Work to commence on USQ Community Drive

The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) is pleased to announce that work will commence next week on the University's 40th Anniversary Community Drive project.

Project Champion, Harry Spencer, from the Faculty of Sciences said as part of the plan the University will extend and build on the existing driveway entry from West Street.

'The Community Drive is a keystone project of the University's 40th Anniversary celebrations and aims to develop a meaningful and long-lasting symbol of the link between the community and the University. It also aims to reflect our regional development, internationalism and past achievements.'

Mr Spencer said the driveway beautification plan will include a mixture of native and exotic species.

'USQ has more than 7,500 international students who represent more than 90 nationalities and this mixture of native and exotic species aims to reflect our diversity and our strong links with our students and alumni around the world.'

USQ Grounds and Gardens Curator, Rusell Campbell, said the project will utilise cutting edge horticultural information and techniques.

'The driveway design is collaboration between myself and Toowoomba City Council landscape architect, Anne Whitton, and will be an example of best practice gardening in these current drought conditions.'

The key feature of the project will be an avenue of 110 Norfolk Island pines that will line the driveway and the West Street boundary of the University.

'Norfolk pines were chosen because of their stately and orderly growth, ornamental value and overall suitability to the Toowoomba environment.'

The University will also be taking a very innovative approach to watering the plants.

'We have air-conditioning cooling towers on campus and as that water requires regular changing we are capturing that water – which is high in salt – and using it on the pines, which are salt tolerant.'

This supply will also be supplemented by storing roof storm water in tanks and applying the latest planting techniques to minimise water use.

'Organic mix will also be incorporated into the soil during planting and wetting agents will be added for additional moisture retention.'

As part of the project 43 existing trees will be removed from the driveway during April with assistance from the Toowoomba City Council.

A number of trees will be removed from the West Street frontage to make way for the 110 Norfolk pines.

500 native species will be planted into groves on either side of the driveway as part of the project.

Mr Campbell said a lot of the existing trees had to be removed for safety reasons.
'The majority of the existing trees lining the driveway were planted in the 1970's and 1980's and a lot of them are structurally unsound and have to be removed for various reasons – around 60% of the original plantings remain today.

'Some of the jacarandas are structurally unsound, some of the eucalypts were planted in areas that have proven to be unsafe and there are old callistemon that are full of fungal disease.'

All trees that are being removed will be chipped and used as mulch around the new trees to provide additional moisture retention benefits.

The initial grove plantings will be at the top of the driveway and as many existing trees as possible will be incorporated into the new design.

Preparation work will commence on the Community Drive in April, with the first avenue plantings expected to commence in June or July 2007.

Information on the project will be on the 40th Anniversary website and plans will be displayed in the USQ mall for staff to view mid April.

Media Contact: Amy Cass, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2092 or +61 412 097 326