#50Days50Ways - #3 - Upgrading and expanding the Mudgeeraba Cemetery.
The Mudgeeraba Cemetery is not just a quiet and reflective place to remember our loved ones past, but also a significant economic driver for our area, supporting local funeral directors, florists and food and beverage outlets who are service providers for our regular bookings. While it is no doubt a sad topic, the expanded cemetery is an important city investment into the community.
When it became evident there was only single digit availability for monument plots, a plan had to be devised to ensure we could accommodate this essential council service into the future. The inefficient transfer station was replaced by household green bins, and improved capability at Merrimac and Reedy Creek (both under 10 minutes away) and the cemetery was approved for expansion.
#Mudgeeraba Cemetery Expansion improvements include landscape and revegetation components. Revegetation of the batters within the site was facilitated through our natural areas revegetation contract. These works included management of weed species and restoration of batters with endemic (local native) plant species as available, to replicate as near as possible naturalised plantings. The mix of species include ground layer, shrubs and tree to assist in stabilising batters, improving erosion and sediment control, and providing important ecological services such as habitat and food value for native fauna and birds.
The revegetation areas were prepared with topsoil and jute mat, and watered in to improve ground moisture prior to planting. 8000 tube-stock were planted over 3 days, with establishment watering being undertaken for 12 weeks post-planting. The method of planting is the planting crew walk up and down the batters with bags over their shoulders containing approx. 60 tube-stock plants that they plant and fertilize with a short shovel into the batters, repeating this process throughout the day.
This project is a critical economic driver for our area, an essential council service, and a multi-million dollar investment by the council into our community. Projects like these, communicated carefully and transparently have been central to the success of our office.
I've no doubt, if you #Vote1Tozer during March you can more projects that improve front-line services and deliver strategic longevity to our infrastructure in the hinterland.