AILA projects

Queensland Projects and Sites

Southport Broadwater Parklands

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Landscape Architect: AECOM

Location: Southport, Queensland

The Southport Broadwater Parklands, with its spectacular Nerang River frontage and proximity to the Southport CBD, has long been a popular community gathering place on the Gold Coast. Realising the potential for the parklands, the Gold Coast City Council applied for funding through the Q150 Legacy Infrastructure Program for master planning works and the first stage of construction.

Following the allocation of funding from the Queensland Government, which was matched by Council, AECOM was commissioned to develop the master plan for the parklands, through to the delivery of the first stage of construction.

From the outset and aspirational vision for the parklands was set: to become one of Australia’s great foreshore parks – an iconic gateway for the Gold Coast and a popular destination, where events, history and water combine to create an active green waterfront. Stage One was completed in August 2009 and includes a major event lawns, bathing boxes, barbeque shelters and play equipment, a central community pavilion, extensive walking and cycling network, an extended pier, a constructed wetland and bioretention basins throughout the parklands.

AECOM’s response to the Broadwater’s natural environment reflects a commitment to ecosystem preservation within the parklands that will propel the Gold Coast into the next evolution of sustainable design.

The projects development was initiated in early 2007 with the EDAW legacy Intern Program, an internally funded, annual, global initiative which brought together top students from around the world to focus on a particular project site. Surfers Paradise was selected as the site for 2007, and the program was run by directors from AECOM’sBrisbane office in conjunction with GCCC.

During this was a 2 week program where students, stakeholders and local staff immersed themselves in the local culture and research before going on to explore how this burgeoning coastal city and its response to climate change and global sea level rises could be reinterpreted as a vision and LAP for the next 100 years.

Following receipt of funding, AECOM proposed a leadership structure with key individuals focused on design, project management and engineering coordination and ESD, supported by a peer review group and input from the community.

Master planning of the site was supported by a peer review group who, from inception, looked well beyond the boundaries of the site, meeting regularly to ensure development of the master plan was based on a fully informed and creative approach.

The group encompassed world class designers and thought leaders assembled from a range of AECOM studios, as well as industry-leading architects from the private and public sectors, academics and key Gold Coast City Council representatives. The objective of the group was to gain constructive feedback and focus key design initiatives to ensure a world class outcome for the parklands, with focused sustainable design outcomes supported by the design industry.

Extensive community and stakeholder consultations were required to understand the uses and objectives for the parklands. Community and stakeholder consultations revealed a strong support for investment in the parklands.

From the earliest phases of the project’s inception, a strong emphasis was placed on delivering integrated environmentally sustainable design (ESD) solutions and vibrant community spaces and facilities.

Despite being disconnected from the Southport CBD by the Gold Coast highway, the site has always been a popular place for locals and catered for a collection of activities along the edge of the Broadwater. The site was not only used for family weekend recreations, but also lunch breaks for CBD workers and the site of numerous community clubs and gatherings.

While providing for an important collection of activities, the site layout was confusing and its priorities needed to be re-evaluated. This collection of activities needed to be organised into a framework that responds to the needs of the community, as well as the functional aspects of the many large scale events that are held along the Broadwater such as GC Marathon and International Triathlon.

Three key Master Planning Principles were established:

Reconnect Southport to the Broadwater

Create great People Places

Create a world class coastal landscape

After pulling the park and its uses apart AECOM set about knitting it back into the surrounding community, natural and urban environments through the development of a series of overlays

A Mood Driven Park – create a sequence of existing and new active and passive spaces to reveal a diverse range of experiences as one travels through the parkland.

Civic and Ecological Overlay – The pairing of a clear civic program with the parks ever-present riparian condition defines a strong sense of the parks role as a place for major community gatherings. This is achieved through the introduction of an urban grid scale to define event spaces interwoven with a series of braided pathways offering an array of transitional choices and experiences intertwined with the sites ESD initiatives.

Maximised Connectivity – connectivity to the CBD is critical and is achieved boldly to create a strong, at grade linear axis linking the city to the water.

The site was previously home to a large asphalt carpark and linked to the CBD via a narrow and uninviting underpass.

Connections between the Southport CBD and this regional parkland are critical and are now boldly achieved physically and emotionally through the creation of a strong, at-grade, linear axis linking the city to the water.

The extended pier plays a role in reconnecting the CBD to the water’s edge and beyond, while providing commanding views across the Broadwater to Surfers Paradise. The new pier’s robust design provides opportunities for gathering and community events, such as markets over the water, and also opens up a new realm of opportunities for fishing.

The design draws on natural and urban cues, creating a place that is both legible and functional, while layered in sculptural and poetic forms. Bold geometric forms frame up major gathering spaces and circulation routes, while dunal landforms and planting enclose more intimate spaces.

A series of braided pathways are located over, through and around the buildings, interweaving with the open and linking to the CBD, new bicycle paths and Broadwater boardwalk.

Along these paths, opportunities are created for resting and viewing the surrounding Broadwater and Surfers Paradise skyline

Vantage points allow varying experiences of the environment, while the more intimate details of the park chart its history and natural processes. The emotive experience of the beach is referenced in fun elements, such as the striped beach towel paving pattern surrounding the main events lawn and the fun, colourful beach-style furniture located across the parkland.

The overarching principles identified during the planning and pre-design stages for the Southport Broadwater Parklands master plan aimed to:

Create a world class, forward thinking design to reconnect Southport to the Broadwater;

Generate a strong sense of community;

Celebrate the history of Southport and Queensland’s 150-year legacy;

Create a more natural landscape for families and recreation;

Incorporate sustainable design, ensure energy efficiency and integrate water cycle management; and

Provide high quality spaces to attract world class events.

The approach to the master planning and detailed design demonstrates a strong understanding of the site and its natural and urban context; overlaying the two in a language that characterises the city’s interface with its coastal edge.

Sensitivity to social, cultural, historical, physical and natural context

A key component to the success of the parklands has been the re-introduction of structured community activity spaces. Historically the site had been home to numerous a number or piers, memorials, a theatre and beach bathing boxes.

A series of new pavilions and spaces provide a framework to encourage new uses, reintroduce long forgotten historical functions and enhance existing events.

The needs of Southport’s 2 world class international sporting events (the Gold Coast marathon and triathlon) played a major role in the shaping of this master plan.

The Great Lawn was conceived as the Gold Coast’s civic square and is framed by the Broadwater and the Southport CBD. The Great Lawn has been aligned to reference the dominant street grid network that existed in the original Southport Township.

These large, robust events spaces are anchored and activated by a suite of architectural pavilions, each with a distinct purpose and contained by bold paved borders, providing a defined edge between structured and informal activities.

In addition to these 2 large pre-existing events, planning of the park sought to activate the park and its engagement with the community for the remainder of the year through the development of a series of facilities and smaller scale event spaces and opportunities such as;

The Spine – A strong, direct, shaded connection from CBD to the water

Pier pavilion Building – A strong architectural statement housing community and parks operations hub including, Maintenance Depot, Visitor centre, Cycle Centre with bike store and showers, public amenities and meeting rooms with potential to ‘plug in’ future cafes.

Major and Minor Events Square – medium to large scale events, markets, informal and organized ball games)

Pandanus Point – A quiet secluded place for weddings, contemplation space and photo opportunity)

Picnic and BBQ Area – A place for family gatherings

Previously much loved community facilities have also being reinterpreted within the parklands, recreating opportunities for current and future generations to connect with the site. In particular, contemporary interpretations of two historical structures breathe new life into the parklands, and reconnect with fond memories of the past:

The Pier – Provides opportunities for fishing, boating and connection with the Broadwater culminating in a pavilion with unsurpassed views of the Broadwater and Surfers Paradise skyline.

The Folly – An outdoor theatre capable of accommodating live music, plays and movies.

However, the key underlying initiative that binds together these social, cultural, historical and physical aspects of the site is clearly the projects bold and visionary response to the natural environment and the preservation of the Broadwater. By layering green technologies such as water cleaning and harvesting, solar energy production and use of non-potable water sources with preservation of the dune front, regeneration of existing plant communities, AECOM has created a truly integrated open space that will be a legacy for generations to come and set a new benchmark for the design of public open spaces.

While the result is contemporary, world class parkland, there was a strong desire to express the local history of the site and have fun and reflect the distinct ‘Gold Coast Lifestyle’ and culture.

The quality and detailing of the built work has been carefully considered and meticulously developed to ensure the cultural, historical and environmental layers of the design are expressed across all scales. Some of these examples of implemented work include;

Events Lawn Paving – beach towel inspired patterning

Signage – bold and contemporary suite that express the sites many historic layers, highlighting its evolution

Furniture – AECOM custom designed palette of urban furniture, constructed largely of recycle plastic reference iconic Australian beachfront furniture of past decades and introduce embedded energy materials into the realm of contemporary design and to the forefront of public perception.

Bathing Boxes – Modern interpretation of historical structures

Art – high tech ‘Nervous System’ installation by artist John Tonkin. Responds to changing conditions within the parkland, responding to movement and noise through lights and R2D2 like robotic sounds.

ESD and WSUD features have been implemented as bold gestures integrated into the urban design of the parkland to grab the attention of park users and bring the notion of environmental responsibility and preservation to the forefront of people’s consciousness.

Roof Garden – Planted Dunal mounding on the roof top of the pavilion building leads up to elevated viewing point. This initiative provides insulation to the building while challenging the traditional notion of a roof and showing what can be achieved.

Power Generation – 255 Photovoltaic panels are integrated into shade shelters to provide a solar spine linking the city to the water. This consolidated display of panels offsets power requirements for Stage 1 park lighting in an integrated, architecturally striking manner.

Wetland – A 5HA catchment of previously untreated CBD stormwater runoff is captured and cleansed in a sculptural, terraced urban wetland before discharging to the Broadwater. This feature not only provides environmental benefits, but provides a quiet, contemplative ‘breathing space’ between the two large scale event lawns on either side.

The events requirements for the site also required an innovative design response that relied on large scale, robust spaces that allowed events to ‘bump in’ and ‘plug-in’ with ease. To ensure precise integration the design team undertook finish route planning, planned for transition areas and spectator seating and implemented integrated access to points for temporary power, water and sewer to take these event to the next level of quality of facilities.

Landscape Principles

Value Our Landscape

Existing landscape values were used as the fundamental starting point for design, with rigorous site analysis underpinning informed decision-making. From project inception an ESD analysis was implemented in order to ensure environmentally sustainable design principles remained one of the key driving factors behind the parkland’s design and development. Analysis of the potential for landscape components to contribute to sustainable outcomes includes assessment of a wide range of factors, including water, energy, waste, materials, construction activities, building design, vegetation, public art and implications of climate change.

Protect – Enhance – Regenerate

Primary design and management strategies include preservation, regeneration and rehabilitation of the parkland’s natural ecology. Reclaimed land to the south of the site has been offset by the creation of a mangrove habitat area to the north to slow and cleanse existing stormwater outfalls into the Broadwater, while providing habitat for increased biodiversity, and opportunities for interaction with the natural environment. Existing seagrass habitat was also translocated as part of the reclamation process to prevent the loss of this important habitat.

Integrated WSUD measures treat stormwater from the site and upstream catchments and re-establish the natural water cycle. Bold, clear informative signage accompanies these important environmental initiative to provide park users with a clear understanding of the design intent and importance of these features.

The sites existing eroded dunes have also been nourished, taking advantage of the by-product of necessary dredging of the seaway, re-establishing a natural profile that has been replanted with endemic dune species.

Design with Respect

Design response to the existing natural environment demonstrates commitment to ecosystem preservation via a systematic framework of sustainable design drivers, including energy-efficiency, integrated water cycle management, alternative transport and enhancing social and intergenerational equity.

Existing vegetation, historic built elements and well used play areas on the site has been retained or transplanted and enhanced as part of the design process, respecting the communities attachment to and value of the existing features of this much loved parkland.

Design for the Future

Renewable energy sources ’fuel’ the parkland and such infrastructure has the potential to become cash-flow positive when ‘feed-in’ tariffs are introduced. (Future government agencies could be relying on energy generation to derive income to maintain their open-space assets). Services such as the parks cycle centre promote alternative modes of sustainable transport, such as bicycles.

Embrace Responsive Design

Peer review, carried out throughout the master plan and design development phases, has been an integral part of the design from project inception. Innovative strategies such as the incorporation of energy generation into the structural design of the park raise community awareness of the potential of renewable energy to contribute to more sustainable built environment outcomes.

Sustainable policies and best practice

Renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic panels to power park lighting;

WSUD measures will treat stormwater and upstream catchments, re-use water for non-potable purposes and re-establish the natural water cycle;

Capture of tank water and re-use for toilet flushing

Services will cater for alternative transport modes, such as bicycles;

Urban furniture constructed largely of recycled plastic will thrust low embedded energy materials into the realm of contemporary design and to the forefront of public perception;

Small footpaths and paved areas will be designed such that runoff is directed onto adjacent pervious landscaped areas, providing for passive irrigation for the landscaped areas; and

Translocation of seagrass areas that would have been disturbed by dredging works

Transplanting of 20 mature trees within the park

Establishment of a tidal mangrove wetland, cleansing road stormwater while creating a fish hatchery habitat

and outdoor educational facility that local school groups helped to establish and will continue to monitor

Relocation, refurbishment and reinstallation of existing play equipment

Installation of irrigation pipework capable of being connected to recycled water once local infrastructure is extended across the Nerang River to Southport.

Drip irrigation to all gardens

Childrens waterplay area currently under construction will use water drawn from the Broadwater instead of potable water.

Significant outcomes for the environment

The natural beauty of the Broadwater’s natural environment has always been the key attraction for visitors to Southport. The natural beauty encompasses water (marine and freshwater), beach (coastal environment), climate (temperature) and ecology (terrestrial and aquatic).The parkland design responds to these characteristics by ensuring the preservation of natural assets is the fundamental starting point for the design.

As described in the previous criteria of this awards submission, by looking outside of the site’s boundaries and beyond the norm of what was ‘required’ by legislation, the design team have implemented an open space solution that acts as a ‘filter’ between the adjacent Southport CBD and Broadwater.

The result is an improvement in discharged water quality, reduction of potable water and power consumption, regeneration of degraded habitat and creation of new habitat types. The projects commitment to ESD and WSUD outcomes has not only created a parkland that looks and feels vibrant, but also has a conscience.

Expands the scope of the profession in formative, forward-looking and thought-provoking ways

The project demonstrates simple, robust and socially responsive design. Collaboration with Council on all aspects of the project and early establishment of the final outcomes was critical in delivering a facility that is highly valued and patronised by the community.

The outcomes of this project prove that landscape architects can play a driving role in pushing ESD initiatives Our skills of integration and ‘thinking outside the box’ have managed to sell forward-thinking initiatives to our client that are rewarding to all and provide a legacy for the project.

Southport Broadwater Parklands is a comprehensive example of a design concept which has been thoroughly researched and tailored to the local market throughout all aspects of the design and implementation. The result, an immensely popular and operationally successful project has been completed with the community, sustainability and water sensitive urban design considered throughout the delivery.

The project team has shown exemplary technical skill in ensuring the initial vision has come to fruition through clever, value for money detailing.

The role and influence of landscape architecture

The development has been delivered by a multi-disciplinary team led by AECOM.

Our landscape architects and urban designers have however been the driving force behind the projects key initiatives and outcomes. The design team, working closely with the project architect and engineers, led the master planning process, consultation, documentation and implementation onsite; a clear demonstration of the ingenuity and capability of the profession from concept through to construction, resulting in a fully integrated solution that is in tune with nature and the community.

introduction / overview / images  /  location  / Qld-Projects

2010