Josh Byrne gives Deer Park North Primary School students some tips on productive gardening.
Deer Park North Primary School in Melbourne’s West is undergoing a major transformation to showcase the value of urban greening for our health and wellbeing. With the works nearing completion, the school community and project partners recently came together for a day of hands on gardening and shared learning.
Supported by the Victorian Government, Environmental Education Victoria EEV (formally VAEE) and Josh Byrne & Associates (JBA), the community planting day held on the 19th of June was an important stage in a broader project that is highlighting innovative approaches to integrating sustainable water management and landscaping.
The recent works at Deer Park North Primary, which were designed by JBA, include a constructed wetland to capture and treat stormwater runoff, an extensive productive garden incorporating vegetables, fruit trees and composting systems, and the beautification of a community meeting space. Future works will include a raingarden and additional shade tree plantings across the grounds.
The planting day was possible through support from Warners Nurseries and the Diggers Club, as well as NewGrow who were contracted as the project landscapers to bring JBA’s designs to life. There were also representatives from Brimbank Council, Melbourne Water, the Victorian Department of Education, City West Water and Greening the West
JBA’s Josh Byrne, Morgan Gillham and Greg Priest managed the day’s activities in partnership with EEV and the School. The turnout was terrific with participation from the school’s ‘Green Team’, ‘Green Army’ trainees, local representatives of the Victorian Police, plus students from Braybrook College.