THE MAGAZINE OF CENTENNIAL PARKLANDS VOLUME 33 • SUMMER 2005 - 2006 VOLUME 20 years on, tree students still cutting Flow chart - water in the Parklands Foundation funding goes to ibis research Directions Parkbench Approximately 80% of the total surface In addition, I want to reassure our area of Centennial Parklands is not community that each event is carefully irrigated, and the irrigation systems in use managed and has an individual sound and are constantly maintained. environmental management plan that Trackless train a success First two sections of Grand Drive complete Sustainable water usage initiatives also adheres to the requirements of the for Car Free Day The first two sections of include new waterless urinals, low flush Environmental Protection Agency. the Grand Drive footpath toilets and touch-point fittings that limit I hope you take the opportunity to join On the last Car Free Day Centennial Parklands upgrade have now been water use for hand washing. us and enjoy our summer entertainment trialled two special trackless trains to assist completed and Project line-up. people to get around the Park. The trains took Manager, Marianna This summer I would like to invite you alternate routes around Grand Drive and ran to experience a terrific line-up of summer For more information on individual events Preston, says the response from 9.00 am to 4.30 pm, at a cost of $3.50 from the public has been entertainment in Centennial Parklands please visit our website or email for adults and $2.50 for children. The trains through music and film, including [email protected] enthusiastic. “People can The special focus of this issue of Parklands were considered a great success and will run Jamiroquai, Good Vibrations, Moonlight see the quality of the is water and its importance to the survival I wish you all a healthy, happy and again at the next Car Free Day. It’s just Cinema and much more, so watch our upgrades and have been of our Parklands environment. hydrated summer. another reason to leave your car at home. website at www.cp.nsw.gov.au for very tolerant of the Centennial Parklands is a unique environ- more details. detours that have been The new section of Grand Drive ment and is committed to environmentally put in place.” The third Like many other city parklands around sustainable water usage and has a number section, from Robertson Road Gates to the Centennial Parklands Café, the world Centennial Parklands hosts of watering and maintenance strategies in commenced in mid October and is due to be completed by the end of major events and places the needs of the Be alert: date change for place to achieve this. November. Works will then commence on the fourth section that will be Parklands, native habitat, neighbours and Steve Corbett next Car Free Day completed over summer. There are a total of six sections and it is The Parklands acts as a detention basin for the local community at the forefront The summer Car Free Day, normally held on anticipated that the upgrade will be completed by the end of March 2006. Eastern Suburbs stormwater and this of planning. Director and Chief Executive water is utilised to irrigate a large number Centennial Parklands the last Sunday of the season, will be held of sports fields. on Sunday, 5 March. Accessible entry for Park users and booked restaurant patrons is via Jervois Ave Gates (off Lang Road) from Parks Week a success 9.00 am – 5.00 pm. So, don’t forget to walk, cycle or catch public transport and enjoy The first-ever Parks Week, held from the peaceful surroundings of a car free 9-16 October, saw thousands of Contents Centennial Park. people around NSW participating in a diverse program of events Parkbench 3 presented by Healthy Parks Healthy Research reveals changing user People, promoting the health benefits of spending time in parks. patterns 4 New Variable Message The week kicked off with an Plan of Management ready to go 4 Signs target speeding information and activities marquee in Pram-a-thon at Centennial Parklands was part 20 years on, tree students still cutting 5 of the highly successful Parks Week program Centennial Parklands on Sunday, 9 Parklands Magazine is published quarterly by the New tree planting across October, as part of the Good Food Centennial Park & Moore Park Trust: Locked Bag 5 Month Spring Picnic, where about 8,000 people had the opportunity to find 15, Paddington NSW 2021 the Parklands 5 Co Carring d out about Parks Week events. Other highlights included Centennial Park’s Centennial Parklands is managed by the York R Flow chart: water in the Parklands 6 Parkes Dr Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust. Jervois Ave first Pram-a-thon, simultaneous events in 10 NSW National Parks and an Fox Studios Gates Jervois Grand Drive Ave Depot Rd Loch Ave Trustees: Professor John Niland AC (Chairman) Twitcher’s Corner – Rob exhibition in the Royal Botanic Gardens recreating the secret grove of the Equestrian in Annabelle Bennett AO Centre son Dr York Rd Wollemi Pine. Parks Week was embraced by the public and it is expected David Leckie Rufous Night-Heron 8 Parkes Dr CENTENNIAL PARK Gates Loch Ave Michael Marx AM that it will become an annual event. Busby's Pond Dickens Dr Fly Model Yvette Pietsch A Walk in the Park with Robertson Rd g Casting Yacht rin Sp Pond Pond ter John Walker Freshwa Lachlan Martin Rd Swamp Sarah Whyte Malcolm Turnbull 8 Lily Pond VMS in action Willow One Duck Pond Pond More Margaret Varady AO Shot Musgrave Pond Pond Tree of the Season – Randwick Editor: Rachel Maiden Pond Earlier this year, Centennial Parklands acquired Cl Kensington o Making it easier to find your way ve [email protected] Ponds lly Darley Rd R Melaleuca quinquenervia 9 d two Variable Message Signs (VMS) as a Govett St Ken sington Gates Stormwater Flow Contributors: Trevor Waller, Matt Hayden Culver Randwick Freshwater Spring The first stage of the new signage project will be rolled out across the t Alison Rd Gates high-visibility quick-response medium to Recipe – Smoked Salmon Tart 9 Darley Rd Photography: Ian Lever, Chris Gleisner, Dianne Botany 6 Parklands over a six-month period commencing in December 2005. Wetlands communicate with park users. Ranger Brian Galea and Veronique Peril Healthy Parks Healthy People 10 Page says the primary objective of the VMS The project will embrace directional signage, place names, street names and Printed on recycled paper is to increase visitor safety. “We use them to information boards including maps. The new look for signage in the Cover: Ducks at Lily Pond from the book Foundation and Friends 11 ‘Through the Gates’ by Simon Rintel target speeding, inform users of special events, Parklands will be robust, contemporary and fully accessible. The signs will (phone (02) 9337 1653 for stockists. Also User’s Guide 12 road works or road closures,” he said. significantly improve way-finding, information distribution and place available through Centennial Parklands, only identification within the Parklands while minimising signage clutter. $29.95) ISSN: 1447-7645 11 The VMS also has a radar unit that gives motorists their travelling speed and encourages them to slow down. 2 Parklands Summer 2005 - 2006 Parklands Summer 2005 - 2006 3 Park News Research reveals changing user patterns 140 new trees planted 20 years on, Visitor research plays a vital role in • Visitors are more likely to come to the •65% of visitors in 2005 rated the helping Centennial Parklands manage its Parklands in larger groups, with 52% of Parklands ability to provide quality across the Parklands tree students land and assets and has been undertaken visitors in 2005 being in groups of visitor information as excellent or in various forms since 1985. The Parklands three or more, compared with 39% in good, compared to 30% in 2002. This summer, please check out at least in an urban parkland setting often a few of the 140 new trees planted become an eyesore when they reach recently completed its major triennial 2002 and 34% in 1998. still cutting When asked what improvements could across Centennial Parklands in our maturity due to the usual occurrence visitor research program and the findings •70% of visitors travel to the Parklands be made to the Parklands, the majority 2005 spring tree-planting program. of deadwood within the structure of December 2005 marks the 20th reveal a change in user patterns that will by car and of these respondents over a said they could not think of anything. This the tree. year that student tree surgeons from Ryde help define future management practices. third said they could not be is encouraging, but Centennial Parklands Mount Steel was a focus of activity, TAFE have come to Centennial Parklands The research aims to evaluate perceptions discouraged from doing so! is very aware that continuous with an intensive landscaping program The 30 trees planted are a mixture of completed in October. The program more appropriate species including to complete the practical component of of management initiatives and monitor • The majority of visitors spend less than improvement must be part of our involved the removal of six hoop pines (Araucaria cunninghamii), their Arboriculture Certificate. the current service performance of landscape. We will continue to look at two hours in the Parklands. A relatively over-mature Acacia salignas and their and blueberry ash (Elaeocarpus businesses and recreational facilities in the ways to provide the best Parklands Each semester about 30 students and high proportion of visitors stay for replacement with 30 new trees and reticulates).