Are there any other Gold Coast gardeners here?

I would be interested in discussing techniques for garden survival in
the face of the Gold Coast's very severe water restrictions. I have
already lost a great deal of my existing landscaping, trees, shrubs
etc. The lawn went a year ago.

Tony

Anthony (Tony) Cameron wrote in message
newsrvvmvcpsq9o288uqufomv55qqkl0v8054@primus...
Are there any other Gold Coast gardeners here?

Yup!

I would be interested in discussing techniques for garden survival in
the face of the Gold Coast's very severe water restrictions. I have
already lost a great deal of my existing landscaping, trees, shrubs
etc. The lawn went a year ago.

Like you, most of the lawns in my area went belly up sometime early Autumn
(remember we did get some rain at the beginning of the year). The yards
which seem to have survived best are those who planted low-maintence mostly
native gardens have done better than others.

As for me, my garden is mostly still intact (although it needs a damn good
weed). Some of the understory plantings have died off a bit, although I
think its more due to age and neglect. My 'dearly beloved' can be a rabid
pruner when he gets hold of the prunning shears. I also admit I don't water
(even when we have no water restrictions).

I've lived on the Gold Coast for a long time. I remember the last severe
drought in the early 70s when we couldn't use outside taps and all car
washes at servos had to be shut off. I recall my mother bucketing left over
washing water out touse on her garden. At least this time the council gave
us the opportunity to spring clean for one day. Nice to have a clean car for
once.

Susan
Elanora

g'day tony,

don't think you have to live on the gold coast to experience that
problem in drought conditions, pity yuor council allowed for that
excess drinking water to be used of late for a spring clean of the g/c
your water reserve was already low.

yep let the lawn go or turn it into gardens, gardens take less water
to keep them going, the things to do; heavily mulch around all your
plants use mulch hay or straw. start using your gray water especially
from the bathroom and laundry, you'll find that in most cases you can
get a clean wash with 1/2 the washing powder recommended and then use
earth friendly products.

we have used gray water for years even in the burbs, we had a high set
house i fitted a diverter to the bath outlet and we used to pump the
laundry water to the gardens. if you want to take it one step further
instead of using good drinking water to flush urine (water) away use a
wee bucket then mix that with water each day and water the gardens
with that, this is great on vege' gardens

take care

len

snipped
--
happy gardening
'it works for me it could work for you,'

"in the end ya' gotta do what ya' gotta do" but consider others and the environment
http://home.dnet.aunz.com/gardnlen/

On Wed, 24 Sep 2003 04:46:43 +1000, len gardener
wrote:

g'day tony,

don't think you have to live on the gold coast to experience that
problem in drought conditions, pity yuor council allowed for that
excess drinking water to be used of late for a spring clean of the g/c
your water reserve was already low.

Yes, I am aware that the drought extends to many other areas but our
council is a bit less prepared than many. They are very bloody minded
and illogical about many things. I have a waterfront property, river,
not canal, and they have attempted to tell me that I cannot pump water
from the river although there is no dam, or agricultural demand on the
water between me and the sea. I have been told, and am exploring the
matter, that they have no authority in that area, and that I can get a
state Government license to pump water. If I can, that will solve my
problems but not the community's unfortunately.

yep let the lawn go or turn it into gardens, gardens take less water
to keep them going, the things to do; heavily mulch around all your
plants use mulch hay or straw. start using your gray water especially
from the bathroom and laundry, you'll find that in most cases you can
get a clean wash with 1/2 the washing powder recommended and then use
earth friendly products.

The Gold Coast Council in its infinite lack of wisdom has banned the
use of grey water. They must be the only council to do so, but there
is a heavy penalty in force if you are caught. I have spoken to Daphne
MacDonald and Michael May regarding the matter and they are adamant.
No grey water. Daphne MacDonald is the councilor in charge of Gold
Coast Water. As for the rest, I do mulch and have planted a lot more
trees and shrubs and am looking at other forms of ground cover. I am
putting in some large areas of decking and in front I intend to pave
and place a lot of large tubs and pot plants. You can still legally
water those.

we have used gray water for years even in the burbs, we had a high set
house i fitted a diverter to the bath outlet and we used to pump the
laundry water to the gardens. if you want to take it one step further
instead of using good drinking water to flush urine (water) away use a
wee bucket then mix that with water each day and water the gardens
with that, this is great on vege' gardens

Yes, well, um... er... yes, well that is...

take care

len

Thanks Len

Tony

On Wed, 24 Sep 2003 04:46:43 +1000, len gardener
wrote:

g'day tony,

don't think you have to live on the gold coast to experience that
problem in drought conditions, pity yuor council allowed for that
excess drinking water to be used of late for a spring clean of the g/c
your water reserve was already low.

Yes, I am aware that the drought extends to many other areas but our
council is a bit less prepared than many. They are very bloody minded
and illogical about many things. I have a waterfront property, river,
not canal, and they have attempted to tell me that I cannot pump water
from the river although there is no dam, or agricultural demand on the
water between me and the sea. I have been told, and am exploring the
matter, that they have no authority in that area, and that I can get a
state Government license to pump water. If I can, that will solve my
problems but not the community's unfortunately.

yep let the lawn go or turn it into gardens, gardens take less water
to keep them going, the things to do; heavily mulch around all your
plants use mulch hay or straw. start using your gray water especially
from the bathroom and laundry, you'll find that in most cases you can
get a clean wash with 1/2 the washing powder recommended and then use
earth friendly products.

The Gold Coast Council in its infinite lack of wisdom has banned the
use of grey water. They must be the only council to do so, but there
is a heavy penalty in force if you are caught. I have spoken to Daphne
MacDonald and Michael May regarding the matter and they are adamant.
No grey water. Daphne MacDonald is the councilor in charge of Gold
Coast Water. As for the rest, I do mulch and have planted a lot more
trees and shrubs and am looking at other forms of ground cover. I am
putting in some large areas of decking and in front I intend to pave
and place a lot of large tubs and pot plants. You can still legally
water those.

we have used gray water for years even in the burbs, we had a high set
house i fitted a diverter to the bath outlet and we used to pump the
laundry water to the gardens. if you want to take it one step further
instead of using good drinking water to flush urine (water) away use a
wee bucket then mix that with water each day and water the gardens
with that, this is great on vege' gardens

Yes, well, um... er... yes, well that is...

take care

len

Thanks Len

Tony

On Wed, 24 Sep 2003 04:46:43 +1000, len gardener
wrote:

g'day tony,

don't think you have to live on the gold coast to experience that
problem in drought conditions, pity yuor council allowed for that
excess drinking water to be used of late for a spring clean of the g/c
your water reserve was already low.

Yes, I am aware that the drought extends to many other areas but our
council is a bit less prepared than many. They are very bloody minded
and illogical about many things. I have a waterfront property, river,
not canal, and they have attempted to tell me that I cannot pump water
from the river although there is no dam, or agricultural demand on the
water between me and the sea. I have been told, and am exploring the
matter, that they have no authority in that area, and that I can get a
state Government license to pump water. If I can, that will solve my
problems but not the community's unfortunately.

yep let the lawn go or turn it into gardens, gardens take less water
to keep them going, the things to do; heavily mulch around all your
plants use mulch hay or straw. start using your gray water especially
from the bathroom and laundry, you'll find that in most cases you can
get a clean wash with 1/2 the washing powder recommended and then use
earth friendly products.

The Gold Coast Council in its infinite lack of wisdom has banned the
use of grey water. They must be the only council to do so, but there
is a heavy penalty in force if you are caught. I have spoken to Daphne
MacDonald and Michael May regarding the matter and they are adamant.
No grey water. Daphne MacDonald is the councilor in charge of Gold
Coast Water. As for the rest, I do mulch and have planted a lot more
trees and shrubs and am looking at other forms of ground cover. I am
putting in some large areas of decking and in front I intend to pave
and place a lot of large tubs and pot plants. You can still legally
water those.

we have used gray water for years even in the burbs, we had a high set
house i fitted a diverter to the bath outlet and we used to pump the
laundry water to the gardens. if you want to take it one step further
instead of using good drinking water to flush urine (water) away use a
wee bucket then mix that with water each day and water the gardens
with that, this is great on vege' gardens

Yes, well, um... er... yes, well that is...

take care

len

Thanks Len

Tony

g'day tony,

they certainly looked unprepared from this end of town, already buying
in water from brisbane and the tweed and then letting it get wasted on
windows and driveways.

most councils as far as i know don't encourage grey water use, but
then for me that sort of rule is there to be well bent, if you don't
tell anyone what you are doing how will they know? if you walked out
to your front garden with a watering can no one would know surely.

i was always of the opinion that the state government controlled water
ways?

society certainly has a big soft underbelly when it comes to using our
own waste water to water the garden, they'd much rather flush it away
with fresh drinking water.

ever thought of installing a rain water tank? got to be a reasonable
size depends on demand for water for the garden, 2,000 gallon tank
should be a nice size.

take care the long hot summer, don't forget mulch hay/straw comes
cheap and saves lots of moisture loss might not look prety enough
though.

len

snipped
--
happy gardening
'it works for me it could work for you,'

"in the end ya' gotta do what ya' gotta do" but consider others and the environment
http://home.dnet.aunz.com/gardnlen/

another couple of suggestions for you tony,

not sure about where you are but maybe a spear pump installed could
alleviate your problems see the following link:

http://www.spearpumps.8m.com/

he could possibly at least advise, i talk to this chap on gardening
forums his name is paul. or maybe even a bore if you are not suitable
for a spear pump, can't suggest any body about bores, just look in the
yellow pages.

if you do ring paul just tell him gardenlen sent you he may buy me a 6
pack sometime but apart from that there is no affiliation.

a 5,000 gallon inground water tank with an on demand electric pump
would also be another option.

have fun we are

len

snipped
--
happy gardening
'it works for me it could work for you,'

"in the end ya' gotta do what ya' gotta do" but consider others and the environment
http://home.dnet.aunz.com/gardnlen/

another couple of suggestions for you tony,

not sure about where you are but maybe a spear pump installed could
alleviate your problems see the following link:

http://www.spearpumps.8m.com/

he could possibly at least advise, i talk to this chap on gardening
forums his name is paul. or maybe even a bore if you are not suitable
for a spear pump, can't suggest any body about bores, just look in the
yellow pages.

if you do ring paul just tell him gardenlen sent you he may buy me a 6
pack sometime but apart from that there is no affiliation.

a 5,000 gallon inground water tank with an on demand electric pump
would also be another option.

have fun we are

len

snipped
--
happy gardening
'it works for me it could work for you,'

"in the end ya' gotta do what ya' gotta do" but consider others and the environment
http://home.dnet.aunz.com/gardnlen/

another couple of suggestions for you tony,

not sure about where you are but maybe a spear pump installed could
alleviate your problems see the following link:

http://www.spearpumps.8m.com/

he could possibly at least advise, i talk to this chap on gardening
forums his name is paul. or maybe even a bore if you are not suitable
for a spear pump, can't suggest any body about bores, just look in the
yellow pages.

if you do ring paul just tell him gardenlen sent you he may buy me a 6
pack sometime but apart from that there is no affiliation.

a 5,000 gallon inground water tank with an on demand electric pump
would also be another option.

have fun we are

len

snipped
--
happy gardening
'it works for me it could work for you,'

"in the end ya' gotta do what ya' gotta do" but consider others and the environment
http://home.dnet.aunz.com/gardnlen/

Anthony (Tony) Cameron wrote:

Are there any other Gold Coast gardeners here?

I would be interested in discussing techniques for garden survival in
the face of the Gold Coast's very severe water restrictions. I have
already lost a great deal of my existing landscaping, trees, shrubs
etc. The lawn went a year ago.

Tony
Hi, I am just next door on the Tweed. We are much better off water
wise,thanks to a large catchment area.
However, during last year's drought I revised/reviewed my water usage.
HOUSEHOLD WATER: reuse it instead of it going down the plug hole. 3
litre icecream containers in each basin for collecting water from hand
washing, dish rinsing etc.....decant into a bucket,use wherever in the
garden. 3 litre milk container to collect "warming" water while
running tap for the washing up. Shower: bucket for collecting "warming
"water.
LAUNDRY WATER: with no phosphorous detergent (Greencare liquid) Bucket
or divert the rinse water to the garden. I adapted my wheelie bin with
a hole on theside at the base, fittings from Bunnings and attached to
the hose to dribble wherever. (I have a front loader and the water
half fills the wheelie bin)
LAWN: I destroyed the grass, covered it with layers of newspaper and
the 10cm of cane mulch($3.50 a bale at Tumbulgum). It took 48 bales.
GARDEN: Aqua spikes (bright orange) from Bunnings inserted in soil
near the roots, 2 or 3 litre milk containers inverted on top, pour
the water in...goes straight to the roots.

Anthony (Tony) Cameron wrote:

Are there any other Gold Coast gardeners here?

I would be interested in discussing techniques for garden survival in
the face of the Gold Coast's very severe water restrictions. I have
already lost a great deal of my existing landscaping, trees, shrubs
etc. The lawn went a year ago.

Tony
Hi, I am just next door on the Tweed. We are much better off water
wise,thanks to a large catchment area.
However, during last year's drought I revised/reviewed my water usage.
HOUSEHOLD WATER: reuse it instead of it going down the plug hole. 3
litre icecream containers in each basin for collecting water from hand
washing, dish rinsing etc.....decant into a bucket,use wherever in the
garden. 3 litre milk container to collect "warming" water while
running tap for the washing up. Shower: bucket for collecting "warming
"water.
LAUNDRY WATER: with no phosphorous detergent (Greencare liquid) Bucket
or divert the rinse water to the garden. I adapted my wheelie bin with
a hole on theside at the base, fittings from Bunnings and attached to
the hose to dribble wherever. (I have a front loader and the water
half fills the wheelie bin)
LAWN: I destroyed the grass, covered it with layers of newspaper and
the 10cm of cane mulch($3.50 a bale at Tumbulgum). It took 48 bales.
GARDEN: Aqua spikes (bright orange) from Bunnings inserted in soil
near the roots, 2 or 3 litre milk containers inverted on top, pour
the water in...goes straight to the roots.

"Anthony (Tony) Cameron" wrote in
message news:g3i1nv4328abuk1h3ulii27o7mjpfo7sa9@primus...

Yes, I am aware that the drought extends to many other areas but our
council is a bit less prepared than many. They are very bloody minded
and illogical about many things. I have a waterfront property, river,
not canal, and they have attempted to tell me that I cannot pump water
from the river although there is no dam, or agricultural demand on the
water between me and the sea. I have been told, and am exploring the
matter, that they have no authority in that area, and that I can get a
state Government license to pump water. If I can, that will solve my
problems but not the community's unfortunately.


I think in QLD the body is responsible for legislation on water use is
something like the dept of Natural Resources and Mining. They may have
delegated some things to local government or there may be a link to your
local government act (or whatever its title is). I would ask them.
There appears to be a web site www.nrm.qld.gov.au but I cannot get to it
now for some reason.

All the states changed their water legislation about 2000, in NSW you
can legally pump from permanent rivers and lakes without a license
provided that it is for domestic purposes (including gardens for no
commercial use) or stock watering. Whether QLD is the same I don't
know.


The Gold Coast Council in its infinite lack of wisdom has banned the
use of grey water. They must be the only council to do so, but there
is a heavy penalty in force if you are caught. I have spoken to Daphne
MacDonald and Michael May regarding the matter and they are adamant.
No grey water. Daphne MacDonald is the councilor in charge of Gold
Coast Water. As for the rest, I do mulch and have planted a lot more
trees and shrubs and am looking at other forms of ground cover. I am
putting in some large areas of decking and in front I intend to pave
and place a lot of large tubs and pot plants. You can still legally
water those.


Our council is the same - no grey water. The one next door is fine for
grey water. Such is life.

David

"Anthony (Tony) Cameron" wrote in
message news:g3i1nv4328abuk1h3ulii27o7mjpfo7sa9@primus...

Yes, I am aware that the drought extends to many other areas but our
council is a bit less prepared than many. They are very bloody minded
and illogical about many things. I have a waterfront property, river,
not canal, and they have attempted to tell me that I cannot pump water
from the river although there is no dam, or agricultural demand on the
water between me and the sea. I have been told, and am exploring the
matter, that they have no authority in that area, and that I can get a
state Government license to pump water. If I can, that will solve my
problems but not the community's unfortunately.


I think in QLD the body is responsible for legislation on water use is
something like the dept of Natural Resources and Mining. They may have
delegated some things to local government or there may be a link to your
local government act (or whatever its title is). I would ask them.
There appears to be a web site www.nrm.qld.gov.au but I cannot get to it
now for some reason.

All the states changed their water legislation about 2000, in NSW you
can legally pump from permanent rivers and lakes without a license
provided that it is for domestic purposes (including gardens for no
commercial use) or stock watering. Whether QLD is the same I don't
know.


The Gold Coast Council in its infinite lack of wisdom has banned the
use of grey water. They must be the only council to do so, but there
is a heavy penalty in force if you are caught. I have spoken to Daphne
MacDonald and Michael May regarding the matter and they are adamant.
No grey water. Daphne MacDonald is the councilor in charge of Gold
Coast Water. As for the rest, I do mulch and have planted a lot more
trees and shrubs and am looking at other forms of ground cover. I am
putting in some large areas of decking and in front I intend to pave
and place a lot of large tubs and pot plants. You can still legally
water those.


Our council is the same - no grey water. The one next door is fine for
grey water. Such is life.

David