SUMMER 2014

Streets Alive

Welcome to the Summer 2014 edition of the Streets Alive newsletterThis last year in Sydney has been remarkable for the weather as shown at Observatory Hill. In 2013 we broke records for the highest winter mean (14.9 C, 2 degrees above average), the highest mean winter maximum temperature (19.4, 2.4 above) and the highest mean winter minimum temperature (10.4, 1.6 above). If your Jacaranda or Wisteria fl owered early this year, that’s probably

why. On the other hand we had average rainfall this year. It’s been a bit sporadic though with much of it falling in two big events over winter.The picture gives us a couple of hints about what to do in the garden: mulch, water deeply and select perennials and annuals for their ability to withstand hotter summers.

Communities making our streets living spaces

NEWS

Stingless Bees workshop

In October, Stingless bees experts Tim Heard and Tony Goodrich were enticed from the warmth of Queensland to the Coal Loader Sustainability Centre for a workshop on native stingless bees. The workshop was a joint eff ort between North Sydney and Willoughby City Councils. It was a great way to spend a day and learn about the under-appreciated social life of native bees. Here Tony demonstrates how to propagate a hive through division. You can see a native hive under the back veranda of the Mess Hall at the Coal Loader.

highlights in 2013

Education

Corporate planting VM Ware Community Day

It’s a pleasure to get corporate groups involved in improving council land in North Sydney. The working bees require a lot of preparation, but the opportunity for a company to show it’s citizenship and create a bond in it’s workforce makes it worth it. This group of IT specialists spent half a day mulching and weeding at Brennan Park.

highlights in 2013

Business bonding

Communities making our streets living spaces

highlights in 2013

On the planning board

Forsyth Park CG

With increasing interest in home grown produce, food

security and community involvement, a community

garden has been proposed for Forsyth Park, Neutral

Bay. It would be situated on top of the northern tank

at the eastern end of the park. With plenty of sun and

easy access it’s ideal for the purpose. The plan above

is the latest drawing of the project, which is due to be

put to Council at its March meeting.

SUMMER 2014

With years of dumping , local residents had become frustrated with this underused corner. A proposal and concept were put together and following consultation a working bee was held in October. The photos here show the transformation from dumping ground to green landscape.

CARABELLA & PEEL STREETS KIRRIBILLI

Greenway Tenants Group and a few of their resident green thumbs are determined to make the award-winning housing estate something to be proud of at Greenway’s 60th anniversary in March. Council has helped by clearing the woody weeds from the front garden and lending tools and advice. A lot of hard work has gone into this landscaping eff ort this year.

GREENWAY PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE, KIRRIBILLI

Before

After

Around the groups

Around the groups

The Coal Loader Community Garden’s executive has changed from late in 2013. Instead of one chair, the many practical and administrative tasks have been shared around to several people in the group. Here they enjoy morning tea at their regular Wednesday morning meeting.

CLCG GROUP

Communities making our streets living spaces

There were several working bees held in Margaret Street Reserve in 2013, building on the great work from 2012. There is more to be done and we are working with a landscaper to tame the lower section with retaining elements. Here the group takes a well-earned tea break.

MARGARET STREET NEUTRAL BAY

Carrying on from the improvements in Iredale Avenue, Colleen was keen to carry through into this sad little patch at the rear of 58 Kareela Road. Following some fence repair and replacement and sandstone work, planting was carried out on a wet Saturday in November. We just got fi nished when the heavens opened up, giving the plants a great start.

IREDALE AVENUE AND IREDALE LANE

SUMMER 2014SUMMER 2014

HAYBERRY STREET CROWS NEST

In order to lift this part of Forsyth Park, an adjacent property owner asked for help to put in a new garden bed. With the slope and the solid nature of the soil, it was heavy work for Henry and Randal. The result speaks for itself.

FORSYTH PARK

Hayberry Street is blessed (or cursed, depending on your point of view) with traffi c calming blisters on both sides of the street along its length. The opportunity to plant trees and shrubs has not escaped the local residents and a working bee was held in July to beautify the largest garden opposite David Street. In preparation, some pavers were laid along the existing tracks and a seat was installed for weary walkers.

Communities making our streets living spaces

Wilson Street reserve has been transformed over more than a decade by one local resident. One of the strategies that has been used is to remove many tons of weed-infested and nutrient-poor soil and replace it with crushed sandstone. Believe it or not, far from being sterile as you might expect, pure crushed sandstone is a great medium

for encouraging local native plants. The area is so steep that Alan has had to install dozens of pine logs to stabilise the sandstone before planting. He’s also going to create a native seed store in the soil by broadcasting seeds from Harvest Seeds and Native Plants – Dodonaea triquetra, Acacia terminalis, A. longifolia, and Hakea sericea.

WILSON STREET, CAMMERAY

When an egg is broken, what makes more sense than to create an omelette? In this case, the construction of a new kerb and gutter gave Robert the incentive he needed to contact us for some plants. After watering in and mulching, the eff ect is appealing.

CREMORNE LANE

Around the groups

SUMMER 2014

Oleander is the sole species in the genus Nerium and is thought to be from the Mediterranean. It is in the widespread Dogbane family – Apocinaceae. Its relatives include Periwinkle, Frangipani, Hoya, Star Jasmine and many succulents, all of which exude a white sap when cut. Oleander is considered poisonous, but this should not deter you from growing it in your garden. Do not eat or chew the leaves or branches – and wear gloves when pruning. Oleander is the offi cial fl ower of the city of Hiroshima, having been the fi rst to fl ower following the atomic bombing in 1945.

Because of its poisonous nature, it is often overlooked for gardens. It’s commonly grown as a roadside planting in California because of its ease of care and cheerful appearance. Starting a plant is easy by cuttings and it can be propagated from seed. Colours that have been developed are in the range of white to red, and they can be either single or double fl owers. Flowers form from November to May, and are followed by an elongated fruit in April to June. Many, but not all, Oleanders are wonderfully fragrant. They have many diff erent cultivars, including variegated and dwarf varieties.

Height is around 3-4 metres, and they can be trained as a small tree or a multi-stemmed shrub. Training is important, since Oleanders can become rangy if left to their own growth – though they tolerate neglect. Many are cut back each year to about two thirds so that they have a fresh appearance. If they become overgrown they can be renewed by cutting back very hard. They tolerate most soils, but if not provided with enough sun can get scale insects.

Once it has become established, Oleander can get by without much watering. However, it will respond well to mulch and occasional deep watering during drought, especially when young.

If you have a soft spot for Oleanders (I do) you can fi nd more information and like-minded people at the International Oleander Society website: www.oleander.org

Plant of the Month Oleander Nerium oleander

• In 2013 Bud Coff ey was awarded the Community Spirit Award by Joe Hockey. Bud founded the Ryries Parade group with a working bee in 2002 and is a stalwart at Shellbank Parade and Richmond Avenue. He’s also a consistent presence in Bushcare.

• •The Coal Loader Community Garden continues to win awards and gain recognition. This year the CLCG shared the Community Event of the Year at the Australia Day Citizenship ceremony. Congratulations to the group. The hard work in producing a great gathering place for like-minded residents has paid off . Besides their Wednesday meetings at the garden, participants mentor an Australian Foundation for Disabilities retiree and volunteer at public events at the Sustainability Centre. The Coal Loader Community Garden is often the focus of workshops throughout the year.

• These participants received a 10-year certifi cate at the Streets Alive and Bushcare Christmas party in DecemberMichael Bracher (Lower Spoff orth Walk, Cremorne Point) Gigi Santow (Lower Spoff orth Walk, Cremorne Point)Mark Maguire (Billong Street Rose Garden, Neutral Bay)Frennie Beytagh (Brothers Memorial Park, Cremorne)Diana Dasey (Clifton Street, Waverton), Rosane McNamara (Wyagdon Street Reserve, Neutral Bay),Andrea Strong (Shirley Road, Wollstonecraft) Jenny Hutchins (Graythwaite, Coal Loader Community Garden), Rita Marshall (Fernhurst Avenue, Cremorne)Simon Barney (Phillips Street Playground, Neutral Bay) Bill Havercroft (Thrupp Street, Neutral Bay).

Thank you for constant and long-lasting service to the community through Streets Alive.

See you in the garden. Ralph Forinash and Randal Shaw

SUMMER 2014

AWARDS