Episode: 1
Title: Optus Stadium
Broadcast: Mar 3rd 2018
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane

One of the more remarkable projects to be undertaken in the past decade has been the building of the 1.5 billion dollar Optus stadium, a state of the art stadium that will host concerts and sporting events such as cricket and AFL. The stadium itself is impressive but the gardens that surround it are even more so. Landscaper Julien Rose oversaw the construction of the $17.8 million dollar landscape project.

• The site was a landfill area, then a golf course. The complete site was separated by a barrier then a layer of top soil was added. This equated to 24,000 cubic metres of top soil had to be trucked in. All structures were built on concrete piles to avoid any sinking.
• 25 trees from the existing site were replanted with the project. In total, 1600 trees specifically grown for the site were brought into the gardens.
• 3 different types of turf feature in the gardens. Kikuyu was used in the bigger parkland areas, closer to the stadium features couch grass. Zoysia, a softer form of couch, was used in the family and sitting areas.
• 380, 000 plants were grown for this project, mostly featuring Western Australian indigenous species, particularly wildflowers.
• The playground is a big highlight. Logs from the original site were salvaged and repurposed as play equipment.
• The site features some stunning artwork which are eloquently placed throughout the grounds. One of the gardens biggest features is the Cornish dry stone wall, which was created with inspiration from the rainbow serpent.

The Garden Gurus
W: www.yourlifestyle.tv