Western Australia Projects and Sites
Point Fraser Development - Stages 1+2
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Landscape Architect: Syrinx Environmental PL (for the City of Perth)
Location: Point Fraser Reserve: Riverside Drive, East Perth, Western Australia. The site is situated on reclaimed tidal river flat within the Swan Coastal Plain
Project dates
Stage 1: 2003 - 2004
Stage 2: 2005 - 2007
Listed as A Case Study for the AILA's 2008 National Climate Change Project
Overview:
Point Fraser is a 3.7 hectare site which incorporates ecological values, active and passive recreation, carparks and a recreational hire facility. It is part of the City of Perth’s strategy for the Eastern Gateway project, and is earmarked as an iconic project utilising best practice environmental and urban design principles. The site has become an important link; connecting the city to the river edge, providing dynamic spatial experiences (public, private, active and passive), offering opportunities for human interaction with the natural environment.
From a river perspective, the project is possibly the most significant undertaken in the Perth CBD in the past fifty years, supporting a more sustainable environment for Perth. It has effectively reversed the previous urban expansion emphasis of untreated discharge of urban runoff into the Swan River and of infilling and hard walling the river and foreshore; to one focused on reinstating some of the original ecological features to revitalise, restore and treat runoff before discharge into the river.
Numerous environmental objectives had to be achieved, as required by the City of Perth. This primarily included on-site stormwater treatment prior to discharge into the River for the immediate and future protection of the Swan River.
The response to this objective was the design and construction of a stormwater demonstration wetland comprising the majority of Point Fraser Stage 1 works, which consists of a perched fresh water body merging into a saline wetland at the shoreline. An area of approximately 9,000m² with three different zones facilitates the bio-treatment of urban stormwater.
These zones consist of:
- a Permanent Pond with bubble-up pit and dense plantings to reduce water velocity and encourage sedimentation before entering the Ephemeral Zone;
- an Ephemeral Zone having dense and diverse endemic wetland vegetation to promote pollutant removal; and
- a Tidal Zone which enhances pollutant removal and aeration of the out flowing water before it discharges into the Swan River.
Point Fraser Development Stage 2 builds upon the outcomes of Stage 1 and utilises the presence of the wetland to provide a protective habitat as well as recreational, educational and interpretive opportunities to strengthen the original function of the surrounding river environment and the local identity. Also considering the site’s tourism potential, the provision of public access was of paramount importance and Point Fraser aimed to seize this opportunity to offer dynamic platforms for visitors to experience and interact with the natural environment and connect them to the Swan River foreshore environment.
Planning + Pre-Design:
The design process for Point Fraser focused not only on a sound understanding of local and regional environments, but also on a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the river and the land, as well as the land-use and its end-use. Key to this understanding is the ability for the project team to be multidisciplinary yet united. Without this, innovation will always be dictated by a dominant discipline. The research based processes led to solutions that fluidly took shape across these disciplines, achieving outcomes that are environmentally sustainable, economically feasible and socially responsible to the community it represents.
Prior to redevelopment, the Point Fraser site was considered to have very low habitat value. Previous river reclamation projects levelled the site, replacing native habitat with lawn and scattered non-indigenous tree species. The redevelopment of the park included riparian restoration and the reestablishment of resilient and diverse native habitats. Areas receiving high wave impacts were treated by re-grading the riverbank to a more stable grade, applying bioengineering techniques, and planting indigenous riparian vegetation.
Areas with lower wave impacts and existing riparian vegetation were stabilsed with jute matting and infill planting. Having reinstated some of the original ecological features such as native vegetation, fauna habitat, wetlands, mudflats and beaches, the Swan River intertidal zone at Point Fraser now resembles a more natural environment, offering aquatic and terrestrial habitat as well as riverbank stability that provides a safer and more aesthetically pleasing landscape for the public.
A suite of detailed site investigations and assessments were carried out prior to any earthworks, encompassing predominately ecology, geology, hydrology, pedology and socio-cultural investigations. The results of these assessments informed many of the design decisions made towards restoring the river foreshore environment at Point Fraser. Significant Potential Acid Sulphate Soils (PASS) and Actual Sulphate Soils (ASS) testing and investigation was carried out and in turn, best practice techniques for the treatment and removal of Acid Sulphate Soils were adopted. Soil was protected from disturbance to the greatest extent possible though the construction of temporary limestone storage pads and dewatering ponds, and using low impact construction methods such as micro-tunnelling and surcharging to sink PASS below the water table.
The Point Fraser Demonstration Wetland is the first project of its kind in not only Western Australia but also nationally to achieve the successful removal of Acid Sulphate Soils without the release of heavy metals and other contaminants into the soil or the surrounding water supply.
Given the importance of its location along the Swan River foreshore, an imperative was to ensure a design response that was subtle whilst yielding maximum experiential engagement with the site. Previous uses were restricted as access into site were undefined, however the site still held high potentials for tourism, passive recreation and interpretation due to its location, and its historical, cultural and environmental significance. A comprehensive masterplanning strategy was invoked in parallel with site investigations and assessments to commence the project.
This strategy developed out of analysis of site use and its user groups in the precinct, proximity to public amenities, growth areas and public transport, to determine how these elements might develop in the long-term future of the area. The resulting Masterplan is also strongly aligned with the principles and requirements set forth in the Indicative Development Plan and Policy, drawing upon its guidelines in completing all works.
It is a design that aims to allow Point Fraser to establish its own place over time through use, recognition and appreciation, employing narratives in urban, architectural and landscape realm.
Design + Management:
At Point Fraser, the idea of folded space was used as a tool to re-examine the role of an urban edge condition, in a proposal imbued with public awareness, ecology and an architectural and urban concern for environmental balance, for its conservation and its inspiration. At a conceptual level, the fold was the primary driver to reveal stories and environments now lost.
At a functional level, the folds allow opportunities and diversified usage of the site to happen. Finally at an experiential level, the spatial environment of nodes, edges, pathways and landforms were designed with the primary concern of supporting, encouraging and consolidating social interaction.
A significant challenge of this project was to make people aware of the place and its identity without detracting from existing functions, circulation and activities. The original car park at Point Fraser was completely redesigned to provide a more economical, environmentally sensitive and flexible solution, fulfilling the desire of a city keen to reduce car transport into its centre.
The entire landscape was designed to incorporate subtle undulations to prompt new viable sites for commercial, cultural and educational use. Raised and tilted planes were designed to address areas of the site with poor drainage, potential contamination, and ASS, or where the water table was close to the surface. Another prominent feature throughout the site is the formation of semi-vegetated mounds which were derived from the reuse of existing fill on site. These mounds are retained by gabion walls, which also act as filters for localised stormwater runoff. In constructing the gabion walls the rocks had to be placed one by one, delicately by hand. This is testament to the nature of the site’s sensitivity.
Endemic species were used as part of an intelligent planting design throughout Point Fraser to achieve minimal water and maintenance requirements. Native marine couch, which has become extremely restricted along the Swan River, has been reestablished for use along the immediate foreshore. This is the first known commercial use of this species in Western Australia.
Paving and timber boardwalk geometries work alongside interpretation signage and accompanying brochures to lead the visitor on an exploratory route around the development. With the Interpretation Booth as the trailhead, three interpretation trail types (Environmental; Historical; Indigenous) facilitate a more intimate understanding of the site in relation to its context and function as an educational tool for the wide spectrum of end users.
The Interpretation Booth also provides visitors with additional information about the precinct and the greater foreshore environment and will also facilitate the purchase of tickets for tourist ferries destined for the proposed jetty.
Construction activities at Point Fraser were closely controlled by a series of site specific management plans. Monthly maintenance reports were submitted to the client and project team, outlining the project status and site condition, and in informing the client of all maintenance undertaken or outstanding issues. Construction management on site presented many challenges. Being in a high-energy riverine environment, the site itself is composed of ancient river sediments underlain by deep paleo-channels. Hence, the site did not only pose a high potential to contain ASS, it was also geotechnically unstable and unpredictable.
These constraints were managed through the implementation of comprehensive Site Management and Risk Management Plans and a series of environmental and geotechnical investigations. Detailed site investigations were able to characterise the site to a degree that enabled an appropriate level of management. This allowed the project team to determine the required level of condition monitoring during the construction.
The project was successfully completed within the agreed time frame set out by the City of Perth. Additional works such as the removal of ASS and the extension of the dual use path along Riverside Drive were completed within the agreed practical completion date.
The Point Fraser Development is now recognised as forming part of the Eastern Gateway to the City of Perth for interstate and international visitors, and the creation of the wetland has resulted in a far more aesthetically appealing site, which is to the client’s expectations.
Monitoring + Evaluation
Committed to long-term maintenance and stewardship, monitoring occurs fourfold: wetland and water quality; sediment and vegetation; habitat performance and social. This ensures the consistent performance of all aspects of design and implementation at Point Fraser. Routine maintenance activities are undertaken as specified, and a series of handbooks have been written for the City of Perth to encourage procedures for maintaining the wetland, softworks, hardworks, and interpretation signage are kept to the intended standard.
Site specific training programs were instigated to ensure the City is completely independent in carrying out all future monitoring and maintenance requirements. For example, a weed control program was undertaken at all stages of construction and has continued as part of the maintenance program for the protection of the newly introduced native species and the establishment of a healthy ecosystem. Extensive community consultation and social monitoring also reinforced the firm belief that the local community is willing to take ownership and take an active role in the long-term protection of the environment.
Wetland and water quality monitoring involves the collecting and comparing of data over time to determine the wetlands’ efficiency in removing nutrients and other pollutants. Results from monitoring undertaken since 2004 show progressive improvement in the wetland’s water quality. No events of elevated heavy metals have been recorded, total nitrogen levels are consistently below the trigger levels for the Swan River, while total phosphorus results leaving the wetland are below target levels. All of this suggests the wetland is functioning to performance targets.
Sediment and vegetation monitoring occurred in the first year of the wetland's operation to provide baseline information on nutrient and pollutant uptake, which has enabled detailed analyses of wetland performance in later years. Monitoring to date shows that vegetation is playing an increasingly important role in the uptake of nutrients and contaminants from the stormwater. Sediment contaminant levels on the other hand have decreased over time, suggesting that the wetland is reaching maturity.
Measurements of habitat condition as part of the habitat performance monitoring for flora and fauna are based on the assessment of vegetation and the presence and density of various fauna groups. Habitat quality was measured by both the diversity and resilience of habitat types. For flora, prolific flowering and seeding of the plants, indicates good health and suggests that natural recruitment may be high in future years. Invertebrate groups considered sensitive to disturbance were identified during monitoring, and their presence indicates a healthy environment with good habitat development. Species of birds recorded during monitoring were all common species in Perth and it is hoped that future monitoring will reveal an increase in the number and variety of bird species utilising the site for feeding and loafing as the vegetation matures.
Social monitoring was also carried out through visitor observations and questionnaires designed to gain an understanding of the value of the site as appreciated by the community. During the first year of social monitoring which involved visitor observation and questionnaires, the results were overall very positive. Comments yielded include the appreciation for the site’s restoration, water quality benefits, and the interpretive signage not only for their information but also how they contribute to the general aesthetics of Point Fraser.
The principles of the Point Fraser development as a whole have since been incorporated into the Foreshore Masterplan for the remainder of the Eastern Gateway project, currently being undertaken by the East Perth Redevelopment Authority [EPRA].
The success of passive treatment has resulted in lower construction costs, low energy output, and low long-term maintenance costs. Since the completion of the project, numerous other local government authorities on a state and national level have visited the site as an example of best practice management.
The design approach and rehabilitation techniques applied to the Point Fraser Development site are of direct relevance and application to sites not only to urban sites along the Swan River but to urban river sites throughout Australia as well as to rural environments.
Budget:
$9 million: total site costs
Lessons Learned:
- Effective management of Acid Sulphate Soils, especially in the sensitive environment as the Swan River foreshore.
- Reintroduction of endemic grass species - Marine Couch proved a significant environmental and aesthetic outcome.
- The need to bring various fabricators up to speed with the technology at hand was imperative to the end result.
- The knowledge base increased in terms of the integration of an accessible, functioning constructed wetland with a dynamic estuary environment.
- For Projects located on sensitive sites, if there is an opportunity to engage a two year maintenance period, this proves highly beneficial in order to ensure the best possible survival of native species and overall establishment of the restoration area.
- Maintaining design integrity proved highly beneficial
Project Team (From Syrinx):
Principal Scientist: Dr. Kathy Meney
Principal Designer: Deborah Kuh
Designers: Vincent Chan Kun Wa, Patrick Ford, Kalinga Greenham, Simon Hadley, Loren Holmes, Abigail Lim, Sheila Nolan , Kerry O’Flaherty, Lin Tan, Jody Wong
Design Assistants: Davina Abeyasinghe, Sara Adhitya, Saba Komarzynski, Craig McCormack, Jeremy Su
Science + Restoration: Peter Adkins, Steve Ashworth, Alison Bigg, Robert Braaten, Richelle Bunbury, Jeremy Brown, Matt Claughton, Duane Ginger, Kathryn Hardcastle, Mat Langworthy, Hermes Medina, Narelle Mewburn, Ben Pauley, Dr. Ljiljana Pantelic, Scott Poole, Jacqui Purvis, Toby Rees, Sandra Santich, Thomas Schwarten, John Stamatiou, Radmila Tomanovic, William White, Benjamin Zelazny
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