Brisbane streetscapes new and old

As always these posts reflect my opinions about the topics I discuss, they are written with the knowledge that there are divergent views about every aspect of trees in our urban environment. It is my hope that my ideas are presented in a logical and rational manner and substantiated by the evidence available to even the casual reader.

The efforts to enhance the pedestrian environment are evident many Brisbane streets and are particularly clear when walking from Fortitude Valley train station up St Pauls Terrace.

The planting beds and benches that have been created on both sides of Brunswick Street are looking well established the Kauri Pines have grown significantly and are still young enough to have relatively dense foliage just at the height of the building awnings - visible greenery to the person on the street.

Sure it could be pointed out that in time these trees may well produce fruit that are frustrating to many street users, however leaf flower and seed drop are all part of normal growing patterns, and personally I have little problem with this aspect of trees' life cycle.

These planter beds have managed to reclaim some of the street for pedestrian users from the all powerful and all demanding motor car...and that in itself is (in my mind) a great move forward, to be truely effective there are other factors that have to be managed..but this is a good beginning.

It is interesting and thought provoking to compare this new streetscape with the older streets of St Pauls Terrace and the truely wonderful little Rogers Street.

At the top of St Pauls Terrace there's a line of mature figs which seem to have survived due to the presence of a school in the property fronting onto the street. None fo the attempts to install street trees on the opposite side of the street have been successful.

Rogers Street which also benefits from being adjacent to the school grounds and contains some fantastic examples of Brisbane street figs.

Now there is no question that the new plantings along Burnswick Street are a huge improvement for people (a great many people) passing through the valley, but I am confident that the majority of street users would prefer to be walking under the canopies of these beauties....

Yes I know that these figs are a nightmare for engineers, they disrupt the footpath and the kerb and channel....there's no question about that...

But personally I think it is a cost (and a small one relative to other rewards) worth paying for all the magnificent benefits they bring to our otherwise barren and hostile urban environment.

There are ways that trees like figs can be incorporated into new planned streetscapes, as with many of the challenges we face in city living it comes down to just how much you want something and are prepared to give up to have it.

I really hope as we get dragged kicking and screaming into the realisation of just how messed up our urban lifestyle is and the cumulative negative impacts it is having on everything around us (us included!)..that more and more of us will demand tree lined boulevards that reclaim space for pedestrians and the trees that make those streets places people enjoy, and actually gain benefits from being in.

Canberra - City Beautiful and Garden City Capital

I have never travelled to Canberra before.....so it was exciting and really fascinating to finally walk along the streets and lake edge so famously planned by American architect Walter Burley Griffin with drawings drafted by Marion Mahony Griffin.

I know that much was changed from the intial design intent however it still has some key elements and vistas, the legacy of such influencial periods of planning and construction is both good and bad....anyone who lives in Canberra would be acutely aware of the recent concerns regarding teh health of vast numbers of street trees...both those planted in the early 1900's and later in two equally large scale planting periods.


Some of my trip is posted on the VTGA Blog esp the Lone Pine at the National War Memorial Visiting the Lone Pine.

But here are some glimpses of the beauty I found during two lovely albeit cold days walking around parts of Canberra.

Typical streetscape (Northbourne Ave)

Somewhat famous vista looking downhill from the National War Memorial to some shed at the end of a driveway.

Very beautiful side street (Geerilong Gardens)

Flowering pear trees near Lake Burley Griffin

Nerang Pool northern edge of Lake Burley Griffin

Willow growing on the northern bank of Lake Burley Griffin

Lake Burley Griffin looking suitably cold

I do recognise that there are some very specific problems facing local government in the City of Canberra regarding their street trees, inadequate water supply and decades of limited resources which have left trees neglected.

There are no simple solutions to these issues of long term management and what are often very hard, unpopular decisions that might need to be made regarding specific streets and trees in very serious decline.

On a personal (and arguably overly simplistic) level I do feel that direct communication with communities is the only way of achieving progress. There is absolutely no point being surprised at community backlash to decisions that individuals and groups feel alienated from.