Plantings Take Root At Raymond Road
A range of native species were planted at the Raymond Road site on the Bunbury Outer Ring Road (BORR). In fact, 50,000 individual plants comprising of over 50 different native species were planted from the area north of Raymond Road down to Collie River.
Published: 24 July 2024, Updated: 24 July 2024
The plantings took place throughout the month of June and were completed in early July thanks to two dedicated teams of approximately 10 people each.
The planting process involved holes being bored into the ground and then slow-release fertiliser and live microbial tablets were added before the plants were placed inside and soil backfilled. This process helps to bring the soil ‘to life’, especially following the construction work in the area. The microbes form symbiotic relationships with the newly planted seedlings and help them to not just survive but thrive.
The range of native species planted included:
Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata)Marri (Corymbia calophylla)
Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos manglesii)
Peppermint Tree (Agonis flexuosa)
And various Melaleuca, Hakea, Eucalypt and Banksia species.
Local species chosen for planting
A specific choice of species was made for each area of the site and the decision was based on a number of different factors, including the type of soil, the proximity of the location to road traffic, aesthetic impact and the required purpose for the plants.
For example, bushy species were planted strategically to help block the headlights of oncoming traffic in adjacent lanes. Vegetation that tends to attract cockatoos were planted away from the roads for the safety of the birds and road users alike. Small, pretty flowering species were chosen for use in spots like roundabouts to make the commute more visually enjoyable for road users. Large tree species were placed along the bottom of batters with wetland loving species placed in low-lying areas that tend to flood during the rainy months of the year.
The landscaping work on BORR is designed to offer many benefits. While the real ‘fruits’ of our planting teams’ labour won’t be seen until the new plants have had some time to establish themselves, the landscaping work also allows the fauna to naturally reintroduce themselves into these areas, prevent wildlife from coming close to the road where possible, and bring a tangible beauty to the road in the meantime. In fact, over the past few months, there have already been a few locals, such as Banded Lapwings and Elegant Parrots, enjoying the new vegetation.
Local fauna enjoying the recently planted flora
Planting taking place near Raymond Road
A combination of water carts and irrigation sprinklers (for harder to access areas) will ensure the new plants and vegetation will receive sufficient water, even during the hotter and drier months of the year.
Landscaping work will continue along the alignment for the rest of the year and into 2025. Along with the revegetation efforts, offset vegetation works and extensive weed treatments, these works will really contribute to shaping the look and feel of BORR.
BORR team members planting onsite near Raymond Road
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