Anzac Parade is looking a little different at the moment with the removal of the hebe plants from the centre planter boxes due to a soil-borne disease.
Originally a gift from New Zealand, the hebe plants are a symbol of the alliance and unity between Australia and New Zealand's army corps.
The National Capital Authority conducted a horticultural investigation in 2019 into why the plants were beginning to die off.
The results found that the particularly hot summer impacted the hebes lining the parade. Two common soil borne diseases - pythium and fusarium then caused damage to the roots of the plants.
It means a complete overhaul of the garden beds is required.
"Each summer, as temperatures have heated up, ideal conditions have been created for pythium to continue to spread and incrementally kill more plants," a National Capital Authority spokesperson says.
The disease causes root rot, making it difficult for the hebe plants to take up water. In the case of the Anzac Parade plants, the spokesperson says all of the 28 beds have been impacted to a greater or lesser extent.
As diseases like pythium and fusarium do not respond well, if at all, to fungicides - particularly on such a large scale - the full removal and replacement of the plants is required.
Trucks and excavators have been called in to remove all plants and remaining soil. The irrigation system is also expected to have facelift.
"Beds are then disinfected and a plastic membrane introduced to prevent possible transmission from the soil," the spokesperson says.
The hebe is native to New Zealand, with more than 100 different varieties and has lined Anzac Parade since it was opened in 1965, to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Anzac landing in Gallipoli. The current species growing is known as Hebe Otari Delight.
"The parade symbolises the shared commitment of both Australia and New Zealand during times of war and peace and the plantings along Anzac Parade are symbolic of this alliance," the spokesperson said.
The replacement of the hebe plants is set to be completed by Remembrance Day in November 2020, alongside other refurbishment works to compliment the plants.
The authority has a team of horticulturists on board to ensure the longevity of the hebe plants lining Anzac Parade and has enlisted the help of a specialist to conduct heat testing, to help better understand the impacts of a warming climate on the Hebe species.
Along with the works on the hebe plants and beds in the centre of Anzac Parade, there will be other works around the memorials lining Anzac Parade.
This will include additional plantings and refreshing the area to compliment the work on the hebe plants.
