THE skies may have been largely quiet at Avalon Airport during COVID-19 but there\u2019s plenty of activity on the ground with the establishment of the airport\u2019s first on-site nursery.<\/p>\n
Avalon has used the time to plan and implement a new nursery – which covers about 4,500 sqm – in order to address both aesthetic andenvironmental needs.<\/p>\n
The airport\u2019s extensive entry and exit roads require trees for not only beautification purpose, but also to provide a wind buffer for passengers, protect against soil erosion, and create a clear way-finding system.<\/p>\n
Installing fully grown trees can be a risky and costly exercise, particularly if the trees do not take once they have been planted, so creating a nursery addresses both issues at the same time.<\/p>\n
Saplings are far cheaper than full grown trees, which is an important consideration when the airport requiring more than 2,000 of them.<\/p>\n
They are also more likely to thrive if established within their final environment, becoming accustomed to the exposure instead of being shocked by it if imported fully grown.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re pleased to be establishing such a large area for Avalon Airport Nursery,\u201d Avalon Airport chief executive officer Justin Giddings said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a history of planting trees onsite, having planted around 200,000 in and around the airport since 2000 as part of Avalon Landcare.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great to be doing so again in such a prominent spot with the purpose of using the trees.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t wait for them to develop and be replanted in their final positions around the airport.\u201d<\/p>\n
Avalon Airport Nursery contains about 2,600 plants.<\/p>\n
The bare-rooted pot stock is a mix of native and international trees that thrive in the climate, and includes wattles, kurrajong trees, tea trees and banksias as well as maidenhairs and blue jacarandas.<\/p>\n
Once the trees are more established, the airport plans to convert space in the vicinity into a staff garden and picnic area, and eventually hopes
\nto wholesale.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere at Avalon, the airport has used the COVID-19 period to install new technology such as touchless kiosks, new auto bag drops and a state of the art CT scanner, creating a larger, safer space and a simpler, more seamless passenger experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE skies may have been largely quiet at Avalon Airport during COVID-19 but there\u2019s plenty of activity on the ground with the establishment of the airport\u2019s first on-site nursery. Avalon has used the time to plan and implement a new nursery – which covers about 4,500 sqm – in order to address both aesthetic andenvironmental […]<\/p>\n