Environment

Set amongst a wonderland of natural wetlands, the designs for Kooindah Waters have been strongly influenced by the environment and will enhance the local wildlife reserves and woodlands.

 

The Ross Watson designed Kooindah Waters builds upon many of the existing features of the site. The golf course interweaves with the natural environment, showcasing an ever changing vista of natural flora, wetlands, ponds and tree lined horizons. Kooindah Waters is a community that lives in harmony with its surrounds, preserving the natural environment.

 

Kooindah is managed by Troon Golf and maintenance managed by Turnpoint Maintenance. Turnpoint completed all the golf course & landscape construction, shaping, finishing on the golf course.

 

Prior to construction the site had been described in the Environment Impact Statement (EIS) as highly degraded creating a significant environmental hazard for the wetlands and community, therefore extensive remediation was required.
 
    
 
Plants

A nursery was installed at the beginning of the project to enable harvesting of local seed. These are, and continue to be propagated in a controlled environment equivalent to that on site. All golf course grasses, plants etc. have been grown on site and are now planted around the project as required. To date in excess of 300,000 plants and grasses have been planted.

80% of these plants had been harvested from the surrounding wetlands providing Kooindah with a fast growing site specific indigenous species.

 

Trees include: Swamp Mahogany , Sydney Blue Gum, Turpentine ,Rough Apple Bark Melaluccas, Casurinas, Banksias, Christmas bush and Bottle brush have been planted.

 

The design has been responsive to re-vegetation of cleared and degraded areas of the site. Landscape species associated with the area have been used to provide habitat and corridors for wildlife.

 
 
 
Animals

Despite the site's obvious environmental issues prior to construction, it was and still is home to endangered ecological communities and threatened species including squirrel gliders and micro bats which needed to be protected.

Ø      A family of 5 Squirrel Gliders, listed as a vulnerable species have taken up residence in 1 of 11 nest boxes set up for this purpose

Ø      69 bird species have been recorded on site at Kooindah Waters.

Ø      A vast number of Frogs have taken to the constructed wetlands although the exact species still have to be identified.
 

 

EMS

Kooindah Waters is bounded by wetlands and in close proximity to Tuggerah Lakes, part of a very sensitive environmental zone. With a firm commitment to environmental stewardship, a decision was made to develop an Environmental Management System (EMS) for Kooindah Waters.

 

The system used for Kooindah Waters is e-par. This is an EMS designed by Terry Muir. It has won environmental and innovation awards and was designed specifically for golf course superintendents and their clubs.

 

The development of EMS (Environmental Management System) commenced in February 2006. EMS using the e-par system, helps to ensure operational procedures, training and induction and evidence of a commitment to the environment. Our environmental policy outlines Kooindah’s commitment to the environment and is signed by senior management.

 

The benefits of having an EMS including improved management of environmental issues related to the operations and maintenance of Kooindah Waters. There is increased staff awareness, everyone is accountable for their actions and there is confidence Kooindah is prepared in the event of an environmental incident.
 

 
In 2006 Kooindah Waters was awarded the Wyong - Tuggerah Chamber of Commerce Environmental Award which is presented to businesses that perform above compliance and can demostrate environmental sustainability within the local community.