Installation element

Comments

Establish the test modules

Following infrastructure installation:

1) Subdivide the roofs into test modules (see Figure 6);

2) Select suitable species from the ESBS community for planting;

Select substrates

1) Select both natural and artificial substrates, e.g. one directly from an ESBS site, an artificial aggregate version of the natural substrate and an industry manufactured substrate, each at 3 different depths e.g. 50 mm, 100 mm and 150 mm;

2) Discard rich leaf litter;

3) Note comment in 5.1 regarding avoidance of materials which may contain hazardous or toxic substances.

Test soils for lead content

Many inner suburban Sydney soils still contain lead particles from the era of lead in petrol. This may be a factor in selecting substrate options for the test beds (https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/lead-levels-in-sydney-soil-dangerously-high-20170119-gtuea6.html).

Test landscape materials for toxins

Landscape materials should be checked for toxins, eg test cell edging, whether timber or plastic. Non-natural substrate materials should similarly be checked since not all substrate will be obtained from in-situ ESBS remnants (https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/copper-chrome-arsenic-cca-treated-timber).