To see the stunning effect synthetic grass can have on our street scapes it’s well worth taking a stroll down the coffee strip in Ardross Street, Applecross.
Renowned as one of the plushest shopping villages in Perth, Ardross Street was one of the first public spaces to get the Green Planet Grass makeover more than two years ago. The City of Melville, who manage this idyllic space were keen to cut down their maintenance costs and find a durable solution in an area which proved very difficult to grow natural grass because of the large amount of pedestrian traffic on verges surrounding shops, cafes and car parking areas.
Small stones and pieces of gravel thrown out by lawn mowers had also caused problems with the paintwork of cars parked on the street being chipped so synthetic grass provided a clear solution. If you know the Ardross Street cafe strip you will know that many of those motor vehicles that frequent the shops are not the cheapest cars on the road. As a council worker you wouldn’t relish opening a letter from or picking up the phone to a well-healed and disgruntled shopper who has returned from a late morning jaunt to the boutiques with a noticeable decrease in the amount of perfect paint on their otherwise shiny Jag or Merc.
This may not be a major reason for choosing synthetic grass but it certainly removes a considerable headache – and more importantly the possibility of claims against the council!
Green Planet Grass also helped the City of Melville eliminate the ongoing cost of watering turf and drastically reduced the local authority’s maintenance bills. This means that thousands of dollars of taxpayers’ money will be saved over the coming years, which is a very welcome result for the council and residents living in the area.
Of course, the reception from shoppers and people living locally was a major consideration too.
“The Green Planet Grass installed at Ardoss Street, Applecross, has been well received by local residents. It’s also provided us with an ideal solution for a high pedestrian area, which proved difficult to grow natural lawn,” says Ian Davis, Manager of Parks and Environment at the City of Melville.
Maintaining a natural lawn in Perth often proves incredibly difficult in the hot dry climate and with water restrictions set to continue, the City of Melville has found a sustainable solution which will save considerable amounts of money.
One of the most satisfying aspects of Ardross Street is the fact that it was one of the first major public areas that we installed and it still looks great today, having taken a serious amount of pedestrian traffic. If you’re thinking of installing synthetic grass then check out the cafe strip – and make sure you relax and enjoy the surrounds while you do!
