Maintaining and upgrading landscaping at Essendon Fields is a major commitment, and in recent weeks Essendon Fields’s Facilities Management team alongside in-house horticulturalists Super Gardens have completed numerous major landscaping projects at sites in both DFO Essendon and Bradfield Court.

Essendon Fields’ Facilities Manager Ashley Young said the works will enhance the look of the gardens in both areas, and have a number of other ongoing benefits like aiding drainage to discourage wildlife as part of the Airport Hazard Management Plan, and assisting with the management of Foreign Object Debris (FOD).

“At DFO Essendon a number of end-of-life plant species were removed. These had re-seeded and spread over time, getting close to the point of being unmanageable. These will be replaced by Safari Stone and a selection of new plants such as Moon Bays and White Tigers which aligns with the choices made across the rest of the precinct. Ensuring we plant drought tolerant and low maintenance landscaping for efficient water use is imperative at Essendon Fields,’’ she said.

Before

After

“A swale was also upgraded at DFO Essendon to allow more efficient drainage and resolve water pooling issues, in line with our Wildlife Hazard Management Plan. Adding Safari Stone around the edge, replacing what was previously granitic sand, will also help to reduce run off when it rains which could otherwise become a slip hazard.’’

Ashley said that the works at Bradfield Court were similar, but they included replacing a key pedestrian pathway, making it safer for footpath users.

Before

After

“We’re replacing mulch with Safari Stone where possible across gardens, as Safari stone is more sustainable due to not having to be topped up over time.” said Ms Young.

Super Gardens have been providing grounds maintenance and landscape upgrades to Essendon Fields since 2002, helping create and maintain a multi-award-winning landscaped precinct. In fact, in 2018 Super Gardens won Victoria’s best commercial landscaping award for their work at EF.

Mark Stanbrook, Director of Quality Assurance and Special Projects at Super Gardens, believes Essendon Fields has become the perfect example of how best to manage a fast-growing business precinct and create an environment which is attractive to employees, tenants, and visitors, whilst also safe for airport operations.

“One of the things we always have to be mindful of is to ensure all our operations assist in creating a safe airport environment. Our move to Safari Stone is not only more easily maintained, but is beneficial from a litter reduction perspective by more easily capturing and removing any Foreign Object Debris which can be a hazard for airports,’’ he said.

For more information on the sustainability initiatives at Essendon Fields, please click here.