes regular visits to the garden to monitor the development and often promotes the garden through public speaking engagements.

The Botanic Garden has also featured on ABC’s Gardening Australia promoting the establishment of the garden as well as

acknowledging the drive and enthusiasm of the friends and volunteers.

The Melton Botanic Garden is achieving the aspirations and recommendations in the Feasibility Studies 2003 and 2004 in:

• conservation of indigenous species • community involvement through

volunteering and passive recreation • education with school groups,

signage and plant labelling • botanic collections in the species

plantings • instilling a sense of community

pride in having a garden• tourism with guided tours and

visitations

The Friends of the Melton Botanic Garden have 250 fi nancial members plus many community members and groups who volunteer in garden activities.

A good day to move mulch!

Aerial view of Melton Botanic Gardens.

Planned facilities for Melton Botanic Gardens.


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Parks Victoria is a state government parks agency, based in the state of Victoria in Australia. Announced on 12

December 1996, it commenced operating on 1 July 1997 and was established under the Parks Victoria Act 1998.

It reports through a Board to the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water. It is responsible for managing more than four million hectares of parkland, representing about 17 percent of the landmass of Victoria. This includes national parks, marine parks and sanctuaries, wilderness areas, state and metropolitan parks, conservation reserves, thousands of Aboriginal and European cultural and heritage sites, several local ports and major rivers, and around 70 per cent of Victoria’s coastline.

It was formed from a merger of the former National Parks Service (responsible for managing National Parks and other Protected Areas statewide) and Melbourne Parks and Waterways (responsible for major urban parks in metropolitan Melbourne), an off shoot of the old Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works. Parks Victoria is unusual worldwide as a specialised parks agency managing both protected areas and metropolitan parks. The merger also absorbed ‘local port’ or recreational boating functions from the Port of Melbourne and the Port of Geelong.

THE CHANGING CONCEPT OF A PARKThe idea of parks as publicly-owned places for people and nature conservation is relatively recent, and is still evolving. There are several starting points for parks: rich landlords in mediaeval Europe established private reserves which were managed for hunting. These reserves excluded the public, and also began to serve as extensive private “landscaped” gardens designed to impress, as much as to enjoy.

With the Industrial Revolution and the rapid population growth in the 18th and 19th Centuries, living conditions in cities markedly worsened. Sewerage and drainage were inadequate and became major health issues. Social activists in the mid 1800’s started to call for reform, including the right of ordinary people to have access to parks and open spaces for mental and physical health.

In London, the Royal Parks, originally reserved for the aristocracy, were

incrementally opened for public access. In Paris, the French Revolution and Haussmann’s controversial demolition of poor quality housing had a similar eff ect in opening up parks for people. In Melbourne, made rich from the 1851 Gold Rush, a ring of parks was gradually established around the city, at least in part to show off Melbourne’s wealth, and to demonstrate that it was a community of free settlers, not a convict city.

The concept of national parks evolved in the United States of America, where Yellowstone National Park was established as the fi rst “public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefi t and enjoyment of the people” in 1872. Australia followed in 1879 with the Royal National Park in New South Wales, and Mt Buff alo and Wilsons Promontory National Parks in Victoria in 1898.

These fi rst national parks were originally conceived as places for people to visit, stay and recreate, and to re-connect with nature. The concept of conservation emerged as it became evident that national parks were being impacted by the people who came to enjoy them, as well as by a range of external factors.

In Victoria, a National Parks Act was passed by Parliament in 1975, and has as objects of the Act “…the preservation and protection of the natural environment…” along with various other conservation-

oriented objects. In addition, it seeks to “make provision … for the use of parks by the public for the purposes of enjoyment, recreation or education…”

Since then, Parks Victoria has developed various systems and conceptual frameworks (State of the Parks; Signs of Healthy Parks; Levels of Protection; Conservation Objectives) to guide management actions and measure results. The tag-line Healthy Parks Healthy People has also been created, and various programs and activities developed around this concept.

CHANGING PARKS, FUTURE CHALLENGESParks Victoria has achieved some great things since 12 December 1996, too many to mention here. A long list would include the establishment of a system on Marine National Parks and Reserves; heroic eff orts

WORDS: RICHARD O’BYRNE, DIRECTOR, RICHARD O’BYRNE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT PLANNING

WHAT’S REALLY CHANGING PARK MANAGEMENT IN VICTORIA?

Parks Victoria is responsible for managing more than 4 million hectares of state parkland.

Coastal erosion and storm impact is an ongoing consideration.

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to fi ght major wildfi res; the establishment of sophisticated conservation management programs, creative use of environmental water, new National Parks, new Metropolitan Parks and additions to the trail system in Melbourne and regional Victoria - all this along with the normal tasks of managing 4 million hectares of parkland.

By the time this article is published, Parks Victoria will have appointed a new Chief Executive, its fourth in its 18 years in existence. He or she will have some interesting challenges. Here are some which could be on the agenda.

THE COST OF MANAGING PARKSLike many public agencies, it seems that Parks Victoria is always short of money to do what it needs to do. There are many ways to look at this resourcing issue. The Victorian National Parks Association complains (Park Watch June 2015) that Parks Victoria’s share of the Parks and Reserves Trust revenue has declined from 74 per cent in 1999 to 59 per cent in 2014. However, since 2001, total revenue has increased from $123m to $226m, an increase by a factor of 1.84. Over the same time period, the Consumer Price Index has increased by 1.42, and the average weekly wage by 1.82. So it would appear that Parks Victoria’s revenue has at least kept pace with costs.

However, there are other less obvious but signifi cant changes. Over the same period, the organisation’s fi re eff ort has dramatically increased. Parks Victoria doesn’t publish accurate measures of resources committed to fi re, but it is known anecdotally that organisational resources committed to fi re have increased from about 5 per cent in the 1990s to 25 per cent right now. As a very rough measure, overtime payments to Parks Victoria staff directly paid by DELWP for fi re suppression increased from $763k in 2001 to $10.6m in 2013. Even when adjusted for increased weekly earnings, this represents an increase of 768 per cent, which lends weight to the anecdotal 5 per cent to 25 per cent increase in fi re eff ort. Other signifi cant cost items include increases in insurance premiums, also related to fi re and fl oods.

So the key shift is in the type of work being undertaken in parks. This has happened without any particular publicity or debate, although generally Victorians would not be too surprised at this change. While fi re preparedness and suppression activity is clearly a park management activity, it has displaced other park management activities aimed towards conservation outcomes or recreational activity.

FOCUS ON REVENUEThis is a perennial issue, and there is no single solution. It needs a multi-pronged approach. Parks Victoria’s revenue comes mainly from two sources - $87m (2013/14) from the Parks and Reserves Trust, from an annual property rate levy from Melbourne households; and $97m (2013/14) from the Government’s consolidated revenue fund. Both sources are directly controlled by the state government through the Department of Treasury and Finance. Parks Victoria along with other organisations makes submissions for increased funding for conservation, infrastructure, fi re and various other purposes, with mixed results. Eff ectiveness in these negotiations is vital.

Revenue from other sources, including other government programs, insurance payouts, camping fees, and rentals amounts to $35 to $40m per annum. Each of these areas is capable of improvement.

However, the returns are not massive, and will often require considerable staff time to implement. Chasing of revenue from better management of leases and licences is defi nitely worthwhile, but does consume time and eff ort. It has the added benefi t of improving management and governance around tenancies.

Land sales are always highly controversial, but every agency should continually review its land portfolio. Parks Victoria cannot own land, so other agencies are involved and revenue capture far from certain. However, in consultation with organisations like the Victorian National Parks Association (a highly likely critic), land sales should always be an open agenda topic. This should never be about “selling the farm”, but simply about responsible management of a four million hectare estate.

RENEWING AND REINSPIRING THE WORKFORCEParks Victoria’s workforce at 30 June 2014 was 906 people, with 237 seasonal staff (mainly for fi re). Approximately 700

of these are uniformed rangers and fi eld services offi cers. That part of the workforce is predominantly male, employed full time, over 45 years of age, and relatively experienced particularly in fi re and emergency management. Over the next fi ve to 10 years, many of these people will retire, requiring some succession planning and management of cultural issues.

Women have not been prominent in leadership in fi re and emergency roles. This will have to change, and will require mentoring and training, as well as working to change some entrenched attitudes towards women in leadership.

Parks Victoria currently has over 50 staff who identify as indigenous employees. Compared to a state-wide 2 per cent indigenous population, Parks Victoria is in a uniquely strong position to be a community leader in this area. Already some great work has been done in mentoring and developing indigenous staff . This should be further promoted.

MANAGING CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTSClimate change is already happening, and is evident in incrementally changing habitats, coastal erosion, extended drought periods, and the impacts of more frequent and intense storms and fl ood events. However, the biggest impact for parks managers is that of fi re. Large wildfi res occurred in 2003 (1.3m ha), 2006/07 (1.2m ha), 2009 (460,000 ha) and 2012/13 (190,000 ha). The 2009 Black Saturday fi res killed 173 people. The consequent Bushfi res Royal Commission recommended an annual target of 360,000 ha of fuel reduction burns on public land, involving both Parks Victoria and the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning.

Regardless of whether there are big wildfi res or not, the combined load of emergency response and planned fuel reduction will continue to absorb the focus and resources of Parks Victoria, with diminished capacity to provide park management services in other parts of the organisation.

MEASURING CONSERVATIONA great deal of intellect and planning has gone into setting up systems to target management eff ort and measure conservation outcomes in Victoria’s parks and protected areas. State of the Parks; Signs of Healthy Parks; Levels of Protection; Conservation Objectives are just some of these. Quite rightly, the accountants in Treasury and Finance want to know the

“WITH THE GROWTH OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND A PASSIVE

CONSUMER CULTURE IN OUR COMMUNITY, PARKS AND NATURE HAVE TO FIGHT CONSTANTLY FOR RELEVANCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES.”



value of the electorate’s investment in conservation outcomes. This is not easy to do. Sometimes, the measures are not easy to defi ne. Sometimes, the parameters are diffi cult or expensive to measure. Some of the measures may be hard to explain or very long term. And sometimes great programs and good results are completely overwhelmed by even bigger events such as fl ood, wildfi re or other external uncontrollable impacts. There is a continuing challenge for Parks Victoria to demonstrate the eff ectiveness of its work in conservation.

PROMOTING CONSERVATIONWhile the accountants need numbers and measurable outcomes, the general public also want to connect with the emotive side of park management. There is no shortage of great stories of ingenuity, dedication and creative management in our parks. There is no need to go for trashy and superfi cial stories about cute animals. But there’s nothing wrong with people connecting to excellent science through the same cute animals. And there’s nothing wrong with park rangers being recognised as the quiet heroes doing their everyday jobs.

PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT IN PARKSPrivate sector activities in parks have been very contentious in the past. Most major investments have been routinely opposed by the Victorian National Parks Association. There have been some successes (such as the Mansion Hotel at Werribee Park) and some disasters (such as the failed Seal Rocks development at Phillip Island).

The former Baillieu/Napthine Liberal state government had proposed a major redevelopment of the former Quarantine Station in the National Park at Point Nepean. This would have involved a fi ve-star resort with accommodation, restaurants and other services. With the support of the Victorian National Parks Association, the incoming Andrews Labor government has dumped this development.

But the problem remains. In the Quarantine precinct, there are over 100 heritage buildings, along with many others, either redundant or with redevelopment potential. Parks Victoria has no money or expertise to do anything with the precinct. What is needed is a transparent process to invite private sector partners to develop fi ve-star facilities, but with full public access to the site. This has worked at Werribee Park and many other places around the

world. Without this partnership approach, there is no prospect of government support, nor any prospect of preserving the heritage of the Quarantine precinct.

USUAL AND UNUSUAL PARTNERSHIPS

Parks Victoria has many partnerships with not-for-profi t conservation organisations, many Friends Groups, Universities and other research and education organisations. These partnerships are very important, and generally continue quietly in the background. These relationships should be encouraged and nurtured.

But there are other less usual partnerships. Parks Victoria works closely with volunteers from the Sporting Shooters Association to manage pest animals in parks. Many sporting shooters regard themselves as conservationists, although some traditional conservation groups remain uneasy about the partnership. However there is no doubt that this has been a highly successful program over many years. There is scope for other similar partnerships with other user groups who can assist with park management activities.

LEGISLATIVE REFORMThe basic suite of legislation underpinning park management in Victoria includes the Land Act 1958, the National Parks Act 1975 and the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978. While many of the provisions are still sound, there is ample scope for reform, particularly in the area of leasing and licensing of land. Although this is an area of work which may not excite public interest,

there are some processes which could be simplifi ed, making life easier for tenants and landlords alike.

CONTINUING TO IMPLEMENT HEALTHY PARKS HEALTHY PEOPLEThe Healthy Parks Healthy People slogan has proven popular and enduring. It has now been taken up, with Parks Victoria’s support, by many other park management agencies around the world. But there is a continuing challenge to understand and embed the words into actions and programs. With the growth of social media and a passive consumer culture in our community, parks and nature have to fi ght constantly for relevance in people’s lives.

CONCLUSIONThis paper is not meant to paint a critical or dispiriting picture. But there are very powerful forces of change in parks management. These include climate change, the impacts of fi re, and greater public scrutiny of the outcomes of investment in conservation and other park management activities.

The Parks Victoria workforce is skilled, committed and well trained to undertake these challenges. The big issue for leadership is to focus the eff ort in the right areas at the right time, and to inspire a mature team eff ort. The organisation should continue to build cooperation and support from its traditional constituencies and other user groups such as fi shers, hunters and four wheel drivers. With strong focus on these challenges, there is a sound basis for a maturing organisation to grow even stronger in the years ahead.

Parks Victoria continues to operate as a vanguard for preservation and conservation.



On the outskirts of Auckland, a pioneering project is underway to build a world class whitewater facility that will

bring outdoor experiences to urban Kiwis.The project is led by Counties Manukau

Pacifi c Trust which developed and operates

Vodafone Events Centre, and will see the creation of Wero Whitewater Park in Manukau – a $37 million dollar whitewater facility, due to be completed in April 2016.

Counties Manukau Pacifi c Trust Chief Executive Richard Jeff ery says the facility will off er a world-class venue for

WORDS: FRASER MAY

BRINGING THE GREAT OUTDOORS TO THE CITY“WITH A GREATER CONCENTRATION OF A GROWING

POPULATION IN URBAN AREAS, MAINTAINING A VALUED

OUTDOORS CULTURE WILL BE A CHALLENGE FOR NEW

ZEALAND’S RECREATION PROVIDERS AND PLANNERS.”

international tourism and sport, and fi ll a crucial gap in outdoor education and the development of outdoor skills, acting as a gateway for urban New Zealanders to enjoy whitewater experiences.

“Rather than going out of Auckland and staying overnight near a river or at an outdoors centre, we can off er that experience within a half hour’s drive of one and a half million people, at a minimal cost.

“Our schools program, for example, will cost around $18.50 per person. To get that same experience, you’d be travelling hours and spending around $150.”

Adjacent to Vodafone Events Centre,

Artists impression of

Wero Whitewater



the facility will provide facilities for rafters and kayakers, including a customisable 300 metre Olympic standard grade IV course, a grade I and II training river, a fl atwater pond, a conference facility and a grade V four-and-a-half metre waterfall with gated control – a world fi rst for a man-made whitewater course.

Mr Jeff ery anticipates around 50,000 people will visit the facility per annum by year two. Despite being a world-class venue set to host the whitewater events for the 2017 World Masters Games, it will run on a community-based model rather than a sports-based model.

He says the venue has been developed with a high level of engagement from regional trusts, and will have multiple uses, from education outside the classroom to corporate events, outdoor instructor, frontline rescue training and the wider recreational market made up of

the general public.Surpluses from corporate events

bookings will also be reallocated to providing community access, and Mr Jeff ery says in that respect it is “a real social enterprise”.

The facility will also help to take the pressure off schools in terms of meeting health and safety obligations through set plans and programs, and Mr Jeff ery anticipates 15,000 students will use the facility by its second year of operation.

“One of our major priorities is youth development. One of our concerns for a long time has been that outdoor experiences and educations are a critical part of any program. A lot of schools aren’t getting that experience due to the cost. There are decile six schools in Auckland where only 60 per cent of students are able to go on their outdoor experiences because of the cost.

“From our initiatives at Vodafone Events

Centre, we’re very experienced in dealing with schools. We off er the largest schools program for performing arts in New Zealand and will expand these programs to incorporate the whitewater park. We’re eff ectively bringing the mountain to Mohammed.”

Mr Jeff rey says the outdoors industry has been heavily involved in almost every aspect of the facility, and qualifi cations and planning has been supported through dialog with the New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association (NZOIA) and a partnership agreement with the Auckland University of Technology’s Outdoor Education department.

He says recreational paddlers will need to pass a basic competency test before using the grade IV river or waterfall, while every rafting trip will have a qualifi ed rafting instructor on board.

This will help visitors build valuable whitewater skills that can be used in the

Intrepid kayaker takes on

the Olympic grade course



outdoors, and the facility will also provide jobs in Auckland for those wishing to become professional outdoor instructors.

“It’s interesting. I think it will see a lot of people coming to Auckland. Traditionally, the die-hard paddlers from around the country have had to go to places like the University of Otago, so it’s great to be able to provide this sort of experience on the doorstep of most Aucklanders. Of course the weather’s a bit warmer up here as well.”

Four-time Olympic gold medallist and owner of Ferg’s Rock and Kayak Ian Ferguson, MBE has been engaged as Wero’s General Manager of Whitewater.

In a December 2014 interview with the New Zealand Herald, Mr Ferguson said the facility would inspire a new generation, and provided a vital link for learners without whitewater experience to develop their confi dence.

“It’s a really important facility for building confi dence for young people. They’ll be the bulk of people that come through.

“It’s going to be an amazing course ... when kids come and see this, they’ll just want to jump straight in.”

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN URBAN AREAS AND THE OUTDOORS

A recent Statistics New Zealand projection shows that by 2021, 74 per cent of New Zealanders will live in main urban areas. With a greater concentration of a growing population in urban areas, maintaining a valued outdoors culture will be a challenge for New Zealand’s recreation providers and planners.

New Zealand Recreation Association Outdoor Recreation Project Manager Kim Willemse said as New Zealand becomes more urbanised, planners will need to think outside the box to deliver accessible outdoor experiences to people living in urban centres who may not be able to participate due to the cost of travel and gear hire.

Ms Willemse said there are two trains of thought – that purists are concerned the facility is an expensive way of sanitising the outdoor experience as it’s not actually in a wilderness, while others think it will provide a safe environment for people to have an enjoyable experience where other opportunities may not be readily available.

She said if they are well planned and executed, facilities like Wero can provide a vital link between urban centres and the outdoors, increasing community participation and enriching the lives of participants.

The NZRA Green Pavlova conference, held in June, illustrated how changes in demographics will aff ect the makeup of our communities, with high levels of net migration predicted, especially in areas that are already highly urbanised, Ms Willemse said.

With increasing use of technology and a growing infl ux of people who may not have the background to develop the necessary outdoor skills and knowledge to behave responsibly in the outdoors, she said it is important for the outdoors industry to provide a solid foundation, not just of skills but also in terms of education.

She said it was hugely important to provide attractive opportunities to improve participation rates in young people and help them avoid sedentary lifestyles, especially in those high deprivation communities that traditionally have lower rates of participation. The importance of

A team eff ort!



providing opportunities for communities with low rates of participation has been acknowledged by Sport NZ and included in its Strategic Plan 2015-2020.

“I see facilities like this one as a gateway experience that can inspire a lasting love of outdoor experiences”, Ms Willemse said.

“I think it will be great from the perspective that it’s accessible, and it might be that ‘fi rst taste’ that gives people a love for the outdoors for the rest of their lives. The key will be the cost. It would be disappointing if target groups like low decile schools are not able to pay.”

While the Auckland area has the population base to be able to legitimately attempt large-scale projects such as the Wero facility, Ms Willemse cautioned smaller areas may not be able to justify construction on the same scale, and said working together is key to identifying the correct opportunities for local delivery of recreation across diff erent regions.

She said organisations, government, local authorities, schools and communities need to collaborate on projects of this nature through proper consultation so initiatives can be catered to and guided by the communities they are built within. In this way these initiatives can succeed and communities can fi nd meaningful recreation opportunities.

She compared the Wero concept to existing facilities like Auckland’s Snowplanet indoor ski facility, and other new concepts like the Christchurch Bike and Adventure

Park planned for the Port Hills.“We’re keeping our eyes on the new

mountain bike park in Christchurch. I think it’s an awesome, innovative idea that will strengthen New Zealand’s presence on the world stage.

“As with Wero, these sorts of world-leading initiatives will give us a solid base to work from. People like fl edgling kayakers can build up a level of skill they can’t achieve from learning a few basic strokes in the local swimming pool, while elite

athletes will have somewhere accessible to train on a more regular basis.”

Ms Willemse said projects of this sort are thinking ahead in considering how they can raise engagement of urban New Zealanders in the outdoors and starting these initiatives now.

She said with the appropriate level of forward thinking, New Zealand can stay at the top of the game with a culture that supports great outdoor experiences – and that can only be a good thing.

Another successful run completed.

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We know green space in our cities has a number of benefi ts such as cooling our cities, mitigating the

eff ects of climate change, providing cleaner air and creating usable recreational areas that all communities can enjoy, making us healthier, happier and more productive. Currently, however, in our cities green space is in decline.

The 202020 Vision, a collaborative initiative of all-levels of Government, business, not-for-profi t and academic sectors is addressing this by working together to see our cities greener, healthier, happier and more productive places for all.

Recently, the City of Melbourne, Victorian Government and 202020 Vision launched Australia’s fi rst comprehensive guide to growing and maintaining tree populations in urban areas.

Chair of the City of Melbourne’s Environment Portfolio, Cr Arron Wood,

referred to the “How to Grow an Urban Forest” as a 10-step guide to developing and maintaining urban tree populations. “This guide will provide a vital resource for urban councils across Australia. It will help them strategically plan for and develop healthy urban forests to create liveable and climate resilient cities and towns.”

Inspired by the award-winning City of Melbourne’s Urban Forest Strategy, which aims to increase the city’s canopy cover from 22 per cent to 40 per cent by 2040, the guide is the fi rst solution of The 202020 Plan – the national plan providing a roadmap to increase and improve currently declining urban green space by 2020 – to be rolled out.

An urban forest comprises all trees and other vegetation within a town or

202020 VISION

Moreton Bay Fig tree

avenue Melbourne credit

City of Melbourne

ONE STEP CLOSER TO ACHIEVING 20% MORE AND BETTER URBAN GREEN SPACE BY 2020

city and the soil and water that supports it. It incorporates vegetation in streets, parks, gardens, plazas, campuses, river and creek embankments, wetlands, railway corridor, community gardens, balconies and roofs.

Urban forests provide critical ecosystem services such as air and water fi ltration, shade, habitat, oxygen, carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling. The urban forest also provides opportunities for experiencing a connection to nature, something that is often perceived to be missing in the urban areas.

The benefi ts of urban forests span environmental, economic, cultural and political domains. These benefi ts are interrelated, with each cumulatively feeding into the creation of more resilient and sustainable urban communities.

“INDUSTRY EXPERTS ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE MULTITUDE OF BENEFITS INCREASING AUSTRALIA’S URBAN GREEN SPACES WILL HAVE ON FUTURE GENERATIONS.”

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Industry experts are excited about the multitude of benefi ts increasing Australia’s urban green spaces will have on future generations.

“Let’s face it good results come from good planning and strategic delivery. Creating a thriving and long-lasting urban forest that will deliver a multitude of benefi ts over many generations is no diff erent, but where to begin?

“This initiative should be seen as a game-changer. Not only because of its value as a planning tool, but as an example of how a shared approach to tackling seemingly big issues can make them so much more achievable,” said Josh Byrne, Director of Josh Byrne & Associates.

Given the pressure on governments to plan for greater populations, increased urban density and climate change adaptation, there is a clear opportunity to communicate the importance of urban forests in creating resilient, sustainable cities that improve community health and provide enjoyable places for people to live and work.

City of Melbourne’s Yvonne Lynch will be hosting a “How to Grow an Urban Forest” master class at Parks and Leisure Australia’s 2015 National Conference (25-28 October, Sydney). To download the guide go to: 202020vision.com.au

Native Norfolk Island Pine trees, Docklands Melbourne Credit- Shanon Reddaway

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Wellbeing and healthy lifestyles, park and facility management, and organising large scale

community recreation events are just some of the topics speakers will cover at the NZRA National Conference from 18 to 20 November.

The theme of the conference, which will be held in Wellington at Te Papa, the national museum and art gallery of New Zealand, is Navigating Recreation. Around 250 delegates are expected to attend.

“The National Conference is an important event for New Zealand recreation,” said NZRA Board Member and Conference Convenor Alison Law. “It will enable people from the recreation industry to consider contemporary issues and challenges, identify opportunities for collaboration, share knowledge and improve the way recreation is planned and provided.

“The event will include national and international experts, with opportunities for attendees to extend their thinking and develop new approaches, and will also celebrate the year’s successes and special moments.

“Recreation is a core service contributing to the wellbeing of individuals and communities. Recreation professionals need to continually address challenges faced by changing community profi les, sustainable management of facilities and open spaces, and balance exciting recreation activities with the need for safe practice,” said Ms Law.

The conference will cover four main themes:• Wellbeing - Recreation as a key

contributor;• Places and Spaces - Enabling a wide

range of recreation experiences in a sustainable way;

• People - The changing nature of the people of Aotearoa – demographic change and the longer term planning and provision of recreation; and

• Risk – Managing risk as part of the recreation experience, and in terms of health and safety.

As well as speakers from throughout New Zealand, the conference will feature a number of international speakers. Among them is USA-based Michael Eubank, who has been involved in development and consulting roles for more than 20 years.

His current consulting role with the City of Boulder includes project management of the development and programming of the new 42-acre Valmont Bike Park. Mike’s presentation will cover the growth in mountain biking popularity and new strategies for bike park design, use and operations that promote healthy active lifestyles.

Australian speaker Nick Cox has more than 25 years’ experience working in the aquatics and recreation industries. He is the former CEO of YMCA Australia, and current CEO of Belgravia Leisure. His session will demonstrate how recreation providers’ can use the International Association of Public Participation’s model to drive better customer engagement and participation.

SOME OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS ON THE FOUR THEMES INCLUDE:Spaces and Places

Myfanwy Emeny leads the Urban Ecology team at Wellington City Council. She works closely with the Wellington community to explore and resolve the complexities around biodiversity management in an urban environment, and is passionate about connecting people back to nature. Her presentation will focus on creating a city where everyone can access nature and enjoy recreational opportunities.

COUNTDOWN TO NZRA NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2015

“RECREATION PROFESSIONALS NEED TO CONTINUALLY ADDRESS CHALLENGES FACED BY CHANGING COMMUNITY PROFILES, SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF FACILITIES AND

OPEN SPACES.”

Photo by Fraser May

View of Wellington from

Tanic Gardens


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Wellbeing

Professor of Public Health Grant Schofi eld works at the helm of the Human Potential Centre at Auckland University of Technology. Grant’s research and teaching interests are in wellbeing and chronic disease prevention, and his presentation will focus on ways of helping people to live long and happy lives.

Risk

Kirsten Malpas, a Senior Injury Prevention Specialist at the Accident Compensation Commission, will facilitate an interactive session exploring issues about safety

and risk. Her presentation will cover the challenge in striking the right balance between the recreation industry and individual’s role in determining what safe looks like, and how can we make safety a core part of an activity without taking away the fun.

People

Sasha McMeeking has an academic background as a lecturer at the University of Canterbury and political edge gained from experience as General Manager of Strategy and Infl uence at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Sacha will talk about being

a change agent, and breaking through barriers to change.

NZRA Awards

A major feature of the conference will be the NZRA Awards Dinner, which will be held at the Michael Fowler Centre. These prestigious awards, held annually since 1991, recognise individuals, organisations, programs, and facilities that have made exceptional contributions to improving recreation and sport for New Zealanders.

Last year’s winners included the KiwiSport Fundamental Movement Skills program run by Hutt City Council,

CONFERENCE FIELD TRIPSThe conference fi eld trips will provide delegates with an opportunity to add to their experience of the Wellington region. When registering for the conference, delegates can choose from the following options:

EASTERN PARKS TOURFocussing on Te Motu Kairangi, at

the northern end of Miramar Peninsula, this walking tour will visit the proposed national heritage destination, Te Motu Kairangi Park on 86 hectares of ex-Defence land.

Delegates will also visit Shelly Bay before exploring the coastal reserve network and fi nishing at Oruaiti Reserve, where a major restoration project is underway with a new track network, signage and long term ecological restoration plan in place.

COOLEST LITTLE CAPITAL SPACESStroll along the waterfront in the coolest little Capital in the World. Development of this area has created a distinctive promenade from the Railway Station to Oriental Parade, linking Waitangi Park with its unique wetlands and the soon to

be redeveloped Frank Kitts Park, featuring a Chinese garden.

The tour will wind its way up Victoria Street to view the results of a transformation project that has improved cycling and walking experiences, and created two pocket parks through an area that is developing into an inner city education hub with increased residential living.

The tour ends at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, opened on 18 April 2015. Development included putting Buckle Street underground to create a unifi ed national memorial precinct and strengthen the area’s heritage value.

THE COAST WITH THE MOSTThis Kāpiti Coast fi eld trip begins with a visit to Queen Elizabeth II Park, where Greater Wellington Regional Council staff will talk about their work to implement a Sustainable Land Use Plan to balance the natural values and farming operations on the park. Delegates will be able to view restoration planting sites, historical features and aspects of evolving farm practices.

The fi eld trip will then continue to Otaraua Park – a 60ha reserve that Kāpiti Coast District Council plans to transform into a regional sport and recreation hub.

The trip fi nishes with a guided tour

of the Coastlands Aquatic Centre. The centre features the latest technology in pool design, and is the fi rst aquatic centre in Australasia to have a translucent roof, reducing energy costs and creating the feeling of being in an outdoor pool.

ADVENTURE, FEAR AND FUN IN PORIRUADelegates have the choice of exploring Bothamley Park, where Porirua City Council is transforming an under-used open space into an attractive, safe and inviting area for users, or visiting Adrenaline Forest Adventure Park to have a go on the high ropes course and explore challenges faced by operators, as well as threats and opportunities for the future.

LIVING WELL IN LOWER HUTTHutt City Council has invested in several developments in their region, among them is Fraser Park Sportsville, a 27ha park, which is the Council’s fi rst sports hub and provides shared facilities for several local sports clubs.

Delegates will also visit the Taita Centre, which includes Walter Nash Stadium, where a collection of rundown buildings are being transformed into a modern community hub.

Image Courtesy of The

Museum of New Zealand -

Te Papa Exterior



the TSB Festival of Lights in Taranaki and Community Leisure Management Managing Director John Latimer, well known for leadership in the sector.

“The awards are a chance to showcase the excellence achieved by hardworking recreation professionals, organisations and volunteers that provide us with opportunities to get active and enjoy ourselves,” Ms Law says.

Conference workshops

A special feature of the conference will be two workshops – Career Confi dence for the Working Woman and Building a World-

Leading Community Sport System. The fi rst workshop aims to empower women in the sport and recreation industry, and to boost career confi dence by thinking about women’s career and leadership plans in the context of a woman’s whole life.

In the second workshop, delegates will join with members of Sport New Zealand’s Community Sport Team to learn more about the importance of putting the participant at the heart of their decisions.

The aim is to show delegates how to develop a better understanding of what future workforce needs may be, explore the principles that underpin local

community sport system development, and the importance of guiding investment and decisions for better spaces and places to play sport.

In addition to the conference program, a selection of fi eld trips have been arranged to provide practical professional development which will add to the delegates’ conference experience.

Registrations for the conference close at 5pm on Friday 6 November 2015.

For further information about the conference and the awards, please visit www.nzrecreation.co.nz or email [email protected]



water usage but also trigger alarms and the shutdown of systems if an over or under fl ow condition is recorded.

Level Sensors

Often not included is the installation of level sensors in tanks or dams. These give the operator the ability to identify if the system’s programming is exceeding the storage capacity and recovery rate.

Pump Control Integration

Regardless of the type of system that might exist, a very simple and useful addition is to have the system wired so that if a fault may cause the pump to shutdown, the irrigation system shuts down. I would estimate that more than eighty percent (80%) of all irrigation systems in Australia where a pump is used, do not automatically shut down if a pump fails. The result being the system continues to operate which can lead to fl ooding or damage.

Central Control Systems (CCS)

As wireless communication and transmission speeds have increased, the use of internet and cloud-based programs has given park managers the ability to have remote access and control over any site service. These can include irrigation, fi eld lighting, hot water heaters, toilet cisterns, barbeques and security.

Data collected over the years has shown that by installing a CCS the average water saving is about twenty per cent (20%), mainly due to the system making it easy for a single operator to globally adjust or shutdown systems.

Many of the newer systems available off er the convenience of internet or cloud based control, allowing an organisation to

Water, everything living thing needs it. Yes, there are other very important jobs we need

it for such as fertilisation, drainage and maintenance practices, but the simple fact surrounding water is that every living thing needs it. The problem facing councils is that the growth in our cities and the increased population density has increased the demands on existing infrastructure to supply a safe and reliable potable water supply. This in turn increases pressure on the authorities to restrict non-potable usage.

When mandatory water restrictions were introduced in the 2000’s as dam levels dropped, high water users were forced to look for ways to reduce their water consumption. This meant that for the fi rst time, water saving was a key factor in both capital and maintenance costs.

The fact that only about one per cent (1%) of the world’s fresh water is easily accessible, and we have a growing population, means that we need to fi nd smarter ways to conserve and manage our water usage, regardless of it being potable or not.

Taking a very simplistic approach to the question “how long do I need to water?” you need to be able to answer the following questions:

1. How much water needs to be available for the plant stock to survive?

2. How much water does my irrigation system apply?

3. How quickly does my soil drain?4. What is the weather forecast?

Now if you asked these same questions to diff erent people about the same site, I would almost guarantee you will get diff erent answers. What is needed is a way to quantify the answers, and have these answers be relevant to the site in question.

In recent years there has been a marked increase in the number of water saving technologies released. These range from moisture sensors, fl ow sensors, weather stations and central control systems, all of which are to help the operator make a more informed decision.

Sensors

Generally sensors fall into two categories, either analogue or digital. Analogue sensors use a changing voltage to indicate changes in measurements and are best for real time monitoring including pressure, instantaneous fl ow and soil moisture.

Digital sensors can be an ‘on or off ’ type or a ‘pulse’ type. They are used to indicate the state of another piece of equipment, such as a pump running or a pump fault. The other use is as a counting device, similar to a water meter or rain tipping bucket, where every time the switch is closed it is counted and then totalised over a time.

Moisture Sensors

Moisture sensors are hand held units with a GPS and data logging capability to the fi xed installation type which then connects directly to an irrigation controller. As with water and fl ow meters these can be either a digital type, which are set to indicate when a predetermined moisture content is reached, or a more sophisticated analogue unit which gives real time data including soil moisture, salinity, ambient light and soil temperature.

Weather Stations

These can be as simple as rain shutoff devices, or as complicated as full systems that record all types of information such as rain intensity, humidity and solar radiation.

Flow Sensors

Available in both digital and analogue, fl ow sensors can be used to not only record

WATER: HOW MUCH, WHEN AND WHERE?WORDS: PETER BRUECK, WATER WISE CONSULTING

ET-System-Installed

IR1236 Turf Guard

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install a single controller and still have all the remote access features. This also means older systems can be slowly changed out.

I believe that the key to a system being effi cient is its ability to provide relevant information to the operator and to react when abnormal conditions occur.

By far the most important feature of any effi cient system is its ability to give the operator a true representation of how a site is preforming. By having a system that can control, monitor and, if needed, react to a system, the operator is able to easily make adjustments or decisions that can save thousands of litres of water but may also

prevent expensive repair costs.No matter what type of system or

sensors you might install, the most eff ective way to save power and water is for the operator to take ownership and use all the tools available to make a judgment. Think of it this way, if you have programmed to irrigate tonight, look out the window and consider if the day was as hot as expected, if rain is forecast and if you can reduce your watering by fi ve minutes (on average a playing fi eld irrigation system uses 300 litres every minute). If you do this every day, think of what you will have saved by this time next year.

By way of a simple example, an average single playing fi eld in Sydney will require approximately 180 kl of water per week in summer. If the operator was to alter the normal watering program by reducing its run time by one minute, this would save over 7 kl.

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We work together with the community, for the community. Because everyone should have the chance to get active, get healthy or simply get involved.

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Irrigation is a critical issue for managers of public open space, particularly in the Local Government sector. During the drought years

of 2004 – 2010, water access was the critical issue and where water was available for irrigating community sports grounds and parks it had to be managed carefully due to conservation imperatives. With the break of the drought, development of alternative water supplies including desalination plants has removed this driver for sound irrigation management, however, a new driver has emerged. The new imperative for sound irrigation management is cost.

The development of water security infrastructure and the associated costs has driven signifi cant increases in the cost of potable water across the nation. Where Councils are able to access alternative water supplies this also has high capital costs and is priced at approximately 70 per cent the cost of potable water. As an example the cost of SA Water mains water in Adelaide has risen by 208 per cent in the last 10 years with similar increases in other states.

To put this in perspective the cost of water in Adelaide is $3.36 per kilolitre. The irrigation requirement for a sports ground is approximately 5,000 kL per hectare. The

SPORTS GROUND MANAGEMENTA HOLISTIC APPROACH TO TURF AND IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT

WORDS: GERRY CHARLTON, DIRECTOR, IPOS

SA Mains Water Cost Increase 2006 - 2015

Year 2006/07 2009/10 2011/12 2013/14 2015/16

Cost $ / kL 1.09 1.88 2.75 3.23 3.36

Variance $ 0.79 0.87 0.48 0.13

Variance % 72% 46% 17% 4%

Variance 2006 - 2015 ($) 2.27

Variance 2006 - 2015 (%) 208%

Mains Water Cost (Adelaide) - AFL Football Oval (16,000 m2)

YearIrrigation

Requirement (kL/ha)

Area (ha)Total Water requirement

(kL)

Water Cost ($/

kL)Total Cost

2006 5,000 1.6 8,000 $1.09 $ 8,720

2015 5,000 1.6 8,000 $3.36 $ 26,880

cost, in 2015, of irrigating a football oval of 1.6 ha is $26,880 per annum, an increase of approximately $18,000 in 10 years.

Water use for irrigation is not discretionary and the increased cost must be met by Councils responsible for managing community sports grounds. Such increases have a signifi cant impact on Council budgets and cannot be funded through rate rises. They must therefore be met largely with existing funds. This puts pressure on park managers and can result in reduced water use or a reduction of other important

activities such as turf maintenance in an eff ort to reduce costs and meet budgets.

It is necessary to have a holistic approach to turf and irrigation management to ensure we are providing acceptable outcomes for the community.

The objective is to provide ‘fi t for purpose’ sport and recreational facilities for the community. Councils have a “duty of care’ to ensure sports grounds are safe and do not present unacceptable risk of injury to users. The important factors that Councils must consider are:

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SPORTS GROUND RISK MANAGEMENTA regular program of sports ground inspections must be in place to ensure hazards are identifi ed and risks controlled. Issues including pot holes, trip hazards, unpadded valve box covers, exposed sprinklers, inadequate boundary clearance all impact on the playability of the ground. A documented risk management system is essential. A case study outlining Council’s duty of care in relation to sports grounds, entitled “Negligence and the Condition of the Sports Field” (Uni Tasmania, School of Law) can be accessed on the internet at www.austlii.edu.au TURF MAINTENANCEIn order to maintain the turf to provide an acceptable ‘fi t for purpose’ facility, a sound turf maintenance program should be implemented aimed at maintaining turf health, soil structure, and surface

levels. A turf maintenance program includes mowing, de-compaction, sodding, top-dressing, thatch control, pest and weed control, fertiliser and soil nutrition.

The cost of basic turf maintenance program for a local community sports ground is approximately $14,000 per ha. Add to this the cost of water for irrigation at $16,800 per ha and the total cost of sports ground maintenance is approximately $31,000 per ha. The cost for a football oval of 1.6 ha is approx. $49,000. An example turf maintenance program is detailed below.

IRRIGATION MANAGEMENTAs irrigation is a signifi cant cost in the maintenance of sports grounds it is critical that all aspects of irrigation are managed eff ectively. Sound irrigation management requires attention to the following;

Irrigation System Performance – non performing irrigation systems waste water and produce sub-standard outcomes in relation to turf quality. Systems should be audited to determine performance and develop either upgrade or replacement programs as necessary.

“IN RELATION TO SPORTS GROUND MANAGEMENT WE NEED TO ‘MEASURE – MONITOR – MANAGE’ ALL ASPECTS OF OUR TURF AND IRRIGATION PRACTICES TO ENSURE WE

ARE EFFECTIVELY USING OUR RESOURCES AND MEETING OUR DUTY OF CARE IN THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES.”

Turf Maintenance Costs- Local Sports Ground (Adelaide)

Description Comment Unit Quantity Rate Total

MowingCylinder cut - 40 x per annum

Item 40 $ 90 $ 3,600

Irrigation Maintenance as required Item 1.0 $ 1,500 $ 1,500

De-compaction (Verti-drain / Coring / Earthquake )

1 per annum Ha 1.0 $ 800 $ 800

Top dressing (supply and spread) 80/20 sandy loam. Tonne 50 $ 45 $ 2,250

Weed Control as required ha 1.6 $ 300 $ 480

Fertiliser supply & spread 1 x per annum ha 1.6 $ 1,200 $ 1,920

Sodding Repair worn areas m2 200 $ 16 $ 3,200

Soil Test Annual Item 1.0 $ 200 $ 200

Total Turf Maintenance ha 1.0 $ 13,950

Total Water Cost 5,000 kL per ha kL 5,000 $ 3.36 $ 16,800

Total Cost $ per ha ha 1.0 $ 30,750

Total Cost AFL Oval (1.6 ha) ha 1.6 $ 30,750 $ 49,200



Irrigation System Maintenance – sound irrigation maintenance programs are required to ensure systems continue to perform at an acceptable level. Maintenance issues such as sprinkler alignment, uniform nozzle size, correct rotation and sprinkler operation should be checked regularly and repaired as required.

Irrigation Scheduling – it is critical that the irrigation schedules are set to meet plant water requirements and regularly adjusted according to local weather patterns. The use of ETo driven computerised irrigation control

systems, soil moisture sensors and other technologies assist in effi cient irrigation scheduling.

CONCLUSIONGiven signifi cant increases in costs and rising community expectations it is critical that we take a holistic approach to turf and irrigation in the management of sports grounds. Now more than ever before we must make decisions in relation to how we

allocate resources to achieve acceptable outcomes for the community. In relation to sports ground management we need to “measure – monitor – manage” all aspects of our turf and irrigation practices to ensure we are eff ectively using our resources and meeting our duty of care in the provision of facilities. An investment in sound management systems and technology enables us to eff ectively manage our turf assets.

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Bellarine Bayside is a public entity, one of over 1200 Committees of Management appointed by the Victorian

Government to manage Crown Land reserves. The organisation reports to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning with the area stretching 17 kilometres and 200Ha along the Northern Bellarine Peninsula

from Point Richards at Portarlington to Edwards Point in St Leonards.

The Committee of Management generates $6m annually in revenue raised through its holiday and caravan parks operations. These funds support 30 staff and provide the resources to maintain and protect natural and built assets along the coastline, which includes, six holiday parks,

two community halls, six boat ramps and15 playgrounds and environmental reserves. Like other committees of management, we receive no recurrent funding from local, state or federal governments, however we are one of the more fortunate committees with a stable income stream.

NORTHERN BELLARINEThe coast of the Northern Bellarine has changed since colonial times. Natural vegetation has reduced with surviving remnants off ering small areas of valuable habitat. In many locations exotic trees now grace the skyline, buildings, piers and roads have been constructed, along with other infrastructure and houses line almost the entire length of the foreshore.

The wide expanses of views across Port Phillip remain, including a distant view to the Melbourne city skyline that provides a unique point of orientation on the horizon. The headlands and cliff s are distinctive and the landscape has evolved a character that is much loved by locals and visitors.

There are important heritage features, places that tell of Aboriginal history and continuing connections and others that record colonial arrivals, the building of settlement, the development

COAST UNDER RENEWALWORDS: PAUL GANGELL, OPERATIONS MANAGER,

BELLARINE BAYSIDE COASTAL MANAGEMENT

Sandfencing installed along

St Leonards Foreshore, Paul

Gangell, Operations Manager.

St Leonards Creek pedestrian bridge

provides a much needed connection

for coastal trail users.

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of farming and fi shing as livelihoods and the enjoyment of the coast as a place for leisure and recreation.

Camping has occurred along the foreshore for many generations, with earlier unregulated seasonal campsites impacting on the diminishing local vegetation at the expense of water views. Over the last 30 years through state government policy the holiday parks have been defi ned to particular areas. With close to 1300 sites across the three townships, it makes for a signifi cant impact on the summer population and provides an important stimulus to the local economy.

As a community organisation, it has evolved over the last 20 years, with a more professional holiday park structure, but more importantly over the last 4 years there have been signifi cant strides.

Managing the foreshore environment didn’t extend further than cleaning toilet blocks and BBQs and mowing some of the long grass. There clearly wasn’t a focus on environmental management of the foreshore with the volunteer committee having limited experience in managing the local fauna and fl ora or the issues with coastal erosion.

The foreshore previously had many timber groynes that protected the soft erodible cliff s whilst also providing a

Revegetation of Portarlington

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sand bank. However, over time these have slowly fallen into disrepair or are no longer functioning or have been removed, in some part due to a lack of understanding of their importance, but also because of limitations in budget. Where there had been impacts through storm events, the foreshore was used as a dumping ground for building rubble, in the guise of coastal protection. The foreshore is littered with debris exposed after storm events, that exposes old boat sheds and huts that used to line the beaches.

BEACHMASTER SAND FORCEBellarine Bayside is trialling “Beachmaster Sand Fence” as a cost-eff ective product to protect vulnerable foreshores from further erosion. The fences provide a range of benefi ts through reducing wave energy along with the accretion of sand particles as they pass through the fence suspended in water. The fence also provides a physical barrier in high risk areas where cliff instability and high water have previously limited how access to the public can be prevented.

Other options such as rock revetments or timber groynes have a more permanent higher cost with higher risks of terminal scours occurring.

In 2012 with a Foreshore Management Plan and Master Plan nearing completion, it was clear that the organisation needed to change the direction. Community feedback was strong that resources needed to be targeting foreshore natural and built community assets.

I was appointed as Operations Manager in March 2012 and identifi ed

Portarlington Foreshore, Coastal fencing and

revegetation along with a recently installed

pedestrian bridge over stormwater drains.



very early on that coastal regeneration skills where lacking. I appointed a Coastal Conservation Offi cer Garry Kendell, with strong revegetation and also community engagement skills. The organisation was successful in obtaining many environmental grants that immediately lifted the organisations environmental credentials.

Targeted weed removal by “Green Army” and “Friends of Point Richards” provided the early-on opportunities for revegetation sites. Since then, over 40,000 local endemic species have been planted along the coastline using

volunteers, community groups and planting days. These actions alone have connected with a community that wants to see the foreshore repaired and looked after.

The recent completion of our “Vegetation Management Plan” has provided long-term strategic advice on priority weed management and protection and enhancement of our endemic vegetation.

As an organisation with a lineal parcel of land, managing access was always going to be a struggle. A number of residents wanted the

foreshore left “untouched”. But as the land manager, it’s about the greater picture, whilst also taking into consideration residents’ concerns and viewpoints.

Community connections play a very important part in linking coastal communities together, however, with a lineal strip of coastline that can be as narrow as 10 metres at low tide, in some areas this proves to be extremely challenging, particularly where we are trying protect and restore vegetation and also provide a shared pathway.

BELLARINE BAYSIDEMore recently, Bellarine Bayside has installed coastal protection fencing along 1300 metres of grassy foreshore. The area previously allowed vehicles to access up to the high water mark. The fence provides clear beach access points whilst using contemporary hardwood posts and wire to minimise the intrusiveness. Over 15,500m2 has been rehabilitated ($42k).

Portarlington foreshore timber bridges were built over three drainage outfalls, providing a signifi cant improvement to coastal trail users whilst also creating view points and improving pedestrian safety. The drains had previously limited the pathway locations and placed trail users in close proximity to the road ($35k).

St Leonards Creek Bridge, washed away over 10 years ago in a fl ood, was replaced this winter. The bridge provides a critical link to the Edwards Point community linking St Leonards. The bridge was constructed using ironbark hardwood timber and also included view points and resting areas ($50k).

Works are continuing to remove building and concrete materials from the foreshore. Consideration needs to be given to limiting adverse impacts from removing the material. By removing the rubble without considering wave action, storm events or damage to vegetation that has grown over past generations, in some situations, it maybe better left insitu.

Committees of Management can be challenging bureaucracies to work in - limited resources, (at times) demanding communities and committees along with state and federal government policies that can stifl e opportunities – however that is all part of the challenge.

As a community organisation and one of many Committees of Management across the Victorian state, it is about being resourceful and creative whilst also connecting with communities.



The Botanical Gardens of South Australia have gathered a wealth of information on native trees and other plants including

their appropriateness for planting in a range of environments and settings. Sharing and distributing this knowledge by conventional means is challenging as it requires presenting a matrix of climate, soil type and plant species related data in a way that is easily consumable. Such information is clearly invaluable to those responsible for the planning of plantings in any outdoor space across all the regions of South Australia and across a wide range of government, private and public sectors.

Plant Selector + was designed and developed to allow this data to be freely available as an online service. The database includes a comprehensive list that has been carefully screened to focus on native and exotic species that have low to moderate water requirements and that are non-invasive in their recommended areas. The ultimate aim is to promote the development of sustainable urban landscapes through improved plant selections.

The simple, clean mobile-friendly interface of the Plant Selector + hides the complexity of the underlying database that matches records against a comprehensive list of plant properties including physical appearance, suitable placement, purpose, soil and light preferences, growth habits, attraction for native fauna, common landscaping uses and other qualities and cautions.

Once an appropriate match has been found it can be saved to a wish list and shared or printed out.

The ‘always on’ nature of an online database also removes the necessity for having to maintain and distribute multiple static fi les such as spreadsheets. Updates are made in one location through a secure online environment and immediately available to all consumers.

Plant Selector + has received national recognition and interests from other state bodies and is a great example of how government can be involved in the development of online assets which facilitate positive change in our urban environments through informed and sustainable decision-making.

KWP!, the designers and developers of Plant Selector +, will be presenting at this year’s PLA National Conference in Sydney, discussing the importance of digital place making and the massive impact mobile technology has had, and will continue to have, on our online marketing strategies.

The Plant Selector + project has been assisted by the Local Government Research & Development Scheme and SA Water. Guidance and expertise has been contributed by: TREENET; State Flora plant nursery at Belair; Nursery & Garden Industry of South Australia; SA Water; local government representatives; independent landscape architects and designers; Botanic Gardens of South Australia horticultural staff ; and Friends of the Botanic Gardens of South Australia. For more information visit: http://plantselector.botanicgardens.sa.gov.au/

WORDS: BRYN LIEPINS, HEAD OF DIGITAL, KWP!

BUILDING VALUE ONLINE

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19TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE 25-28 OCTOBER, 2015

SYDNEY HILTON HOTEL, George Street, Sydney, NSW

FEATURING

Join us

Ben PeacockFounder 202020 Vision

John ConnorCEO, The Climate Institute

Clover MooreLord Mayor of

Sydney

Professor Paul James

UN Global Cities Programme

Roberta RyanCentre for Local

Government

Register Online: www.parksleisure.com.au

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki

An answer looking for a question

Indira NaidooAuthor, journalist,

presenter and blogger

Peter Baines In times of crisis true

by their actions and reactions

Adam WilliamsLeader of the team

designing and developing Rio2016 Olympic Park

Stuart O’GradyFormer World

Champion cyclist

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Monday Night Networking Dinner | Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner | Nine Technical Tour options | 45 trade exhibitions.

For more information: www.parksleisure.com.au or P: + 61 8 83320130

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When asked what Parks and Leisure Australia do, I say that we represent the people behind the

places, so why do we mention that? Well another question, have you ever wondered who are the people behind the master plans and the legacy programs from the biggest events in the world – the Olympic Games?

With over a seven-hour time diff erence, I spoke to Adam Williams in Rio de Janeiro- Brazil.

So who is Adam G Williams?

Adam is the Director for the AECOM Global Sports Group. Focussing on the design and delivery of major events and city programs such as the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the FIFA World Cup and Singapore Sports Hub, to stand-alone stadiums and arenas such as Otkritie Arena – Spartak Stadium, Al Wakrah Stadium, Sacramento Kings Sports and Entertainment Centre and Barclays Centre.

“Our work positions sports as integral to city development and urban renewal – bringing together cities and local communities, athletes and performers, fans and spectators to create sustainable, economically and socially viable environments.”

Adam is AECOM’s Project Director for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Park. The park comprises approximately 300 acres of land in the district of Barra de Tijuca, southwest of Rio. The park will host 15 Olympic sports competitions and 11 Paralympic contests.

What inspires Adam to get out of bed

and go to work?

He considers his most inspiring work in recent years to be the shaping of the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic Park, now called the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. “We created for London the largest park in 150 years. We set planning requirements for inclusive and aff ordable housing. We have set a new benchmark in urban regeneration.”

The experiences of London and Rio have revolutionised the way mega-events are hosted. These events were historically seen in isolation, an Olympic Games a vast happening with a great deal of anticipation, resources and spending all leading up to one fl eeting moment. In a resource-constrained world, this approach is no longer tenable.

“Sports projects are no longer just sports projects; they are regenerative initiatives. For civic leaders and policymakers, they are a means to an end—to urban transformation.”

Adam was asked why he considers sport to be the catalyst to creating resilient environments and communities...

“As we look to the future, the development of global sporting events will become an increasingly important driver in urban development patterns

NEW BENCHMARK IN URBAN REGENERATIONPLA NATIONAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEMBER

RACHEL THORPE TALKS TO ADAM G WILLIAMSand city renewal.

“Sports, and the built environment is required to support their play, it is much more than a game. The thrill of the spectacle can only take place if the movement of thousands of people has been properly sorted. The pride and tradition experienced at a sporting event can directly impact the growth of an economy; the roar of the crowd can inspire the future of a city.”

As countries embark to receive the world’s attention for high profi le international events, their cities and communities are up against an ever-higher bar to achieve strong results that last well beyond the games. Be it an Olympic Games, a FIFA World Cup or a Commonwealth Games, a successful host city is one that is transformed not just into a world stage, but into a lasting example of economic, environmental and social improvement long after the Games have ended. It’s a tall order - one that requires both an understanding of the big picture and the fi ner detail that can change a city and country’s destiny. For Rio and for Brazil, that time is now.

The most important question was

asked - How has your work shaped the

parks, environment and improved the

biodiversity of Rio?

Taking inspiration from the dramatic natural setting, energy and ambitions of Rio, the vision for the future of Rio

Singapore Sports Hub Image supplied by AECOM

“SPORT AND SPORTING MEGA-EVENTS HAVE BECOME A COMPELLING AND EASY-TO-GRASP WAY OF IMPROVING URBAN CONDITIONS. MEGA-EVENTS OFFER UNIVERSAL `

APPEAL WITH WORLDWIDE RESONANCE.

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is not just to create a global stage, but to create a new legacy district with homes, jobs and places for leisure activities. Rio is to become a global centre of sporting excellence, with a new Atlantica Forest Park and a thriving and beautiful waterfront. The site–roughly triangular in shape—is set against an extraordinarily beautiful backdrop of mountains, and overlooks the Jacarepagua Lagoon. Created by a team of economists, planners, landscape architects and stadium architects, the master plan designs grew from the idea of a new urban ecology deeply rooted in the culture of Brazil. The goal is to

deliver a unique and contextual solution for specifi c challenges in Rio, developing a new relationship between built form and environment based on sport, recreation, sustainability and ecology.

The landscape concept and the design of the public realm in the master plan took inspiration from the way the inhabitants of Rio embrace its nature and street life. The year-round sunshine aff ords a compelling mix of outdoor activities ranging from jogging around the lagoon, to beach futvolley and the crowded streets of Lapa. The carioca enjoys being outside like few others and this joyous and gregarious lifestyle

was beautifully captured in Burle Marx’s iconic designs.

The sinuous shape of the Olympic Way pays homage to the Brazilian master landscape architect in order to create an Olympic promenade unlike any other. The negative spaces defi ned by what became known as the ‘swiggle’ were designed as thematic green spaces, each having its own set of species characteristic to Brazil’s seven biomes.

The PLA community is excited to

hear about your journey at the

conference and how sport and leisure

are leading the way to create healthier

environments and creating the future

together. So the question was asked

what are you looking forward to?

There’s something remarkable about the power of sport. Not just that it is mesmerising to watch athletes and performers at the top of their game, but also that truly successful international events can change the course of a city’s destiny - that is where my interest is. I am excited about the conference because it will bring together passionate and enthusiastic practitioners who are working together to create healthier futures.

Adam will be addressing the audience on day three of the PLA National Conference (25 – 28 October), in Sydney. For more information visit: www.parksleisure.com.au

Rio 2016 - Olympic Master Plan Image supplied by AECOM

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GETTING TO KNOW TIM SARGENT

Meet Tim Sargent: Accountant, Business Advisor, Company Director, and newest PLA

Board Member. We spent some quality time with Tim to fi nd out what makes him tick (we know he doesn’t drink tea or coff ee, so it’s not caff eine…).

Tim Sargent (TS): I am a physically active person, playing cricket and golf, as well as going to the gym and doing long bush walks. I would prefer to go to the gym or play golf and sweat it out, rather than ‘going to lunch’. My active philosophy suits my personality, as I like being busy.

Well, you certainly put many of us to shame with your active lifestyle! Was this one of the reasons you joined PLA?

TS: I believe in healthy lifestyles and to do this, we need healthy communities. PLA are an organisation that can achieve this. I feel very lucky to be in a position where I can begin to give back to my, and other communities in Australia, through my involvement with PLA.

It has been reported that at your very fi rst PLA board meeting, you donated to the Norwood, Paynhem and St Peters Parks and Leisure cause in the form of a parking ticket? True or False?

TS: Unfortunately, this is true. Not my fi nest hour and as an accountant I do pride myself on attention to detail, but in this case, missed the important details on the sign!

Now that your fi rst PLA board meeting is ‘under your belt’, what is on your immediate ‘to-do’ list?

TS: Transformation is a key ideal for me. With my existing skills and expertise I can help the organisation become fi nancially stronger, which will enable growth.

The parks and leisure industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world and with changes in social values, the increase in population and urbanisation, people are being infl uenced as to where they go and how they spend their leisure time.

And your longer term plans within PLA?

TS: Creating more exposure for PLA is important, by amplifying the brand and the value system of the organisation. Ideally, PLA can be the key agency the government turns to on all things parks and leisure in Australia.

Is this what makes your team of directors, here in South Australia, such a good fi t for PLA?

TS: Absolutely. Boards and business advisory is in our DNA. We are passionate about helping people and by advising and working under the PLA umbrella, we will consequently help our members to stay ahead in this competitive and ever-changing industry by providing knowledge, skills and support.

Economically speaking, there are challenging times ahead, with funding a big issue for councils across Australia. What can be done to assist members?

TS: We were discussing some of these issues as a team just the other day and agreed there is huge pressure to manage the increasing expectations of service standards within the maintenance and management of parks, reserves and leisure spaces - all whilst operating on a tight budget. Through the collective skills and expertise of our directors; we hope to assist in a business advisory capacity to support members in navigating these types of issues.

We know our PLA members are the “people behind the places”; professionals that work across planning, policy, research and programs that provide assets, services and facilities to our communities. Our strengths are that our team can provide business advice for the real world with specialist services, especially for not-for-profi ts, that encompass audit and assurance, tax strategy and structuring and business strategy services.

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Ok, back to leisure and health! Let’s face it, we all like leisure, but it means something diff erent to everyone. What is your vision for leisure in Australia?

TS: There is a very powerful phrase that PLA uses on its website that states,

“Underpinning everything we do is the understanding that leisure is a basic human right and one that impacts the quality of life for all Australians.”

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if we could educate and inspire younger generations to seek a clean and healthy lifestyle. Our community areas, their facilities and programs have such an exponential role to play in the quality of our lives.

There is a societal disconnection between children and the natural world. Barriers such as traffi c, the commercialisation of childhood and health and safety issues such as stranger danger are keeping our children indoors and away from green spaces. Play is one of the most important social benefi ts and open spaces enable children to develop imagination and creativity, building cubbies and interacting with the natural environment. As I have children, these issues are very important to me. Yes, ‘free-range’ children are important!

What about for the rest of the community? How can our leisure activities and our parks and reserves impact us?

TS: The economic, health and social benefi ts to having access to quality green spaces in the form of parks and

reserves, are immense. Greener cities attract more visitors.

There is an increase in economic growth and investment, especially in tourism and land value.

Better health is linked to green space regardless of socio-economic status: rich or poor, your health is better!

Academic studies tend to support the relationship between well-maintained local parks and reserves and people’s sense of belonging. We all strive for strong communities as it ties us all together.

Final message for PLA members?

TS: Only that I’m looking forward to meeting many of our members at the National conference in Sydney later this year.

60 SECONDS WITH TIM SARGENT1. Favourite park in Australia?

The Cleland National Park

2. Why?

The walking tracks are spectacular with a multitude of diff erent lengths and levels of endurance – perfect for my active lifestyle!

3. Environmental cause of choice?

Keep Australia Beautiful

4. What do you on a daily basis that makes a diff erence?

Our family compost and recycle through our local council.

5. What makes your local council special?

Besides our recycling, it would be our green spaces!! We enjoy taking our children to the Sturt Football Ground for a kick of the footy and a run around.

Tim Sargent

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The “elder statesman” of Australian parks and recreation, Professor Elery Hamilton-Smith AM passed

away on Saturday 27 June as a result of complications associated with his Alzheimers condition. He was 85. A memorial service attended by nearly 200 of his family, friends and colleagues was held at St Francis Church Pastoral Centre in Melbourne on 1 July.

Elery was a man who lived many lives within one lifetime. He had many hobbies and careers including exploring caves and karst landscapes - which led to him achieving international recognition in the world of speleology (along with a world standard collection of cards and fi ne crockery focused on caves), youth

work and social research, natural systems management, and leisure research and planning. Always with a very strong sense of social justice, his expansive knowledge across parks, leisure, eco-tourism and of course caves and karsts was daunting. Elery was an untiring mentor to people from across a wide research spectrum and throughout his distinguished career was always willing to help with reference materials, names, contacts and other details.

Born in Shady Grove in South Australia on 28 December 1929, Elery was home-schooled through his primary years, excelling in reading and mathematics. He developed a strong social justice ethic and graduated from Adelaide University with a Diploma in Social Science in 1956. Moving to Melbourne in the late 1950s he worked on the Family Service Project

ELERY HAMILTON-SMITH AM with the Brotherhood of St Laurence, the

Victorian Association of Youth Clubs and the Victorian Ministry of Social Welfare. In the late 1960s, Elery established a consultancy, CPS Services (Community Planning & Survey Services) with this business successfully undertaking many youth and community planning studies.

Professor Hamilton-Smith came to recreation in a professional sense in the early 1970s as a result of his many years of involvement in youth work and social work and through his growing concern regarding the use, planning and management of natural resources especially caves and wilderness areas. From 1969-77 he was a social policy & planning consultant (with an honorary position as zoologist at the South Australia Museum) and his work included many studies on social policy and open space in Victoria.

In 1977 he joined the Leisure Studies Department at Phillip Institute of Technology (the predecessor to RMIT University) and taught a range of courses initially in the Graduate Diploma in Recreation and subsequently in Bachelor and Masters Degree courses, these being the fi rst in the fi eld across Australasia. Many current PLA members were students of Elery’s and benefi tted from his caring and insightful teaching and his always very practical ideas.

In 1994 Elery moved on to work with various other Australian and overseas institutions including the Melbourne and Charles Sturt Universities, and to run a range of courses through WLRA (now World Leisure) in the Netherlands and others in the US and Canada. He established a new consultancy, Re-think, in the mid-1990s, and developed an increasingly strong focus on natural area planning and management, providing national park development and planning advice to governments in eastern Europe, China and south-east Asia. At the same time however, he was heavily involved with play and the World Play Summit, held in Melbourne in 1993, and with several municipal recreation planning studies.

He undertook various national policy development studies, visiting professorships, Educational Fellowship with Government of Canada, work with UNESCO, WLRA Centre of Excellence (Wageningen), and Benefi ts of Leisure studies with the US Forest Service. In the 1990s Elery moved progressively from his interest in outdoor recreation into

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examining issues of sustainability and environmental studies; accepted a chair in environmental studies and worked as an advisor with both IUCN and the UNESCO World Heritage Bureau.

Internationally he led the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Caves & Karst Specialist Group for 12 years (1997-2009) and also advised on World Heritage Areas especially in Asia. In 2010, he handed these responsibilities over to a former post-graduate student and he had since been working on cataloguing and transferring his extensive collections of books, papers, ephemera, photographs, maps etc. (over one million items) to the National Museum of Australia.

Some will well remember a few of those he “networked” with - and who were lucky enough to meet passing through his lounge and dining room to share his knowledge, excellent cooking and quality wines. These included eminent international experts like: George Stankey, Stan Parker, Bev Driver, Gary Cross, Geoff Godbey, Steve McCool and Bob Graham, to name but a few.

Towards the end of his professional career he refl ected upon his life and Elery

attributed much of his success to his “Adelaide Diploma”:

“It has been an invaluable base which supported much of my reasoning and decision-making throughout my continuing and extremely diverse career. I have developed a remarkable range of skills in management of social policy and programs and have held a diversity of academic appointments, including professorial posts in Australia, North America, Europe and Asia. In all of these my only professional qualifi cation was the Adelaide Diploma and it has always served me every well.” He concluded by saying that his story was “an example of what was generally seen as a very minor element in the University program, yet served a number of us in making a signifi cant impact in our later careers.”

In 2001 Professor Hamilton-Smith was awarded the Order of Australia (AM), the citation for which reads “for services to conservation and the environment, particularly in the areas of national parks, wilderness, cave and karst management; to the development of leisure and recreational activities; and to the community as a contributor to

social policy development and through programmes dealing with youth issues”.

Addendum

In terms of key leisure-focused publications, Elery was the editor, contributor and/or author of dozens of papers and book chapters. Amongst his most important works were “The Demand for Recreation Workers (1973); Recreation Planning and Social Change in Australia”, co-edited with David Mercer (1980); “A conceptual model of how people adopt recreation activities”, Leisure Studies, vol. 1 no. 3, 1982, with J. Brandenburg et al; Recreation Benefi t Measurement (1990); Measuring the Benefi ts of Recreation, co-authored with Kate Driscoll, a background report to an Australian benefi ts workshop (1990); “The Construction of Leisure”, in the volume Benefi ts of Leisure, edited by B. L. Driver, Perry Brown and George L. Peterson and published by Venture Publishing in 1991; Urban Parks and their Visitors, co-authored with David Mercer for the Board of Works in 1991 as part of the fi rst-ever comprehensive research into the use of Melbourne’s metro parks (in association with Ken Marriott and Jan Bruce); Recreation and Wellness.

SOME PLA MEMBERS HAVE PROVIDED PERSONAL REFLECTIONS: Penny Davidson: Elery Hamilton-Smith was a mentor, colleague and friend, and I fi rst got to know him when he supervised my Masters. He so willingly shared his knowledge and aimed to inspire others to think deeply and critically. His breadth of knowledge across parks, leisure, tourism, health and of course karst was daunting. Elery initiated a karst management course through Charles Sturt University in the early 2000s, and frequently gave guest lectures to the parks students. He was also generous in his hospitality and openness. Elery would frequently recall his or colleagues adventures – many of them irreverent of rules which he felt got in the way of good practice. I remember visiting his house and being overawed by his library, but mostly that he could ponder that a particular chapter or article informed our current discussion and he would immediately select the item from the thousands of books and journals lining the four walls of his library.

Laurie Boyd: My association with Elery dates back to 1971 and he has been a person to which I have constantly respected and always found to be caring, thoughtful, strategic in his thinking but also very practical in

his ideas and chosen strategy – he did guide the ‘fi eld, the industry, educational institutions, government and all types of organisations’ through numerous changes, such as policy, structural, educational and professional development. I say thank you Elery for your wonderful life long contribution

Garry Henshall: I have known Elery Hamilton-Smith since the late 1970s and always recognised him as a Founding Father of the leisure industry in Australia. His early community research for the Victorian government lead to the establishment of the municipal recreation offi cer scheme along with the development of initial tertiary recreation courses at Footscray and Phillip Institutes of Technology. I was fortunate to share a number of discussions with Elery over the years and was continually amazed at the depth of “his knowledge of everything”. He was a quietly spoken man who always treated others as equals, never speaking down to people and always happy to share thoughts on issues and options. The global leisure industry has lost a progressive, holistic thinker.

Ken Marriott: My personal memories of Elery are all delightful because, to use one of his favourite words, he was a ‘wonderous’ person. Whether at home enjoying his excellent cooking,

or savouring his jams and pickles (we grew tamarillos together), driving in the country or just relaxing over a summer barbeque, he was great company, full of fascinating stories from amazing people and from far-fl ung places. And Angela was always there to prompt, guide, clarify, explain. It was Elery too, who could pick a text from the thousands of meticulously labelled fi les in his home library, fl ick to a key page and reel off a quote to make a point pertinent to the debate of the moment. And it was he who could devour a book in an hour but if he didn’t approve of the line of argument being put, “devour” the writer for a week. Elery was immensely supportive of good research but dismissive of cant. One of my well-remembered favourite lines from Elery in dismissing someone whose commitment and intellect was less than he considered it ought to be was “Ah, yes, X: he knows everything, so he learns nothing”. Ouch! Farewell great friend.

In a rich and evocative eulogy at the memorial service for Elery, his long-time friend and colleague Dennis Williamson, described him as “an accomplished networker”……. and that he most certainly was!

Thank you Elery for a wonderful contribution to parks and recreation!

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TITLE: Defi ning and measuring the social-ecological quality of urban greenspace: a semi-systematic review (2015)

AUTHORS: Ashlea J. Hunter, School of Environmental Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Albury Wodonga, NSW, Gary W. Luck Professor in Ecology and Interdisciplinary Science, Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, NSW

ABSTRACT

Various disciplines have examined the role of urban greenspace in delivering a wide array of social-ecological values to urban residents. This semi-systematic review of 50 studies assesses how links between the social and ecological qualities of urban greenspace have been measured to establish social-ecological values, and what qualities researchers have used to defi ne greenspace type. Our review identifi ed that diff erences in the defi nition and measurement of greenspace and its ecological and social

qualities can have a profound impact on interpretations of greenspace value. We argue that it is critical to acknowledge the heterogeneity among diff erent greenspace types, and to use suitable metrics of greenspace ecological and social quality accordingly. We present a heterarchical typology of greenspace qualities (rather than a hierarchical typology of urban greenspaces) that can be used to defi ne greenspace type and identify research clusters, gaps and emerging lines of inquiry into the social-ecological values of greenspace.

PUBLISHED: Urban Ecosystems, April 2015. Download article: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11252-015-0456-6 PRICE : US $39.95

TITLE: Toward Improved Public Health Outcomes From Urban Nature (2015)

AUTHORS: Danielle F. Shanahan and Richard A.Fuller , School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, QLD,

Brenda B. Lin, Commonwealth Scientifi c and Industrial Research Organisation Land and Water Flagship, Aspendale, VIC, Robert Bush, Julie H. Dean, and Elizabeth Barber, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, QLD, Kevin J. Gaston, Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, United Kingdom.

ABSTRACT

There is mounting concern for the health of urban populations as cities expand at an unprecedented rate. Urban green spaces provide settings for a remarkable range of physical and mental health benefi ts, and pioneering health policy is recognising nature as a cost-eff ective tool for planning healthy cities. Despite this, limited information on how specifi c elements of nature deliver health outcomes restricts its use for enhancing population health. We articulate a framework for identifying direct and indirect causal pathways through which nature delivers health benefi ts, and highlight current evidence.

RESEARCH CONNECTIONSRESEARCH – PARKS, ENVIRONMENT, BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION

PLA183_p068-073 Research Connections.indd 68PLA183_p068-073 Research Connections.indd 68 8/31/2015 2:23:04 PM8/31/2015 2:23:04 PM


We see a need for a bold new research agenda founded on testing causality that transcends disciplinary boundaries between ecology and health. This will lead to cost-eff ective and tailored solutions that could enhance population health and reduce health inequalities.

PUBLISHED: American Journal of Public Health | March 2015, Vol 105, No. 3. Download http://www.fullerlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Shanahan-et-al-2015.pdfPrice: FREE

TITLE: Extreme sports in natural areas: looming disaster or a catalyst for a paradigm shift in land use planning? (2012)

AUTHOR: Shelley Burgin Nigel Hardiman, School of Natural Sciences, University of Western Sydney , NSW

ABSTRACT

Historically, visitors’ motives for visiting protected areas included ‘rest, relaxation and reinvigoration’. Ecological impacts were typically low. Recent trends have increased use of protected areas for extreme sports, with greater numbers undertaking more active recreation, such as extreme sports. The eff ect of this trend is considered, together

with potential management options. We propose that the development of appropriately targeted and delivered educational programmes could minimise environmental degradation. However, to maximise ecological conservation in protected lands we consider that a major paradigm shift is required. This will require a more strategic, holistic approach to planning and managing outdoor recreation/sport destinations incorporating collaboration across stakeholders. Based on past experience, to continue with the current model will ultimately accelerate biodiversity loss, degradation of protected areas, and loss of recreational amenity.

PUBLISHED: online http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09640568.2011.634228#abstractPRICE: AU $40.00

TITLE: Sustainable development control? Zoning and land use regulations for urban form, biodiversity conservation and green design in Australia (2014)

AUTHORS

Nicole Gurran, Catherine Gilbert, Peter Phibbs, Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney, NSW

ABSTRACT

This paper examines how Australian land use plans incorporate provisions for sustainable urban form, design, biodiversity conservation, and climate change. Despite the long-standing sustainability objectives in state policy frameworks, a survey of 291 comprehensive plans fi nds implementation within local instruments is far from universal. Diff erences in patterns of policy adoption, as well as potential explanations for these diff erences, including geographical location, patterns of residential growth, the socio-economic composition of local communities, political forces, and policy evolution over time, are explored. Overall, areas experiencing more intensive growth tend to have newer plans, which in turn, contain more sustainability provisions, suggesting a responsive rather than repressive relationship between development pressures and regulatory development control.

PUBLISHED: online http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09640568.2014.967386#.VcqusCww-UkPrice: FREE

TITLE: Nature - How Do I Value Thee?: Let me count the ways (2015)

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AUTHORS: Gary Luck Professor in Ecology and Interdisciplinary Science, Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, NSW, Manu Saunders, Ecologist, Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, NSW

ABSTRACT

Ecologists Gary Luck and Manu Saunders explore one of conservation’s most pressing issues - how to value nature and acknowledge that value in ways that have social and political force.

PUBLISHED: Wildlife Australia, Volume 52 Issue 1, (Mar 2015), pp 38-39. Download http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=999892319797732;res=IELHSS PRICE: AU$8.00.

TITLE: Benefi ts that matter to managers: an exploratory study of three national park management agencies (2014)

AUTHORS: Brent D. Moyle, School of Tourism and Hospitality management, Southern Cross University, QLD, Betty Weiler School of Tourism and Hospitality management, Southern Cross University, QLD, Susan A. Moore, School of Veterinary and life Sciences, Murdoch University, WA

ABSTRACT

Understanding and conveying the benefi ts of providing visitor experiences in national parks is critical for their survival, but to date has received relatively little attention. This paper uses a series of semi-structured interviews and an online survey with senior/executive managers from three Australian parks agencies, as well as an analysis of corporate and strategic documents, to identify each agency’s strategic focus with respect to benefi ts associated with the provision of visitor experiences. Results reveal 39 personal and community-wide benefi ts that mattered for managers across the three Australian parks agencies. Key benefi ts identifi ed by senior/executive-level managers included accessing natural experiences, connecting with nature, and appreciating scenic beauty and the protection of biological diversity. These fi ndings can help inform communication designed to reposition national parks, which is critical if agencies are to remain viable as providers of recreation and leisure experiences in the twenty-fi rst century.

PUBLISHED: Managing Leisure, Volume 19, Issue 6, 2014. Download http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13606719.2014.910003#abstractPRICE US$40.00.

TITLE: Relating Social Inclusion and Environmental Issues in Botanic Gardens (2014)

AUTHORS

Asimina Vergou, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Richmond, UK, Julia Willison, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, UK

ABSTRACT

Botanic gardens have been evolving, responding to the changing needs of society, from their outset as medicinal gardens of monasteries and university gardens to more recently as organizations that contribute to the conservation of plant genetic resources. Considering that social and environmental issues are deeply intertwined and cannot be tackled in isolation from one another, a new challenge is now presented to botanic gardens: How can they redefi ne their purpose and expand their current roles in conservation, research, amenity and education in order to continue to be socially relevant? Empirical data regarding the impact of pilot community projects run by four UK botanic gardens show how it is possible in practice to address social, economic, political, neighbourhood, individual and group dimensions of exclusion whilst achieving public participation in plant conservation. This study presents the evaluation results regarding the outcomes of the Communities in Nature initiative which illustrated how botanic gardens can grow a social role and be socially relevant institutions that engage with their communities and address issues of social and environmental importance. Recommendations suggest that addressing social issues should target addressing the causes of exclusion as much as the eff ects.

PUBLISHED: Environmental Education Research (2014). http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13504622.2014.984161#abstract PRICE US$40.00

TITLE: Integrating Horticulture into Cities: A Guide for Assessing the Implementation Potential of Rooftop Greenhouses (RTGs) in Industrial and Logistics Parks (2015)

AUTHORS: Esther Sanyé-Mengua, Ileana Cerón-Palma, Jordi Oliver-Solà, Juan Ignacio Montero, Joan RieradevallInstitute of Environmental Science, University of Barcelona, Spain

ABSTRACT

Recently, the application of rooftop greenhouses (RTGs) to integrate agriculture into cities has increased, although the area where they can be potentially implemented has not been quantifi ed yet. Consequently, this paper aims to design a guide to evaluate the potential implementation of RTGs in industrial and logistics parks and to apply the guide to the case study of Zona Franca Park (Barcelona, Spain). Eight percent of the rooftops were identifi ed as feasible for a short-term implementation of RTG, according to the defi ned technical, economic, legal, and agricultural criteria. Estimations indicated that the annual tomato production in this area could account for almost 2,000 tons, which is equivalent to the yearly tomato demand of 150,000 people. Besides, this production could substitute imported tomatoes, and avoiding their distribution would represent savings of 65.25 t of CO2 eq·m−2.

PUBLISHED: Journal of Urban Technology. Volume 22, Issue 1, 2015, pages 87-111. Download:http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10630732.2014.942095#abstractPRICE: US$40.00

TITLE: Mapping the drivers of Climate Change Vulnerability for Australia’s Threatened Species (2105)

AUTHORS: Jasmine R. Lee, Ramona Maggini, Richard A. Fuller, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, QLD

ACADEMIC EDITOR: Ulrich Joger, State Natural History Museum, GERMANYEff ective conservation management for climate adaptation rests on understanding the factors driving species’ vulnerability in a spatially explicit manner so as to direct on-ground action. However, there have been only few attempts to map the spatial distribution of the factors driving vulnerability to climate change. Here we conduct a species-level assessment of climate change vulnerability for a sample of Australia’s threatened species and map the distribution of species aff ected by each factor driving climate change vulnerability across the continent. Almost half of the threatened species assessed were considered vulnerable to the impacts of climate change: amphibians being the most vulnerable group, followed by plants, reptiles, mammals and birds. Species with more restricted distributions were more likely to show high climate change vulnerability than widespread species. The main factors



NEW ZEALANDTITLE: Parks for Sport and Recreation’ Third Phase Evaluation of Impact Research Report (2014)

AUTHORS: Jo McFadyen & Glynis Longhurst Waikato Institute of Technology, Hamilton, NZ

ABSTRACT

In conjunction with Sport NZ goals and purpose of investment, a ‘Parks for Sport and Recreation’ project was implemented in June 2010, in the form of collaborative project by Sport Waikato and Hamilton City Council (HCC), along with Wintec and University

of Waikato and other relevant groups, as part of their ‘Active Communities Strategy’. The communities included in the ‘Parks for Sport and Recreation’ project were Fairfi eld, Crawshaw and Melville as they were identifi ed as low socio-economic areas that each had a Sports or Recreation Park available.

This project began by an attempted literature search for similar programmes and projects in other countries. Unfortunately, we were unable to fi nd readily available, published articles on specifi c park, sport and recreation projects within the project time restrictions. The following is a report

generated as the third phase of evaluation of the ‘Parks for Sport & Recreation’ project through participant observations in all three parks, as well as interviews with key stakeholders.

This is provided to HCC to inform the assessment of project performance, eff ectiveness and sustainability, along with providing further recommendations for future projects of a similar nature.

PUBLISHED: online. Download: http://researcharchive.wintec.ac.nz/3195/ Price: Free

driving climate change vulnerability were low genetic variation, dependence on a particular disturbance regime and reliance on a particular moisture regime or habitat. The geographic distribution of the species impacted by each driver varies markedly across the continent, for example species impacted by low genetic variation are prevalent across the human-dominated south-east of the country, while reliance on particular moisture regimes is prevalent across northern Australia. Our results show that actions to address climate adaptation will need to be spatially appropriate, and that in some regions a complex suite of factors driving climate change vulnerability will need to be addressed. Taxonomic and geographic variation in the factors driving climate change vulnerability highlights an urgent need for a spatial prioritisation of climate adaptation actions for threatened species.

PUBLISHED: To download the full report: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0124766 Price: FREE

TITLE: Planning, governance and rural futures in Australia and the USA: revisiting the case for rural regional planning (2014)

AUTHORS: T.H. Morrison, School of Geography, Planning & Environmental Management,The University of Queensland, QLD, Marcus B. Lane, Faculty of Arts, Education & Law, Griffi th University, QLD, Michael Hibbard, Department of Planning, Public Policy & Management, University of Oregon, Eugene, USA

ABSTRACT

Rural regions in post-industrial countries confront signifi cant new challenges, particularly in relation to climate, biodiversity, unconventional resource development and energy. Yet at a time when the contours of these challenges are still being sketched, and preliminary, planned interventions undertaken, the practice of rural planning fi nds itself at a low ebb. We examine two ‘critical cases’, one each from Australia and the USA, to explore the issues and options for capacity of rural regional planning to surmount these new challenges. Our examination indicates the urgent need for a renewed discourse on rural regional planning.

PUBLISHED: online 2014. Download http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09640568.2014.940514#abstractPRICE: US$40.00

TITLE: What is the role of trees and remnant vegetation in attracting people to urban parks?

AUTHORS: D. F. Shanahan, R. A. Fuller, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, QLD

ABSTRACT

Public parks commonly contain important habitat for urban biodiversity, and they also provide recreation opportunities for urban residents. However, the extent to which dual outcomes for recreation and conservation can be achieved in the same spaces remains unclear. We examine whether greater levels of (i)

tree cover (i.e. park ‘greenness’) and (ii) native remnant vegetation cover (i.e. vegetation with high ecological value) attract or deter park visitors. This study is based on the park visitation behaviour of 670 survey respondents in Brisbane, Australia, detailing 1,090 individual visits to 324 urban parks. We fi rst examined the presence of any clear revealed preferences for visiting parks with higher or lower levels of tree cover or remnant vegetation cover. We then examined the diff erences between each park visited by respondents and the park closest to their home, and used linear mixed models to identify socio-demographic groups who are more likely to travel further to visit parks with greater tree cover or remnant vegetation cover. Park visitation rates refl ected the availability of parks, suggesting that people do not preferentially visit parks with greater vegetation cover despite the potential for improved nature-based experiences and greater wellbeing benefi ts. However, we discovered that people with a greater orientation towards nature (measured using the nature relatedness scale) tend to travel further for more vegetated parks. Our results suggest that to enhance recreational benefi ts from ecologically valuable spaces a range of social or educational interventions are required to enhance people’s connection to nature.

PUBLISHED: Published online: 8 November 2014. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com. Download http://www.fullerlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Shanahan-et-al-2015.pdfPrice: Free



TITLE: Characterizing Stormwater Treatment Effi ciency at the Laboratory Scale for Eff ective Rain Garden Design (2015)

AUTHORS: An Liuab, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, China, Yizi Jianga, Cooperative Research and Education Center for Environmental Technology, Kyoto University-Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, China, Seok Dockkoc Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dankook University, Republic of Korea, Yuntao Guanad School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

ABSTRACT

Rain garden is one of the most important low impact development treatment systems of urban stormwater runoff . Unfortunately, the treatment effi ciency of rain gardens is not satisfactory due to the ineff ective design. This can be attributed to the lack of knowledge on

the relationship between the treatment effi ciency and infl uential factors. This research study characterized the stormwater runoff treatment effi ciency in laboratory-scale rain garden systems. It was noted that media types and pollutant species are two key infl uential factors of the treatment effi ciency compared to the operating parameters, such as pollutant infl uent concentration, operating time, and infl ow hydraulic loading. Additionally, the research results indicated the diff erence in treatment effi ciency for particulate and dissolved pollutants, and this is independent of media types and operating parameters. This implies that taking into account the targeted pollutant characteristics, such as solubility, should be preferred in the eff ective rain garden design.

PUBLISHED: Desalination and Water Treatment, Volume 54, Issue 4-5, 2015. Download http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19443994.2014.954002#abstract

PRICE: US$48.00

TITLE: Declining National Park Visitation: An Economic Analysis, 2014

AUTHORS: Thomas H. Stevens, University of Massachusetts, USA, Thomas A. More, University of Burlington, USA, Marla Markowski-Lindsay, University of Massachusetts, USA

ABSTRACT

Visitation to the major nature-based national parks has been declining. This paper specifi es an econometric model that estimates the relative impact of consumer incomes, travel costs, entry fees and other factors on per capita attendance from 1993 to 2010. Results suggest that entrance fees have had a statistically signifi cant but small impact on per capita attendance. Increasing fuel prices (travel costs) relative to income has had a more signifi cant eff ect suggesting that park policies reducing the cost of attendance may be desirable.

INTERNATIONAL

TITLE: Auckland’s local & premier parks: Community use and values (2011)

AUTHOR: New Zealand Tourism Research Institute

ABSTRACT

This report, prepared for Auckland City Council, focuses on resident use of Local and Premier Parks in Auckland City. The report also examines what Auckland City residents feel about urban parks and how they infl uence quality of life. Among the conclusions of the report are that parks play an essential role in the everyday lives of urban residents. Local and Premier Parks are both highly valued – but for reasons that diff er depending on demographic, family life cycle and residential factors.

PUBLISHED: online. To download http://nztri.aut.ac.nzPrice: Free

TITLE: Opportunities and Challenges for Peri-Urban Recreation in New Zealand’s Fastest Growing Cities (2013)

LEAD AUTHOR: Adrian Field , Synergia Ltd, NZ

ABSTRACT

As New Zealand’s urban population has grown, so too has the number of people living in the transition zone between rural and urban. These ‘peri-urban’ areas are often key sites of competing demands between recreation and other land uses, and also between diff erent types of recreation. This research explores the drivers and experiences of outdoor recreation in peri-urban areas in New Zealand’s three fastest-growing cities: Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga. The research provides insights on two areas of exploration:

Are peri-urban areas a potential area of signifi cant growth in demand and supply of outdoor recreation within the context of changing demographic trends and participation preferences?

• How do opportunities for outdoor recreation in peri-urban areas relate to those in areas further away from towns and cities?

PUBLISHED: online. Download http://www.srknowledge.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Synergia-report-Peri-Urban-Recreation-in-NZ-Cities-FINAL1.pdfPrice: FREE

TITLE: Voting with their feet: use of recreation sites on public conservation land and waters by New Zealanders (2015)

LEAD AUTHOR: Sven Schroeder, Department of Conservation

ABSTRACT

Voting with Their Feet describes New Zealanders patterns of visitation to Public Conservation Land & Waters at a national and regional level. It uses infographics to indicate the regions that visitors come from, and to describe regional visitor markets. Data is sourced from the Department’s Survey of New Zealanders an annual nationwide survey of 4200 New Zealanders and focuses on the top 60 destinations used by New Zealanders within public conservation lands and waters.

PUBLISHED: New Zealand Department of Conservation. Download www.doc.govt.nz Price: FREE



PUBLISHED: Journal of Leisure Research (2014) 46(2), pp 153-164. Download: http://js.sagamorepub.com/jlr/article/view/4820/4043 PRICE: Free.

TITLE: Coping with Climate Change in the Pacifi c Islands Region – Community Tourism and Climate Change in Vanuatu

AUTHORS: Dr Min Jiang, Professor Terry DeLacy, Adjunct Professor Steve Noakes, Victoria University, Vanuatu

COMMISSIONED BY: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

ABSTRACT

Tourism represents a signifi cant economic activity in the Pacifi c. It is one of the largest export sectors in the majority of the nations of the Pacifi c and provides great opportunities for economic growth, employment, and sustainable development. Tourism is vulnerable to a range of risks including natural hazards, economic downturns, health epidemics, market fl uctuation, etc. Due to it’s highly climate sensitive nature, Pacifi c tourism is identifi ed as a hotspot for major impacts of

climate change that will aff ect tourism destinations across the region and exacerbate natural hazards, markets, and other associated risks. As a main component of the regional programme ‘Coping with Climate Change in the Pacifi c Islands Region’ supported by GIZ in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacifi c Community (SPC), this project aims to strengthen the capacity of selected Pacifi c Island countries (Samoa and Vanuatu) to cope with climate change impacts and associated risks on the community tourism sector. This project is undertaken by a team from Victoria University, Melbourne (VU), Pacifi c Asia Tourism Pty Ltd., and local experts in Vanuatu. The main activities undertaken in the project include stakeholder consultation workshops, community tourism initiative mapping, risk analysis and vulnerability assessment of two selected community tourism initiatives, and implementation of adaptation measures in the two selective community tourism initiatives (Havannah Harbour and Ngune-Pele Islands).

Research objectives and likely signifi cance to stakeholders Research

objectives of the project include: 1) Review and refi ne frameworks for understanding and assessing vulnerability of community tourism to climate change risks, 2) Undertake vulnerability assessments of community tourism in two selected study areas, develop and prioritise adaptation strategies, and 3) Implement adaptation strategies in the two selected community tourism initiatives, and evaluate the eff ectiveness of the implementation. The vulnerability assessment and adaptation implementation are both based on stakeholder engagement and participation, through which stakeholder interests and priorities, and local knowledge are incorporated in the activities. The adaptation strategies implemented in the two community tourism initiatives have a strong focus on awareness raising, training, and capacity building, contributing to increasing the communities’ resilience to a range of risks that face tourism including climate change.

PUBLISHED: To obtain a copy of the full report contact Wulf Killmann wulf.killmann @giz.de

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PLA Advisory has recently been joined by Martin Lambert. Marty is very active in PLA: he sits on the National Board, he’s

President of Qld and now acts as the National Board representative on PLA Advisory. It is fantastic to have Marty’s input both from a point of view of his experience in the industry and also in providing a close connection to the National Board. It is also great to have a ‘new’ perspective on our approaches and strategies.

A new endeavour of PLA Advisory is supporting the National Offi ce in the endeavour of providing members with an online discussion forum. In discussions with the assistance from our friends at KWP!, it was decided to off er a PLA LinkedIn Discussion Group. Liam Cole, is leading a pilot discussion group, which will be opened to all members soon. Keep an

eye open for your LinkedIn Discussion group invitation.

You may remember that we have established a Climate Change working group. This group is drafting a structure for a position paper, and will be holding a climate change workshop at the National Conference in Sydney, October. If you aren’t able to attend the conference and/or workshop there will be other opportunities to provide input or contact the chair of that group directly: Richard O’Byrne - [email protected].

The research working group will also be holding a workshop at the National Conference which will outline the results from the PLA member survey (held over August asking for your feedback on research information needs) and exploring potential recommendations to address the issues and preferences raised. A report from the survey will be made available to the members

PLA ADVISORY NEWS

WORDS: PENNY DAVIDSON, CHAIR PLA ADVISORY

INTRODUCING BEN BAINBRIDGEPLA Advisory would like to introduce you to Ben Bainbridge, member of PLA Advisory Executive.

Ben Bainbridge is currently Recreation Offi cer, Recreation and Active Living for the Yarra Ranges Council, and joined PLA Advisory executive in 2014.

Ben has worked in Local and State Government as well as a consultant in the recreation industry for 15 years; so he has been on all sides of the fence (private and public) (Local and State Government). As part of these roles he has undertaken strategic planning, fundraising, capital development and program management roles. All roles have linked to the sport and recreation, health, planning and government sectors.

Never idle, Ben also sits on the PLA Vic/Tas Board, playing a key role in developing advocacy positions and partnership agreements with industry partners. And, in addition, is one of a select group of six Recreation Managers represented on the AFL Local Government Reference Group.

later this year. Again. If you aren’t able to attend that workshop but would like to input, please contact Penny Davidson – [email protected]

Deakin University researcher, Dr Kah-Ling Sia, has begun collecting data for the project: Health benefi ts and associated economic value of parks and park use in Australia. Results from this project will likely be available early 2016. PLA has also been invited to sit on the Advisory committee for a Sydney based research application examining health and economic benefi ts of parks and open space led by Dr Thomas Astell-Burt. It will be some time however before we know if this project was successful in attaining funding.

PLA183_p074 Advisory News.indd 74PLA183_p074 Advisory News.indd 74 8/31/2015 3:19:41 PM8/31/2015 3:19:41 PM

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