Ian Kable, CBD Gardener
The best thing about the job is finishing a project and having a member of the public commenting on what a good job we do. At the end of the day we see ourselves as a public service.
We're in the process of evaluating how we maintain the garden beds because of climate and water restrictions, and focusing on more natural vegetation. With roundabouts, we try to achieve a compromise between visibility and maintaining pedestrian safety. One of the roundabouts we're most proud of is the Civic Centre one on the corner of Lords Place and Byng Street. It's low maintenance and provides a good show.
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| Ian started working with Council four years ago as the CBD team leader. This team is responsible for the roundabouts, adjacent corner gardens and median strips, a total of 573 garden beds. Working with two staff, they are developing these very public gardens along the 'Colour City' theme. | |
| Image courtesy: Elisabeth Edwards | |
The Northern Distributor plantings is one of my first major plantings, with Callistemon 'Kings Park Special' on the crest of the mound, Lomandra longifolia 'Tanika', Grevillea rosmarinifolia, Banksia ericifolia, Callistemon citrinus 'Anzac', Grevillea 'Bronze Rambler', Acacia baileyana prostrate form. It has been extremely successful—they've performed extremely well. I still enjoy the dirt under the fingernails and the smell of the soil. There is job satisfaction from finishing projects and I've had the opportunity to put my stamp on Orange.
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| Image courtesy: Elisabeth Edwards | |