Impact Grasses

Impact Grasses was purchased by Alpine Nurseries in September 2008 and since that time Manager Ben Habershon and his team have been working hard implementing the strategy to develop the business. This strategy relies on substantially improving the quantity and quality of grasses produced on the site at Loganholme, located between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
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While some of the grasses produced are transported down for sale through Alpine Dural, the majority of grasses are allocated for sale in Queensland. Impact Grasses has a major supply contract with “SAFElink Alliance” through Marsupial Landscape Management, the major freeway enhancement between Wacol and Darra and this project is profiled later in this article.
Impact Grasses is a licensed grower of the Ozbreed range of grasses but it also produces a very wide range of common grasses for all manner of applications including wetlands, creek rehabilitation etc. A visit to www.impactgrasses.com.au will demonstrate the variety of grasses grown at Impact.

Ben Habershon is managing Impact Grasses but Ben receives great support from Production Manager Evelyn Blaikie and Administration/ Sales Support from Robyn McMahon.
Stage 1 of the SAFElink or Ipswich Motorway includes widening of the existing road from 4 to 6 lanes and a major upgrade of the Centenary Highway by construction of a free-flow multilevel interchange. Once complete the roadway will be capable of accommodating an estimated 140,000 vehicles per day (80,000 before the upgrade).
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Impact is the exclusive grass supplier with over 750,000 grass tubes using a mix of Ozbreed, common native and wetland species, all required within a twelve month timeframe. Timing is a critical aspect of the contract. The road is still in operation and traffic diversion changes regularly, to grant access into different sections for completion of landscape works.  These diversions all happen at specific times with a very strict window of opportunity. For planning purposes the roadway has been broken into 3 main zones with 53 individual planting areas, each with a planned date of completion. Impact’s production program has been designed so the stock required for an individual planting area is at its peak at the right time, if stock is not ready or is over sized and aged it has serious implications and diminishes the quality of presentation.

A collaborative effort between Marsupial and Impact has meant that the lines of communication are always open; this philosophy cultivates a win, win situation. It will always be Impact’s imperative to view themselves as a partner with their client, a value imparted by parent company – Alpine Nurseries.

We have relied heavily on the experience of our production manager Evelyn Blaikie. Evelyn has approached this job in the methodical and precise manner she is known for. Impact’s ability to plan and implement and the support of their staff has been the key to success. The project is now 20% complete with an additional 70% to be supplied over the coming Spring period and the remaining 10% supplied in March 2010.
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