Phase One

KEY TACTICS

1. School children take home plants 2. Weed of the Weekend scheme begins 3. Council starts removing significant sized weeds 4. Example garden started 5. Website started for example garden 6. Competitions begin 7. Priority Verge Development areas outlined 8. Native bee hives introduced 9. Indigenous dedicated verges programmed 10. Floral Community Groups begin 11. Visible verges planted

TACTIC - INVOLVE THE WIDER COMMUNITY

• Students are gifted a plant every six months to take home and plant. These plants will be ones they have used previously in the school gardens, directly implementing their skills and enthusiasm from the school environment into their household, affecting the parents or guardians they live with. • The area of effect from the schools continues to expand, as more and more residents notice the now established front gardens and verges. Who: Brisbane City Council, Schoolchildren, Residents As is the goal of phase 2, children will now be actively translating what they have learnt at school to the home environment. Brisbane City Council will be responsible for coordinating with nurseries and schools to acquire plants to be sent home with school children. Going home to their parents or guardians, they begin to plant out their own front or verge garden replicating the school planting programs. This is inline with the concept of building up from small, incremental change of individuals. It also addresses the below planning policies: Brisbane City Cityshape 2026 “Patchworked together, backyards create wildlife corridors of great environmental value. As the city grows, these privately owned corridors in residential areas will come under increasing pressure from urban development.” (Brisbane City Council, 2006, pg7)

TACTIC - ESTABLISHING A PRESENCE

• Example garden lot acquired and transformation into suburban floral garden begins. • Website established, tracking the process of the garden in every stage, from design to completion similar to Urban Utilities Water Savvy Garden Project (Urban Utilities, 2021) Who: Brisbane City Council, Habitat Groups Having found a suitable garden lot, BCC, with the help of local habitat groups will transform a suburban lot. This will be visible for all residents to see, both online and in person. In later phases, this will be passed on to community groups to continue upkeep and maintenance. It addresses the below planning policies: Brisbane City Council City Pan 2014 (Section 4 b,c Section 3 L3.5) SCHOOL WITH AREA OF EFFECT

SUBURBAN LOT LOCATION

TACTIC - COMPETE

• Beginning midway through year 2, competitions will begin, advertised by the council, setting residents against each other in order to establish the best and most improved front garden and verges. The prize will be a free green bin subscription for the two categories. In this early phase, it is important to encourage “well done” front gardens and verges in order to set a good example for other residents CAN achieve as not all residents will necessarily have the skills to cultivate and manage their front gardens and could end up giving up and leaving it to the weeds. This is why the prize is small and focused towards those that are already active in their gardens. Who: Brisbane City Council As the issuer of green bins, BCC will be setting up the competitions that allow residents to compete against one another and offering the prizes. This tactic will develop in later phases to include more prizes, appealing to a wider audience. This ties in with the concept of slowly changing people’s perspective on gardening, by offering prizes, extra incentives are given to create and manage your own garden. Policies addressed: Brisbane City CityShape 2026 “We need to work together to preserve vegetation in our backyards, particularly if it forms part of a wildlife corridor.” (Brisbane City Council, 2006, pg7) Brisbane, Clean, Green and Sustainable 2017-2031 (pg81, 84)

TACTIC - COUNCIL STEPS IN

• Weed of the Weekend program begins. Each week postcard letters are delivered, outlining an invasive weed that is commonly found in gardens. • Native, flowering plant seeds are distributed with letters, much like the “Woolworths Discovery Garden” project, informing and donating seeds to residents (Woolworths, 2021). Who: Brisbane City Council, Native Nurseries By funding this program early on, BCC will educate residents to the dangers of invasive species and will preemptively reduce the spread of invasive species. By working this way, they will eventually save money that would otherwise be spent on the removal of invasive species, especially if the residents start removing them themselves. Native nurseries will also get more exposure, alerting residents to their presence and providing a larger customer base. Again, small scale change being strung together is the goal of the concept, and weed removal on a scale of any kind can be immensely helpful. The policies this adheres to are: Brisbane City Council City Plan 2014 (Section 3.5.1, a, e,i)

Weed of the Weekend: S�ng�p��� D�i��

Description:

Vigorous ground cover or low-climbing plant. Leaves are lush, glossy green, usually 3lobed, 4-18cm long, 1.5-8cm wide, in pairs along stem. Flowers are yellow to orange-yellow, daisy-like, 2cm wide, on short stalks above leaves. Seeds are elongated, brown, 4-5mm long.

Impacts:

Spreads rapidly and smothers seedlings, ferns and shrubs. Invades environmental areas.

Control:

Hand-pull and dig up runners. Dispose of waste carefully, as smallest cutting can regrow. Herbicides are effective.

Replace me with: Hibbertia scandens Position: Light Shade to Full Sun; Well Drained. Preparation: Soak the seed in water for several hours or in agar for a few days to soften the seed coat and make it easier to remove. Incubation of the seed in gibberellic acid, at 25mg p/litre can assist germination. Fire may also crack the seed coat and stimulate germination. Sowing: 1mm deep. Cover very lightly with soil. Care: As it is only hardy down to 5 °C it requires winter protection in temperate region. Sprouting: 91-258 days.

Figure 1: VISUALISATION OF WEED OF THE WEEKEND FLYER TO BE DELIVERED

TACTIC -REACHING THE COMMUNITY

• Resident’s invited to help develop the suburban plot in exchange for free flowering plants to take home • Addition of Priority Verge Development (PVD) areas introduced. These exist at key locations where the community is already using green space. They will take on a similar look and feel to the school verges, except now in a more public area, not limited to school children and their guardians. This will start to introduce a different demographic to verge development • First native stingless bee hives are installed in public green spaces, adjacent to PVDs to ensure floral resources for the bees • Indigenous themed verges will be programmed extending from Toohey Forest Park • Floral Community groups now established and meeting once a month • Libraries and shopping centres continue to display general information for the public Who: Brisbane City Council, Residents The wider community is now called into action. BCC is now setting up some more long term solutions to the management of verge gardens. By enabling the community to participate in the management of community gardens, PVDs and native bee hives, the responsibility is slowly being shifted so the residents are taking ownership of their suburbia and the management of it’s gardens. Whilst theses are still primarily managed by council, the community can volunteer to help do work with the council, preparing for the eventual passing of these areas to the community. The indigenous themed verges will be designated by BCC with links to the many walking trails that are accessible to Toohey Forest from different suburban streets. These will be managed by the council, with opportunity for Floral Community Groups to take over. This tactic applies the concept of creating communities that care about the places they reside in, in order to maintain and grow new communities that are inclusive of insect pollinators. Policy addressed: Shaping SEQ 2017 (Planning for Biodivesity, pg80) Brisbane. Clean, Green and Sustainable 2017-2031

“Support and empower the community to be involved in biodiversity conservation on their own properties and within their neighbourhoods.” (Brisbane City Council, 2017, pg84) LIBRARIES SHOPPING CENTRES SCHOOLS PVDs INDIGENOUS THEMED VERGES NATIVE BEE HIVES

0 0.3 1km

PVDs

INDIGENOUS THEMED VERGES NATIVE BEE HIVES

Major Parks and Recreation Rural Neighbourhoods Conservation and Environmental Management and Biodiversity Planned District and Metropolitan Parks Facility Water Bodies and Waterways Corridor Value LGA Sector

INSIGHT - Locating PVDs, Indigenous Themed Verges and Native Bee Hives

In order to create interaction with the local community, it is important that these are located in locations that are not only visited by locals, but also adjacent to and near existing greenspace. This reinforces the idea that the suburban environment and natural systems can be combined to create new communities. The indigenous themed verges follow a similar trend. Being located near the Toohey Forest Conservation Area, they are more of an organic extension of the vegetation into suburbia, again blurring the boundaries between what is natural, and what is human, removing that harsh line imposed by humans.

TACTIC - MAKING IT VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE

• Pedestrian areas around shops have the first verge gardens developed, either through the council, or employing members of local habitat groups. • After having three key locations on high traffic bus routes identified, the verges will be planted out, again either by the council or habitat groups. All three of these locations have been chosen as they posses a pedestrian island, already having either grass or plants on them with the potential to improve the planting scheme. Who: Brisbane City Council, Habitat Groups This tactic concludes much of the major work done by Brisbane City Council and represents a “passing of the baton” over to the residents and private businesses. With the location of these gardens being on private or council owned land, it will be the responsibility of the council to maintain them, much like any other verge currently maintained by BCC. Habitat groups will also be utilised for the initial work of creating these verges, further instilling a sense of ownership in the community, even if the verges are being primarily developed by the council. The concept is also applied more readily as these verges are in such visible locations, there is now a sense of change in suburbia, causing residents to think twice about how they are using there front garden. The policies addressed are: Brisbane City CityShape 2026, Keeping Brisbane Green “Brisbane is the most biologically diverse capital in Australia, supporting thousands of plant and animal species.To sustain this it is crucial to keep at least 30% of our city area natural habitat.At present our natural habitat stands at 32%. We need to work together to preserve vegetation in our backyards,particularly if it forms part of a wildlife corridor.” (Brisbane City Council, 2006, pg7) Mount Gravatt Shopping Precinct

Mount Gravatt Plaza

Civic Fair Shopping Centre

CENTRALISED PEDESTRIANISED AREAS

MAJOR BUS AND CAR ROUTES Westfield Garden City

0 0.3 1km

Figure 2: VISUALISATION OF PLANTING IN CENTRE VERGE ALONG BUSY BUSWAYS - adapted from NearMaps

Figure 3: VISUALISATION OF PLANTING IN CENTRALISED PEDESTRIANISED AREAS - adapted from Google Maps EXEMPLAR: Water Savvy Garden Urban Utilities Queensland has teamed up with the Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee to create a water wise garden purely for education purposes. The planning, process and maintenance is all available on their website to inform and educate.

Accessed at: (https://urbanutilities.com.au/community/save-water/water-savvy-gardens)

EXEMPLAR: Woolworths Discovery Garden Although Woolworth’s goals are different, they provide an incredible template for how to set up a website that informs and encourages growing specific plants at home. All stages of the seed growth are laid out as well as the continued care of the plant after germination and how to incorporate them into your garden

Accessed at: (https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/discover/garden/unboxing?icmpid=sm-discoverygarden)

PHASE 03

E X P A N D

Competitions that involve prizes for the entire street are created, rewarding residents for planting out their verges. Landlords are informed of this so as to not exclude tenants from improvement of their street. Rewards include custom signs for the street, free plants, reduced pricing on green bins and a reduction in rates for the owners, which is translated to the tenant's weekly rent. New developments in the LGA Sector are required to designate the verge as a floral resource for insect pollinators and are encouraged to add floral resources to much of their development. Housing for insect pollinators workshops begin; specifically keeping native bees at home. As the “social norm” of having florally dense front gardens is developed, community groups are further expanded with the help of volunteers. These groups help those in their area that cannot create and maintain their own garden owing to finances or lack of ability.

Vs

KEY TACTICS

1. Example garden completed 2. Search for new example garden lot 3. Street vs street competitions 4. Legislation change 5. Insect pollinator talks begin

TACTIC - COMMUNITY TAKE OVER

• With the establishment of the Floral Community Groups and the example garden, the garden will now be handed over to the aforementioned group giving them a permanent place to meet should the climate be suited. • Brisbane City Council will also begin looking for another vacant suburban lot, away from the existing one in order create another exemplar garden for another community Who: Floral Community Groups, Brisbane City Council Floral community groups, run by volunteers, now successfully manage and operate the suburban example garden full time with no input from council. Funding comes from donations and the selling of produce and seedlings grown at the suburban lot. The local community is now starting to string together their own connections of natural systems throughout the LGA Sector, with the example garden serving as a hub (seen on next page). In working on the garden as a collective, not as individuals; the community is now starting to redefine the relationship that humans have with insect pollinators within the suburban environment. BCC will also begin the search for another suburban lot, this time seeking sponsorship by private companies, who will fund some or all of the finances required to develop it into a community garden. The new lot will be located towards the edge of the LGA sector, away from the existing one. This adheres to the following policies: Shaping SEQ 2017, Planning for Biodiversity “SEQ’s biodiversoty, natural assets and regional landscapes are protected and nutured to sustain out regions’s strong and diverse communities” (Department of Infrastucture, Local Government and Plannning, 2017, pg80) Brisbane City Plan 2014, Section 3 “L3.5 Corridors within the Greenspace System reinforce the sense of identity of local communities and assist in floodway and drainage functions and safe wildlife movement.“(Brisbane City Council, 2014)

TACTIC - COMPETE

• Building on the individual competitions held in year 2, streets will now be pitted against each other through the use of prizes that benefit the entire street and not just those with a green thumb. Prizes will include: +Rates reduction +Free green bin subscription +Native bee hives +Free plants including street trees where viable Rates reduction will also be translated to tenants in rental houses, to ensure they are not discouraged from competing. Judges will be experts or enthusiasts in gardening or horticulture and members of habitat groups outside the LGA Sector to prevent favouritism. AoE zones and where PVD’s are which can be located on page 43 Who: Residents, Brisbane City Council Streets will be able to elect themselves whether or not they want to enter into the competition. This creates a more organic, real form of competition. Due to the previous tactics in phases one an two, the streets most likely to compete will be located in school zones, or near the example suburban garden (details shown on next page). These streets will then form the new landscapes, mentioned in the concept, being both places for humans to live, but also supplying the resources necessary for insect pollinators to thrive; a whole new community type. Policies adhered to: Brisbane City Council City Plan 2014 SO3 The Greenspace System provides an effective network of green space links and contributes to a

regional network.

L3.5 Corridors within the Greenspace System reinforce the sense of identity of local communities and assist in floodway and drainage functions and safe wildlife movement. (Brisbane City Council, 2014) Theme 3: Brisbane’s clean and green leading environmental performance (Section 3.5.1 a, b, d, f)

SCHOOL WITH AREA OF EFFECT (AoE) COMMUNITY EXAMPLE GARDEN STREETS LIKELY TO PARTICIPATE IN COMPETITION

0 0.3 1km

TACTIC - EXPANDING THE COMMUNITY

• Established native bee hives at the suburban lots, PVDs now have the chance to be assigned to existing community groups, should they want them. Such groups may include local sports, Scout and gardening groups. • Following up on the public hives, talks will now be initiated twice during the year on the process of creating your own native bee hives and how to manage them. Talks will be held at the nearby Griffith EcoCentre. Who: Brisbane City Council, Residents With the example garden operational and being run by the Floral Community Group, native bees will now be incorporated as part of the community. In the previous phase, this was still managed by council, but now, community groups are beginning to take sole responsibility of some of these areas. BCC will still be required in the coordination of teaching programs, but will dramatically reduce their involvement in any practical applications of the strategy. At this stage, they seek to continue and inspire the local residents, as they command how their suburb is being shaped. This addresses these policies: Shaping SEQ 2017, Planning for Biodiversity (pg80) State Planning Policy 2017, Planning for the Environment and Heritage “Matters of environmental significance are valued and protected, and the health and resilience of biodiversity is maintained or enhanced to support ecological processes.” (Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, 2017, pg18) Brisbane City Council City Plan 2014, 3.5 Theme 3: Brisbane's clean and green leading

environmental performance

(f)A resilient, robust and well-protected system of habitat areas, connected by ecological corridors provides habitats for our rich diversity of flora and fauna species, including the koala.

LIBRARIES SHOPPING CENTRES SCHOOLS PVDs WITH AoE INDIGENOUS THEMED VERGES NATIVE BEE HIVES

LOCATION OF BEE TALKS

TACTIC - CHANGE

• With floral resources sprouting all over suburbia, legislation will now be applied, requiring NEW developments to include a verge consistent with the character of the rest of the suburb Who: Brisbance City Council, Community Groups, Tertiary Education Groups In this legislation, guidelines will suggest employing the Floral Community Group, habitat group, or adjacent residents to assist in either a paid or volunteer capacity. This will ensure continuity between verges throughout the LGA Sector and involve the local community further in the development of their suburb. There is also the opportunity to expand to include students participating in tertiary education, moving the strategy beyond the boundaries of the LGA Sector. First or second year QUT Landscape Architecture students and Urban and Environmental Planning students from the nearby Nathan campus, will also have the chance to collaborate and submit proposals for the design in an extra-curricular sense. Invovling tertiary education requires that new devlopments have to plan the verges and planting more carefully, as they now have a responsibility to the local community, students and schools on top of their clients. This adheres to the following policies: Brisbane City CityShape 2026, Keeping Brisbane Green (pg7) Brisbane. Clean, Green and Sustainable 2017-2031

“Establishing a verge or footpath garden helps to beautify local streets, show pride in your neighbourhood and contribute to a clean, green Brisbane.”(Brisbane City Council, 2019)

PHASE 04

INTEGRATE

Expansion continues as the information flood becomes more direct to the specific area. With the addition of many floral habitats in verges and front gardens, residents are now informed through the specific talks and pamphlet of the potential to more make their gardens more appealing to specific insect pollinators. Competitions continue further with schools in the LGA Sector being put against one another for a yearly prize, focused on the improvement of previously dilapidated land to insect pollinator. Business’s are now targeted, completing the public/private sector involvement. With the established community groups, funding from private business’s is used to create floral pots to exist outside their premises, filled with plants and labels, giving knowledge on the plants contained. An open garden scheme is established, with the ability for residents to allow other residents into their garden to see their gardening practices. During this phase, flowering front gardens will become social norm having previously established the benefits to the residents.