Mitchell Park Botanical Gardens/Nature Park initiative
An effort to make the suburb of Mitchell and the neighbouring part of Litchfield Shire into a nature park/botanical gardens is getting started.
Meetings
Just a quick reminder that the first of the regular get together meetings will be at the Palmerston Library Community Room tonight from 6pm to 7pm.
Meetings are the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month at this venue. Pass the word around.
Hope to see you there.
Kindest regards,
Jim Young
0439 776 025
A summary of the initiative and an explanation of how things might be structured is as follows.
At the end of the day the park would still come under the purview of the Councils, but management of the park would be substantially delegated to the park’s organising committee in accordance with its constitution.
There will be some initial infrastructure that the local Councils would be required to provide.
The access roads and getting water reticulation to the areas needing irrigation, etc. would go in first. With good planning we can keep water usage to a minimum.
After this initial expense, from then on it would only require occasional maintenance. There would also be a need for some earthworks around areas requiring substantial landscaping, such as the swamps, ponds, etc.
Once this is done the volunteers can move in and help with the paths and gardening.
For certain tasks, volunteers might be required to complete an induction/safety course, which could be subsidised by the Councils.
Please appreciate that it is intended to have the vast bulk of the park remain effectively pristine bush.
The basic formula for how much of the park this is can be obtained by looking at the Zoning Map.
The green conservation areas will stay virtually untouched, except for access. The orange Future Development zoning area will remain at least 50% pristine bush.
Most of the park would be paths through the bush. Consequently these areas won’t require much maintenance at all.
Another rule could be that not only does the orange Future Development zoning area remain at least 50% bush, but that there be no ‘islands’ of bush; no bit of bush is cut off from the other areas of bush.
The rest of the orange area can slowly, within means, be filled in with specific groves, features, and botanical gardens. The labour for this can be provided by volunteers, and any local company prepared to lend a hand, in exchange for being able to say they helped.
When things are ready, some raised walkways will need to be provided. Again, once done, these will only require occasional maintenance.
The footbridges over the creeks, especially the longer ones, would be expensive, and are a convenient luxury that wouldn’t need to be part of the initial infrastructure. They can come in bit by bit many years later.
The mock up plan is only meant to give a basic suggestion of what it all could look like in 20 to 30 years time.
Once the initial infrastructure is in, it’s time for the volunteers to move in. Volunteers will be given the opportunity to make and grow something that they can take a lot of pride in, to show and share.
The various groves and specific displays within the botanical gardens would have enthusiasts keen to help make it happen, now that they have the opportunity to showcase their passion on a large, impressive scale. There are many local enthusiasts of orchids, bromeliads, cycads, ferns, natives, crotons, palms, etc. around the Darwin area.
Birds and other native fauna should also be a major consideration during the planning process.
Many of the groves and displays could be a world class (or even world’s best) example of that type of thing, and they would all be within walking distance of each other.
With planning and imagination we have the opportunity to make an urban nature park/botanical gardens for everyone to be proud of and enjoy for generations to come. Currently, under the heading ‘Landmarks’ on Palmerston’s Wikipedia page, top billing is given to the water tank; albeit a lovely water tank.
Many benefits include
- Conservation and availability of native habitat
- Education – Primary to Tertiary, School excursions
- Participation and pride
- Tourism
- Health – Bush walking/Jogging
- Ideas for local gardeners
- Adventure for kids a short bike ride away
But the window of opportunity to grab it is closing. If we don’t act now it is destined to become a little bit more unspectacular suburbia down among the mozzies.
The Land Use Plans can be changed, especially if a popular effort demands it.
The indirect benefits to the two Councils once things are up and away need to be appreciated, too.
In the long run it will well and truly be a worthwhile investment.
Of course, there are many issues that need to be considered
- Quarantine/noxious weeds
- Littering/Anti-social behaviour
- Emergency Vehicle access/First Aid
- Bushfires/controlled burning
- Fertilizers
- Amenities/ablutions
- Maintenance equipment storage
- Sacred sites and WW2 heritage sites
So there is a lot to get organised. This is a grassroots effort, and it is just starting now. It needs people to get on board and help make it happen. We need to get the word out and about and start getting things organised. Once it’s gone it’s gone. Now is the time to get started!
If you would like to know more or get involved please contact info@mitchellpark.net.au
Download the Mitchell Botanical Gardens suggestions from here: Mitchell Botanical Gardens Suggestions.pdf
