Page 1694 - Week 06 - Thursday, 23 July 2020
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The impact of not having healthy trees in a car park the size of Jamison’s is patent. There is little shade, even in summer, when the trees should be full of leaves. The car park becomes a heat island. It is unpleasant to be in and has broader effects for the surrounding area. Jamison, then, is an obvious choice for a water-sensitive urban design tree pit trial.
A tree pit is filled with high quality soil and enough root space for the healthy development of the selected tree species. The uncompacted soil, increased space and increased access to water helps extend the life of the tree, improve canopy cover, increase shade and cooling, improve landscape amenity, reduce ongoing irrigation and tree care, and prevents the uplift of pavement by the tree roots. The system is designed to allow stormwater from the surface of the car park to flow into the structural soil cells to further enhance tree health and deliver a number of stormwater management benefits.
Eight trees will be planted in one part of the car park as part of this trial and another eight will be planted under normal conditions as a control. Design work will begin on this soon and it will hopefully all be in place by early next year.
This did not come about by any accident—the state of the trees is obvious, but it is the many people who have brought the issue to my attention that has ensured it has been given the response and the funding that it needs. The number of constituents that I have spoken to about the issue, who I am so pleased were able to join us on Monday, was just a small number of the people who have been raising the issue; but one person was missing.
It was 2016 when Brian Brocklebank first began to speak to me on a number of issues, including his interest in the budget situation. Quickly our conversation turned to the state of the trees in Jamison. Brian was nothing if not passionate, proactive and persistent. It was Brian who first raised the issue with me and Brian who I first toured the car park with. Later, Brian and I toured the car park with Minister Steel, who saw firsthand the deterioration of the trees and agreed that something needed to be done. Brian also met personally with officials from TCCS to understand the situation from their perspective.
When he was travelling, whether it was to another city or just to the other side of the lake, Brian was constantly on the lookout for interesting or better ways of making the place better for his grandchildren. He would reflect on what worked, and invariably an email would pop into my inbox with his thoughts and suggestions. It is not a surprise that what is going to happen at Jamison fits largely with the vision that Brian had for the car park; but, regrettably, it is a vision that Brian will not see realised.
Brian was tragically killed in a car accident late last year. While Brian could not be there, we were very lucky to be joined by Brian’s wife, Deirdre, his daughter, Holly, and his many, many, family and friends. We extend our sincerest condolences to them. Brian was a giving person. He wanted to do things that benefited many and not just a few. Other people talk about doing things, but Brian did them. These trees will be a living reminder of Brian’s foresight and his contribution to the community: a fitting legacy for an extraordinary person.
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