3.8.3.2 Soft Landscaping (Planting)
Soft landscape (planting) will play an important role in defining the character and setting
to the station precinct. Planting can be designed to soften, highlight, screen and enliven
these spaces to complement the suite of materials and built forms of the station. A
predominant native theme, complemented by varied textures and colour to ensure all
year round interest is preferred.
Plant species should be selected on the basis of climatic conditions, local council’s
approved plant species lists and native indigenous suitability for the site character and
location. The planting design shall use appropriate plant species, sizes and densities to
achieve the following:
• Trees with high crowns to optimise passive surveillance opportunities
• Plant shrubs and native ground covers to minimise weed invasion
• Establish quickly a mature landscape that has good visual impact and is suitably
robust
• Low maintenance, native indigenous drought resistant species
• Minimal leaf and fruit dropping species
• Retain and protect existing significant trees wherever possible and appropriate
• Significant trees and landscape elements are to be set back from road
carriageways and rail corridors
• Provide an integrated, automatic and even system of water supply and drainage to
landscaped areas, utilizing grey water or tank water wherever possible.
Any landscape proposal shall minimise impacts on existing ecosystems and habitats,
enhance remaining ecosystems, conserve the use of resources, non-renewable energy, topsoil and minimise the use of construction materials that deplete natural resources or
create toxic pollution in their manufacture.
A variety of different planting types can be used to achieve different landscape effects.
For example:
• Street Trees – Formal Street tree planting can provide a strong definition to a street
edge and a station entry.
• Native Trees – RailCorp prefers native species rather than exotics. Informal
groupings and spacing of native trees accentuate existing tree stands and promote
an overall native character.
• Screen Shrubs – Evergreen shrubs will provide an effective lower screen to soften
walls, add texture, colour interest.
• Screen Trees – Formal planting of trees in conjunction with lover screen shrub
planting will provide a “buffer” to the rear of walls/building facades.
• Accent Shrubs – Intense changes of colour and texture can be used to highlight
edges and entries.
• Ground Covers – Mass “green carpets’ can provide borders to paved edges and
effective backdrops to other planted areas. They van be used to soften areas
where there are stringent restrictions on plant heights to optimise passive
surveillance.