New display home estate turns to synthetic lawns for good looks and saving water
In a sign of things to come for housing developments across Australia,
Bellevale Homes has just installed synthetic lawns in the backyards of two
display homes at their new Nelsons Ridge village in Greystanes, NSW.
The Pro-tech synthetic lawns, which look like real grass but require no water
and virtually no maintenance, were a perfect fit for Nelson Ridge, which is one
of the first water and energy efficient display villages in NSW.
Ray Brown, Building Manager at Bellevale Homes, said that Pro-tech's synthetic
lawn assists in fulfilling the new BASIX regulations which require new houses to
invest in water-saving technology that will reduce water usage by 40 percent.
"We welcome BASIX with open arms and anything that saves us from putting water
on the ground is good," said Mr Brown.
"The synthetic lawn looks pristine during all seasons and from a distance it's
hard to tell that it isn't a natural product.
"It's also great for small backyards where lawn may not grow well because of
high traffic, and saves on maintenance of the yards so that people will not even
need to buy a lawnmower," said Mr Brown.
Bill Rorke, Managing Director of Pro-tech, the company behind the synthetic
lawns, said that given the amount of water used to maintain grass, installing
synthetic lawns into new properties is a great way of ensuring sustainable
residential development.
"Our synthetic lawn has huge water-saving benefits that will assist with the
procurement of BASIX Certificates for new residential developments in NSW and,
from October 2005, for all housing alterations requiring a development
application.
"Once the synthetic lawn is installed it requires no watering, almost no
maintenance, will last for at least ten years and, depending on the area, costs
less than a good quality paving installation," said Mr Rorke.
The synthetic lawn system is based on a unique European concept, which has been
brought to Australia by Pro-tech. Pro-tech uses the process of 'fibrillation' to
split the fibres and give the lawn the grass-like look and feel.
According to Sydney Water, watering lawns constituted 16.4% of total water usage
in the Sydney basin in the year to July 2004, which is the second largest area
of water use behind showering.
The Building Sustainability Index (BASIX) was introduced by the NSW Government
in July 2004 to promote sustainable residential development by assessing the
potential water and energy efficiency of new housing developments to ensure they
comply with government targets to reduce water and energy usage.
By October 2005 all new residential dwellings and additions requiring a
development application will also require a BASIX certificate.
Pro-tech also provides no-maintenance synthetic putting greens, one of which is
in the Sydney home of Australian champion Peter O'Malley, who joins a host of
international golfers to install a synthetic putting green.
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Released for Pro-tech Corp by Dennis Rutzou Public Relations.
For further information please call Kristen Mackie
or Marie Tritsaris on (02) 9413 4244.