Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697637320036.pdf (Australia)
Paul Totterdell.

Horticulturist 20years experience of landscape design and construction.

Founding member of Sustainable Organic Solutions a group of Australian firms including Architects, Landscape Architects, Industrial Designers, Horticulturists, Agriculturists, Urban planners and social welfare groups.

We design and construct (and promote the design and construction of) energy efficient buildings and landscapes.
We look for clients prepared to modify their building plans to take advantage of natural flows for heating, cooling, efficient use of resources and efficient waste disposal and/or recycling.

In our landscapes we use nutrient holding strategies, wastewater and storm water recycling, as tools to create a recycling ‘Biofilter’, which supports the landscape.

These ‘Biofilters’ hold back, filter and recycle excess water, nutrients, organic wastes and pollutants that are produced from the site.
As constructed landscapes are generally located close to buildings, this creates an efficient ‘Close Coupled, (i.e.

: close to source of waste streams) Resource Recovery System’, (CCRRS).

Our experience so far shows such systems to be a powerful growing tool.

Our sites are showing plant growth twice the rate normally expected for Canberra landscapes.

The soil biota is diverse and vigorous.

This provides a barrier to the build up of unwanted pathogens and ensures ongoing nutrients for plant growth.
The base that supports this landscape approach is constructed by manipulating the configuration or shape, of the subsoil profile.

It is apparent when the form and function of our recovery systems are observed, that there is a correlation between well-constructed profiles and natural regolith, (natural rock, stones, gravels and sand) and the form and function this regolith has in the natural landscape.
A well-constructed regolith profile can control and direct water and nutrient flow to landscape growing areas.

We have got into the habit of calling this approach “Waterharvesting”.

When our waterharvesters are visible (as distinct from subsurface only) they present as a “Dry Creek Bed”.

A bed of rocks, stones, gravels and sands, (regolith) which can be sealed from, seeping into or open to the landscape soil profile.

Soil type and profile obviously impact heavily on the design approach.
The design for porous soils is different to the design for heavy or clay soils.

It is important not to create conditions favouring mosquitoes or pathogens.

The design allows for the system to dry out and aerate in dry weather, (thus the term “Dry creek bed”) providing an environment containing a balance of aerobic and anaerobic conditions, with a corresponding balance and diversity of bacteria, microorganisms etc.
These constructed dry creek beds are also in effect small subsurface dams, (imagine a series of subsurface terraced rice paddies).

They capture, via subsurface dam walls, the first flow of any rain or irrigation event then filter and settle out particles and contaminants (which are largely stored at the bottom of the dry creek) and finally over flow to recovery and drainage systems.

The contaminants are thus available for breakdown and absorption by the landscape biomass.
This breakdown and absorption starts with microbial action in the bottom of the creek bed.

Hardy water loving/bog plants and shrubs are planted close by.

The broader landscape benefits from slow transverse seepage and movement of water and nutrients from the creek bed and slow invasion of the creek bed by tree and shrub root systems.

Many of these plants can be food producing.


If you look at the plan for any site, no doubt the profile would show provision for excavation of landscape features, roads, footings for buildings and service trenches.

The design of site excavations (and just as important the backfilling of them) can fulfill the needs of both buildings and a filtering recycling landscape.

As well as providing a vigorous and healthy (even inspiring?)
amenity to residents these landscapes increase biomass capacity by utilizing and improving the land in between buildings and access roads.

(Cities Feeding People Rose 1999) We believe that this approach plays a significant role in absorbing greenhouse gases and protecting our natural environment from pollution.
The cost of these systems in immediate investment terms can often be minimal or even negative, (in whole of life costing terms) if the planning process is thorough and every opportunity is taken to utilise existing site conditions, building programs and materials.

One of the important outcomes of this approach is the awareness it generates in the minds of our clients.

People immediately recognize the need to minimize the introduction of pollutants into the landscape or risk damaging it.
There is an immediate sense of ownership and responsibility.

The rewards are production from and satisfying interaction with the urban (Suburban/village) landscape.

People experience a sense of peace and harmony in their world if their immediate surroundings and companion life forms are vigorous and self-sustaining.

These effects are a function of the landscape itself and require little or no reinforcement by us.
These effects support ongoing enthusiasm for people to maintain a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach.

The landscape industry has always been a poor cousin to the building industry.

Architects, planners and landscape architects generally disassociate themselves from, and rarely consult with landscape construction experts.

One consequence of this is that we have little opportunity to ensure that provision for water management and recycling are considered at the planning stage.
Often the landscape is merely used to provide an aesthetic compliment to the architect’s vision and valuable opportunities for water management and recycling are lost.

Australia has a large community of landscape designers and construction firms.

Landscape design and construction as a skill, incorporates most aspects of most trades.

Landscape as a business is less profitable than the building industry.

Its workers are designated as miscellaneous by the unions.
It is taxed and regulated as part of the building industry.

Our work, continuity and income is subject to the elements in a similar way to that of primary producers.

This has resulted in increasing low morale and provides pressure for businesses to participate in the cash economy in order to survive.

We believe that our industry is ready and waiting to take on the task of applying the above approach to first itself and then the broader community.
This is a skilled workforce that would jump at the chance to make a real difference in society and at the same time create meaning, (in the form of environmental repair) in his or her own working lives.

We consider landscape construction to be one of the best tools available to teach a broad variety of skills to early school leavers, the unemployed, and people generally in need of renewed confidence and self esteem in order to enter or reenter the workforce.
Over the last ten years we have designed and taught courses for about one hundred students.

Our success rate in terms of the employment and ongoing confidence of our students has been high.

If supported by government and applied as a policy, in time this approach to landscaping could go a long way to cleaning up our cities’ pollution (especially our water), generate and support a recycling mentality, provide a point of entry into the work force for many of the disadvantaged in our society.
It is a stand-alone policy in that this work is a refocusing of resources that are going to be spent on renovation and new construction of future works in any case.

Private clients are paying for this work.

Government funding may only be required for industry support and reporting.

We have a variety of completed projects in and around Canberra, which can be viewed and demonstrated to this committee, should you be interested.

Yours sincerely Paul Totterdell