Demonstration Waterwise Gardens

Waterwise Native Gardens

Australia is the driest inhabited continent in the world, which makes water conservation and quality an ongoing challenge that requires constant management and review. Recent drought conditions in the southwest of Western Australia enhance the severity of the problem, particularly with the sandy soil profile that is found in the Cottesloe.

The Town of Cottesloe worked with Cottesloe Coastcare to produce a "Grow Local Plants" brochure to help residents design their own local garden. Download the brochure to see the list of recommended plant species, along with information about how hardy the plants are and what native animals they attract. The Town has been recognised as a Waterwise Council due to the work that it has been completed to promote waterwise native gardens.

Why Native Plants?

Signage at the road reserve on the corner of Eric Street and Curtin Avenue mentions the use of native plants that require less water, little to no fertiliser, provide habitat for native birds and insects. It is important to remember that even native plants need some care to become established. This display garden had soil preparation through the addition of compost and organic matter, to maximise it's water retention and give the plants a much better start.

Mulch has been applied to improve water and nutrient retention in the soil. The Town of Cottesloe has worked with the Town of Mosman Park to develop a presentation that details simple steps that you can do to prepare your garden to be more sustainable and save water. To view the presentation click here.

Residential Verges

To demonstrate what residents can do on their own verges, the roundabout and reserve corners of Broome and Napier Streets have been planted out with native species that are less than 0.6 of a meter in height close to the road to ensure that visibility for vehicles is not obstructed. If you are interested in planting out your verge garden with native plants, or making any other changes, you must submit an application in writing with a sketch plan to the Town.

The Town of Cottesloe will consider your application and if it meets the requirements set out in the Residential Verge Policy then a permit will be granted. Allow up to two weeks for Council to assess your verge application.