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Townsville
and region including Ayr, Ingham, Charters Towers
News
Bee-eaters to bee savers
Even though it eats bees, Australian native bird species the rainbow bee-eater, could help bees in an unlikely way. The indigestable bee wings are regurgitated in a pellet. By analysing these pellets, Biosecurity Queensland hopes to detect incursions of Asian honey bee which could be carrying the dreaded varroa mite. Bee keepers and residents of the Townsville area are being asked to look out for rainbow bee-eater roosts and report them so that pellets can be collected. More information: Bird barf busts bad bees (August, 2018)
Scroll down the page to find older news items and community links. If you're involved in gardening in the Townsville area have news to share, please get in touch.Nurseries, landscape supply, other garden goods & services
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Community
Queensland Dry Tropics at Grow Me Instead (a website about weedy garden plants and safer alternatives)
Nursery & Garden Industry North Queensland Industry association
Fact Sheet: Gardening in Townsville Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Plants of Townsville, Australia Graeme Cocks' Plants of Townsville
Townsville's Heritage at the Townsville City Council website. The Heritage Information Kit contains sections on Townsville Gardens and Townsville Fences
Natural Assets Database Townsville City Council
State of Environment Townsville
which includes some information on plants and animals (see Biodiversity)
Row of Street Trees Information about the heritage trees in Macrossan Street, Halifax, Hinchinbrook Shire Council. Queensland Heritage Register, Environmental Protection Agency
Gardening for butterflies ....some basic principles and a Townsville case study Australian Native Plants Society (Australia)
Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM Natural Resource Management in the Burdekin Region
Savanna Explorer Information about the savanna regions of northern Australia
Woodlands of the savanna lands Tropical Topics Newsletter, No. 71 Dec 2001. Environmental Protection Agency, Qld Govt (PDF)
Desert Uplands Strategic Land Resource Assessment Technical report covering geography and vegetation of the bioregion between Charters Towers and Blackall
Acacia crassicarpa seed production area CSIRO (PDF)
Be sure to check your local council for information on local parks, watering restrictions, garden competitions, environmental issues etc within your city or shire.
Charters Towers Regional Council Amalgamation of former Charters Towers City Council and Dalrymple Shire Council
Cassowary Coast Regional Counci Amalgamation of former Cardwell and Johnstone shires
NB: below are pre-amalgamation websites. Some may be no longer functional but should redirect you to a new council if they have been amalgamated. Editor is still in process of updating all the council links:
Towns and districts to be covered by this page include: Home Hill, Brandon, Townsville, Toobanna, Trebonne, Cardwell, Ingham.
Older News
Some older news which may still be of interest to residents of the Townsville region is retained below.Kitchens to compost at JCU
A composting scheme is being introduced at two James Cook University campuses to deal with food waste. The Bio-Regen units grind the material, add water and microbes. Digestion converts the material into a form suitable for use as a fertiliser, which the University plans to sell the public. Source: Food scraps to fertiliser at JCU (March 2014)
Bee threat arrives in TownsvilleAsian honeybees have been detected at the Port of Townsville on a cargo vessel. Vegetation and potential nesting sites in the area will be inspected to ensure that the bees have not spread, with the help of an odour detection dog. Source: Hunt is on for Asian honeybees in Townsville (January 2012)
Just watching the grass grow not good enough in Townsville
Between January and April, Townsville City Council will be inspecting properties with a history of complaints for overgrown grass. More at the Council website: Council pro-active on overgrown properties (January 2012)
Awards recognise social housing gardeners
The Queensland Government Social Housing Garden Awards have been announced: Ingham green thumbs take out prizes (November 2011)
Myrtle rust detected in North Qld again
The disease has been detected in nurseries in Cairns and Townsville. Source: North Queensland residents on call after myrtle rust detection (August 2011)
Cassowary Coast Garden Competition
Cassowary Coast Regional Council has announced their 2011 gardening competition. Judges will be taking the effects of Cyclone Yasi into consideration, and council is encouraging the all the vcommunity to participate and contribute to the region's recovery. There will be 13 categories including schools, commercial and tourist premises as well as various types of private gardens. Entries close on Friday July 29th. More information from the Council here: Announcing 2011 gardening competition (July 2011)
Trees and roads living together
Mature banyan fig trees in Burke Street, Townsville, have been preserved throughout the works in that area, with the help of arborists and a sympathetic streescape design. Root barrier has been installed to prevent future damage to the road from the figs. Source: Technology saves historic banyans. (April 2011)
Planting guide for cyclone regions
Associate Professor Betsy Jackes has written a guide based on almost 40 years of observations to help residents of north Queensland and Darwin select and cultivate trees with safety in mind. No tree is totally cyclone-proof, but factors such as the leaf type, branching structure, type of root system, conditions at planting and subsequent pruning can also affect their performance in a cyclone. You can find the guide at the James Cook University website here: Choosing Plants for Areas Prone to Cyclones. (March 2011)
Upgraded Tulley park beautiful and educational
The River Improvement Trust with the Cassowary Coast Regional Council have recently completed improvements to the creekside parklands at Mitchell Park, including bank stabilisation, rock work, revegetation and walkways. The project will serve as an example of erosion control and water management to residents with small creeks and dams on their own properties. It's also hoped that the improvements will also attract more recreational vistors, weddings and wedding photography. Source: A greener, healthier Mitchell Park (August, 2010)
Shady developments in Townsville
A number of trees removed from Flinders St Mall will be replanted in Reid Park, providing shade on the spectator mounds. The redeveloped Flinders St will retain some of the existing trees in addition to new trees. Source: Mall trees to provide shade at Reid Park (March 2010).
Reprieve for Bamford Lane trees
Townsville City Council have decided that forty-five fig trees slated for removal from Bamford Lane will be retained. Instead, it's hoped that regular pruning and the installation of root barriers will prevent the road damage that was occurring previously. Eight half-grown African mahogany trees which are already starting to cause damage will be replaced with more suitable species. Council has now banned the planting of African mahoganies as street trees in new subdivisions. Source: Council plan saves trees and road in Bamford Lane (August 2009)
Something old, something new for Flinders St Mall
Townsville City council intends saving about 50 trees growing in planter boxes in Flinders St Mall for later use in the redeveloped Mall. The first tree has been removed as a trial. From their temporary home at the depot, the trees are destined for incorporation into a new-look streetscape, with plantings inspired by the region's ecosystems. More here: Plan to save Mall trees swings into action (Townsville City Council) (September 2008)
Stepping out on recycled plastic
Boards made of recycled plastic have been used in the final section of the Nelly Bay to Picnic Bay elevated boardwalk on Magnetic Island. A glass and resin fibre composite has also been used in the structure. These materials are expected to provide durability and maintenance advantages over the long term. Townsville City Council says it's a leader amongst local governments in Qld in the use of recycled plastics in outdoor areas: Recycled plastic paves the way on Magnetic Island boardwalk
New park eco-friendly in more ways than one
Besides more than two thousand trees and shrubs to attractive natives birds, Laurence Park, Townsville, features solar lights, power-saving barbeques and park furniture made from recycled plastic. Find out more from Townsville City Council: New community park first of its type for Upper Ross (July 2008)
Garden weddings grow in Townsville
Weddings in Townsville's public parks and gardens have become so popular that the authority may introduce a hire fee to cover management costs. More from Townsville City Council here: Parks and weddings a match made in heaven (June 2008) NB: contact council directly for current requirements if this affects you.
Too many trees
Street trees planted too close together on Riverside Drive, Townsville, have now become a hazard to residents and infrastructure. The city's council, which is attributing the original overplanting to the developer, has produced a management plan that will include removal of some trees. Townsville City Council: Council plans to resolve Riverside street tree problem (June 2008)
New features at Townsville botanic garden
A new cycad garden and an avenue planting of 50 Kauri Pines is opening at Anderson Gardens. One of three botanic gardens in Townsville, Anderson Gardens is developing a theme of "dry tropical and native flora". Read more: Council unveils new plantings at Anderson Gardens (Townsville City Council) (June 2008)
Rainforest florishes with recycled water
The Dry Tropics Rainforest on Magnetic Island is irrigated with treated effluent, thus using a waste product (which would otherwise be discharged into the ocean) to provide a recreational asset for the community. Including more than 80 species native to the island, is is also an environmental asset. Read more from Townsville City Council here (PDF): Council Rainforest to be Showcased in Open Garden Scheme. (May, 2007)
