Cumberland City is the ‘the place to be’. There are idyllic parks, botanical gardens, and golf courses making ideal destinations for picnics, enjoying the outdoors, playing games, and simply taking time to relax and enjoy nature.
Within the Cumberland City Council Open Space and Recreation Strategy there are four strategic imperatives:
- Social inclusion and connectivity
- Health and well-being
- Increased sport and recreation participation
- Social and environmental sustainability
We spoke to Bradley Lloyd, Open Space Supervisor – Recreational Assets who oversee the maintenance of Cumberland City Council Premium Parks, Auburn Botanical Gardens, and Golf Courses – amongst other public spaces areas within the LGA – about his experience of working with Parklink.
Bradley has a busy role within the council. To maintain and improve the numerous high-profile public assets he oversees, there are 33 council staff to supervise, as well as, external, specialist contractors to engage, source quotes from, and onboard.
Nelson Square Park Pond is located within Pemulwuy, which was a suburb established in the early-2000s. The pond had ongoing aquatic weed problems during the warmer months between 2020-2024. Local residents were unhappy and would vocialise their disappointment towards council about the lack of maintenance carried out on the pond.
Bradley engaged contractors to control the aquatic weed problem and resolve the pond issues by carrying out monthly treatment plans.
Bradley says:
“We were facing a massive challenge. Council didn’t have the adequate resources or the budget to effectively control the weeds.”
Wanting to resolve residents’ complaints for good and transform the pond into the attraction it should be, Bradley contacted Parklink.
BEFORE PARKLINK
Parklink worked to their tried and true, ‘3-Step Process’ to solve Nelson Square Park Pond’s problems for the long-term:
- Remote diagnosis: a thorough desktop review and information supplied to Parklink from the council enabled the issues with Nelson Square Park Pond to be determined.
- Parklink aeration and water treatment plan: Parklink recommended commercial-grade, fit-for-purpose aeration units. As requested by the client, Cumberland City Council, were provided a DIY water treatment application plan and recommended products from the Parklink comprehensive range.
- Water treatment application: Cumberland City Council applied the water treatments themselves and ongoing every month.
Bradley says he had to seek additional funding from council managers for the aeration units but as Parklink was “a fraction of the cost of similar products” on the market, the additional funding was easily approved.
“Parklink prices were very attractive and the reason why management gave the approval so quickly to have the work done. It was a massive cost saving overall compared to the other solutions we were using.”
“One of the benefits of Parklink, the water treatments can be applied by council staff. The dissolvable bags eliminate the need for contractors, and council staff can simply throw the dissolvable bags in the water to manage the PH levels within the pond to prevent outbreaks of aquatic weeds/algae.
AFTER PARKLINK
Bradley says residents in the area eagerly watched on as the aerators were installed and immediately following the installation they had “positive feedback on social media.”
“[There have been] no issues or complaints with aquatic weeds since Parklink aeration installation and the treatment programme began.”
Bradley says Cumberland City Council has absolutely achieved success with Parklink. He describes the service as “excellent, can’t fault it”.
“There was a quick turnaround from Parklink. From our PO being issued to the aerators being delivered, it was only 2 weeks.”
Parklink provides a specialist water service that is best outsourced. “We are very mindful of waterways and what we put in them.” He went on to say, “waterway management with professional contractors is preferable as they have the experience.”
To sum up, Bradley says:
“Every time I drive by it [Nelson Square Park Pond], I take pride and joy in the fact that I helped to fix the pond. We have positive feedback from residents now. Next are other ponds to work with Parklink on.”
