APST Hobart Group New Nursery Development

A new APST Hobart Group Nursery is to be established as a long-term facility within Kingston Primary School grounds. A functioning nursery is an essential component of the APST Hobart Group’s activities. Propagation supports appreciation, conservation and dissemination of knowledge of Tasmania’s native flora, enables the distribution of locally appropriate plant material and provides a focus for member engagement and skill development.

We have been operating successfully at the school for 16 years and the Vice-Principal has asked us to stay for another 20 years! Consequently, we would like the new nursery to have state-of-the-art facilities.

Location

The proposed site shown below is 13 x 22.41 m (291.33 m²) - those measurements being based on possible internal layouts of existing infrastructure (sheds, benches etc).

Services

Dial Before You Dig has provided locations of all services. There are none shown on the site. Fire Hydrant line is not on either TasWater or TFS plans - it must be on the School’s plans. Chris (School Vice-Principal) will be contacted re this. Location must be known prior to excavation.

Power and water connection points to school to be exactly determined in consultation with contractors recommended by Justin (excavator & general contractor who has done extensive work for the school). Quotes to come. Trenching to be coordinated with installation. Water connection is likely an existing irrigation line near the site. Solar power? potential grant/rebate.

Excavation

As the excavation contractor put it, “the land speaks to you” – it is unknown without digging what the subsoil conditions are. He said he has struck a rock pan in places around the site at 500mm depth. This may determine the amount of levelling that can be achieved. Terracing may be required on the site. If so, the production area should go on the upper side so transport of product to growing areas is downhill.

Earthworks may include site clearing, levelling, trenching for services and drainage, fence post footings, concrete slab preparation, and formation of access paths. Works will be sequenced to avoid rework.

For every 1 m cut to make level, a 45 degree cut of 1 m horizontal length must be allowed for.

Vertical drop at proposed site

· Northern end 1397 mm over 15m = 93 mm/m

· Southern end 1612 mm over 15m = 107 mm/m

Fencing/Access

· 2m Cyclone galvanised. 12 x 20 = 64 m. Awaiting quote. To be electrified for possums at top and middle (members).

· Gates to allow small truck or utility vehicle access.

· Hutchins St curb outside installed gate is not a driveway cutting and is a parking zone. Council has been contacted and we await their response.

· Extensive landscaping with Tasmanian plants outside fence and along access drive.

Internal infrastructure

· 12mm bluestone “blue metal” (75 mm thick) over black plastic (consider drainage). Some compactible material (orange road material?) for high traffic areas?

· Concrete pads may be required for sheds and possible path sections

· Surfaces to support year-round use and safe access. Weed control an important consideration.

· 3-sided structure to shelter propagation benches. Awaiting quote.

· Wheeled mobility access to infrastructure.

· Humid and shaded growing environments to be provided for.

· Existing propagation benches (1.5 m x 0.9 m) to be relocated. Duplicate 3rd bench to be constructed possibly at lower height for seated work.

· Two existing 3 x 3 m sheds to be relocated.

· Growing benches to be partially disassembled and relocated.

· Landscaping on drive and on eastern side of site between nursery and neighbouring fence

· Seated/coffee area FOR 15-20? To allow for presentations/meetings too?

3x3 sq m shade house
area for composting our potting waste
additional bins for separating all other waste.
In future we will probably need a 4th workbench in the area of the plants.