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McGregor State School QLD

Brisbane, QLD

"Programmed collaborated with McGregor State School to landscape the area and realise the school’s vision for a beautiful sustainable open space that reflects the natural and native beauty of an Australian oasis to encourage meaningful connection and an appreciation for nature through outdoor learning. "

Milly Visona
Programmed - Grounds, QLD

Project Description

The goal of the transformative landscaping project that took place at McGregor State School in Queensland was to convert an overgrown and unused area of the school’s campus into a vibrant Australian Native-style landscaped area, creating an inviting environment for students to learn, enjoy, and engage with nature.

Project Solution

The project focused on revitalising a neglected section of the school grounds, which had become a challenge to manage, and a wasted resource for the school. The objectives were clear:

  • Clean up and Preparation – Remove the overgrown vegetation and debris.
  • Design and Planning – Develop an Australian Native-style landscape plan that fosters biodiversity and offers outdoor learning and outdoor classroom accessibility.
  • Plant Selection and Installation – Choose and plant native species to create a sustainable and thriving ecosystem.
  • Pathways and Seating Areas – Construct pathways and install seating to ensure accessibility and usability for students and teachers.

Programmed’s specialist grounds and landscaping team who understood school grounds and open space requirements well, conducted a thorough site assessment to understand the school’s existing grounds conditions, soil quality and the extent of overgrowth. This step was crucial in developing a tailored programme that would ensure the long-term success of the school’s project.

Collaborating with our landscape designer and the schools management, we designed an Australian native-inspired landscape that included native trees, shrubs and groundcovers. As part of the pre-planning process, we created a 2D concept design plan to help the school visualise the transformation of their grounds and assure them that the school’s vision for this outdoor open area would be realised.

Project Outcome

Using eco-friendly methods, we cleared the overgrown vegetation while preserving existing and well-established trees to provide the main overhead cover for the area. Minor excavation works levelled the area and removed excess soil, in preparation for the pathways and seating areas.

Sandstone blocks in two semi-circles in the centre of the project area now provide teachers with the opportunity to create outdoor classrooms, and students a serene area to mingle with friends or spend time among nature.

The transformation of the overgrown unused area into an Australian native-style space for students has and will continue to have an impact on the school community. Students and staff now have access to a beautiful, natural environment that encourages meaningful connection while fostering a deeper appreciation for nature through outdoor learning.

This project is one our Brisbane and Queensland grounds team is especially proud of. It exemplifies our commitment to creating sustainable, enriching outdoor spaces and the way our grounds team uniquely apply skillsets, experience and passion, and a full appreciation for the customer’s  requirements, in this instance McGregor State School, to benefit not only our customers but the communities around them.

The transformation of the space into an Australian Native oasis is proof of Programmed’s ability to navigate and reach our customers’ vision.

Services we delivered
  • Grounds Maintenance
  • Landscaping
  • Property & Building Maintenance

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