Landscapers
This information is designed to help landscapers understand the environmental issues associated with their industry and to help them improve the environmental management of their operations.
Working outdoors "on-the-ground' means that landscapers face particular challenges in relation to the environment. Disturbing soil, carrying out earthworks, using noisy machinery, applying fertilisers and managing wastes can all have short and long-term effects on the environment. If not well managed, landscaping projects can cause serious water pollution, and contribute to air and noise pollution.
The Landscapers section of the site has been developed to help landscapers address the following key environmental considerations at every stage of a landscape project from design and construction to maintenance.
Use the menu on the left to navigate between topics and fact sheets.
Landscape design
The design phase is critical in setting the foundations for an environmentally sustainable landscape having minimal impact.
- Base the design on a thorough analysis of the site attributes and its context
- Take advantage of opportunities and heed constraints
- Protect existing native bushland on and off the site
- Select environmentally friendly construction materials
- Select environmentally friendly plant material
- Include environmentally friendly features in the design, such as native fauna and flora habitat, detention basins, water collection and recycling facilities etc
- Where appropriate, design in context with the surroundings
Landscape construction
Environmental impacts during construction need to be minimised and contained within the site. Some impacts may be local and immediate while others may be long-term and may occur, for example, in local creeks and streams.
- Protect existing site features and vegetation
- Minimise disturbed areas and direct clean water away from disturbed areas
- Install erosion and sediment controls
- Control noise and dust
- Manage the waste stream efficiently, maximising reuse and recycling of materials
- Store and manage hazardous materials correctly
- Clean up and make good a site immediately after completing construction
- Have emergency procedures in place in case of spills, pollution, site flooding and cleaning up
Landscape maintenance
Maintenance regimes and practices can also cause environmental impacts–both short and long-term.
- Use irrigation systems and practices which minimise the use of water
- Use integrated pest management practices to minimise use of chemicals when controlling weeds and pests
- Make sure the site doesn't produce polluted runoff
- Set aside an area for composting to minimise the amount of green waste generated by the site now and in the future
Page last updated: 27 February 2011
