Landscaping

Last time, I really didn't care what my landscaping was - only that it was low maintenance.  I didn't even check what plants were being used.  Which I regretted after as Honey Locust trees are ugly.  Apart from that I liked my landscaping, but I think my builder had a big part to play by putting in these nice rocks which really add to it.

Anyway, I again needed to find another service.  I've learnt that it's better to go with recommendations.
So I asked my draftsman for one.
Also I asked for D's landscaper's designer - who she didn't use in the end, but wished she had as she had so many issues with the other one.  I coincidentally found out that D's landscaper's designer was actually one that my next door neighbour's builder had recommended.

I liked the plans of my draftsman's recommendation better as they were more detailed, however he was nearly double the price.

In the end I decided to go with D's one as he was
1. technically recommended twice
2. cheaper
3. I still don't really care THAT much about my landscaping
At first I wasn't sure if he would have enough time to do it, however after further clarification he was able to make the tight 3 week deadline.

So now my landscape brief:
Again it was the same as last time, low maintenance garden (plants don't grow too high, or need to be trimmed, or watered)
However I added more this time
- low cost plants
- no decking. Ah decking the bane of my summer. I will never ever get decking again.
- herb garden area
- fake grass.  Love my fake grass. No mowing!
.. So not that much more detailed.

Then thought more and added
- dark coloured exposed aggregate driveway (landscape designer was requesting colour)
- no pink flowers
- low pollen flowers/plants/trees - I think this one is actually quite important especially as I'm so sensitive to hay fever.

The hard part about my landscape is that I'm not sure of my house colour scheme!
I was also hoping that my landscaper would be quite creative with vision.

I got the first concept back - bleh. It wasn't very inspiring.

So I went to my local nursery to get some inspiration.

Decided on this colour scheme
- leaf colours of red/brown/dark green, with white flowers
- example would be Pacific Sunsest, Border black designer foliage, phormium bronze baby

I also realised I needed to have smaller shrubs on the west wall that didn't need much trimming as they would be difficult to prune due to level differences.

Due to the small private open space I've put in a narrow canopy tree - Pyrus Calleyana Pear tree.  It's unfortunately deciduous though so will drop leaves in the backyard.

I also put in more plants in the front garden bed to minimise the grass area as fake lawn is expensive...Although I don't know how much the plants cost...

I was pretty happy with the responses from my landscape designer and after 4 concept plans, came up with the final version - in time for the deadline given by council.

So response all submitted by April 19.

Request for Information

I was surprised to get a fairly quick response from council on 20 March, which required a response by 19 April.  Not much time considering it also included Easter.

They required further information on a number of things including landscape. Which annoyingly meant that I needed to think about what I wanted for landscaping.

They also raised a number of issues:
- exceeding 40% site coverage - which I expected
- high level of visual bulk on the south side - again was told that this might happen
- failure to meet POS - huh?  This did not make sense.  I was definitely compliant.

Ending with and underlined 'Council is unlikely support your application in its current form' (I guess they also have poor grammar.)

Anyway, I thought it wasn't too bad, until my town planner friend highlighted that they said they're unlike to support the application!  Also that it was best to avoid VCAT.  After some sleuthing, I was also forewarned the council town planner might have or be about to resign.

My draftsman tried to get in contact with the council town planner numerous times to get clarification about the POS, and also arrange a meeting.  When he was finally able to contact her it seemed like she wasn't sure what had been written in the ROI, and she would need to discuss with her team leader.  Again difficulty getting in contact with her.  Which made it difficult with the looming deadline.  While also needing enough time to complete my landscape plan.

Lo and behold on Monday I found out that she had left.  My draftsman was able to get in contact with the senior town planner and the POS seems to be okay.  So we've made some minor changes and decided that it will be submitted without a meeting.