Stephanie Wills

The redevelopment of Galada Avenue Reserve in Parkville looks to enhance the biological diversity of the area with a particular focus on encouraging the Growling Grass Frog and the Green Grocer Cicada to inhabit the site. The Growling Grass Frog is not only a fascinating creature for visitors to encounter and listen to, but is also is listed as a threatened species and therefore requires a commitment through the design of urban green spaces to ensure the species’ persistence. The Green Grocer Cicada accompanies the threatened frog species as a food source but also provides the visitors with a sound experience through their musical calls.

In response to the findings of my research into the two species, I have proposed a design that take its cues from the natural wetland and woodland environments in order to successfully cater to the needs of the Growling Grass Frog and Green Grocer Cicada. The wetland inspired zones within the design make use of a combination of emergent, submerged and floating aquatic plants and have rocks at the perimeter of the waterbodies to accommodate the frogs during breeding season. There is minimal tree canopy cover over the waterbodies to allow the sun to warm the waters with a means to help combat the chytrid fungus that is deadly to the species. This is coupled with an engineered way to control salinity levels. Woodland inspired zones have an abundance of eucalyptus trees for the Cicadas to feed on and lay their eggs as well as a variety of native grasses and shrubs to attract insects as a source of food for the frogs, including cicadas. Within the woodland zone rocks, logs and thick vegetation located away from waterbodies accommodate the frogs during hibernation in the winter months.