Queensland 2008 Landscape Construction Excellence Awards
Thursday, December 17th, 2009
- Winning garden designed by JW Concepts, built by Eureka Landscapes and Katesh Landscape Services
- Scape Shapes’ Michael Schultz is congratulated by Andrew Bottomley and ACLH Chairman Don Scotts
- Firetwirlers mesmerise the crowd
The Landscape Queensland 2008 Landscape Construction Excellence Awards got off to an explosive start with fire twirlers mesmerising the crowd to kick-start the night of celebration, recognising the year’s most outstanding landscape construction projects across 17 categories.
Three impressive gardens adorned the ballroom, giving attendees a first-hand visual of Gala Dinner sponsor ACLH’s SMART Gardening Start Gardening principles. JW Concepts took out the Best Ballroom Garden prize with their garden built by Eureka Landscapes and Katesh Landscape Services.
Ross McKinnon AM was inducted into the Hall of Fame in recognition of his long-standing contribution to the industry while Scape Shapes Landscaping won the Queensland Landscape Construction of the Year award.
A proud Michael Schultz, Director of Scape Shapes Landscaping accepted the industry’s most celebrated award for his unique and masterfully constructed Ephraim Island project. This was a large residential unit development, comprising of seven large unit complexes on the waterfront at Ephraim Island for which Scape Shapes built the lush surrounding gardens.
“This was a very unique project. Being on an island, it was not only a very large project in scale but the level of exposure to the elements and sea was a major consideration. The designers needed to determine how the landscape would cope with this level of exposure and what the long term sustainability would be. For the first time we used crushed shell mulch to help combat this; which is very cutting edge in landscaping.”
Michael indicates that the landscape industry is transforming and feels awards like this not only assist in raising the industry’s growing profile but have evolved from the community’s growing consciousness of the environment and the impact gardens and plants have in our lives.
“Through watching popular landscaping programs on television the general public are more aware of the importance of landscaping now. Aesthetically landscapes make you feel good. Property developers understand the importance of this now too. Ten years ago landscaping was more of an after thought but today it is a priority. We are there at the initial meetings with clients now because they realise the importance of environmental aesthetics to any project. The environmental factors and long term sustainability are key attributes in landscape construction.”
The panel of esteemed judges who awarded Scape Shapes the prestigious title said, “This project displays excellence in workmanship throughout, right down to the smallest detail. It contains many different elements all in highly visible locations. It is an outstanding credit to Scape Shapes, who have maintained this high level of excellence across the array of elements on display. As the overall winner, this project will be an outstanding advertisement for the landscape construction industry as a whole.”
A great night was enjoyed by all with event organiser Louise Bellchambers especially thanking the sponsors who contributed to making the event a rousing success; especially Gala Dinner Sponsor ACLH, Platinum Sponsors Twin View Turf, Universal Magazines, AWX and Tingalpa Landscape Supplies and Gold Sponsors Groundworks, Horticultural Training, Logan’s Nursery and Interface Landscapes




Water restrictions are changing design approaches to surfacing of nature strips, roundabouts and public open spaces. Natural turf cannot be irrigated by mains water which leads to patchy, dusty areas which look worse for wear. This was the problem facing Orange City Council. The solution chosen by Council, with growing popularity, was TigerTurf synthetic grass.
Architects and facility managers are pleasantly surprised at the appearance of TigerTurf which utilizes the latest generation of synthetic yarns and manufacturing techniques. TigerTurf draws from over 25 years experience and international manufacturing strength. TigerTurf grass is installed on a constructed crushed rock base and infilled with sand and rubber granules to ensure longevity as well as being soft underfoot. Naturally TigerTurf has our manufactured product warranty.
Since 2003 Groundworks has continually amazed and delighted clients with the huge capacity and awe inspiring power of its current fleet of trucks. By mid December, Groundworks will take delivery of a brand new TM70 Bark Blower. It will have a massive 65m3 capacity and a 325 horsepower blower engine. Mounted on a semi trailer, this unit will more than double the delivery capacity by itself. Groundworks will do extensive testing with the new machinery and have it commissioned and on the road by late December/early January.
However, more excitingly, Groundworks has just acquired an ST Rock Slinger that is available right now! The slinger is capable of spreading soils, gravel and sand in its own right as well as being used to reload blower trucks in situ (ie less return trips to the stockpile and therefore faster delivery). The slinger can accurately aim a stream of product onto roadsides, playgrounds, embankments and ditches. With the capacity to apply up to 400m3 per day onto even the steepest slopes, the slinger has some amazing potential applications.
As everyone has come to expect from Groundworks, job sites will be professionally measured and quoted and delivery will be fast and efficient. With an OHS system that is second to none, well trained and well equipped staff who hold all the right licenses and tickets, Groundworks makes light work of impossible sites. For more information and some amazing photos of the trucks in action, go to