DS Bain Reserve, 2 Merlyn St, Moreland
Management Plan
Introduction
History of Bain Reserve
Captain Donald Stuart Bain developed 200 blocks of land using 80 acres he purchased in 1919, just west of North Coburg station (now Merlynston station). There was a small block of land owned by Mr. Lorensen that was excluded from Bain’s original development, it was later bought and reclaimed as parkland.
Bain Reserve was reclaimed in the 1920s, and soon planted out under the instruction of the Progress Association (Helms, 2011). The association was lead by Bain, who was also responsible for the original ‘Station Heights Estate’, which later became known as Merlynston.
The park was planted out with an avenue of 28 elm trees, likely to be Ulmus procera, three trees are now missing from the west side of the Orvieto st (southern) end, the remaining trees are 80-90 years old, and therefore considered an asset to the community. There is also a row of 3 trees along Orvieto st, two are Melaleuca lanceolata and the tree on the corner of Orvieto and Merlyn Streets is Brachychiton australis, planted in 1930-1950.
In the middle of the reserve is the Merlynston Baby Health Centre, built in 1951. The centre is still used regularly. DS Bain developed Merlynston with the aim of creating the ‘Toorak of the North’ (Strategic Planning Unit 2005), with a focus on high quality living, surrounded by beautiful parkland, public transport and community facilities. The DS Bain Reserve is therefore of local historic and aesthetic significance to Moreland City Council (Helms, 2011).
Importance of Quality Open Space
Public open space provides many benefits to the surrounding community, a place for physical activity, social gatherings, community events and a place to escape the urban jungle.
Benefits to the community range from better physical and mental health, which is improved with quality open space as it can provide a safe, comfortable environment with the opportunity for physical activity and relaxation, while being in a natural environment; social capital, created by the addition of spaces for group gatherings and socializing for example, around a BBQ or playground; stimulated and sustainable economies, by creating a venue for activities, as well as jobs to sustain a quality park; environmentally sustainable urban areas, reducing urban heat absorbtion and promoting plant life to artistic expression and cultural diversity, providing a location for community events and festivals to be held (VEAC, 2011).
Preliminary Evaluation of Bain Reserve
Bain reserve was renovated in 2000. These renovations included a boardwalk that was built over the 3 south end trees and two elms at the southern end of the avenue, to reduce compaction and damage to roots. The decking also provides seating and lighting as well as easier access to the park and bus stop. This feature of the park is highly functional and well used by the community.
The only issue notable is that the growth of the two Melaleuca lanceolata trees has filled the gap left between the decking and the trunks, this issue must be addressed as the trees are important heritage trees and if left as is, the trees will be girdled and die. The trees are well maintained, with irrigation to the avenue of elms and the trees incorporated in the boardwalk. The turf areas are also irrigated with sprinklers that overlap onto the native border.
A new playground was also put in; replacing a large slide, swing set and monkey bars with a modern, ‘safe’ playground. Children enjoy the area, the playground gets regular use but is also a target for vandalism and graffiti. The swing set is loud and creaking, though sturdy and safe, but the border of the playground is in need of repair.
The eastern side of the north end of the park (adjacent to the railway tracks) was planted out as a native garden bed, with species like Correa reflexa, Eucalyptus sp, Acacia sp, Dianella tasmanica, persoonia chamaepeuce, Solanum aviculare, Themeda triandra, Bursaria spinosa subsp. Spinosa, and Goodenia ovata.
Some sections have established well, and are effective in providing shading and suppressing weeds, but other areas have slow growth, diseased or dead plants. Most of the Eucalypts are infested with caterpillars and other pests, the Acacia trees are growing well, looking healthy, along with the Solanum aviculare plants.
At the Boundary rd and railway corner, the native border stops abruptly and a single Eucalypt is left surrounded by grass. This space would be much improved if the border were continued to the edge of the walking path, hiding the signal boxes and providing a barrier between the park and the railway line. The turf area has been cut too low, resulting in yellowed patches. The grass would quickly recover with more regular mowing, leaving a longer length rather than the current method of cutting low as to mow less often. There is also a patch where a car has driven onto the reserve and compacted the soil, leaving uneven, bare ground in the turf area, this can easily be fixed by leveling out and aerating the soil and resowing grass seeds.
The avenue of Elm trees is definitely an asset to the area, as there are many well-kept mature trees, providing shaded areas for people to gather, as well as historical significance and environmental benefits. These trees are irrigated and mulched, all care needed is already provided by the current management of the park, the same practices should be kept up, as well as regular maintenance for disease.
Renovation Plan
| Issue | Action/Resolution | Staff required |
| Eucalyptus sp. high disease rates | Identify pest/s, introduce appropriate pest control (IPM) | Garden Maintenance staff under direction from horticulturist specializing in pest and disease management |
| Litter around seating and playground areas | Install more bins, one on decking area, one next to seating in between elm trees, to the north of the Maternal Care centre | Labourer |
| Midday sun leaves the BBQ/picnic area exposed to harmful sunlight | measure area & set poles, install Shade cloth over BBQ picnic area | Builder |
| Vandalised/ worn playground borders | Repair playground borders (re-align joints), replace wooden supports | Builder |
| Missing planks on picnic table, raised bench is on opposite side of table to BBQ | Repair table (replace missing planks of wood) & rotate 180°, so the raised bench end is closest to the BBQ | Labourer |
| Slow shrub & tree growth in native border, gaps in plantings resulting in bare ground and weed growth | Soil analysis of native bed, increase plantings and introduce better suited plants like Gynatrix pulchella and clematis microphylla to fill in gaps and suppress weeds more effectively | Garden Maintenance staff under direction from horticulturist |
| 3 elm trees missing from the avenue, have been replaced many times. Failure due to vandalism and inability to establish | Get a soil analysis, evaluate whether extra measures should be undertaken to establish new Ulmus procera or if a more appropriate tree species is used. This area can also be left as open turf area, commonly used for ball games. | Horticulturist specialising in Soil testing & Arborist to evaluate mature elms and determine cause of past failures. Maintenance staff to replant stock if appropriate |
| Loud hinges on swings provide noise pollution to neighboring houses | Oil swing set | Playground Maintenance staff |
| Dead Eucalyptus sp. Throughout the native border | Replace dead plants with more suitable species of Eucalyptus (which can be identified after soil analysis) | Horticulturalist specialising in Soil testing &Arborist. Maintenance staff to replant stock |
| Exotic weeds are interfering with the aesthetics of the native border | Weed control-manual removal & possible chemical control, as the border is adjacent to the cricket pitch, further from the children’s playground | Garden Maintenance staff under direction from horticulturalist |
| Paths cracked in some areas, uneven surface can cause injury | Replace cracked pavement | Infrastructure maintenance staff |
| Bare ground on north end of park, tyre marks have compacted the soil. | Core and then re-sow areas where bare ground is visible | Garden Maintenance staff under direction from horticulturist specalising in turf |
| Thinning mulch around Elms, weeds growing through native border | Refresh mulch around elms and new plantings in the native border, particularly along extended area of plantings | Garden Maintenance staff under direction from horticulturalist |
| Fencing behind cricket pitch is unappealing and dangerous, as children climb up wire and sit on top. | Plant climber on cricket fencing-aesthetic & prevent children climbing it, using provincial Hardenbergia violacea or Clematis microphylla to fit in with the other indigenous plantings, | Garden Maintenance staff under direction from horticulturalist |
| No drinking water | Install a drinking fountain and tap near the BBQ picnic area | Plumber |
| Boardwalk girdling trees | Widen space between tree and boardwalk | Garden Maintenance staff under direction from horticulturalist |
| Signal boxes detract from native border | Extend border to edge of path, leaving a gap behind so signal boxes are readily accessible, but not as visible | Garden Maintenance staff under direction from horticulturalist |
Maintenance Plan
After major renovations have taken place, regular maintenance tasks must be completed. They include:
Turf area
All grassed areas should be irrigated every 3 weeks in summer months, no irrigation is necessary in autumn/winter. In spring/early summer, lawns need mowing every two weeks, to a length of 30-70mm. At all other times, the lawn should be mown when it reaches approx 100mm. This must be monitored by maintenance crew.
Irrigation
The Elm trees must be irrigated for a period of 2 hrs each week, through the drip irrigation below mulch. Any signs of distress on any of the mature trees must be reported to appropriate council staff , this is to be monitored by maintenance staff.
Weeding
Manual weeding is to be undertaken at the same interval as mowing, if this proves insufficient, glyphosate or similar may be used to control weeds. Discuss with Moreland city council before using any chemicals.
Mulch
Mulch around the elm trees will need to be replenished every 2-3 years, maintenance staff should observe decomposition rate as an indicator for new mulch.
Playground equipment
Every 3 months the playground equipment is assessed by an independant safety inspector. Maintenance crew should also look for any damage and report to council immediately. This also applies to toilet facilities, barbeque, picnic table, drinking tap, seating and boardwalk areas.
The barbeque and drinking tap is to be checked by council every 3 months to ensure proper operation and safety.
The toilet facilities are self-cleaning, but will also have independent cleaners come in once a week to ensure facilities are clean and free of graffiti.
Graffiti is to be removed by independent company every month, from every surface in DS Bain reserve, including the bus shelter.
Trees
Any pruning necessary for the Ulmus procera, Melaleuca lanceolata and the Brachychiton australis trees must first be approved by an arborist. All other trees can be pruned as necessary, if overlapping onto paths, roads or railway line, if branch is broken or presents a safety issue, following the advice of horticulturist in charge of maintenance team.
Bins
Bins are to be emptied by council on a weekly basis, by employees who collect surrounding houses rubbish.
References
References
Brereton, J, Fitzgibbon, J, May, P & Will , J 2009, Eucalyptus leucoxylon, fact sheet, Metropolitan Tree Growers Pty. Ltd., viewed 31st October 2011 <http://www.metrotrees.com.au/treehandbook/page-listings/eucalyptus-leucoxylon.html>
Burnley Plant Guide, 2010, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, electronic database.
Google 2011, Merlyn St, Google Maps, viewed 5th November 2011 <http://maps.google.com.au/>
Helms, D, Honman, L, Schmeder, N, Walker, J & Travers, I 2011, Moreland North of Bell Street
Heritage Study, Volume 2 – Heritage place and precinct citations, Hermes No 139974, Context for City of Moreland, Brunswick, pp 146-150
Strategic Planning Unit 2005, ‘More Open Space’, There’s more to Moreland, Moreland City Council, Moreland
Victorian Environmental Assessment Council 2011, Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation. Final Report, Victorian Environmental Assessment Council, East Melbourne, pp 32-49
Weston, P 1995, NEW SOUTH WALES FLORA ONLINE; Persoonia chamaepeuce, fact sheet, National Herbarium of New South Wales, viewed 31st October 2011 <http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Persoonia~chamaepeuce>
Appendix
Appendix
Week 6 Excursion Notes
Central Park, East Malvern
Maintenance Tasks
-Mowing
-Pruning
-Weeding-spraying for weeds/hand weeding
-Rubbish clean up
-Toilet cleaning
-Replacing plants
-Upkeep of facilities (playground, benches, glasshouse)
-Possum/pest control measures
-Vandalism repairs
-Mulching
-Drainage
-Cricket pitch
-Fountain
-Path up keep
-Fertiliser
-Lights
How often four of these maintenance tasks would occur
Mowing
In cooler months the lawn would need mowing about every 2-3 weeks, more regularly (1-2 weeks) during spring .
Pruning- Trees need to be pruned when they are obstructing paths, road or powerlines, or once a year for the willow trees. The shrub borders would be pruned at the end of the season.
Mulch-Annual flowerbeds need mulching every year, the large trees need mulching every 2-4 years, depending on rate of decomposition.
Vandalism- must be monitored weekly, if not more often. Stakes and temporary fencing needs to be replaced as soon as possible and any damage needs to be repaired quickly to prevent any injuries. Graffiti also needs to be removed as soon as it is noticed by maintenance staff.
Socio-economic status of the community living around the park
Younger families, upper middle class as well as older couples, enjoying the serenity of the park.
Park is frequented by dog walkers, families with children playing on the playground, people playing sport on the large oval, picnic-goers relaxing in the serenity of the well maintained garden areas, elderly wandering along the paths enjoying the heritage garden and memories it holds for them.
Heritage- This park has a lot of historical significance, Glasshouse built in 1927 has bee refurbished, specimen trees that are heritage listed (must be taken considerable care of by maintenance staff), has been here for a long time and used for many community events and cultural traditions, like carols by candlelight and planned sporting events.
Central Park is beautiful and aesthetically pleasing to me, the whole park is well manicured and maintained, there is a very traditional ‘proper garden’ feel to the park. It caters for a wide variety of people, with a large sporting oval, playground, glasshouse, picnic spots and paths winding throughout. I think it is a little bit too structured and controlled, but it is still a very serene park and I think keeping the heritage layout is important, it is like a living museum of how parks used to be ‘in the old days’, and I think this will grow in importance as time goes by, it also gives a scene for older generations to pass on stories of their childhood to new generations, as long as the heritage park remains, this tradition can continue.
Judging purely on the amount of people using the park on the day we were there, Central park is most definitely a successful park. All areas of the park are utilized by the community; it is appropriate for many different people of varying cultures and ages. The park is divided into sections where those playing sport are far away enough from the playground to not worry about children wandering onto the field, and the peaceful garden beds are away from all the noise of the sporting field and the playground. I think it is a really well designed park and makes good use of the large area available.
