Introduction
Name of practice: Bulk Water Alliance: ACTEW, GHD, Abi Group and John Holland
GHD web site
The Bulk Water Alliance (BWA) is an alliance between ACTEW, GHD, Abi Group and John Holland. The alliance is responsible for delivering the Enlarged Cotter Dam (ECD) initiative which forms part of ACTEW’s continued response to secure water supplies for the ACT. The Casuarina Sands Recreation Reserve project forms an important part of the project’s initiative to improve recreation access and amenity within the Cotter Precinct.
Socially and culturally, Casuarina Sands Recreation Reserve has a strong connection to the ACT community. It’s lineage is linked to the development of the Cotter and Canberra. Historically a popular destination in the hearts of Canberrans and often referred to as ‘Canberra’s Beach’, its appeal as an attractive recreational spot to the local community was greatly impacted by outdated facilities and the devastation of the 2003 bush fires.
The upgrade to the Casuarina Sands forms an important part of the BWA’s strategy to ensure continued community access to recreation in the area during the ECD construction period, which is scheduled for completion late 2011.
The Brief
The project brief was to encourage people back to Casuarina Sands, provide alternate recreation for the closure of the popular Cotter Avenue destination and leave a valuable new recreation space for the community and land managers. This was to be achieved while preserving the unique cultural, heritage and environmental values of the site.
The Design
The design response developed by the BWA landscape architecture team achieves a balance between the requirements of visitation for recreation and the preservation of the site intrinsic landscape character.
Key elements in achieving this balance include:
- A ‘Tread lightly’ approach to design;
- Enhancing access to the river’s edge to visitors by improving access and providing a boardwalk on the river’s edge;
- Moving from a vehicle dominated space to a people dominated space;
- Better connection and flow between spaces;
- Engaging specialists to ensure the design preserves the social, cultural, heritage and environmental values of the reserve;
- Successfully leading a multi-disciplinary team of specialists;
- Ensuring public interests and needs are understood and met through extensive community consultation; and
- Embracing the BWA’s mission and values in delivery of the project.
introduction / overview / location / presentation / Projects
2010
