Parklands are very pleased to be able to demonstrate practical examples of some pretty amazing innovations that started right here in our region.

There is the Lucas Mill, a transportable milling machined used the world over that was designed and continues to be fabricated in Wooragee.  This innovation enabled Tallangatta Rail Trail Advisory Group to mill timber to restore six large timber trestle bridges on the High Country Rail Trail.

Then there are the wayfinding signs we are currently installing on nature trails across the regional parklands network. 

The plastic posts holding these signs are made from recycled plastic materials. The signs themselves are printed by local small business Fox Digital, a highly flexible operation who always produce quality signage for us.

And who would have thought that the glue used to install these signs was tested by Wodonga born Derek Boyer “Australia’s undefeated strongman since 1997” who lifted and held 500kg’s for an unbelievable 53.85 seconds! 

Our wayfinding signs are guaranteed to stay on their post! Check out the video of Derek doing the product testing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDR6LTQNLsc

Parklands have also over the years installed many hundreds of nestboxes for threatened species in regional bush parks.

The design and construction of these boxes have been refined again and again by our volunteer experts at the Thurgoona, Baranduda and Wodonga Mens Sheds, with innovations such as hanging frames making a huge difference to the safety of the installer. Baffles, motion cameras and new materials have been trialled and many of these innovations taken up by other makers of nestboxes for native species.

Innovation starts right here, and we reckon there are plenty of people at home in our region right now dreaming up new and better ways of doing park infrastructure, in one way or another!