Preserving and Revitalising Haig Park, Canberra

ARCH10011 RESEARCH & SITE BRIEF SITE BRIEF SUMMATIVE SUBMISSION LOK CHI AUDREY CHAN (S1433555) APRIL 2018

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INTRODUCTION - CANBERRA Canberra is located within the Australian Capital Territory. Located 300km southwest of Sydney, 465km northeast of Melbourne, and 150km from the coast, it is the capital city of Australia and the largest inland city of Australia. Due to their Southern Hemisphere location, Summer occurs between December to February, and Winter occurs from June through August.

Canberra's Location in Australia marked in red star.

(Map from Street-map. net.au, 2018)

TOPOGRAPHY, SOIL AND HYDROLOGY Canberra is situated in a valley, Central Canberra is surrounded by mountains, bounded by Black Mountain, Mount Ainslie, Woden Valley, Belconnen Tuggeranong and Gungahlin. Despite located at a lower and flatter part of the Australian Capital Territory, it is on average 575m above sea level.

Due to the ancient rock formations, Canberra does not have deep soils. Soil depth of Canberra varies across few inches, up to a metre. Areas adjacent to water channels and lakeside often have pockets of deep alluvial soils, but they don't provide a stable foundation for construction and there is a lack of nutrients for planting.

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Central Canberra has multiple major water features. Murrumbidgee River runs across the Australian Capital Territory and Canberra, supplying the territory’s water demands. Queanbeyan River flows in with the Molonglo River from Googong. Other than that, Lake Burley Griffin runs belowact as a central recreational features and water storage in Canberra, providing venues for water sports like kite surfing, kayaking and waterside cycling and scenic walks. Smaller tributaries have been artificially altered into termporal water storage for the surrounding neighborhoods.

Climate Zones of Australia; Canberra's Location marked in red star (Map from Australia, 2018)

CLIMATE Canberra has a cool temperate climate. The annual temperature normally varies across -10 to 42 degree Celsius across all seasons, and receives 630mm of rainfall on average. Due to the low humidity, Canberra has a large termperature difference between daylight and night, where it can reach 40 degrees during the day, and fall below 20 degree Celsius at night. (Molonglo Valley Air Quality Assessment, 2011) According to the air quality report for Molonglo Valley, Central Canberra generally receives prevailing winds from the WSW in winter and NNW in summer, with afternoon sea breezes from the east. Severe SSW winds often hits Canberra in winter.

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Wind Rose indicating the Average Wind Speed and Direction in Mongolo Valley (where Central Canberra is located) (Molonglo Valley Air Quality Assessment, 2011)

BIODIVERSITY In Canberra, 10% of total land area is occupied by medium density urban areas. Counting the smaller nature parks in and around Canberra, Tidbinbilla and Jervis Bay nature reserves, and Namadgi, conservation areas cover roughly half of the area of the Australian Capital Territory, providing habitats and food for wide range of endemic species of Australia. Canberra nature parks, Hills, buffers and ridges also contribute to this.

Situated at the lower mountainous and flatter areas, the land of Canberra are primarily open savanna grassland or open savanna woodland, composing of yellow box and red gum, spear wallaby grass with nearly 1000 other natives and hundreds of introduced tree species.

Introduced environments including the urban forest is made up of a mix of native and exotic species.

The land cover caters to roughly 50 native and often endemic mammal species common in the territory, including eastern gray kangaroos, wallabies, and wombats, which are found in the woodland areas and in the grasslands at the margins of the woodland. Smaller marsupials (animals with pockets) include phalangers (possums), gliders, and marsupial mice. Nearly 300 species of native birds can be found in the territory such as currawongs, magpies, ravens, colorful parrots, cockatoos, and lorikeets. A lot of these birds are common, where they are attracted by the native and introduced trees and shrubs found throughout the urban area.

International Cultural Festival in February

As Canberra is dominant in grassland, snakes like Eastern brown snakes, red-bellied black snakes, and several lizards can be found in urban areas and especially near watercourses. Other than endemic animals, the land of Canberra also caters wild pigs, goats, and horses and, in the grasslands, foxes, rabbits, and hares.

HISTORY Human settlement in Canberra dates back more than 21000 years ago by the Aborigines. In 1821, the first European explorer Charles Throsby arrived in the area, soon Canberra became the primary destination for permanent immigrants in 1824. Canberra was chosen to be the capital city and planned in 1908. In 1911, a design competition for the Central Basin of Canberra was held in the aim to develop the new capital of Australia, where entries from Walter Burley and Marion Mahoney Griffin won the competition. Construction were interrupted due to several historic events including World War I between 1914--1918 and the great recession in 1920s. Until today, Canberra continues to thrive and develops as a vibrant inland city with immense opportunities for immigrants and international students.

POPULATION, TRANSPORT AND CULTURE

Floriade October (Floriadeaustralia.com, 2018)

POPULATION Canberra is home to 412,600 people, with 49.2% male and 50.8% female. 20% of the population are born outside of Australia and 1% of the population are aborigines. The population is composed of a relative younger population with 25-31 years of age group most dominant, and a median age of 37 years old. (Censusdata.abs.gov.au, 2017) Besides, there are a lot flowing population in Canberra as people who work in Canberra might commute from New South Wales or interstates.

Compared to other parts of Australia, people are more educated and earn on average a higher income. Half of all jobs available in Canberra are government services. The availability of jobs are heavily dependent on government employment and government funded constructions.

Right now, strategies to attract more private investment are being implemented to increase private sector employment.

TRANSPORTATION

Canberra is a very car-centric city with wide varieties but poorly managed public transport services. Freeways are tightly connected across Balloon Spectacular from Enlighten Festival (Image from Enlighten, 2018) differente neighborhoods, from South Canberra to North Canberra, providing an efficient transportation option for car owners. Canberra has an airport east to the city centre,accomodating domestics flights only. Passengers arriving Canberra from outside Australia (except New Zealand and Singapore) are required to change flights from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport or Melbourne International Airport. Canberra also provides train services only for interstates travel to Sydney and Melbourne, with no intra-city routes. Residents of Canberra who does not drive have 4 options to commute around the city: Cabs, buses, cycling and walking. Cabs are expensive and buses are extremely infrequent if one does not live in the city centre, especially on weekends where bus arrives on an hourly basis. Nevertheless, cycling lanes are provided on majority of highways and traffic roads, providing a good alternative to relying on public buses. A tram that travels across north to central Canberra is provisioned to be completed in late 2018.

CULTURE Canberra is a city with virbant culture. It is a home to embassies of many countries and most visitors are attracted by the national parliament and other federal institution. Canberra has a large amount of public accessible museums and galleries ranging from Australian National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Craft ACT Library, National Museum of Australia, National Library, Questacon, Australian Parliament House, Old Parliament House and Australian War Memorial. It hosts multiple cultural festivals throughout the year, including the Enlighten festival and Light and Sound Installation from Enlighten Festival the Australia Comedy Festival in March. and Floriade in October.

CANBERRA - MAPS

Map of Canberra. Site Area highlighted in Light Green (ACTmapi, 2017)

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CENTRAL AND INNER NORTH CANBERRA

Map of Central and Inner North Canberra. Site Area highlighted in Light Green (ACTmapi, 2017)

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HAIG PARK AND TURNER PARKLAND Haig Park is a 19 Hectares park situated in the inner north of Central Canberra. It is the third largest district park in Inner Canberra, spanning across the neighbourhood of Turner and Braddon and between the two major mountain of the valley on the North Black Mountain and Mount Ainslie. Surrounded by medium-density residential housing and commercial area of O' Connor and the University Campus of Australian National University, it is 1.78km long from the east to west corner of the park, and spans 200m, indicating a linear corridor in the city. In addition, there is a rectangular patch of green space on the south side of the park,called Turner Parkland. Although it is not part of the original park, it is recognised as a part of Haig Park during consultations and masterplanning.

Nature Reserves

Black Mount Nature Reserves

Site Area

Deisgned in 1921 by Charles Weston, the park was intended to be a East-West Shelter WIndbreak of the city. After several renovations, the park now consist of multiple features, including a fitness track, public toilets, barbecues, playgrounds, picnic tables and off-leash dog exercise area and parking areas; Part of the site are owned and managed privately, such as a Bowling club, ANU sports field (Oval) and a government tennis court for public usage. Due to its historical background, majority of the park is composed of many rows of tree plantation . A lot of the trees in the park are heritage-listed, as it is more than 50 years old.

Mount Ainslie

Despite being one of the few urban recreational/green area accessible for Canberrans living in the civic areas, the park is currently underused, insecure, culturally insensitive due to the name reference, and not meeting the needs of the population.

Community workshops and forums have been held in between 2016-2017 in the preparation of a renovation and reactivation plan for Haig Park, but the actual masterplan has not been published yet.

HISTORY OF HAIG PARK AND TURNER PARKLAND

Nature Reserves Site Location in terms of Central and South Canberra (Satellite Map from ACTmapi Viewer. 2017)

1911 FEDERAL CAPITAL DESIGN COMPETITION In 1908, Canberra was chosen to become the capital of Australia. In 1911, the Minister of Home Affairs launched a Federal Capital Design Competition, where designers are required to design the spatial layout of Canberra Central Basin. Sir Walter Burley Griffin, an american architect was announced as the winner of the competition with a design heavily influenced the English Garden City movement, and works of Frank Lloyd Wright. His design consists of geometric pattern composed of circles, hexagons interweaved with a hierarchy of paths, crossing through the Central Basin and reaches across South Canberra. It is intended to be a timeless design which continues to be realised until today.

Construction of the capital commenced in 1913, however due to poor administration and international disputes including World War I and the recession, the construction progress was slow.

As Canberra is situated further inland on the Eastern Coast, Canberra is much drier and underdeveloped than the other major cities on the Eastern Coast, leading up to severe soil erosion from strong winds, especially on bare soil surfaces. Moreover, the natural elevated topography and valley shape of the city channels, and enhances the speed of wind travelling across the city, causing waves of strong dusty wind to heavily impact the daily operation of the city during all seasons.

Site Location and Boundaries (Satellite Map from ACTmapi Viewer. 2017.)

CONSTRUCTION OF HAIG PARK In 1913, Charles Weston, a public servant of the National Capital designed Haig Park - a planting strip across central to North Canberra, to serve as an East-West Shelter Break of the city. Intending to divert and slow the dusty wind across the valley, especially the Braddon and Turner suburbs, the construction commenced in 1921.

The design of Haig Park consist of 14 rows of exotic evergreen and deciduous trees, where over 7000 trees of 8 species were planted to block and divert winds.

In 1987, the National Trust classified Haig Park as a public park. Since then, public owned areas of Haig Park have only undergone minor improvements such as adding facilities such as public toilets and parking spaces around the site. Other developments on site are driven by private hire on partial areas of the site, including bowling field and tennis court.

There have been attempts to improve the condition of Haig Park in the community. In 2012, a draft masterplan on improving Haig Park and Turner Parkland was submitted by Eric Martin & Associates in 2012, however the ACT government never adopted it.

(Phase 1 Community Engagement Summary Plan, Haig Park Masterplan, 2017) In 2017, a major consultation, composed of two community consultations were held to prepare a masterplan for improving Haig Park to suit the need of the current demands.

COMPETITION ENTRY BY WALTER BURLEY AND MARION MAHONEY GRIFFIN

(Above) Competition Entry - City View from Mount Ainslie (Image from Naa.gov.au, 2018)

Competition Entry Masterplan submitted by Sir Walter Burley Griffin.

(Below) Competition Entry - Section through Canberra City (Image (Image from Naa.gov.au, 2018) from Naa.gov.au, 2018)

SITE RESEARCH/SITE ANALYSIS

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EXISTING CONDITION AND ISSUES As mentioned from the history, the park consist of 8 species of exotic evergreen and deciduous trees, composing 14 rows of trees across 1.7km, where over 7000 trees of 8 species were planted to block and divert winds. Species include: - Argyle Apple (Eucalyptus cinerea) - Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) - Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempevirens 'stricta') - Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata)

-Snow Gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora) - Arizona Ash (Fraxinus velutina) - Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara) -Desert Ash (Fraxinus oxycarpa) Picture from Phase 1 Community Engagement Summary Plan, Haig Park Masterplan, 2017)

Section Line of the Diagram (Base map from ACTmapi Viewer. 2017)

Tree plantation scheme section (Image from (Your Say ACT, 2018)

In addition, Haig Park lies within the Sullivans Creek catchment of Canberra. Sullivans Creek starts at North Canberra, where storm discharge, surface runoff and upstream freshwater are tranported along the heavily channelised streams across neighborhoods of north Canberra, Haig Park and Turner Parkland, finshing at Lake Burley Griffin.

As a park of over 100 years old, with the primary intention to serve a windbreak, Haig Park does not accomodate the community needs in terms of spaces offered, as well as infrastructures. According to multiple site visits and community consultation documents, Haig Park's conditions and issues are as below: • • • • • •

Lack of adequate lighting across the park, allowing rationalism and anti-social behavior in the park. Visitors feel unsafe in the park during darker hours all year Anti-social behviors such as vandalism can be seen around Lack of maintenance of the trees pose great public safety risks to those who visits, dead branches may fall and injure people anytime Due to the status of the tree plantation, there is no open public space for the community to use. People only uses it for access, or exercise on informal tracks Drainage channels are completely exposed, posing hazards to children falling into it Limited function can be posed in the park due to lack of space and security issues

Trees of different species planted across the Park.

SURROUNDING AREAS AND NEIGHBORHOOD As Haig Park overlaps with the Sullivans Creek, the water resources available provides huge potential to widen the types of experience to be offered at the park. Other parts of the Sullivans Creek are investigated as a reference to potential treatment to the waterway at Haig Park. Moreover, surrounding areas of the park are also explored to clarify what type of facilities are lacking, to minimise the repetition of facilities, constructing a more sensitive design and to minimise budget required to improve the park.

LYNEHAM WETLAND (Lyneham Wetland) Lyneham Wetland is one of the few constructed wetland situated in Canberra, as an experimental project to implement Water sensitive Urban Design as part of environmental and sustainability planning. After the construction, scenery are greatly improved with better connectivity across the two water edges of the channel. Local biodiversity are attracted to the landscape more than other parts of the urban neighborhood. Except for providing social and environmental benefits, the wetland also act as a permanent water storage and filter system to local freshwater supply, improving water quality and provide habitat for local biodiversity to seek refuge and food.

(Other Surroundings) Part of Haig Park is privately occupied by several institutions including the Bowling Club, their facilities are more developed and well maintained compared to the other parts of Haig Park, Safe accessibility is one major concern to Haig Park, due to high traffic flow acorss multiple streets. Currently, pedestrian lights are installed to manage traffic flow as well as providing access for pedestrians and cyclists going across different areas of Haig Park, however I personally think they can do more than a simple traffic light.

OTHER SURROUNDINGS

EXISTING CONDITION AND ISSUES SITE PHOTOS FROM GOOGLE MAPS LEGEND OF PHOTOS FROM GOOGLE MAP 1) Entrance to Haig Park from Sullivans Creek 2)Typical Surroundings of the Park: Rows of trees 3) A bridge to access across the drainage channel running horizontal of the park 4) Picnic area of the park 5) Central Turner Parkland (Map from Google Map, 2018)

SITE PHOTOS

Pedestrian/cycling trail in Haig Park

Concrete channelised drainage along the course of the park

Pedestrian/cycling route at TUrner Parkland.

Vandalism on park structures

A small tributary running along the center part of the park

Strange fencing defining the boudnary of the park.

Singage on site - Not enough in numbers and not informative of facilities

Waterbody with Gross Pollutant Trap installed at the South Site Boundary, running towards Australian National University

cockatoos occupying Haig Park and Turner Parkland.

SITE ANALYSES - PHYSICAL CONDITIONS LEGEND

LEGEND 1 = highest capability 8 = lowest capability

MA 6 - RISE MA 5 - LOWER SLOPE COLLUVIAL

Capability: 4

MA 9/10 - PLAIN AND CHANNEL ALLUVIAL

Soil types in Haig Park and surroundings (ACTmapi Viewer. 2017)

Capabiilty: 5

Soil Capability in Haig Park and surroundings (ACTmapi Viewer. 2017)

SOIL TYPES AND CAPABILITY Haig park lies across three different soil management areas, which is determined on their topography and soil compositions. Due to their different conditions, different management areas has a different capacity for urban development, and different strategies are needed to be implemented. Generally, all management areas are capable of a variety of land uses, ranging from cropping with restricted cultivation, pasture cropping, grazing, some horticulture, forestry, nature conservation if not urban developments. Elaborations of their capability according to the measure of soil capability (Diagrams above) can be quoted from the report: (Muller, R., Jenkins, B. and Nicholson, A. 2017) Soil Manage- Soil Types & ment Areas Capability 5 Lower Slope Colluvial Capability: 5 6 Rise Capability: 4 9/10

Plain and Channel Alluvial Capability: 5

Appropriate Land Management and Uses Moderate–low capability land: Land has high limitations for high-impact land uses. Will largely restrict land use to grazing, some horticulture (orchards), forestry and nature conservation. The limitations need to be carefully managed to prevent long-term degradation.

Moderate capability land: Land has moderate to high limitations for high impact land uses. Will restrict land management options for regular high impact land uses such as cropping, high-intensity grazing and horticulture. These limitations can only be managed by specialised management practices with a high level of knowledge, expertise, inputs, investment and technology.

Moderate–low capability land: Land has high limitations for high-impact land uses. Will largely restrict land use to grazing, some horticulture (orchards), forestry and nature conservation. The limitations need to be carefully managed to prevent long-term degradation.

Bear in mind this is also a heavily modified environment, where additional soil composting and engineering can be carried out in the design proposal.

STRATEGIES TO APPLY UPON DEVELOPMENT ACCORDING TO MANAGEMENT AREAS Soil Management Areas MA 5 - Lower Slope Colluvial

Strategies to apply upon development GULLY STABILISATION - Rock groins and gabions – control structures constructed to account for sodic soils. Refer to SCS training manuals for conservation earthworks - Manage gullies (and headcuts) using construction methods appropriate for region SEDIMENT CONTROL - Sediment and erosion control (design, implementation)

MA6 - Rise

MA9/10 Plain and Channel Alluvial

- Flumes (masonry/rock/chute)

- Implementation of stormwater and sediment management measures

STREAM STABILISATION - Weirs (loose rock, concrete) - Loose rock channels BIOLOGICAL AND VEGETATIVE SOIL REMEDIATION - Mulching

- Revegetation with native/exotic species

VEGETATION AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICE

- Maintain and improve existing native woody vegetation to control land degradation

- Gabion structures and rock revetment

Same with the Strategies of MA5, with additional strategies below: STREAM STABILISATION - Concrete lined channels - Batter rehabilitations – jute mesh/spray seed – long term stability STORMWATER - Flood detention basins and stormwater management - Sediment traps and sediment control works

- Constructed wetlands - Stream bank stabilisation measures

Reference: (Muller, R., Jenkins, B. and Nicholson, A, 2017)

MA5 - LOWER SLOPE COLLUVIAL Mainly composed of podzols, it is moderately deep, with a weak to moderately structured texture soils. Yellow to brown subsoil underneath. This type of soil is highly vulnerable to tunnelling or piping failure. To develop structures on top, it must be well compacted throughout to reduce permeability and saturation settlement. On dry conditions, gypsum or hydrated lime walls should be built. The soil should be compacted to ensure the correct moisture content, with layers <15 cm thick, where plants roots are going to be able to stabilise it. The structure should also be designed to hold no more than 1 m of water against the wall. Slopes for water channels should be decreased to 1:3.5 upstream and 1:3 downstream. (Muller, R., Jenkins, B. and Nicholson, A, 2017) MA6 - RISE. Shallow and acid textured soils This soil is pervious, therefore it is not recommended for general use. However, it is possible to be used in a zoned embankment or sealed with bentonite or a plastic line. Slopes for this type of soil should be 1:3 for both upstream and downstream. (Muller, R., Jenkins, B. and Nicholson, A. 2017) Both MA5 and MA6 should adapt the below Urban Management Strategy (Nicholson, A., Muller R., Jenkins, B, 2018): Urban Strat- Details egies Prior to starting earthworks, sodic/saline soils should be identified Urban Plan- • ning • Minimise use of infiltration and detention of stormwater in hazard areas, consider lining of detention systems to prevent infiltration (i.e. reconsider WSUD implications in relation to salinity management) • Identification of discharge sites should influence the size of the area to developed • Maximise the size of impervious surfaces to prevent recharge of (perched) groundwater table. Constructed pervious surfaces may need to be lined and drained to stormwater outlets • Implementation of WSUD techniques considers the potential impact on the local salinity hazard. Revise principles of WSUD where salinity effects are an issue.

Deep drainage should be reduced by maximising surface water runoff and drainage Urban Con- • struction • Ensure road construction is suitable for conditions • Minimise depth of cut and exposure of susceptible soils during development. Ensure fill material interface is not saline • New houses, buildings or infrastructure (including roads, pathways and retaining walls) in current or potentially salt affected areas, may need to be built to withstand the effects of salinity using industry accepted standards. In badly affected areas, consideration should be given to rehabilitating salt affected land, building above ground, or open space • options Employ deficit irrigation principles to prevent over-irrigation of sports grounds, golf courses, parks, private gardens and lawns Urban Man- • agement • Minimise leakage of standing water bodies, pools, lakes and service pipes Develop native landscaping and water-wise gardens to reduce over irrigation and water use Urban Vege- • tation • Promote the retention and establishment of deep rooted vegetation that maximises water use in new urban development areas

MA9/10 - PLAIN AND CHANNEL ALLUVIAL Mainly composed of alluvial soils with stratigraphic layering. Similar to MA5, this type of soil is also very susceptible to tunnelling or piping failure. The structure can only hold no more than 1 m depth above the original ground surface. Walls from MA5 should be added as part of the upstream walls. Slopes should be 1:4 Upstream and 1:3 Downstream.Upon considering urban development, this part of soil should be managed around elements below (Nicholson, A., Muller R., Jenkins, B, 2018): Urban Strategies Aspect Urban Management

Details

Employ deficit irrigation principles to prevent over-irrigation of sports grounds, golf courses, parks, private gardens and lawns Minimise leakage of standing water bodies, pools, lakes and service pipes Urban Vegetation Develop native landscaping and water-wise gardens to reduce over irrigation and water usage Riparian Management Retain or re-establish effectively vegetated riparian buffer zones to manage discharge areas (preferably salt tolerant indigenous vegetation Maintain/re-establish effective vegetated riparian buffer zones

SITE ANALYSIS TOPOGRAPHY AND HYDROLOGY Over the span of 1.78km, there is a 10m height difference between the highest point of 581m in the east to the centre of the park, to the lowest point located along the Northbourne Avenue at 570m, which is one of the major traffic roads for transportation, forming a small valley across Haig Park. At Central to the west of Haig park, where the Sullivans Creek watercourse travels through, there is also a small indent of 3-5m due to the water channel. Overall. the slope is very gradual at a ratio of less than .

The watercourse of Sullivan's Creek across Haig Park is relative narrow and slopes gently, at the slope of 1:10. It conducts 0.01-10m per day depending on the weather. Runoff are collected from Mount Majura, MountAinslie, O'Connor Ridge and Black Mountain (Nicholson, A., Muller R., Jenkins, B, 2018). It travels in a narrow concrete channel.

On 1 in 10 years storm events, the channel floods and often overflows at the lower region of Australian National University, forming a rapid flowing river and floods infrastructures. Two examples are major storm events dated from December 2010 and Early March 2018.

Topographic Map with Water Features LEGEND +581m above sea level

Watercourse/ Waterbody

+570m above sea level

Sullivan's Creek on the edge of overflowing in Australian Sullivan's Creek flooding near Lyneham Wetlands National University (ABC News, 2010) (En.wikipedia.org, 2018)

(Image from Nicholson, A., Muller R., Jenkins, B, 2018)

LAND COVER PREHISTORIC LANDCOVER Before the implemented windbreak plantation on Haig Park, the park was primarily composed of native woodland and Savanna grassland. It provided an important habitat for Golden Sun Moth as shown in the diagram on the left.

CURRENT LANDCOVER After the implementation, both the grasslands and woodlands on site and city are lost under the pressure of urbanization, where the habitats for Golden Sun Moths and other species on site are lost.

However, the new rows of woodland trees seemed to attract other native and exotic species. A small portion of the introduced woodland is paved for major commuting paths, in the material of asphalt.

On turner parkland, the landcover is dominantly open lawn without proper maintenance, which left the lawn with patches of bare ground. The other landcover found on turner parkland are paved concrete for the channelized Sullivan's Creek. Serving as a watercourse, the concrete structures poses a negative ecological and visual impact on site.

Land Cover LEGEND Plantation Woodland

Traffic Road

Open Lawn

Urban Hardscapes

Watercourse/ Waterbody

1-2 P

LAND USE AND BUILDING HEIGHT

1-2 P

1-2 P

2-3 S

2-3 2-4 2-3 S S S 1-2 S

1P

3S

1-2 P

1-2 P

3-4 S 1 P

3-4 S 1P

3-4 S

3-4 S 2-4 S 2-4 S 3-4 S 2-4 S

5-7 S

1-2 P

2-4 S

1-2 P

LEGEND Recreational Plantations

Residential

Recreational Open Lawns Institutional

1

Commercial/Retail

P Private Detached House

No. of Storeys

S Apartments

In terms of building heights and housing types, it varies across the different neighborhoods. In Turner, west to the Turner Parkland, all buildings are detached houses of 1-2 storey tall; As one move closer towards the Northbourne Avenue from Turner, all structures increase in height to 2-4 storey tall.

Housing takes the form of low density apartments instead of an entire house.

1-2 P

2-4 S

1-2 P

1-2 P

Land Use and Building Height

The land use around Haig Park are predominantly residential, with housing type of density. There are several privately owned land for multiple institutions. Due to the proximity to the city centre, there are also rows of commercial offices and serviced apartments for business visitors and tourists.

2-3 S

1-2 P

1-2 P 1-2 P

Continue moving east, Braddon town centre and civic centre are located at the east side of Northbourne avenue, therefore commercial offices and hotels spans across 2-3 blocks away from Northbourne Avenue to the east. Residence 3-4 blocks parallel of Northbourne Avenue are mainly 2-5 storeys high, in the form of apartments. Moving away from Northbourne Avenue, structures revert back to detached housing of 1-2 storeys tall.

SITE ANALYSIS POINT OF INTEREST There are multiple points of interest on site. Firstly, humans are naturally attracted towards water, regardless of being a watercourse of waterbody. The Sullivan's Creek offers a water edge for people to walk along, however the creek still has a high potential to improve in terms of aesthetics and serve as a environmental improvement device. Secondly, the Turner parkland Oval and Rugby League Park are currently privately occupied by Australian National Univeristy for sports training, private practices and tournaments. Opening up and co-owning the oval provides a lot more opportunity for public activation through team sports. Thirdly, Braddon Town Centre and Civic are where a lot of shops are clustered together. People can shop for groceries, stationeries, clothes, telecommunication service all in one mall, posing a relatively high density there. ANU campus poses a high density usage and flowing population adjacent to Haig Park, which can potentially become one of the key origin of where Haig Park visitors come from in the future. Ainslie Art Centre offers public exhibitions to visit, providing potential opportunity to organize outdoor exhibtion through collaborating with the institution.

Point of Interest LEGEND

1

Sullivan's Creek

2

Turner Parkland Oval

3

Braddon Town Centre/ Civic Centre

4

ANU

5

Rugby League Park

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Ainslie Art Centre

EXISTING FACILITIES As a 19 hectares park, there is a significant lack of infrastructure and facilities at the park. There is only one public toilet available in a park that spans 1.78km, making it impossible to access if one is situated more than 700m away and need it urgently. There are a lot of parking spaces, which accomodates well for current vehicle needs. However, there are 2 sets of picnic table and barbecue facilities across the cetral urban park, which is definitely not enough to accomodate the potential number of visitors.

In terms of sports facilities, the park accomodates well due to a large open lawn available with a specifically designed sports field oval and a multi-court for ball sports are available for rent.

Existing facilities LEGEND Parking Spaces

Picnic Tables

Sports Fields

Public Toilet

Barbecue Facilities

CIRCULATION & ACCESS - PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLES AND TRANSPORT Walking

Access by Pedestrian

Cycling

Access by Cycling

Vehicles

Access by Cars

Due to the linear sturcture of the site, circulation for pedestrian and cyclist are often halted by heavy traffic flows across different roads especially crossing Northbourne Avenue, where there are not enough pedestrian lights and speed of cars are very fast.

There are also major freeway separating between the park and ANU - a potential source of visitors to the park. Intervention in the form of landscape design and architectural detail designs shall be considered to relieve this problem.

ECOLOGICAL SURVEYS AND RESEARCH

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ECOLOGIAL NETWORK AROUND HAIG PARK Vegetation Structure

CANBERRA VEGETATION STRUCTURE MAP Seen from the map, there are not much vegetation offered in the urban areas of Canberra except modified open lawn areas, however a wide range of habitat can be seen around, including dry forest and pine plantations on the west, located across several nature reserves.

On the other side of Canberra, a range of habitats are also offered, ranging from wetlands, grasslands and woodlands.

Canberra Vegetation Structure Map (ACTmapi Viewer,2017)

GRASSLAND COMMUNITIES IN CANBERRA As expected, there is a lack of grassland communities, decreasing the wildlife in urban areas and environmental quality in the urban environment. However, there are several grassland on both west and east to Canberra, posing a huge potential to utilise Haig Park as a connector network to relink the two grassland

Grassland Communities

Grassland Communities in Central Canberra (ACTmapi Viewer,2017)

GUM WOODLAND IN CANBERRA As expected, there is a lack of gum woodland communities in the central Canberra, decreasing the wildlife in urban areas, seaprating the previously linked habitats across the current Central Canberra area. Also, the environmental quality is also deteoriated in the urban environment. However, they occupy areas located both west and east to Canberra, posing a huge potential to utilise Haig Park as a connector network to relink the habitats, reinforcing and enhancing urban biodiversity.

Gum Woodland Habitat Area Gum Woodland Habitats in Canberra (ACTmapi Viewer, 2017)

POTENTIAL COLONSATION OF HABITATS - GRASSLAND Depending on the physical conditions of the site including soil quality, current land use, soil types and moisture retention capacity, some areas have higher potential to be colonised by native grassland as they spread over time. Both Mount Ainslie and Black Mount are currently preserved as a hiking spot, leaving a lot of non-compacted soil that can be colonised by wallaby grass, tussock grass grasslands.

In addition, one might be able to connect the northern Canberra grassland to the Southern grassland located at Red Hill Nature Reserve.

Legend

Potential Colonisation of Grassland Habitat (ACTmapi Viewer, 2017)

POTENTIAL COLONSATION OF HABITATS - WOODLAND Similar to the potential colonisation to be implemented to Canberra, Mount Ainslie, Black Mount and Red Hill Nature Reserve has the most potential to develop large scale woodland habitats. However, as topography moves upwards from the sea level, one can notice the potential decreasing across areas like top of Mount Ainslie and Black Mount. This is perhaps due to soil erosion from wind, as well as a more exposed setting which seeds are harder to settle here.

However, this analysis definitely supports the fact that there is a high potential for Haig Park to act as a tool to reconnect the two seprate mountain's habitat, if positive environmental impact can be achieved.

Legend

Potential Colonisation of Woodland Habitat (ACTmapi Viewer, 2017)

ECOLOGICAL NETWORK POTENTIALS

LINKAGE BETWEEN CORE HABITATS To strengthen and improve current biodiversity of Canberra, one must incorporate sustainable and restore natural habitats in all areas including urban environments to connect different habitats, forming a wide variety of habitat to cater different species and allow natural interactions. Although a lot of the linkage between core habitats are in low value around Central Canberra to Black Mount and Mount Ainslie, one must realise if properly implemented, Haig Park can provide a high value ecological network to connect between the two mounts in North Canberra.

Legend

Linkage between core habitats (ACTmapi Viewer, 2017)

Threatened Plants

THREATENED PLANTS SURVEY While the legend listed many threatened species, one can notice only Button Wrinklewort and Hoary Sunray are actually inhibiting in parts of Canberra. They are mainly found in South Canberra, but there are small patches scattered across central Canberra to the two Mounts in North Canberra. As these species are endangered, if possible, one should incorporate these species into the process of restoring their habitat. Moreover, there are a lot of listed Orchids at the two key mounts in North Canberra, which can be potentially strengthened through linking the two together.

Threatened Plant Distribution in Central Canberra (ACTmapi Viewer, 2017)

RARE REPTILES SURVEY In terms of rare reptiles, there is little to none rare reptiles located across central canberra and most part of west to central canberra, despite being a nature reserve. However, Mount Ainslie and its neighboring nature reserves seem to accomodate the rare reptiles of Australian Capital Territory, where all 4 species mentioned are spotted.

Reptiles

Rare Reptiles Distribution in Central Canberra (ACTmapi Viewer, 2017)

RARE INVERTEBRATES SURVEY With limited rare invertebres spotted across the central canberra region, golden sun moth is the only species spotted within the urban areas. To enhance their population and maintain local biodiversity, one should recreate habitat to accomodate the Golden Sun Moths.

Invertebrates [Annotation]

Rare Invertebrates Distribution in Central Canberra (ACTmapi Viewer, 2017)

RECONNECTING NATURAL HABITATS The lack of biodiveristy and rare animal dwelling in Haig Park significantly indicates an ecological sensitive design has to be implemented to improve the biodiversity on Haig Park, as well as facilitate and maximise the ecological potential of the site. If designed appropriately, Haig Park can become a linear corridor that connects Mount Ainslie and Black Mountain ecologically, increasing interactions between communities and expand available habitats for local animals.

Legend Provisional Haig Park Ecological Network Other potential ecological sensitive corridors to be implemented.

Importnat local ecological communities and habitat in Canberra (Base map from ACTmapi Viewer, 2017)

BIODIVERSITY AND ECOLOGICAL PALETTE Despite being a recreational park, only common urban birds that does not necessarily require the park are spotted on site, indicating a lack of biodiversity in the park. Moreover, due to the lack of maintenance, it is attracting pests to establish homes at the park. The design proposal should try introduce rare species in Canberra into the park, as well as connecting ecological network with Black Mount and Mount Ainslie to expand habitats available for rare animals to live in. (Haig Park Speaker Series, 2018)

FAUNA SPOTTED IN HAIG PARK

Rock Dove resides in urban areas rather than sub-urban areas since they feed on food scraps from human consumption.

They are common worldwide. (Canberra Birds, 2018)

Crested Pigeon resides in dry or semi-dry areas, especially open short grasses, they are common across Australia. (Canberra Birds, 2018)

Crimson Rosella dwells in tall eucalypt and wetter forests, but are regulars to garden seed trays and hand held food. They feed on seeds of eucalypts, grasses and shrubs, as well as insects and some tree blossoms.

Nests in tree hollows. (Birdsinbackyards.net, 2018)

Willie Wagtail is a common species across Australia, they are seen hunting for insects on lawns. Insects are also captured in the air, in active chases (http://www.carterdiital.com.au, 2018)

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo feeds on berries, seeds, nuts, roots and handouts from humans. They bite off smaller branches and leaves from trees and settles in urban areas. (http://www.carterdigital. com.au, 2018)

Red Wattlebird are the largest honeyeaters, and is a commonly recorded garden bird. They are very defensive for their food source. (Canberra Birds, 2018)

Powerful Owl is a endemic and vulnerable to East Coast. They require large woodland areas, but also occur in fragmented landscapes (NSW Environment & Heritage, 2018)

Australian magpie is popular with gardeners for its appetite for insect pests, frogs, small lizards. They have a pleasant carolling sound but they attack people during nesting seasons.(NSW Environment & Heritage, 2018)

Eastern Rosella is a common resident in all grassland areas. They are also spotted in home gardens, feeding on grass seeds. (Canberra Birds, 2018)

RARE SPECIES RESIDING IN CANBERRA THREATENED PLANTS Button Wrinklewort (Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides), occurs in Box Gum Woodland and natural grassland.

Prefers clay soils (NSW Environment & Heritage, 2018)

Silvereye is a small birds feed at all trees and shrubs on nectar and insects.

However, they also eat soft fruits and all sorts of food put out by people. (Canberra Birds, 2018)

Pink-tailed Legless Lizard appears on sloping, open woodland areas with native grassy groundlayers, with a preference Kangaroo Grass (Themeda australis). They appear in welldrained, rocky landscapes.(NSW Environment & Heritage, 2018)

White Winged Chough are common breeding in dry woodlands and forests.

They are cooperative bird and feeds on insects and small preys. (Canberra Birds,2018)

King Parrots are usually spotted around rainforests and take shelters on tree tops. They forages in trees for seeds and fruit. They are very shy from human disturbance. (http://www.carterdigital.com. au, 2018)

Australian Painted Lady only lives in the urban area, where they feed from native everlastings and other daisies, or a Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula), Scotch Thistle (Onopordum acanthium) and Lavender (Lavendula officinalis).

(Australian Museum, 2018)

Lesser Long-eared Bats dwells in old trees, caves, ceilings, hollow walls in suburban and inner-city areas. They also like hollows of big old eucalypts.

They hunt on ground and catch flying insects in flight, or snatch insects off the ground or leaves. (Australian Museum, 2018)

Brush-tailed Possum are very common in Canberra. They can be found in forests and woodlands, especially near creeks. It is a nocturnal animal so they are acitve in the evenings and early mornings.Nautrally, they feed on leaves, buds, flowers and fruits but they are also adapted to urban scrapsor garden plants like fruit trees, vegetable gardens, and kitchen raids. (NSW Environment & Heritage, 2018)

RARE INVERTEBRES Hoary Sunray (Leucochrysum albicans var. tricolor) occurs in wide variety of grassland, woodland and forest habitats, also seen in semi-urban areas and roadsides. It is highly dependent on the presence of bare ground for germination.(NSW Environment & Heritage, 2018)

RARE REPTILES

Rosenberg's Monitor can be found in heath, open forest and woodland. They nest in termite mounds, and shelters in hollow logs, rock crevices and in burrows, requiring a large area of habitat. They feed on carrion, birds, eggs, reptiles and small mammals. (NSW Environment & Heritage, 2018)

Little Rosella is an unusual resident in Canberra since it usually it resides in semi-arid areas. (Canberra Birds, 2018)

Caper White Butterflies live in urbn areas, forests and woodlands.Their caterpillars eat plants of caper family (Capparis spp), including capers and warrior bushes.

Often due to high catepillar population, their food plants get completely strip from edible leaves. (Australian Museum, 2018)

Meat Ants are considered as pest in Asutralia. They build mounds up to 650m in span and situated along dirt tracks. They eat other insects, some seeds and honeydew. They can cause biological hazard through spreading black sooty mould and causing an outbreak. (Agric.wa.gov.au, 2018)

Magpie-lark is regularly seen in gardens and urban areas throughout the year. They feed on insects and other food items in open grassy areas.

(Canberra Birds,2018)

Canberra Raspy Crickets dwells in woodlands, grasslands, or wet forests.

They are adptive, and feeds on insects and other arthropods to plants and plant parts, including grasses, flowers, and seeds. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2018 and (Canberra. naturemapr.org, 2018))

Striped legless lizards are found in secondary temperate grassland near Natural Temperate Grassland and has a preference to Kangaroo Grass. They sometimes present in urban areas with a significant content of exotic grasses. They feed on spiders, crickets, moth larvae and cockroaches.

(NSW Environment & Heritage, 2018)

Golden Sunmoths appears and dwells in Natural Temperate Grasslands and grassy Box-Gum Woodlands in which groundlayer is dominated by wallaby grasses Austrodanthonia spp. Their larvae feed on the roots of the wallaby grass plant (NSW Environment & Heritage, 2018)

Grassland Earless Dragon are restricted to few Natural Temperate Grassland sites dominated by native tussock grasses. Often appearing in Introduced pasture grasses, it areas with open structure, with small patches of bare ground between the grasses and herbs. Embedded surface rocks, and spider and insect holes are used for shelter. They feed on small invertebrates, including ants and spiders.(NSW Environment & Heritage, 2018)

BIODIVERSITY & ECOLOGICAL PALETTE WINDBREAK TREE SECTIONS AND SURVEY

Vegetation cover of Pre-Windbreak plantation in Central Canberra.

(Haig Park Speaker Series, 2018) Diagramatic Section of maintree species across Haig Park as Winbreak Plantation (Your Say ACT, 2018)

MAIN TREE PALETTE AT THE TIME OF PLANTING WINDBREAK

Eucalyptus pauciflora (Frosty, 2018)

Eucalyptus cinerea (ERA Nurseries, 2018)

Fraxinus velutina (Onlineplantguide.com, 2018)

List of Plants planted at Haig Park as shelterbelts between 1921 to September 1923 (NAA: CP209/1, 813 Part 1) from Haig Park Speaker Series, 2018

Cupressus sempervirens Cedrus deodara (The Spruce, 2018) 'Stricta' (pot, 2018)

F r a x i n u s o x y c a r p a P i n u s r a d i a t a ( K e y s e r v e r.Quercus palustirs (Van den Berk Nurseries, 2018) (Boethingtreeland.com, 2018) lucidcentral.org, 2018)

OTHER FLORA OF HAIG PARK

Smooth solenogyne - Solenogyne dominii (Grasslands.ecolinc.vic.edu.au, 2018)

Red leg grass - Bothriochloa macra (Bwvp.ecolinc.vic.edu.au, 2018)

Bind Weed - Convolvulus arvensis (En.wikipedia.org, 2018)

Windmill Grass - Chloris truncate (Dpi.nsw.gov.au, 2018)

Common Everlasting - Chrysocephalum apiculatum (Anbg.gov.au, 2018-)

Current Tree Survey of Haig Park (Haig Park Speaker Series, 2018)

Kidney Weed - Dichondra repens (Gardeningwithangus.com.au, 2018)

Narrow-leafed New Holland Daisy - Vittadinia muelleri (Canberra.naturemapr.org, 2018)

BIODIVERSITY SURVEY AROUND - BLACK MOUNT

All screenshots and information extracted from (Haig Park Speaker Series, 2018)

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PROPOSAL APPROACH

18

COMMUNITY CONSULTATION AND PUBLIC FORUMS After a series of investigations, I realised the ACT Government has been investigating into renovating Haig Park and Turner Parkalnd as well. The govenment have hosted several community consultation sessions to collect opinions and feedbacks from the community. The summary of these community consultations are as below:

Statistic Results from asking community to describe Haig Park in one word. The larger the word is, the more people described the park as that. (Haig Park Masterplan, 2017)

PHASE 1 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - HAIG PARK After a series of investigations, I realised the ACT Government has been investigating into renovating Haig Park and Turner Parkalnd as well. The govenment have hosted several community consultation sessions to collect opinions and feedbacks from the community.

The summary of these community consultations are as below:

• •

The park’s character changes according to the adjacent neighborhood, as it spans across several suburbs (Braddon, Turner, etc). Zones within the park should respect the current uses and character of the local area.

Increase exercise opportunities in the park through pathways and gym equipment, or recreational facilities like playgrounds, BBQ, seatings and rotundas

Community Engagement Summary Reports produced and published by ACT Government ((Haig Park Masterplan, 2017 ;Phase 2 Community Engagement Summary Report - Haig Park Masterplan, 2017)

• • • •

Community agrees that improvement could be made to Haig Park and prefers the park to provide a variety of different active and passive activities. It lacks funcitonality at the moment and nobody finds a purpose to visit the park.

Wildlife, indigenous plantings and biodiversity: searching for opportunity to enhance the local biodiversity through planting and constructed wetlands Suggested activities include sports and exercise grounds, food truck & markets, event spaces and community gardens Recommendations on Activities and facilities to be implemented are separated into different categories: Food related including Café, Pop-Up Markets and Food Truck ; Sports and Exercise including improved running trails, multi-purpose sports field and specific ball courts, off leash dog park, as well as passive elements such as picnic area, pagodas and chessboards.

•

Trees in Haig Park are both a valuable asset to the park, AS WELL AS a barrier to its usability. There is a conflict of interest between retaining and preserving all trees or removing sections of trees to enhance usability, enhance natural lighting and activation. Current plantation in Haig Park provide a good ground for orienteering, and the trees itself are registered, with high cultural, historical and some with high ecological value. On certain seasons like autumn, it provides a pleasnt boulevard walk, but most of the year the park remains dark and scary.

•

Haig Park also suffers from lack of maintenance and basic facilities such as public toilet, signage and drinking fountain. There are multiple 15-25 years old radiata pines that requires high pruning but nobody is taking responsibility. If neglected, dead branches falling from high ground can be posing public safety hazard. Some suggest adding a more diverse range of tree species and rearrange the park into an urban forest Another issue of the park is accessibility. There is a lack of paths across the park, where desire lines are clearly seen, as well as paved pedestrian and cycling paths. The only bicycle-friendly part of the park lies next to the channel of Sullivans Creek and the edge of the park. During evening hours, it is not safe as there are not enough lighting around the park.

The drainage channel on site including Sullivans Creek are completely exposed to the public. It does not only limit accessibility but it also poses safety risks to children falling into it Take consideration on lighting impact on wildlife residing at the park

• • •

Improvement specified to certain areas of the park, summarised from consultation sessions.

(Haig Park Masterplan, 2017)

Community Reponse and Draft Design Proposal to Improvement of Haig Park (Haig Park Masterplan, 2017)

HAIG PARK - UTILISATION STUDY REPORT BY TAIT WADDINGTON ARCHITECTS To provide a better account of the condition of Haig Park and quality of design proposals, ACT government appointed Tait Waddington Architects to collaborate and produce the final masterplan.

Before producing design outputs, Tait Waddington Architects has done an utilisation study on Haig Park, with the summary below:

•

Visitors to the park mainly uses the park as quick access, rather than using it

•

Out of all visitors, two-thirds of those who either travel through or stay in the park are male;

Zoning Map for Utilisaiton Study (Tait Waddington, 2017)

• • • • • • •

One-third of park user uses the park for dog walking, which is the most popular activity in the park The park is also frequently used for play, including walking, jogging or other exercise on the weekends 'Zone 2 had the highest number of people moving through the park on both weekdays and at weekends, whilst Zone 4 had the least; Zone 3 is the busiest area for people staying in Haig Park, whilst the least used are Zone 1 on weekends and Zone 5 on weekdays; Children and seniors make up less than a quarter of park users overall; The typical person using Haig Park is an adult male cycling through Zone 2 on a weekday morning.

Given the number of people who live within the vicinity of the Park as well as the number of public space bookings over the past 5 years, it would appear that Haig Park is under-utilised relative to other parks and open spaces in Canberra.'

(Tait Waddington, 2017)

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY STRATEGIC PLANNING Due to the scale and scope of the project, a design team composed of multiple profession should be formed to provide a well rounded, efficient and effective design proposal through establishing an early discussion on technical requirements as soon design commences. There will be four different groups of people providing inputs to complete the project, seen as below:

DESIGN TEAM

CONTRACTORS MAIN DESIGN OUTPUT CONSTRUCTIONS/ON SITE DESIGN CHANGES

HAIG PARK IMPROVEMENT MASTERPLANNING

COMMUNITY FEEDBACKS

STAKEHOLDERS

RESEARCHES FINDINGS/ SURVEY / DESIGN GUIDELINES

RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS STAKEHOLDERS

INTENDED VISION, THEMES AND OBJECTIVES INTENDED VISION As Canberra continues to expand, low to medium density compact apartments are going to be replacing the detached housing seen around the neighborhood. Unlike detached houses, as there are no private open space in the apartments, large recreational areas like Haig Park are no longer an accessory to weekend dayout, but an essential part of infrastructures to ensure a healthy, socialable and near-nature lifestyle. A paradigm shift is happening and the govenment should react quickly to accomodate the changing demands of local residents.

Due to the central location and high population density around the park, Haig park has a huge potential to become a central park of North Canberra, with a vision described as below: 'Haig Park should be an everyday urban park that celebrates and unifies the community, local biodiversity and cultural history. It promotes social and cultural exchange through providing safe access to open spaces at all times of day, accommodating both active and passive pursuits. Accentuating the local biodiversity through introducing larger varieties of habitats in the park, it celebrates the local history and biodiversity that co-exist with the community around central Canberra, promoting communal stewardship to this sacred shared space. '

THEMES, OBJECTIVE AND PROPOSED ACTIONS To achieve this, several themes and objectives are defined to break down the design elements required in the goal of fulfilling the vision: Theme Social

Objectives Provide both passive and active engagement Improve accessibility

Improve Social Security

Promote Biophilic Lifestyle

Unify and bring the neighborhood closer

Environmental Improve local biodiversity

Create an ecological network that connects mount Ainslie and Black Mountain Improve current drainage channels

Proposed Action and Strategies • Open up pockets of open space in the park; • Zoning areas to accommodate activity of different intensity, such as active and area-demanding activities at the centre of the park, and passive activities at the peripherals of the park.

• Formalise existing desire line paths; • Arrange paths for multiple vehicles: Bicycle, skateboards, pedestrians, runners; • Universal Design on slopes and level difference (Although level difference is minimal on site) • Add more lighting along main and secondary access.

• Set up passive surveilience elements such as shopfronts • Rearrange planting layout to increase visual access.

• Set up interactive workshop space in the park • Set up trails for children to explore urban biodiversity and outdoor education • Open space that accommodates outdoor exercises/sports • Community gardens that residents can yield crops, if they take care of the fields • Off leash dog park which allows animal and human interaction • Set up Digital-interactive exhibitions such as Augmented reality trails • Provide event hire space for cultural events and large group exercises.

• Team sports courts to allow teamups games • Provide seatings that allow daily chats • Small installations to allow exchanges.

• Through community gardens, it builds up stewardship to the environment and forms groups to do things together • • • • • •

Increase the varieties of habitat provided: Naturalize current stormwater drainage channel Constructed wetland Increase the planting palette of the park such as wildflower meadow, grassland, woodland, and many more Add more levels of plantation to create a more lush plantation for animals to take shelter Extend habitats offered at the two edges of the mountains, in patches in the park, with corridors to protect the animals

•

Naturalise water channel to more than just discharge the stormwater, but rather irrigate plants, absorb into the ground and filter stromwater on the process of being discharged.

Restore the river channel to meandering shapes, or shapes that welcome dynamic changes

• Economical

Stimulate economy of local neighborhood •

Allocate space for tuck shops, pop up farmers market and food trucks vending spaces for local shops and community gardens

Cultural

Celebrate the history of Australia and • • preserve local heritage • • • Celebrate the history of the park • • Promote cultural exchange •

Allocate spaces for exhibitions and displays across the park Invite aboriginal and indigenous artists to take part into designing the details of the park Incorporate indigenous elements such as design patterns, and and sculptural elements in the park Use native plant species to celebrate local biodiveristy Preserve local heritage trees as much as possible Arrange historical trail with volunteer tour guide to educate general public about the local history Allocate workshop spaces and temporal event spaces for cultural events Cultural displays and art pieces for art lovers and appreciation of indigenous community

Technological/ Promote WSUD design guideliness Political

• • •

Naturalise water channel to more than just discharge the stormwater, but rather irrigate plants, absorb into the ground and filter stromwater on the process of being discharged.

Restore the river channel to meandering shapes, or shapes that welcome dynamic changes Use this central park as a flagship project to invite neighborhoods and small parks to develop sustainable water drainages in their neighborhoods

PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY AND BIOPHILIC LIFESTYLE The design proposal aims to promote two movements: Biophilia and Water Sensitive Urban Design. With the proposed actions and strategies highlighted above, it encourages: Biophilic Lifestyle Water Sensitive Urban Design • • • • • •

•

Bring the urban population outdoors to exercise, and enjoy what the nature offers Encourages active lifestyle by encouraging alternative sustainable transport access e.g.

Bicycle, Skateboards, Walking and Scooters.

Make the park an informal education center to educate children and adults, of different ways to incorporate nature and sustainable living into different living conditions such as a detached house or flats Allow community to reassess how much nature is around this moderately urbanized city.

Allocate spaces for events and weekly gatherings such as live cultural performances, food trucks vendors for brunch Educational programme in allocated spaces in the park e.g. Community Garden and Experimental programs to teach younger population on nurturing nature and appreciation to natural resources, whilst supporting sustainability researches and striving for more sustainable solutions for long term development.

Social Activation and environmental stewardship- Volunteering program for events, and daily maintenance of parts of the park to invite different social groups, promoting healthier use of their time.

• • • •

Naturalizing the existing drainage channel and rainwater harvesting devices Re-using the rainwater capture and decreases freshwater consumption Recharging aquifers in long term Increase urban biodiversity and provide habitats more local fauna

TARGET AUDIENCE OF THE PARK DESIGN Target Audience Group Kids (0-12 years Old)

Activities available at the park • Family-friendly nature trails, • Playgrounds • Sports court to promote outdoor play and informal learning, getting familiar with natural habitats • Under Supervision - Water edge interactions • Naturalist play elements Teenagers and Young Adults • Digital interactive trails and strategies • Art installation and volunteering programs for CV, experiences or out of interest; • School tours to do biodiversity surveys as part of outdoor education University Students at Australian National • Outdoor picnic • Sports practice and friendly matches University • Campaign and activities venue hire • Community garden care • Safe and accessible daily commute • Daily commute Adults • Outdoor sports after or before working hours • Dog walking and social gathering; • Lunchtime picnics for workers • Weekend getaways like: • Picnics • Cycling • Large group exercises; • Volunteering programs to take care of community gardens, tour guides around the park Elderly and Disabilities • Nature Walking Trail as daily exercise • Dog Walking

PROPOSED ACTIVITY SPACES AND FACILITIES

The deisgn brief shall adapt community suggestions, to add several facilities to Haig Park as part of the design solution for design brief. These facilities include: • Naturalised water channel and possibly waterbodies • Open, multi-functional lawn areas • Preserved forest areas • Multiple Biodiversity trails • Improved path and light systems • Adventure play • Restored or enhanced habitat • Quiet exhibition area • Hardscape area for public events • Improved crossing facilities • Increased number of infrastructures including toilets, picnic tables • Increase signage • Cafes and community gardens

PROPOSED TIMELINE Park Plantation matures at 2028 Park opens in 2025 Construction commences in 2020

Community Consultation completed in 2017

Final Masterplan done and published

by Mid-2018

Mid-2018 to Mid2019 - Submit Masterplan to National Capital Authority for approval

Mid-2018 to Mid2019 - Apply for developmental fundings

Invitation to Tender and Appoint Contractors

IMPROVING CURRENT MANAGEMENT & MAINTENANCE PRACTICE As to current observations and consultation sessions, information reagrding to existing management and maintenance on Haig Park are inaccessible. However, it is very obvious that there is an insufficient management and maintenance on site facilities and tree plantation, resulting in all the problems found on site. Evidences can be seen from vandalism, cracked pavings, trees in bad health conditions with no follow up which poses significant public safety risk.

After the new proposal is approved, a maintenance and management plan should be produced and staffs responsible should strictly comply to the guidelines to ensure quality of the park after improvement. Strategies shall include: 1. Automate event space hire and venue rental procedures, or increase staffs of providing relevant services - due to increased public space available for hire.

2. Regular tree assessment at least annually to check condition of plants. - Reducing public safety risk and preserve restored habitats.

3. Implement social activation programs eg. volunteering for tours around the park, gardening, patrolling and more. - Encourage stewardship over Haig Park and stimulate local interaction with nature.

4. Educational collaboration in electronic/digital elements in the park such as Experimental projects to implement Augmented Reality into the park, or QR code scanning to access more information on the different details of the park.

5. Re-negotiate conditions of renting the Oval, to open up access of the sports field to general public.

PROVISIONAL STYLE, MATERIAL PALETTE Although there is a lack of major renovation in Haig Park, minor improvements such as lighting and parking spaces have been done over the past few years. To keep the designs coherent, the proposed material palette will incorporate the same paving materials as the latest renovation applied, as well as the color palette of the materials. However, wherever possible, more sustainable options shall be adapted. For example, in areas with wide concrete paving but minimal plantation nearby, a pervious concrete shall be adapted instead just the normal concrete paving.

As the design brief requires major tree felling, the timber from felling shall be recycled and constructed into furnitures or mulch that can be used in the park, or artwork materials for local artists. Naturalistic aforestation is going to be done on part of the site to strengthen the ecological network and provide more varities of habitat on site. To achieve a naturalistic atmosphere on part of the site, adventure play like rope courses, treehouses are going to be implemented as part of the design.

In terms of vegetation, there will be minimal exotic species due to the potential maintenance required, which will be demanding for the management team for a 19 hectare park. Planting native plant species has several benefits: • No maintenance required as it has adapted to the local climate and soil conditions • Restore prehistoric habitat which accomodates native and endemic species in Australia • Easy to establish and easy to source.

There will also be more contemporary and urban elements on the busiest parts of the site, to provide venue for public and community events. Structural elements shall be more colorful and stimulating, incorporating materials such as spray coated stainless steel to prevent the metal to heat up too quickly especially in summer.

KEY PRECEDENTS FOR DESIGN REFERENCE As a landscape architect new to a country, studying reference project provide a good start on investigating technical details to landscape constructions, as well as the general approach in terms of style. Multiple case studies are investigated in the aim of taking reference in water sensitive design elements, planting palette and rough insight into how people like the park to be.

A moodboard is displayed below for the named projects:

1. EDINBURGH GARDENS RAINGARDEN Name: Edinburgh Gardens Raingarden Location: Edinburgh Gardens: St Georges Road- Fitzroy North, Melbourne, Australia Design Year: 2010 Year of Construction: 2011-2012 Area: 700 m2 Budget: $1,000,000.00 Design Company: GHD Pty Ltd Clients: Melbourne Water in collaboration with City of Yarra Design Features: • Water Sensitive Design - Diversion pipe from North Fitzroy Main Drain with gross pollutant trap.

• A 700 sq m rain garden with surcharge pit • Treat stormwater with planting and filter media on Terraced raingarden • Overflow pit with underground pipe connected to 200 kilolitre underground storage facility with pump to irrigation distribution.

Other Landscape Features: Terraced lawns responding to the sites natural grade, minimising the requirement for retaining walls and balustrade, allowing informal public interaction, • Terrace walls that extend out into the landscape to create lawn ‘room’ areas for passive recreation. These areas have access to elevated views over the raingarden and provide different spatial experience in this area of the park • A ‘zig zagging’ feature steel low flow channel, connected to the surcharge pit, that delivers water to all four terraces in rain events.

• New tree planting to provide shade and enclosure for new small lawn areas • Continuously curved edge to reinforce line of new shared path and existing avenue planting (Information from Landezine.com, 2018)

•

Visits to the area of the park where minor renovation has been done, to study the material palette and color tones. (Images above taken by myself)

All pictures from Landezine,com, 2018

2. SYDNEY PARK WETLANDS • • • • •

Project Name: Sydney Park Water Re-Use Project Completion Date: July 2015 Project address: Sydney Park Road, St Peters, NSW, 2044 Client: City of Sydney Project Cost: $11.3 million

Design Principles: • Multi-disciplinary collaboration incorporating design, art, science and ecology • a series of community infrastructures interweaved with ‘made’ systems – multipurpose infrastructure including water re-use, recreation, biodiversity and habitat all integrated into one body.

• Goes beyond picturesque landscape, but a revitalised, multifaceted waterscape that celebrates the connection between people and place.

Water Sensitive Urban Design Element The bioretention wetlands captures and clean stormwater, cleansing amount equivalent to 340 Olympic-sized swimming pools annually, • Improve local water quality, habitat and reduces potable water consumption in the area.

• New habitats created and existing ones protected and enhanced throughout the park.

• Water harvesting and cleansing is enhanced by ebbs and flows through the landscape.

• Wetlands are intersected by new pathwaysm akeing it accessible to public and discover ‘moments’ in the landscape • Provide a variety of experiences - playful, dramatic and peaceful, with close connection to the water narrative of capture, movement, and cleansing.

• Information and images from landezine.com, 2018

•

REFERENCE

24

REFERENCE INFORMATION • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

ABC News. (2010). Water flows down Sullivan's Creek on the ANU campus in Canberra. [online] Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-12-03/water-flows-down-sullivans-creek-on-theanu-campus/1356144 [Accessed 26 Mar. 2018].

ACTmapi Viewer. 2017. Canberra, 35.33147° S 149.06749° E. 2017 Aerial Photography, viewed on 31 January 2018, available at http://app.actmapi.act.gov.au/actmapi/index.html?viewer=bwi.

Agric.wa.gov.au. (2018). Australian meat ants | Agriculture and Food. [online] Available at: https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/pest-insects/australian-meat-ants [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

Anbg.gov.au. (2018). Chrysocephalum apiculatum - Growing Native Plants. [online] Available at: https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/gnp13/chrysocephalum-apiculatum.html [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

Australian Museum. (2018). Australian Painted Lady. [online] Available at: https://australianmuseum.net.au/australian-painted-lady [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

Australian Museum. (2018). Caper White Butterfly. [online] Available at: https://australianmuseum.net.au/caper-white-butterfly [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

Australian Museum. (2018). Lesser Long-eared Bat. [online] Available at: https://australianmuseum.net.au/lesser-long-eared-bat [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

Birdsinbackyards.net. (2018). Crimson Rosella | BIRDS in BACKYARDS. [online] Available at: http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Platycercus-elegans [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

Bwvp.ecolinc.vic.edu.au. (2018). Red-leg Grass | Biodiversity of the Western Volcanic Plains. [online] Available at: http://bwvp.ecolinc.vic.edu.au/fieldguide/flora/red-leg-grass#details [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

Canberra Birds. (2018). Chough - Canberra Birds. [online] Available at: http://canberrabirds.org.au/our-birds/canberra-garden-birds/chough/ [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

Canberra Birds. (2018). Crested Pigeon - Canberra Birds. [online] Available at: http://canberrabirds.org.au/our-birds/canberra-garden-birds/pigeons-and-doves/crested-pigeon/ [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

Canberra Birds. (2018). Eastern Rosella - Canberra Birds. [online] Available at: http://canberrabirds.org.au/our-birds/canberra-garden-birds/cockatoos-and-parrots/eastern-rosella/ [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

Canberra Birds. (2018). Little Corella - Canberra Birds. [online] Available at: http://canberrabirds.org.au/our-birds/canberra-garden-birds/cockatoos-and-parrots/little-corella/ [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

Canberra Birds. (2018). Magpie-lark - Canberra Birds. [online] Available at: http://canberrabirds.org.au/our-birds/canberra-garden-birds/flycatchers/magpie-lark/ [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

Canberra Birds. (2018). Red Wattlebird - Canberra Birds. [online] Available at: http://canberrabirds.org.au/our-birds/canberra-garden-birds/honeyeaters/red-wattlebird/ [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

Canberra Birds. (2018). Rock Dove - Canberra Birds. [online] Available at: http://canberrabirds.org.au/our-birds/canberra-garden-birds/pigeons-and-doves/rock-dove/ [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

Canberra Birds. (2018). Silvereye - Canberra Birds. [online] Available at: http://canberrabirds.org.au/our-birds/canberra-garden-birds/silvereye/ [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

Canberra.naturemapr.org. (2018). Canberra Nature Map. [online] Available at: https://canberra.naturemapr.org/Community/Sighting/1947848 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

Censusdata.abs.gov.au. (2017). 2016 Census QuickStats: Canberra. [online] Available at: http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/CED801 [Accessed 26 Mar. 2018].

Dpi.nsw.gov.au. (2018). Windmill grass. [online] Available at: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pastures-and-rangelands/species-varieties/windmill-grass [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Convolvulus arvensis. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convolvulus_arvensis [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Sullivans Creek. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sullivans_Creek [Accessed 26 Mar. 2018].

Encyclopedia Britannica. (2018). Raspy cricket | insect. [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/animal/raspy-cricket#ref1113923 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

Environment.nsw.gov.au. (2018). Powerful Owl - profile | NSW Environment & Heritage. [online] Available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?id=10562 [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

Gardeningwithangus.com.au. (2018). Dichondra repens – Kidney Weed | Gardening With Angus. [online] Available at: http://www.gardeningwithangus.com.au/dichondra-repens-kidney-weed/ [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

Google Map, 2018, Haig Park,@-35.3108087,149.1213976,15, Road Map. Viewed on 31 January 2018, available from https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Haig+Park,+Australian+Capital+ Territory+2612/@-35.2708637,149.1230226,14.69z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x6b164d5fd8ba2f1d:0xa361c165dd4f99d1!8m2!3d-35.2691536!4d149.1267797 Grasslands.ecolinc.vic.edu.au. (2018). Smooth Solenogyne | Grasslands. [online] Available at: http://grasslands.ecolinc.vic.edu.au/fieldguide/flora/smooth-solenogyne#details [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

Haig Park Speaker Series. (2018). 1st ed. [ebook] Canberra: ACT Government. Available at: https://www.youirsay.act.gov.au/haigpark [Accessed 29 Mar. 2018]. http://www.carterdigital.com.au, C. (2018). Australian King-Parrot | BirdLife Australia. [online] Birdlife.org.au. Available at: http://www.birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/australian-king-parrot [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018]. http://www.carterdigital.com.au, C. (2018). Sulphur-crested Cockatoo | BirdLife Australia. [online] Birdlife.org.au. Available at: http://www.birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/sulphur-crested-cockatoo [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018]. http://www.carterdigital.com.au, C. (2018). Willie Wagtail | BirdLife Australia. [online] Birdlife.org.au. Available at: http://www.birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/willie-wagtail [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

Incorporated, W. (2018) Walter Burley Griffin Society - Urban Planning. [online] Griffinsociety.rg. Available at: http://www.griffinsociety.irg/Lives_and_Works/urban-planning.html#plan [Accessed 19 Mar, 2018] Landezine.com. (2018). Edinburgh Gardens Raingarden by GHD Pty Ltd « Landscape Architecture Works | Landezine. [online] Available at: http://www.landezine.com/index.php/2012/10/ edinburgh-gardens-raingarden-by-ghd-pty-ltd/ [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

Landezine.com. (2018). Sydney Park Water Re-Use Project by Turf Design Studio & Environmental Partnership « Landscape Architecture Works | Landezine. [online] Available at: http://www. landezine.com/index.php/2016/08/sydney-park-water-re-use-project-by-turf/ [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

Migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au. (2018). 1911 Walter Burley Griffin’s design for Australia’s Capital | Australia's migration history timeline | NSW Migration Heritage Centre. [online] Available at: http:// www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibition/objectsthroughtime/1911-walter-burley-griffins-design-for-australias-capital/index.html [Accessed 29 Mar. 2018].

Molonglo Valley Air Quality Assessment. (2011). 1st ed. [ebook] Canberra: AECOM Australia Pty Ltd, pp.41-42. Available at: https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/ci/fattach/ get/94146/1469146237/redirect/1/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xNTIyMjUwMDc2L2dlbi8xNTIyMjUwMDc2L3NpZC9mVV9DQXBPcWl4N09ZUmM4MTdsRDFIT2JYNDkwTXF2ek51T0J0X0F5NWxXcWE yJTdFNzcybzhuc1puZjB2MGE3OG80WDRLVF93X0VyN0h6VTNzMGNNR01oU2JEZXk0RERUSDR5UVZKN05DZkFCdHBhT0pGZ1JiZlE4ZyUyMSUyMQ==/filename/Molonglo+Valley+air+qualit y+assessment.pdf [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

Muller, R., Jenkins, B. and Nicholson, A. (2017). Soil and Land Degradation Management for the Australian Capital Territory. 1st ed. [ebook] New South Wales: Office of Environment and Heritage.

Available at: https://www.environment.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1156865/ACT_LMF_Report_170630.pdf [Accessed 25 Mar. 2018].+ Naa.gov.au. (2018). Walter Burley Griffin and the design of Canberra - Fact sheet 95 – National Archives of Australia, Australian Government. [online] Available at: http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/ fact-sheets/fs95.aspx [Accessed 19 Mar. 2018].

Nicholson, A., Muller R., Jenkins, B (2018). 23. Sullivans Creek Hydrogeological Landscape. 1st ed. [ebook] Canberra: ACTmapi Viewer. Available at: http://app.actmapi.act.gov.au/ Hydrogeological_Landscape_Reports/Reports/Salinity/23_SullivansCreek_Salinity_160131.pdf [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

NSW Environment & Heritage (2018). Button Wrinklewort - profile | NSW Environment & Heritage. [online] Environment.nsw.gov.au. Available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ threatenedSpeciesApp/profile.aspx?id=10739 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

NSW Environment & Heritage (2018). Golden Sun Moth - profile | NSW Environment & Heritage. [online] Environment.nsw.gov.au. Available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?id=10791 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

NSW Environment & Heritage (2018). Grassland Earless Dragon - profile | NSW Environment & Heritage. [online] Environment.nsw.gov.au. Available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ threatenedSpeciesApp/profile.aspx?id=10817 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

NSW Environment & Heritage (2018). Hoary Sunray - profile | NSW Environment & Heritage. [online] Environment.nsw.gov.au. Available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ threatenedSpeciesApp/profile.aspx?id=20258 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

NSW Environment & Heritage (2018). Pink-tailed Legless Lizard - profile | NSW Environment & Heritage. [online] Environment.nsw.gov.au. Available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?id=10061 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

NSW Environment & Heritage (2018). Rosenberg’s Goanna - profile | NSW Environment & Heritage. [online] Environment.nsw.gov.au. Available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?id=10826 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

NSW Environment & Heritage (2018). Striped Legless Lizard - profile | NSW Environment & Heritage. [online] Environment.nsw.gov.au. Available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ threatenedSpeciesApp/profile.aspx?id=10211 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

NSW Environment & Heritage. (2018). Australian magpie. [online] Available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-animals/native-animal-facts/australian-magpie [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

NSW Environment & Heritage. (2018). Brush-tailed possum. [online] Available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-animals/native-animal-facts/brush-tailedpossum [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

Phase 1 Community Engagement Summary Report - Haig Park Masterplan. (2017). 1st ed. [ebook] Canberra: YourSayACT. Available at: https://www.yoursay.act.gov.au/haigpark [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

Phase 2 Community Engagement Summary Report - Haig Park Masterplan. (2017). 1st ed. [ebook] Canberra: YourSAY ACT. Available at: https://www.yoursay.act.gov.au/haigpark [Accessed 29 Mar. 2018].

Scott, E. (2018). What were the coolest things in Griffin's plan for Canberra that were never implemented?. [online] ABC News. Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/specials/curiouscanberra/2017-04-03/what-were-the-coolest-things-in-walter-burley-griffins-plan/8390208 [Accessed 29 Mar. 2018].

Tait Waddington (2017). Utilisation Study Report. 1st ed. [ebook] Canberra: Tait Waddington. Available at: https://www.yoursay.act.gov.au/haigpark [Accessed 29 Mar. 2018].

REFERENCE IMAGES/BASE MAPS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Naa.gov.au. (2018). Walter Burley Griffin - Plan of City Central District – National Archives of Australia, Australian Government. [online] Available at: http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/snapshots/ design29/burley-griffin/image01.aspx [Accessed 19 Mar. 2018].

Naa.gov.au. (2017). Walter Burley Griffin - Plan of City and Environs – National Archives of Australia, Australian Government. [online] Available at: http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/snapshots/ design29/burley-griffin/image02.aspx [Accessed 19 Oct. 2017].

Street-map.net.au. (2018). Street Map Australia. [online] Available at: http://street-map.net.au/ [Accessed 25 Mar. 2018].

Feralscan.org.au. (2018). FeralFishScan > Sponsors and partners. [online] Available at: https://www.feralscan.org.au/feralfishscan/pagecontent.aspx?page=feralfish_sponsorsandpartners [Accessed 25 Mar. 2018].

ABC News. (2010). Water flows down Sullivan’s Creek on the ANU campus in Canberra. [online] Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-12-03/water-flows-down-sullivans-creek-on-theanu-campus/1356144 [Accessed 26 Mar. 2018].

En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Sullivans Creek. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sullivans_Creek [Accessed 26 Mar. 2018].

Australia, A. (2018). Australia Facts / SydneyCloseup.com. [online] SydneyCloseup.com. Available at: https://www.sydneycloseup.com/australia-facts/ [Accessed 26 Mar. 2018].

Enlighten. (2018). Canberra Balloon Spectacular - Enlighten. [online] Available at: http://enlightencanberra.com/canberra-balloon-spectacular/ [Accessed 26 Mar. 2018].

Floriadeaustralia.com. (2018). Photo gallery | Floriade 2017. [online] Available at: http://www.floriadeaustralia.com/about-floriade/photo-gallery/#lightbox[group-471]/29/ [Accessed 26 Mar. 2018].

ERA Nurseries. (2018). Eucalyptus cinerea. [online] Available at: http://www.eranurseries.com.au/eucalyptus-cinerea [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

Frosty, E. (2018). Eucalyptus pauciflora - Snow Gum - Pauciflora Frosty Blerick Trees Buy Online Trees Advanced Trees, Screening Plants, Fruit Trees. [online] Onlinetrees.com.au. Available at: http://www.onlinetrees.com.au/p/4388303/eucalyptus-pauciflora---snow-gum---pauciflora-frosty.html [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

The Spruce. (2018). Familiar with the Deodar Cedar?. [online] Available at: https://www.thespruce.com/deodar-cedar-growing-profile-3269261 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018]. pot, C. (2018). Cupressus sempervirens Stricta - Italian pencil Cypress in 7cm pot. [online] Oaktree Nurseries. Available at: https://oaktree-nurseries.myshopify.com/products/cupressus-sempervirens-stricta-italian-pencil-cypress-in-7cm-pot [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

Boethingtreeland.com. (2018). Fraxinus oxycarpa (angustifolia) ‘Raywood’ - Deer Resistant - Screen - Boething Treeland Farms. [online] Available at: http://www.boethingtreeland.com/special-features/deer-resistant/fraxinus-oxycarpa-angustifolia-raywood.html [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

Van den Berk Nurseries. (2018). Quercus palustris ‘Woodside Splendor’. [online] Available at: https://www.vdberk.co.uk/trees/quercus-palustris-woodside-splendor/ [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

Onlineplantguide.com. (2018). Online Plant Guide - Fraxinus velutina / Arizona Ash. [online] Available at: http://www.onlineplantguide.com/Plant-Details/931/ [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

Keyserver.lucidcentral.org. (2018). Pinus radiata. [online] Available at: https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/pinus_radiata.htm [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

NSW Environment & Heritage (2018). Button Wrinklewort - profile | NSW Environment & Heritage. [online] Environment.nsw.gov.au. Available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/profile.aspx?id=10739 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

NSW Environment & Heritage (2018). Hoary Sunray - profile | NSW Environment & Heritage. [online] Environment.nsw.gov.au. Available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/profile.aspx?id=20258 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

NSW Environment & Heritage (2018). Rosenberg’s Goanna - profile | NSW Environment & Heritage. [online] Environment.nsw.gov.au. Available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?id=10826 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

NSW Environment & Heritage (2018). Pink-tailed Legless Lizard - profile | NSW Environment & Heritage. [online] Environment.nsw.gov.au. Available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?id=10061 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

NSW Environment & Heritage (2018). Striped Legless Lizard - profile | NSW Environment & Heritage. [online] Environment.nsw.gov.au. Available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/profile.aspx?id=10211 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

NSW Environment & Heritage (2018). Grassland Earless Dragon - profile | NSW Environment & Heritage. [online] Environment.nsw.gov.au. Available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/profile.aspx?id=10817 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

NSW Environment & Heritage (2018). Golden Sun Moth - profile | NSW Environment & Heritage. [online] Environment.nsw.gov.au. Available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?id=10791 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

Canberra.naturemapr.org. (2018). Canberra Nature Map. [online] Available at: https://canberra.naturemapr.org/Community/Sighting/3344360 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

Grasslands.ecolinc.vic.edu.au. (2018). Smooth Solenogyne | Grasslands. [online] Available at: http://grasslands.ecolinc.vic.edu.au/fieldguide/flora/smooth-solenogyne#details [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

Bwvp.ecolinc.vic.edu.au. (2018). Red-leg Grass | Biodiversity of the Western Volcanic Plains. [online] Available at: http://bwvp.ecolinc.vic.edu.au/fieldguide/flora/red-leg-grass#details [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

Dpi.nsw.gov.au. (2018). Windmill grass. [online] Available at: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pastures-and-rangelands/species-varieties/windmill-grass [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

Anbg.gov.au. (2018). Chrysocephalum apiculatum - Growing Native Plants. [online] Available at: https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/gnp13/chrysocephalum-apiculatum.html [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

Gardeningwithangus.com.au. (2018). Dichondra repens – Kidney Weed | Gardening With Angus. [online] Available at: http://www.gardeningwithangus.com.au/dichondra-repens-kidney-weed/ [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

Canberra.naturemapr.org. (2018). Canberra Nature Map. [online] Available at: https://canberra.naturemapr.org/Community/Sighting/1947848 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Convolvulus arvensis. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convolvulus_arvensis [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

ACTmapi Viewer. 2017. Canberra, 35.33147° S 149.06749° E. 2017 Aerial Photography, viewed on 31 January 2018, avaialble at http://app.actmapi.act.gov.au/actmapi/index.html?viewer=bwi.

Canberra Birds. (2018). Rock Dove - Canberra Birds. [online] Available at: http://canberrabirds.org.au/our-birds/canberra-garden-birds/pigeons-and-doves/rock-dove/ [Accessed 28 Mar. 2018].

ACTmapi Viewer. 2017. Canberra, 35.33147° S 149.06749° E. 2017 ACT Wind Map, viewed on 31 January 2018, avaialble at http://app.actmapi.act.gov.au/actmapi/index.html?viewer=wind.

ACTmapi Viewer. 2017. Canberra, 35.33147° S 149.06749° E. 2017 Soil and Hydrogeological Landsacpes of the ACT, viewed on 31 January 2018, avaialble at http://app.actmapi.act.gov.au/actmapi/index.html?viewer=shl ACTmapi Viewer. 2017. Canberra, 35.33147° S 149.06749° E. 2017Significant Speciesm Vegetation Communities and Registered tree, viewed on 31 January 2018, avaialble at http://app.actmapi. act.gov.au/actmapi/index.html?viewer=ssvcrt

[TEXT]

27

ARCH10010 PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO SUMMATIVE SUBMISSION LOK CHI AUDREY CHAN (S1433555) APRIL 2018

1

Haig Park - Existing Condition

2

Haig Park - Existing Condition Site Analysis

3

Haig Park - Existing Condition Ecological Concern

4

REVITALISING HISTORICAL HERITAGE INTO AN CENTRAL URBAN PUBLIC PARK

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SCALE: 1:2500 @ A1

200m

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REVITALISING HISTORICAL HERITAGE INTO AN CENTRAL URBAN PUBLIC PARK Restored Grassy Woodland

Native Grassland

Open Lawn

Community Garden

Restored Grassy Woodland

Preserving all existing vegetation of good conditions on the western end of the park, removing all dead and poor condition trees and replant native species in high density, growing into a grassy woodland over time.

Plant native and threatened species such as Button Wrinklewort and Kangaroo grass. Pathways are arranged for visitors to stroll along lush grass, where local biodiversity resides and thrives.

Trees at the central open spaces are mostly going to be cleared in order to open spaces for recreational needs. Drought tolerant grasses are going to be planted to provide a open ground for nearby residents who does not have a private yard for sports, training, picnic or relax.

Approximately 200 plots of gardens are open for appointment to the public, especially for those who does not have access to a private backyard but wanting to do gardening, including both ornamental or edible gardening. Excess plots can be rented out to local institution for outdoor education and volunteering experiences.

Preserving all existing vegetation of good conditions on the western end of the park, removing all dead and poor condition trees and replant native species in high density, growing into a grassy woodland over time.

Elevated Bridge An elevated bridge is provided to ensure safe access especially on storm season and after storm event.

Off leash roaming area Due to the ecological sensitivity on site, pets are not recommended to be led without a leash. This area act as a compensation, designated where pets can roam freely.

Enhanced constructed wetland With an existing constructed wetland on site, the current wetland suffers from poor soil and lack of plantations to maxmise their filtration ability to treat stormwater and drainage. The proposed action on this wetland aims to enhance the wetland quality and enhance visual attraction from afar, as access is restricted from the public due to safety and maintenance requirement.

Naturalised Waterway

Hardscape Upgrade

Outdoor Nature Play

With limited water resources on site, this concrete conveyance channel is rerranged into a meandering channel which imitates natural waterways, with swales and planting on top to treat stormwater and reduce hydraulic connectivity of the catchment. This helps alleviating flood risks and allow more retention time for the plantation and infilration system in the waterway to filter the water better, and retain more solid loads from uppercourse.

To enhance accessiblity to the park which is largely hindered by vehicle access, the edges of Haig Park are raised into a pedestrian priority zone, which does not cause major impact to traffic, at the same time achieving the effect to slowing down car access and increase safety for the public.

Due to the massive wood clearing to be done on site, all materials that can be used as material for furnitures or as timber are to be recycled in recreating site furnitures and play equippments.

The play equippments are going to be in naturalistic forms and materials, which encourages near-nature play experiences.

1:2500 0

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SCALE: 1:2500 @ A1 6

MOODBOARD TO DESIGN PROPOSAL

GRASSY WOODLAND

NATIVE GRASSLAND

OPEN LAWN

COMMUNITY GARDEN

NATURALISTC PLAYGROUND

NATURALISED WATERWAY

CONSTRUCTED WETLAND

1:2500 0

20

50

100

200m

7

Design in Detail - Grassy Woodland and Native Grassland Grassy Woodland

Native Grassland

A - A'

A - A'

REFERENCE IMAGES

REFERENCE IMAGES

GRASSY WOODLAND SECTION - 1:250 @ A1

1:2500

1:2500

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200m

UNDERSTOREY OF TUSSOCK GRASS, HOARY SUNRISE ETC.

UNDERSTOREY OF TUSSOCK GRASS, HOARY SUNRISE ETC.

FOOTPATH

GRASSY WOODLAND SECTION - 1:250 @ A1

50

100

200m

EUCALYPTUS TREES DOMIN

1:2500 0

TUSSOCK GRASS, HOARY SUNRISE ETC.

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200m

FOOTPATH

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8

Design in Detail - Open Lawn, Detail Features and Planting Palette PLANTING PALETTE (EXISTING AND NEW)- TREES

EUCALYPTUS BLAKELYI Blakely's Red Gum

EUCALYPTUS MANNIFERA Red Spotted Gum

EUCALYPTUS PAUCIFLORA Snow Gum

EUCALYPTUS CINERA Argyle Apple

REFERENCE IMAGES

EUCALYPTUS MELLIODORA Yellow Box

PITTOSPORUM UNDULATUM Sweet Pittosporum

EUCALYPTUS BRIDGESIANA Apple Box

PLANTING PALETTE (EXISTING AND NEW)- UNDERSTOREYS

All existing groundcover of Haig Park in the proposed open lawn are going to be retained, but all trees except the verge and streetside trees are being removed, in order to open up recreational spaces for the commuinty to use.

1:2500

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200m

Addition of basic infrastructures like picnic facilities, barbecue tables and playgrounds shall be built on these area to encourage outdoor lifestyle and bring people out to the urban park.

With lightings added every 15 metres, the park is bright enough to be used during evening hours and public events. Lightings are used sensibly on other locations to accomodate biodiversity that resides in those habitats, but recreational lawns have a low ecological value, hence bright lightins to ensure safety comes in first priority.

RUTICLOSIS LEPTORRHYNCHOIDES Button Wrinklewort

LENCOCHRYSUM ALBICANS var.

TRICOLOR Hoary Sunray

SWAINSONA RECTA Small Purple Pea

POA LABILLARDIERI VAR. LABILLARDIERI Tussock Grass

BURSARIA SPINOSA Sweet Bursaria/ Blackthorn

BOTHRIOCHLOA MACRA Red Legged Grass

THEMEDA TRIANDRA Kangaroo Grass

1:2500

NATURE PLAYGROUND - TYPES OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPPMENTS 0

20

50

100

200m

Due to the massive wood clearing to be done on site, logs possible to be reused in constructing additional furnitures are going to be utilised in building playground 1:2500 equippments and seatings. Playgrounds are going to be designed in a naturalistic style, 20 50and ropes 100 200m using timber,0 stones with mulch as safety groundcover. Playground equippments examples include: Climbing boulders, sand pits, climbing logs, ninja courses and more.

MICROLAENA STIPOIDES Weeping Grass

RYTIDOSPERMA LONGIFOLIUM/ RYTIDOSPERMA PILOSUM/ RYTIDOSPERMA RACEMOSUM VAR. RACEMOSUM Wallaby Grass

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Design in Detail - Naturalised Waterway REFERENCE IMAGES

Hoping to create a more coherent and water-sensiitive urban design network around the Sullivan's Creek, I decided to naturalise a part of cullivan's creek which runs through Haig Park and Turner Parkland. After a detailed investgation in the Research and Site Brief course, I have also researched some additional detail on engineering details of naturalising waterways, which is shown in my design proposal. It applies two strategies:

A - A'

1. Meandering waterways This strategy aims to restore the natural form of river conveyance channels into urbanised channels. It reduces hydraulic connectivity, reducing the velocity of drainage flow and allow uptaking of nutrients and solid sediments on the banks of the conveyance channel. Canberra remains very dry most of years, therefore flood risks are low, where meandering to a slower flow is not first priority, therefore meadering angles and intensity are kept to the minimal, at the wavelength of 60m and radius of meandering between 16-24m.

2. Vegetation and addition of softscape elements After rearranging the spatial layout to the conveyance channel. vegetation and natural materials that occurs on conveyance channel are added into the channel, to soften the edge and activate the filtration process in the conveyance channel. Due to the dry weather, plants species chosen here must be adapted to canberra's climate and the high variation of rainfall.

0

20

50

100M

SCALE: 1:1000 @ A1 LAWN

FOOTPATH

LAWN

ELEVATED BRIDGE

FOOTPATH

LAWN

The constructed wetland and naturalised waterway should attract wetland birds to inhabit here, Right to the text box is a leaflet recording all possible wetland birds to be found on site.

SECTION DRAWING A-A' - 1:200 @ A1

NATURALISED WATERWAY: UNDULATING WATER LEVEL TO SUSTAIN INSTREAM LIFE

WATERWAYS WITH PEBBLES AND BOULDERS FOR STABILISATION, AND ALLOWING PLANTS TO GROW BETWEEN GAPS. 10

BREAKING DOWN THE DESIGN PROPOSAL - ANALYTICAL DIAGRAMS Topography/Hydrology

Land Cover/ Habitats Provided

The design proposal transforms the park into a semi-nature showcase, while accomodating the recreational space demand from the surrounding new residential development, which does not provide their residents sufficient nature spaces. A major wood clearing except the two ends of the park are carried out to convert the peripheral blocks into a grassy woodland and a native grassland, which provides habitat for local biodiversity and invites some threatened species in Australia to reside in these habitats. If not, it provides a point to stopover for these species to travel to other more suitable habitats. Besides, ecological benefits, with social activation programs such as local tours organised by volunteers, these habitats become a part of outdoor education without the need to excessive travelling. At the central area and Turner parkland, open lawns are provided to encourage socialising in a outdoor space, where people can picnic, play sports and many more.

Addition of Point of Interest

Existing and New Visual Access

The clearing of woods does not only open up greenspace available for recreational purposes, it also removed the major obstacle that blocks the visual view across Haig Park. It provides a better surveilence and ensure better safety for users on site. Both open lawn and native grassland's plantings are unlikely to grow more than 1m , which provides clear visual access while providing a diversity of habitat for visitors and local biodiversity.

Although trees are planted along the edges of the meadows, they are planted 10m apart which does not block out the view entirely. The elevated broadwalk at Turner Parkland provided immediate access across the conveyance channel rather than needing to walk to the end of the park to cross the facilities.

Existing and New Facilities

F

F

Main part of Haig Park will not undergo any topography changes to minise consturction budget and environmental mpact. due to alteration of the naturalised waterway, the soil shall be engineered with cut and fill, to exacavate extra depth for the waterways. A balance of cut and fill is achieved through applying the excess soil into the playground area, to create small climbing mounds for children to exercise.

Besides the current local points of interest, the addition of habitats adds two major point of interest across Haig Park, which provides a range of activities to be done such as bushwalking in Inner North Canberra. Playgrounds and community gardens are implemented to promote outdoor play experience and practice of gardening, drawing people closer to nature on leisure activities. The lawns can also accomodate outdoor exhibition spaces and functions, possibly be incorporated as a venue for Floriade and Enlighten festival in the future. The naturalised waterways enhances the waterway's aesthetic quality and provide informal play corners on wet seasons, where more water is carried across.

FITNESS AREA

To accomodate the increasing visitors in Haig Park, basic infrastructures are proposed in more areas of the park. Three more toilets are allocated next to other structures, entry points to the park.

Picnic tables and barbecue facilities are added at the open lawn where people would concentrate for picnic and gathering.

Playgrounds of naturalistic themes are proposed to encourage outdoor play and invites family to go on dayout, especially for ones who does not drive. For fitness ethusiasts, a fitness area is offered at the playground area of Turner Parkland.

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