Sunshine Coast

This page deals with news and gardening issues of particular relevance to the Sunshine Coast and Hinterland, including nurseries and other garden-related businesses servicing the region.

News

If you're looking for garden shows, open gardens etc in Qld, go to the Events diary.

That's Cool, Eudlo

Following extensive community consultation, the Sunshine Coast hinterland town of Eudlo has been given a green boost with a makeover of the town's main thoroughfare. As well as an upgraded pedestrian crossing, Rosebud Street now has three new garden beds containing large shade trees and over 700 shrubs and groundcovers. Solar-powered lights are on the way. Source: Fresh and shady upgrade for Eudlo's main street, Sunshine Coast Regional Council (April 2022)

Nurseries, landscape supply, other garden goods & services

The following advertisers may include online suppliers. For the most up-to-date information on plants in stock, opening hours, prices etc, be sure to visit the seller's website or contact the business directly.

BLOW IT ALL PO Box 611, Sandgate, Qld 4017 Mob: 0423 866 429 blowitall.com.au

The Blow It All mulching service saves you the hard, dirty work of applying mulch, barks, soils, compost, and similar bulk materials to landscapes. The blower system can apply mulches to almost any terrain, including sloping ground and hard-to-reach areas, even in wet conditions. Playgrounds, rooftop gardens and commercial interiorscapes can also be mulched quickly and precisely, with a special finish that can't be achieved by hand. Blow It All's standard of quality and service is second-to-none, whether working with government authorities, developers, property managers or private homweowners. Servicing Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and South East Queensland. For more information, visit the Blow It All WEBSITE

STATEWIDE TREE MANAGEMENT North Lakes, Qld Mob: 0400 44 66 93 statewidetreemanagement.com.au

Statewide Tree Management provides safe and professional tree services including expert crown thinning, hedge trimming, removal of palm fronds & fruit as well as complete tree removal. Our stump grinder is able to access most hard-to-reach places. Afterwards, the area can be turfed or landscaped by us, or mulch applied to all your garden beds. Worried about a dangerous tree? Call anytime for emergency assistance, including removal of fallen trees and post-storm cleanup of debris. Advice on problem trees and general tree care also available. Small gardens to large parks, private and corporate customers welcome. For more information, visit the Statewide Tree Management WEBSITE

WORMS DOWNUNDER 85 McKees Road Palmwoods Qld 4555 Ph: (07) 5445 9704 Mob: 0410 152 910 wormsdownunder.com.au

Based on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, Worms DownUnder is a commercial worm farm with expertise in organic waste management. We can help you turn organic waste into valuable soil additives, be it on a domestic level or large scale. Worms DownUnder also sells worms and worm farms direct to the public. Using specially designed packaging, we can post out to most parts of Australia, safely and cheaply. We grow both mixed compost worms and African Nightcrawler bait worms. We are able to supply both large and small volumes of worms at competitive prices. Visit the Worms DownUnder WEBSITE for more information. Expert, friendly, no-obligation advice is only a phone call away or simply drop in for a chat.

SUNSHINE COAST GARDENER'S PARADISE Incorporating Eumundi Palms 1073 Browns Creek Road, Eerwah Vale via Eumundi Qld 4562 Ph: (07) 5442 8492 www.gardenersparadise.com.au

Sunshine Coast Gardener's Paradise lives up to its name with over 200,000 plants from "tubes" to "super advanced" in stock. Select from indoor and outdoor plants including ferns, rainforest plants, cycads and sun-hardened palms. Be sure to visit the Botanical Palm Garden featuring some eighty different species of palms, including rare varieties. For a Balinese-style garden, the centre can supply thatched huts, decorative figures, pots and water features. For more information, visit the Sunshine Coast Gardener's Paradise WEBSITE

COASTAL LANDSCAPE SUPERMARKET 18 Kerryl Street, Kunda Park, Qld. 4556 Ph: (07) 5453 7100 Fax: (07) 5453 7122

We are a specialist landscape and garden design centre, with the largest range of landscaping supplies on the Sunshine Coast. We can supply all your landscaping requirements, including plants suitable for coastal conditions. Coastal Landscape Supermarket is accredited under the Australian Garden Centre Accreditation Scheme.

LIFESTYLE HOME & GARDEN Gibson Road, Noosaville Ph: (07) 5449 9585 Fax: (07) 5447 1294

We offer a refreshing and tranquil place to escape the daily grind. Our plant range has something for everyone, from the contemporary outdoor room to traditional cottage gardens. There are bold and colourful homewares and gifts or take time out with a coffee from our cafщ. Bring your measurements and we will design a garden that you will love to entertain in. Lifestyle Home & Garden is accredited under the Australian Garden Centre Accreditation Scheme.

ROCKAFELLAS LANDSCAPE CENTRE 5 Sippy Downs Drive, Buderim, Qld 4556 Ph: (07) 5445 3770

Specialists of advanced plants for all your landscaping needs. Our large landscape yard has everything from sand and soil to pavers and pebbles. Rockafellas Landscape Centre is accredited under the Australian Garden Centre Accreditation Scheme.

Community

Older News

Bats Getting the Message

Sprinklers are being installed In Sunshine Coast trees - not for irrigation, but to deter flying foxes. Porter Park at Golden Beach is the latest neighbourhood to benefit from this management approach after proving successful in several other locations. Emitters are located in treetops on edges of the park with houses nearby. The noise and motion created by the water alarms the animals, making the centre of the park a more attractive option for them. The sprinklers are timed to come on at intervals thorough the day, but residents will be able to trigger the system, too. Source: Sprinklers provide a different type of relief for Golden Beach residents (February 2022)

Nambour Network Grows

With completion expected in September, a new 1.7 hectare park connected to Quota Memorial Park will soon add to the green network running through Nambour. The new area in Howard street is part of Sunshine Coast Council's Petrie Creek Parklands Open Space Master Plan. It will incorporate walking paths, picnic areas and, in response to community demand, an off-leash area for dogs. Council has collaborated with Kabi Kabi First Nations representatives on the park's design and with the Petrie Creek Catchment Group concerning vegetation. Source: New park to increase green space in Nambour (June 2021)

A Boardwalk for Bli Bli

A new elevated boardwalk through the Maroochy River wetlands will allow visitors to explore aspects of the region's natural and cultural heritage. Descendants of the Australian South Sea Islanders Inc (DASSI) has worked with Sunshine Coast Council on the project and hope to develop educational signage to increase awareness of the Sunshine Coast’s history of South Sea Islanders. They first arrived as slaves more than 150 years ago, helping to establish the sugar industry. The route is set along an old cane rail track. The boardwalk itself is made from a fibre reinforced polymer, which won't rust or rot. Mesh decking allows 40% light penetration, so that plants can grow under and around the structure. The Bli Bli Boardwalk can be accessed from Whistler Street, Bli Bli. Source: New boardwalk honours history and spectacular natural surrounds (April 2021)

A Natural End

In response to community demand for natural burials, Sunshine Coast Council is considering facilitating them within existing cemeteries and they may even be available by the end of 2021. Suitable locations would comprise bushland, or land being revegetated, with adjacent space for a communal memorial. Avoidance of toxic materials is another aspect of natural burial. Sustainable, non-toxic coffins can already be used in Sunshine Coast cemeteries. Source: The future of funerals in the spotlight (March 2021)

Chainsaw Through The Tulips

Fraser Coast Regional Council has declared war on the African tulip tree (Spathodea campanulata), aiming to eliminate the species from its parks and gardens entirely. As a first step, a number were recently removed from Margaret Lin Park in Kawungan. Going forward, staff will be recording the location of other specimens on Council land so that they can be scheduled for removal, too. Council says it will plant replacements of more appropriate species. As an incentive to residents, it's also offering a replacement for every African tulip tree removed from private yards in the region. Read more and learn how how to claim your replacement trees here: Pest trees to be removed from local parks (November 2020)

A Growing Library

The Noosa Library Service, in conjunction with Permaculture Noosa and the Cooroy Community Permaculture Gardens, is planning to launch a seed library. Users will be encouraged to save seeds from their successful crops and "return" them to the library, building a good supply of seeds that will perform well under local conditions. Workshops for adults and children and instructional videos will also be part of the program. Source: Seed library to help grow community of keen gardeners (August 2020).

Tree-killers strike Toogoom

Fraser Coast Regional Council have confirmed that the death of several mature trees along the Toogoom foreshore was caused by deliberate poisoning. This follows another poisoning case at Point Vernon four months ago. Council will trim limbs for public safety, but intend leaving as much of the dead trees' structure as possible to provide wildlife habitat. Source: Toogoom tree vandalism ‘disappointing and destructive’ (June 2020)

Made for the Shade

Noosa Botanic Garden's new shade garden has been officially opened, replacing an old shade house that was closed to the public several years ago for safety reasons. The new structure incorporates shade sails that overlap in places to produce a variety of light and shade levels, enabling a range of different shade-loving species to be cultivated beneath. The new garden has been a collaborative effort, with Noosa Council staff and garden volunteers working on the landscaping and the project being jointly funded by Council and Seqwater.It's hoped that the new shade garden will further encourage visitors to the Gardens, which is already estimated at 70,000 per year. Source: New shade garden opens at Noosa Botanic Gardens (February 2020).

Designing the Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast Design is a newly-released book developed by Sunshine Coast Council in collaboration with design professionals and the broader community to encourage design that reflects the region's environmental and cultural character. Some of the design principles promoted by the book include consideration of climate, inspiration from nature, shady streets, green corridors, incorporation of landscape and enhancement of views. A hard copy version will be available for purchase but an online version can be viewed for free: Sunshine Coast Design Book. (February 2020)

Biosecurity Comes Calling

Backyard growers on the Sunshine Coast have had over 1,000 banned plants (mostly cacti) seized and destroyed. "Our staff, together with Sunshine Coast Regional Council officers have been on the lookout for people selling illegal plants either online or through local markets," said Biosecurity Queensland Operations Manager Rob Cobon. If you're aware of someone growing or selling illegal plants, you can alert Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23. Source: Biosecurity Queensland and Sunshine Coast Council target illegal weeds in backyard nurseries. (January, 2020)

Fraser Coast Champs

Fraser Coast Regional Council’s School Water and Waste Wise Garden Competition has awarded two joint Grand Champions this year - Kawungan State School and Urangan High School. Organised with the participation of Wide Bay Water and Waste Services, a major objective of the competition is to encourage water-wise gardening and recycling. Besides directing food scraps to chickens and worms instead of landfill, students have repurposed building materials for garden projects and incorporated a range of water-saving plants and techniques into their garden designs. Full results: Fraser Coast school garden competition winners announced (October 2019)

New city hall a breath of fresh air

Sunshine Coast Regional Council has revealed designs for its proposed new City Hall. The landscaping will be an important part of the overall concept, incorporating balconies and rootop. Plant-covered arbours will shade outdoor dining areas in the precinct. All is designed to reflect region's native plants and terrain. Construction is expected to begin in 2020. Source: Local environment the inspiration for proposed City Hall design Sunshine Coast Regional Council (June 2019)

Sunshine Coast verge gardens

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council have made it easier for residents to establish verge gardens with an amendment to the local law. Provided gardens conform to self-assessable criteria, planting can occur without having to submit an application or get public liability insurance. The criteria include rules about plant heights, setbacks and access requirements. Any plants installed must be on the associated road verge planting list. Note that gardens containing plants not on the approved list or that fall outside the self-assessable criteria in any other way will still need a permit. For more information, go to sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Environment/Trees-Plants-and-Gardens/Plant-a-verge-garden at the Sunshine Coast Regional Council website. (May 2019)

New city hall a breath of fresh air

Sunshine Coast Regional Council has revealed designs for its proposed new City Hall. The landscaping will be an important part of the overall concept, incorporating balconies and rootop. Plant-covered arbours will shade outdoor dining areas in the precinct. All is designed to reflect region's native plants and terrain. Construction is expected to begin in 2020. Source: Local environment the inspiration for proposed City Hall design Sunshine Coast Regional Council (June 2019)

Sunshine Coast verge gardens

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council have made it easier for residents to establish verge gardens with an amendment to the local law. Provided gardens conform to self-assessable criteria, planting can occur without having to submit an application or get public liability insurance. The criteria include rules about plant heights, setbacks and access requirements. Any plants installed must be on the associated road verge planting list. Note that gardens containing plants not on the approved list or that fall outside the self-assessable criteria in any other way will still need a permit. For more information, go to sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Environment/Trees-Plants-and-Gardens/Plant-a-verge-garden at the Sunshine Coast Regional Council website. (May 2019)

Gympie gave macadamias to the world

New genetic research by the University of Queensland and Southern Cross University has tracked the origins of the first macadamias grown commercially (in Hawaii) to a small population at Mooloo, north-west of Gympie. It's even possible that the global macadamia industry that subsequently developed is based on seed collected from a single tree. This means there's still lots of potential for further improvement and adaptation of the crop through breeding, taking the advantage of genetic diversity in native populations. Source: Gympie identified as birthplace of global macadamia industry (May 2019)

Happy trails

Work at Eumundi Conservation Park has recently improved a poorly drained section to allow its whole network of trails to be enjoyed in all weather. Source: Source: Eumundi Conservation Park trail network complete (March, 2019). In Brisbane, the Summit Track in the Mt Coot-tha precinct is about to get an upgrade, too. Erosion cause by high foot traffic and water runoff will be addressed with resurfacing plus new handrails. A new trail from the Brisbane Botanic Gardens to the Mt Coot-tha Summit is expected to open later this year. Source: Mt Coot-tha precinct upgrade delivers better trails (February, 2019)

Gympie's strategy for pandandus dieback

Gympie Regional Council have just announced their Leaf Hopper Integrated Pest Management Strategy, which will combine leaf stripping (to stop associated rot from spreading) and biocontrol with a parasitic wasp. Transplanting from areas where there is an abundance of young plants available will be done and a propagation program from collected seed is planned, too. Source: Council to protect Rainbow's Pandanus Palms, Gympie Regional Council. (February, 2019)

Piccabeen Palms Help Transform Palmwoods

Palmwoods in the Sunshine Coast hinterland officially opened its new Piccabeen Green town square. In addition to a boardwalk, seating, shade structures, artwork and historical information, the project includes 54 Piccabeen palms (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana) which have inspired its name. Source: New $3M town square transforms heart of Palmwoods. You can get a drone's-eye view of the completed landscaping with this short video. (March 2018)

USC identifies backyard-appropriate koala tree for SEQ

A University of the Sunshine Coast team, led by Dr Stephen Trueman, have spent nine years researching which koala-friendly trees are most suitable for urban South-East Queensland, including backyards. They assessed around 20 species and variants, including grafting experiments. The only one that grew well and stayed sufficiently small was Eucalyptus kabiana ( Mt Beerwah mallee), reaching 6m in seven years. They can provide food and habitat for koalas and should be useful in creating corridors between existing habitats well away from dangerous roads. The first 350 seedlings to be planted across the Moreton Bay Region were given to the Moreton Bay Regional Council and the Pine Rivers Koala Care Association at the project launch. The next step is to assess them in various locations with different soil types. Source: Dwarf gum tree plantings to help safeguard koalas (July 2016)

More for kids at Whipbird Walk

The latest stage of the Whipbird Walk children's experiential garden has been achieved with completion of the Whipbird Village. Located inside Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden, Whipbird Walk incourages discovery and interaction with nature. New additions include carved granite whipbird eggs and "pods" of native plantings within a network of enticing trails. Source: A new children's experiential garden unveiled to inspire and delight (April 2016)

Butchulla People's garden interprets Fraser Coast environment

The Fraser Coast Cultural Centre has a new garden featuring plants that traditional owners the Butchulla People used to mark the changing seasons across the Fraser Coast. Designed in cooperation with the Elders, the garden helps to explain how the Butchulla People's intimate knowledge of the environment helped them live in harmony with it. It is planned to continue to develop this area as a community space. Butchulla Season Garden opened (May 2015)