Hooton Reserve
The building of Albany City, with a projected residential population of 6000 and the continuing suburban development in the hills above Albany, the problem of urban stormwater management and the creation of a public space for the new citizens of Albany has became a critical issue. Lucus Creek and a number of associated reserves runs along the northern edge of the Albany City catchment. Lucas creek was a disused weedy farm stream, the council reserves adjacent to the stream were a hotchpotch of overgrown and abandoned plots where council roading metal was dumped. BMLA were commissioned by the then North Shore City Council to carry out an environment audit of the Lucas Creek, from the East Coast Bays Road to The Landing. As part of this investigation BMLA were asked to design a new park at the Hooton Reserve.
The design of the new park has to satisfy two objectives. Firstly the new park had to act as a ‘machine’ to clean storm water from Albany city, through a rain garden and wetlands and by daylighting an existing piped network. Secondly the park had to provide for a varied public space.
BMLA’s design parti was to construct three terraces running parallel to Oteha Valley Road and Lucas Creek. A terrace next to the busy Oteha Valley Road was designed to allow cyclists and pedestrian to get away from the traffic and enjoy views down into the new park. The middle terrace was designed for social activities; playgrounds, picnics, and BBQs. The lower terrace was designed to act as a flood plain in winter and a grassed playing field in summer.
Construction of the park began in 2010 with the restoration of the Lucas Creek. As part of the stream restoration 10,000 cubic metres of fill was moved from the stream banks to form the first terrace of the new park, two drainage pipes from Oteha Valley Road were day lighted and the Lucas Creek cycle path built. A new rain garden for the Albany bus way proved the fill for the for the final Oteha Valley Road terrace. This new level has been planted with plane trees to form a new leafy park way. The end result is a new community asset for Albany City taht also claens and absorbs storm water.
.
The design of the new park has to satisfy two objectives. Firstly the new park had to act as a ‘machine’ to clean storm water from Albany city, through a rain garden and wetlands and by daylighting an existing piped network. Secondly the park had to provide for a varied public space.
BMLA’s design parti was to construct three terraces running parallel to Oteha Valley Road and Lucas Creek. A terrace next to the busy Oteha Valley Road was designed to allow cyclists and pedestrian to get away from the traffic and enjoy views down into the new park. The middle terrace was designed for social activities; playgrounds, picnics, and BBQs. The lower terrace was designed to act as a flood plain in winter and a grassed playing field in summer.
Construction of the park began in 2010 with the restoration of the Lucas Creek. As part of the stream restoration 10,000 cubic metres of fill was moved from the stream banks to form the first terrace of the new park, two drainage pipes from Oteha Valley Road were day lighted and the Lucas Creek cycle path built. A new rain garden for the Albany bus way proved the fill for the for the final Oteha Valley Road terrace. This new level has been planted with plane trees to form a new leafy park way. The end result is a new community asset for Albany City taht also claens and absorbs storm water.
.