Dean Speldewinde

SGA's Green Gardener of the Year 2007

Victorian landscaper Dean Speldewinde, principal of Hardart Landscapes, describes himself as a bit of a 'greenie', so he's been interested in creating sustainable landscapes for some years.

'I don't push my opinions on others,' he says, 'I've just tried to make a living out of what I believe. Native plants are a passion and a big focus in my work. I try to source local materials when I can, and I don't use imported rainforest timber, such as Merbau and Teak.'

Dean is particularly well known for his stonework. (The wall shown below is one of his recent creations - that's one of his apprentices Zac King posing with a wheelbarrow.)

'A mate of mine went to the UK to do a stonemason apprenticeship, and when he got back he taught me the UK style. What we do looks like drystone walls, but it's actually a façade or cladding, with mortar binding the stone at the back where it's not visible.'

'While South Australian Kanmantoo stone is a favourite material to work with, I am conscious of the transport involved, so have been trying to use more local stone and have been using Belgrave black stone from Hanson Quarries' Harkaway quarry. All these rocks come from bed rock.'

'I live in the Dandenong Ranges, and do a lot of work here too. Everything we carry is either up or down a hill (preferably the latter) and everywhere you try to stick a shovel in the ground you are guaranteed to hit a rock (hopefully field stone and not bed rock). The only time you don't hit a rock is when someone has dug there before, which is usually to put a pipe in your way! And any footings that need to be dug for building in the hills are usually a great source. These field stones are great for building a wall out of. They are random shapes, which takes more time and effort but really brings home the essence of a random rock wall. Any quarrying has an impact on the environment, so I really like sourcing this rock. The builders are usually only too happy for me to take the rock off their hands, and it saves it from ending up in landfill.'

'I like rock more than concrete, because the process of mining and manufacturing cement is not exactly the cleanest of processes, and I reckon the dust, lime and toxins in cement are a killer on the lungs. If you're careful and especially mindful of transport and quarrying practices, then using rock has to be less detrimental to the environment.'

Dean spent some time installing granite bench tops a few years back, when landscaping slowed down a bit.

'My mate found that even the granite offcuts could be useful,' he says. 'When tumbled in a cement mixer to smooth off the edges, they make great pebbles - and it's got to be better than mining river pebbles.'

In the last year, Dean has embraced sustainable landscaping even more. He has been involved in the trialling of SGA's environmental certification for the landscape industry (ECLIPs), which was launched to the industry in early April 2008.

He's also worked with designers who share his environmental concern, including Mary Graham (The Contrary Garden).

'We've recently done a job together where we've installed permeable paving, for example,' he says. 'And I've done work for Melbourne Water, Monash University and Melbourne University, installing raingardens.'

He is currently involved in an 800 house residential development within the Shire of Yarra Ranges, where water sensitive design is a focus. All these houses are existing homes but there is a need to clean the water running off these blocks and minimise the impact of major rain events, as at present the water runs straight into the creek. The project involves installing rainwater tanks, raingardens, and permeable paving.

'The idea is to try and inspire home owners to install raingardens by showing them what's involved.'

Dean Speldewinde, Hardart Landscapes, phone: 0410 452 308. Website: www.hardart.com.au

Photograph at top: Dean Speldewinde is presented his award by SGA CEO Mary Trigger (right) and Green Gardener Co-ordinator Elaine Shallue.

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