TERMITES AND BANKSIA

LACH5424 Design Studio - Complexity Unit Coordinator: Rosie Halsmith 2022

Within the context of the Swan Coastal Plain, the decrease in patches of remnant vegetation, in particular Banksia woodlands, is a continuous threat that is affecting the natural flow of environmental networks across the region. Termites, although small, impact the larger ecosystem on multiple scales, influencing soil condition which subsequently impacts multiple species and ecosystems. Although they can hold a negative impact to the human-dominated world, their impact within bushlands is significant, helping environments flourish by influencing soil condition which subsequently impacts flora ecosystems; bushfire prevention; and fauna habitats, re-nourishing these once biodiverse environments through recycling nutrients within the soil.

The design encompasses three strategies; Termite Haven; Banksia Highway; and Banksia Restoration. Termite Haven is a novel environment created as a space that is most desirable and ideal for termites to reside in. It is an area characterised by low points for water collection to keep the soil moist and humid, dense plantation of Eucalyptus trees as a food source and habitat for wildlife, un-removed decaying logs and branches for food source and protection for wildlife, dense undershrub plantation, and possible areas for artificial/temporal termite mounds to combat climate changes effect on soil condition. Banksia Highway focuses on the Banksia woodland and its adaptability within this ever-changing climate. The strategy aims to utilise roads as a connection between patches of remnant Banksia woodlands found in Kings Park and Bold Park, as well as opening research into species adaptability to the change in soil and environmental factors. Aiming to introduce species from different regions into Perth's woodlands, it's encouraging an increase in biodiversity within the diminishing woodlands in a hope to revitalise Perth's ecological footprint. The final strategy holds emphasis purely on restoration of Banksia woodlands to open park spaces in a hope to provide connectivity for these patched bushlands.

The aeolin sandy soils of the Spearwood dunes (Karrakatta soils) are transported from the ocean to the coast, which are then transported by wind to the dunes. Represented and formed primarily from Bassendean, Spearwood, and Quindalup geomorphic units, these soils are characteristed by percolation into the groundwater from the rainfall and lack of water retention and the percolation.

The predominate ecological identity within Shenton Bushland and among key areas of the site is a low open forest of Tuart, Jarrah, Marri, and Banksia sp. Currently the area is an isolated patch, surrounded by the Army Barrack, Shenton College, commercial and residential buildings, as well as being enclosed by a road and the bridge.

PROTECTION?

The protection and restoration of Banksia woodlands is a key sanctuary for native species of the Perth Coastal Plain contours and water levels

Significant decrease in the ecological community, listed as endagered in 2016 under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Caused by numerous impacts, the main being deforestation for developents.

Termites are found all over the world, living in a range of environments that shift in climate, soil quality, and biodiversity. Although small, termites impact within the environment is significant; influencing soil condition which subsequently impacts flora ecosystems; bushfire prevention; fauna habitats; and the rich biodiverstiy of a bushland and/or environment it resides in due to it's rich cellulose-diet that recycles nutrients.

They do however hold a negative impact to the human-dominated world, with termites being associated with damage of homes and the cause of drainage leaks. There are over 2700 species of termites wordwide, with around 360 of them being found in Australia. Out of those 360, only a small handful are responsible for the damage to timber in homes, while the other large quantity stay within bushland and help ecosystems flourish. Termites thrive where moisture is high, and depending on this factor within its given environment, termites may create habitats that suite their livability. They are found within 3 known habitats depending on the soil condition and climate; tunnels and nests underground; termite mounds; and nests within trees. I explored these 3 habitats, studying how and why they change and how I can implement that within my design. When walking through Shenton Park and surrounding areas, these indicators allow us to assume they are in the area.

LAND & STRATEGY MAPPING

From completing site analysis from a larger point of view in combination with problem mapping, the key important strategies that could be addressed within my design were those surrounding water levels and ideal environments, especially for the termite. This step involved looking at moves to make and the best places to make them i.e. where is there moist soil for termites, and how could I connect these nodes through vegetated corridors.

species within a Banksia-Jarrah woodland strategy plan E. marginata

B. marginata

C. calophylla

B. attenuata

Focus areas

Revitalisation/replanting of Banksia woodland

Ideal environment for termite location for termite nodes

Location of 'Banksia Highway' to test adaptabilty of Banksias from around W.A and see if we can utilise them in Perth

Hypothesised location of termites

01. Termite Haven

02. Banksia Highway

03. Restoration & Revitalisation

The first strategy, 'Termite Haven', is a novel environment created as a space that is most desirable and ideal for termites to reside in. It is an area characterised by low points for water collection to keep the soil moist and humid, dense plantation of Eucalyptus trees as a food source and habitat for wildlife, un-removed decaying logs and branches for food and protection, dense undershrub plantation, and possible areas for artifical/temporal termite mounds to combat climate changes affect on soil condition.

The planting within this area is aimed to be a hybrid of Banksia woodland, the vegetation suitable for the Karrakatta complex, and planting found within the current site. Due to the levels and contours playing such an important role within this environment, the planting palette is based around contours, with the three main planting groups; moderate/excessive wet sites, moist sites, and dry sites. There are also transitional zones where these species cross to create a more natural bushland area.

The second strategy, 'Banksia Highway' focuses on the Banksia woodland and its adaptabilty within this ever changing climate. Inspired by the National Arboretum in Canberra, this idea/concept looks at the Banksia species of Western Australia and their adaptibility to the rise in soil heat and groundwater depletion within the Swan Coastal Plain, specifically Perth region. Currently there are only few Banksia woodlands within the Perth region and a wide range are patches, slowly decreasing in health and biodiversity. Also, the rise in overall heat could significantly impact species more common within the South-West region, used to significant rainfall and cooler Mediterranean weather. This 'Highway' aims to utilise roads as a connection between these patches of remnant Banksia woodlands found in Kings Park and Bold Park, as well as opening up research into species adaptability to the change in soil and environmental factors. Aiming to introduce species from different regions into Perths woodlands, its encouraging an increase in biodiversity within the diminishing woodlands in a hope to revitalise Perth's footprint.

The final strategy holds emphasis purely on restoration of Banksia woodlands to open park spaces in a hope to provide connectivity for these patched bushlands. Future endeavours could explore the findings of the Banksia Highway into this strategy, planting more regionally diverse Banksia species to create new environments for biodiversity to thrive in.

Currently there are large areas of turfed verges, open parklands that hold no ecological value, and the creation of unnecessary patches for infrustructure and the human enjoyment. This strategy aims to revegetate these such areas with a mix of planting found within Bold Park, Kings Park, and Banksia woodlands, in order to connect and revitalise these key connections.