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Munibung Creek ‘Magic Garden’

Save Munibung Creek ‘Magic Garden’

Carol McMurray has been tending this small ‘nature-reserve’ for the last 35 years, but now developers want to rip it up and replace it with a concrete block wall.

THIS REMINDS US of the song by John Williamson, Rip Rip Woodchip – turn it into paper, Throw it in the bin, no news today.

Well, this is news. It was just a denuded patch of ground at the end of a cul-de-sac, back in 1989. Nothing unusual about that. But Carol is a horticulturalist. She could visualise something more appealing to the senses, more diverse, more attractive to wildlife, more nature positive. A shining example of what Urban Ecology looks like when applied in a local setting. And so she set about creating her own Keep Australia Beautiful landscape.

 Carol’s partner Tex Graham built the seats and put up the safety barrier.

These are acts of civic minded people who take the initiative to turn ‘waste’ into beauty.  When we enter Gorleston Terrace, Cardiff and cast our eyes down the street we are greeted with an array of diverse shades of green trees and shrubs with flowering plants hugging the ground.

Small, granted, but Small is Beautiful, as noted by Schumacher back in 1973. And there is big value to be had in small spaces – just ask Professor Brendan Wintle. Listen here: Big conservation in small spaces.

“Some of the trees are Cedrela australis Red Cedar, Hibiscus and Trident Maples,” Carol says. “The dense tree canopies act as a noise barrier as well as a safe ecosystem for a cornucopia of life. Ringtail Possums, Lizards, Frogs, Lorikeets, Black Cockatoos, Kookaburras and other native birds, all visit the reserve garden.”

This is a delightful example of how the unselfish act of two people can transform an area and make a world of difference. And yet to a third party it is nothing to be respected.  Rather, it is an annoyance, getting in the way of a project that supposedly will come with its own landscaping conditions of consent. The difference being what already exists, doesn’t fit the pre-conceived plan on the the DA (development application) submitted for approval.

For the sake of a couple of metres, this lovingly tended verge garden has to supposedly be sacrificed in the name of progress.

 We need more greenery in the scenery.
This park reserve, this ‘magic garden’ deserves to be preserved.

There is value in what Carol and Tex have done and are doing.  Value that can fly under the radar and go unnoticed. But hang on a minute. Staff at the nearby Bluebird Early Education Centre know value when they see it.

“Staff bring children to the park each week as part of their natural learning activities. ” says Carol. “The children love it. They call it their ‘magic garden’.  The children come in different groups of either 8 or 10 with 4 teachers – it’s just beautiful.”

This is something to be celebrated. What started out as one small act ‘prettying’ up a ‘no-through-road’ has turned into a refuge for wildlife that doubles as a teaching / learning outdoor classroom.

But Carol is not taking the destruction as a foregone conclusion.  She has a petition with the names of local residents who value and want this small ‘park’ protected. Cr Colin Grigg from Lake Mac North Ward has lent his support, and you can to.  Support Carol – carolmac5481@gmail.com  In the subject line write: Petition to save our natural environment,  include your Name, Address, Email and Phone contact numbers for authentication purposes.

To rip it up? Is that the best we can do?  What message does that send to the little children – the adults of the future. Do immediate pre-conceived plans, have to run rough-shod over the benefits to nature and local people?  To not give a second thought to how this will be perceived by the children and their families who benefit from what Carol McMurray does?  It doesn’t have to be an either / or. We can have both.  They can co-exist.

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Carol McMurray’s Plant List
November 2024
Munibung Creek riparian zone
Gorleston Terrace, Cardiff
 
Eucalyptus caesia ‘Silver Princess’
Cedrela australisRed Cedar x 5
Senna bicapsularisRambling Senna
Melia azedarachWhite Cedar
StenocarpusFirewheel Tree
Hibiscus diversifoliusSwamp Hibiscus
Lagunaria patersonia Norfolk Island Hibiscus
Brachychiton acerifolius Illawarra Flame Tree
Buckinghamia celsissimaIvory Curl Tree
Hymenosporum flaviumNative Frangipani
Tristaniopsis laurinaWater Gum
Acer buergerianum Trident Maple
Fraxinus augustifolia subsp. oxycarpa ‘Raywood’ Claret Ash
Araucaria heterophyllusNorfolk Island Pine
Pinus radiataRadiata Pine
Licuala grandis – Ruffled Fan Palm (photo, left)
Homalanthus populifoliusBleeding Heart Tree (photo, left)
Beaucarnea recurvatePonytail Palm x 4

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Munibung Creek at the Gorleston Terrace Magic Garden reserve.

A MAJOR CATCHMENT on the north eastern end of Munibung Hill has a name, but you’d never know. Munibung Creek is at its heart – an Order One creek under the Strahler stream order classification.

But the creek has no signs to indicate that it is Munibung Creek and so next to no one considers her to be much more than a drain.

The creek is ephemeral for much of the year. But at some locations she contains ponds and pools of water almost all year round.

MHCS has an ongoing issue with Hunter Water referring to waterways as storm-water channels, rather than classifying them as creeks.

No sign of a sign showing the name of the waterway as being Munibung Creek.
Just a notice …

WARNING: Persons found dumping rubbish in channel will be prosecuted.
By Order Hunter Water.

   … From MMM Issue 47, Dec 24 – Jan 25