Practical Value Of Landscaping

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31306, 28 February 1967, Page 7

Practical Value Of Landscaping

The art of landscaping could no longer be considered an embellishment to be carried out as a remedial measure at the end of highway construction, said Mr G. B. Malcolm, the senior landscape officer for the Ministry of Works in Christchurch, at the New Zealand Institute of Parks Administration conference in Nelson yesterday. It was imperative that it be considered as an intrinsic part of location and design, he said. Mr Malcolm made particular reference to the works projects of the WairekeiTaupo deviation, the Lyttelton Tunnel road and the Benmore power scheme. He said that all highway design should be the result of the closest collaboration between the engineer and the landscape architect if the highway were to achieve a complete harmony of safety, efficiency, economy and beauty. “Few countries in the world are as richly endowed as New Zealand, with its changing terrain and variety of landscape compartments within such relatively small geographical regions,” he said. “Therefore, the challenge of landscaping in this country is more directly connected with preservation and use of the existing landscape.” Road Safety Mr Malcolm said that the most important single benefit which landscaping could achieve was greater road safety, and for that reason alone, it must be considered worthwhile. The alignment and positioning of the Lyttelton Tunnel road had produced attractive views of the hills and valleys as well as the surrounding land. “It is intended to carry out plantings to intensify the sequence as well as to emphasise the climax of the highway,” he said. “This will be achieved by trees planted in band groups in opposition to the highway, and located at various points of the major cuts which will form a series of gateways. “These gateways would form frames through which the field patterns in the valleys and hills beyond could be viewed more effectively. “In order to reduce run-off from the catchment area above the cut profiles, 15,000 native trees have been planted, some of which will provide a bottom storey in which groups of large trees will eventually dominate,” said Mr Malcolm. “Also, cover planting has been carried out at the portals of the tunnel as well as in the median strip.” Mr Malcolm said that the Benmore project was an excellent example of sound landscaping in which the stark landscape of the region had not been subjugated.

Not only had there been restoration of scared areas, but, through the sound integration of major works with the surroundings, a new landscape with numerous amenities had been developed.