Photo: Detailed Concept Design as approved by ToVP Council in May 2023
Friends of Jirdarup were invited to join Town of Victoria Park and Curtin University staff in a visit to the sandpit on 3 September 2024 to discuss progress to date and next steps.
The first trials of direct seeding have been recently undertaken. This involved broadcast seeding of about 12 native species found in Kensington Bushland across three plots located at the north end of the sandpit at the base of the embankment. The trial plots used different levels of soil preparation – from ‘tickling’ the surface to deeper ploughing. If successful, this would be the most economical way forward.
However, data indicate that the overall germination for native species across the site of mostly acacia and banksia is very low (200 to 500 seedlings per Ha compared with 2000 to 5000 required for successful restoration). Moving forward, a combination of tube stock and seeding will be required.
Weed control remains an ongoing challenge both within the seeding sites and across the sandpit. Couch grass treated in previous years is still thriving in some areas. The cost of off-site disposal of weedy soil is prohibitive, so the plan is to dump it into on-site mounds which could be covered by tarps or other methods to contain the weed seeds and assist treatment. This will then contribute to the final landscaping.
The Detailed Concept Design of the pathways and other structural features was approved by the Vic Park Council in May 2023, together with funding for this project in the 2023/2024 budget.
At the same time, planning for the restoration itself has continued this year, assisted by Curtin University’s Professor Kingsley Dixon and his team and Tranen Revegetation Systems. In addition, the City of South Perth Native Plant Nursery and Nuts about Natives” are involved in this project, collecting and propagating seeds, tissue cultures and cutting from Kensington Bushland to ensure correct local provenance.
The Kent Street Sandpit presents a rare opportunity to restore a contaminated landfill site and expand the natural habitat of endangered and rare species of flora and fauna, including our precious Black Cockatoos.
We are delighted to be involved.