The Tallawarra Lands form a 572ha. site located on the western foreshore of Lake Illawarra, south of Wollongong. TRUenergy submitted an application under Part 3A of the EP&A Act for mixed use development of the site.
We were engaged as a member of a multi-disciplinary consulting team to prepare a Landscape and Open Space Master Plan for the site as part of the application. The Master Plan provides an integrated approach to the planning and design of all landscape components, including open space and recreation areas as well as streetscapes and environmental reserves.
Our vision provided by Landscape Master Plan was to create an open space network that is strategically planned to function at both the regional and local scale. At the same time the landscape character of the site was to be preserved and enhanced as a distinguishing feature of the proposed development. The Landscape Master Plan is underpinned by landscape design to create an engaging, safe and enjoyable public domain, incorporating the principles of sustainability through water sensitive urban design and crime prevention through environmental design.
Client: TRUenergy
Location: Yallah NSW Australia
Project Team:
- Landscape Architecture – Corkery Consulting
- Site Master Planning - Warren Lee Urban Design
- Ecology - Ecological Australia
Awards: AILA NSW 2012 Award For Planning
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The project presented an unusual combination of diverse site conditions as well as an owner who was not a developer. TRUenergy acquired the site as part of the Tallawarra Power Station purchase and decided to seek approval for mixed use urban development following completion of a new gas-fired power station in 2010. This provided an opportunity for us to bring landscape architecture to the forefront of a multi-disciplinary site planning and design process that responded to the diverse site conditions that include former ash disposal
areas, grazing and significant areas of remnant ecological communities.
A comprehensive landscape analysis was carried out to provide the basis for the open space and recreation master plan to meet the projected needs of the new community. The Plan was integrated with other specialist studies, including ecological, heritage, water sensitive urban design and engineering to support the application. The ecological values to be conserved and managed throughout the open space network are significant at both
regional and national levels.
The system of open spaces incorporated in the Plan will not only be connected by a network of pedestrian/cycle paths providing safe access for residents and visitors, but will also be connected to the regional network. The concept included an extensive system of walking and cycling tracks that provide access from the lake foreshore to the top of Brown Mountain on the western boundary which offers spectacular views across Lake Illawarra.