‘Overzealous pruning’ to blame for lack of shade at Cavenagh St structure nearly two years on

Overzealous pruning, a lacklustre wet season and a plant disease has been blamed for why the $2.7 million shade structure on Cavenagh St is still looking sparse nearly two years on.

The Cavenagh st shade structure as at September 24, 2020. Notice the lack of shade. Photograph: Che Chorley

OVERZEALOUS pruning, a lacklustre wet season and a plant disease has been blamed for why the $2.7 million shade structure on Cavenagh St is still looking sparse nearly two years on.

The Rangoon Creeper and Orange Trumpet vines planted for the structure in November 2018 were meant to have grown to completely cover the arc by May this year at the very latest, but nearly two years on the vines appear to have just broken through the canopy.

The shade structure on Cavenagh St is part the tri-government Darwin City Deal and was built as a “trial project” under the heat mitigation project.

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The Cavenagh st shade structure as at September 24, 2020. Notice the lack of shade. Photograph: Che Chorley

Infrastructure Minister at the time, Nicole Manison, had said the vines were expected to “grow to full size in 12 to 18 months”.

It would have been 18 months in May and it will be two years in November.

Asked if she accepted the shade structure had been a failure, Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler said the vines were “healthy” and she “optimistic that a good wet season will improved coverage”.

“The Cavenagh Street shade structure is a trial project under the heat mitigation program, which also included the development of the underground carpark, and planting of new trees along the street and the installation of a heat reflective road surface to reduce pavement temperature,” she said.

Well, that was optimistic. Artists impression of the vine shade structure over Cavenagh Street in Darwin. Picture: Supplied

In a statement, the NT Government also stated the original forecast period for the vines to reach a “reasonable level of coverage” was 18 months but the vines had suffered from a common infestation in its infancy as well as overzealous pruning early on which had contributed to slower growth.

Experts, including former Parks superintendent John Antella, have previously said expecting those species of vines to grow over the structure was “a bit like expecting a Toyota Corolla to go where you need a Toyota LandCruiser”.