Andaman Strip Update.

JRA was successful in securing an Energex $2,000 planting Grant for the Andaman Strip. The Beautification Committee are extremely pleased that Energex continue to be very active in providing funding for communities, businesses and schools to assist with tree and landscape planting.  These funds will allow the placement of a further 300 sound barrier and infill plants to compliment the existing 1300 species already established with funding from the Landcare grant.

Another working party is planned for the weekend of 5/6th November, 2011.  If you can spare just an hour or two on either day, it would be most appreciated by the few willing workers that have been toiling away for the last couple of years.  If that weekend is inconvenient, you can always assist with preparation tasks that will be necessary before this weekend and the ongoing watering and maintenance after.  Please contact Wayne on 3279 0744 for further information.

As JRA has now been involved with litter clean up on the Centenary Bikeway and restoration and planting work in the Andaman Strip for over 18 months under the Adopt a Road program, signage recognizing JRA’S participation has been publicly recognized with the installation of two signs on the bikeway and one in the Andaman Strip.

The Beautification Committee feels the sign location (on the chicane island near Ebrill Street) is 'unfortunate', and that lead to a little disappointment. However, is thrilled that there is recognition for the hard hours and work that has been put into Andaman Strip.

 

ANDAMAN STRIP “SPRING PLANT” REPORT

The rain on Saturday 27th August that accompanied “Spring Plant” weekend in the Andaman Strip while suitable for the plants was not welcome for the 13 volunteers that showed up.

The effort put in on both Saturday and Sunday was JRA’S contribution to Keep Australia Beautiful’s, “Clean up Qld Week”.

More photos can be found by clicking here.

Those that attended on Saturday were rewarded with a BBQ lunch that was moved indoors with catering provided by JRA treasurer Bruce and his helpers.  The beautification committee were geared for a larger work force and had done enough preparation work to gainfully engage and feed 40 workers.  Another 12 volunteers attended on the Sunday to finish some of the non-completed tasks.

The Meyer family of mum and dad and their five children contributed to the Centenary Bikeway clean up and collected 11 bags of litter from a 4km section of the Bikeway, Jindalee Skate Park and sections of the Jindalee and Mt Ommaney Creeks.  The family was rewarded with lunch provided by KABQ sponsors, Mt Ommaney Hungry Jacks.  In all, some 200 man hours were contributed by the work force.

JRA web administrator, Andrea buzzed around the site and captured most of the action for the website and Satellite newspaper and reminded people to eat lunch.

While active participation from local residents remains poor, the project continues to receive support from our core members, politicians and local businesses.

Some 150 plants were placed in three separate locations. 

The southern section planting, near Ebrill Street is now almost completed except for future infill planting and bush track establishment. A new garden section at the base of the unsightly rock wall was completed during the following week and planted with agapanthus.   

The Arosa Street section saw the start of the rainforest theme and creek restoration planting.

The Galleon Street section saw the installation of many flowering plants on the roadway edge.

JRA is indebted to the following members, guests and businesses that assisted:

• Local resident, Andrew from Centenary Tree Services for donating and delivering 2 loads of tree chippings to the Strip. Free quotes and professional service call 0408 199 296

• Cr Matthew Bourke for giving 1 hour of his valuable time from a busy Saturday schedule.

• Wolston and Centenary Creek Catchment ranger, Sean Marler for his donation of plants and valuable creek erosion planting advice. Sarah, a new recruit to the Beautification committee is now an expert.

• The proprietors of a Sinnamon Park based business, Priority Garden Care Landscaping, Peter and Fran Bell for all of their advice, loan of planting equipment and donation of cost to create our planting design plan and for providing the services of Fred, one of their very experienced employees. For professional design and planting advice call Peter or Fran on 0402 168 092

• Fran also found time in her busy election campaign schedule to attend and provided a cake for the workers.

• Mrs. Julie Attwood for attending the BBQ also in her busy schedule and for her complimentary remarks.

• Gary Johnson for the use of his utility during the preparation work.

• Cakes and food donated by Sita Spillar, Julie Williams and Terri O’Chee

• JRA is most indebted to Andaman Street resident, Dave, who came to the weather rescue by donating his garage for the BBQ venue and his yard for plant storage.

• Andaman Street resident Keith for plant storage.

• JRA member volunteers including, Adam, Dave, Murray, Olrich and his two boys, Sarah, Wayne, Bruce and his catering crew, Sita, Julia, Terri and Andrea.

With all of the action taking place, traffic along Andaman Street did slow down.

Several motorists actually stopped and showed appreciation in the form of plant, stone fill or money donations.  Just over $400 has been received from members in $ donations.

JRA has submitted a further application for Grant Funding and we should know the success of this shortly.  Tasks still to be done with funding, cooperation and final DMR permission:

• Fix up the seepage section of footpath near the southern bike ramp.

• Mural placement of the southern bike ramp retaining wall

• Establish the bush path

• Solar lighting

• More infill planting and mulch spreading

• Continue drain/creek restoration work

• Encourage Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre to beautify wetland section of creek near Mitre 10.

From the JRA Beautification Team.

PS: STILL ON A GARDENING THEME: GARDEN ORNIMENTS WERE RECENTLY TAKEN FROM THE GARDEN OF 1 AROSA St (cnr. Andaman St.).  IF YOU CAN ASSIST IN ANYWAY, PLEASE CONTACT THE JRA EXECUTIVE.  TA

ANDAMAN NATURE STRIP UPDATE.

The beautification committee has decided to scale back planting in the Andaman Strip over the colder months of July August 2011.

At present there is $1,500 of the $4,500 left in the Land Care Grant money still to be spent to complete Stage 3.  The majority will be used to buy more plants for the southern end with some infill planting in the middle section and the Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre end.  With little natural precipitation occurring and the prediction of no immediate relief, watering will be ongoing to maintain a good strike rate for the new plants.To give all plants a drink, it takes approximately 3000 litres of water each time.JRA are fortunate that we have a ready source of Mt Ommaney Creek run off water which ponds down at the Galleon Street end of the strip to pump from. 3 x 1000 litre tanks spread along the Strip store water for intermediate watering.

To date approximately 450 trees, bushes and ground cover plants over 20 species have been placed since JRA received the Grant allocation - with another 50 maturing in pots awaiting planting.Some of these will be planted before the next major planting day planned for the weekend of 26/27^th August, 2011. 

All of the plants have survived well and the boys are expecting a spurt in growth and some initial flowering in the coming spring/summer months.Other than the first planting working B in April, subsequent planting days have been poorly attended by residents of Jamboree Heights and hopefully this will reverse when planting recommences. 

TASKS FOR NEXT PLANTING B

• Assist with the installation of another 200+ plants.

• Move many cubic metres of tree chippings from road edge.

• Watering.

• Tying plants to tree stakes.

• Assist with preparation of BBQ on Saturday.

HOW CAN YOU ASSIST ORGANIZERS BEFORE HAND?

• Notify web administrator re your availability to attend a working B on either day or assist with BBQ preparation and delivery on the Saturday – at noon in the Strip near Arosa Street.

• Donation of plants you would like to see in the strip – subject to suitability.

FUTURE BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS IN PLANNING BY JRA EXECUTIVE FOR JAMBOREE HEIGHTS.

• Final stage of Andaman Strip includes, official naming of the Strip, more infill planting in middle and northern sections, rock lining of drain, installation of solar lighting, possible mural paintings.
• Approach Bush Care Group to include creek/drain site behind Patrol Street.
• Approach Telstra re garden on Sirocco Street corner of their grounds.
• Nomination of Jamboree Heights in Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland’s Spotless Suburb Competition.
• Continue lobby for play/activity equipment in Jamboree and Beanland Parks.

Please contact JRA via email or on 0402 084 784 if you can assist, contribute and/or support these endevours.

Thank You.

As you know from previous articles, JRA was successful in our 2011 Landcare Grant application to re-vegetate the Strip, which allows us to continue with the next stages of the Andaman Strip rejuvenation and planting that was started a couple of years ago.  Only two (2) applicants were successful in the Brisbane district, alongside 22 others throughout the rest of Queensland. 

Volunteers are still urgently needed to assist

with up-coming plantings and gardening. 

Contact JRA and find out how you can become involved.

JRA has received the $4,534.00 Landcare Grant money and, as demonstrated at our first plant working B in April, progress in using this money has started. We are also indebted to Peter and Fran Bell who own Priority Landscaping, for the free donation of drawing up a planting design and layout plan- $1,000 estimate. 

Roadtek (Main Roads contractors) provided a further $5,000 (approx) in labour towards necessary vegetation clearing work.   This was part of the project which began at the beginning of April this year with some help of another firm, a great team from Vinton Tree Services that lent a hand in the lopping, clearing of dead trees, and clearing debris from Andaman Strip.  See them at work here.

This work is part of Main Roads’ $5million budget to maintain the foliage along the Centenary Highway and Western Freeway.  Traffic control was managed, on the day I visited, by Steve and Robert of Evolution Traffic Control.  RoadTek’s Supervisor, Alan, and his colleague, Daniel, worked closely with Vinton and JRA to ensure that previous plantings were protected from harm and identifying vegetation that needed to be removed, such as the Class 3 Pest - Cadagi Trees; pruning/lopping sections that were damaged, and general maintenance.

A week later, the next round of planting commenced at the Ebrill Street end of the Strip.  As our planting plan indicated, one of the main criteria was in the selection of lower growth plant species that would cover the ugly sound barrier wall from top to bottom.  Foliage over the top of the wall with bare trunks would only duplicate the existing vegetation selections.  Drainage bed erosion problems at this end have to be addressed first.  When the planting is completed and matured, the Andaman Strip will be the feature showcase of Jamboree Heights.  Photos here.

Please note that JRA and the Beautification committee need assistance over the next few months to get the 700+ plants to bed and for ongoing watering.  Some of these tasks, such as watering, requires little physical exhaustion and suitable for our retired elderly.  Most of the grant money will be used in the southern section of the Strip with spasmodic planting in the remainder of the 400m section towards Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre.  Therefore, planting etc will continue most weekends throughout May and June of this year.  Check for the noticeboards at the Andaman Strip for notification of active weekends.

At this time, JRA has conducted three planting days in the Andaman Strip and so far and have put over 200 plants put to bed.   Click here for some recent photos. 

A huge thank you to everyone who has helped out so far, in so many ways.  You are all amazing.