"We had to make sure that we didn't influence bird activity, wildlife, or anything else." What of the biodiversity at the site? Its far more than 'just grass', Mr Ingleton. What of the rare and endangered plant species that are known to be on airport land? I would be very interested to see the outcomes for indigenous flora on the site, was this studied? It may be positive from irrigation given the history of the site as a swamp (as evidenced by the remnant species in drains and the area of Melaleuca halmaturorum on site) but it may have decimated native grass species if they are outcompeted by weeds, or by planted Lucerne, or ploughed up for potatoes. I hope other airports are thinking twice and choosing instead protect the areas of biodiversity that remain in these precious remnant pockets of open space such as airports.
"We had to make sure that we didn't influence bird activity, wildlife, or anything else." What of the biodiversity at the site? Its far more than 'just grass', Mr Ingleton. What of the rare and endangered plant species that are known to be on airport land? I would be very interested to see the outcomes for indigenous flora on the site, was this studied? It may be positive from irrigation given the history of the site as a swamp (as evidenced by the remnant species in drains and the area of Melaleuca halmaturorum on site) but it may have decimated native grass species if they are outcompeted by weeds, or by planted Lucerne, or ploughed up for potatoes. I hope other airports are thinking twice and choosing instead protect the areas of biodiversity that remain in these precious remnant pockets of open space such as airports.