Wadanggari Park
Category:
GREEN NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE AND ON GRADE PROJECTS
Project general details
Nominator
Investor
Supplier
Architect
Arcadia
Lane Cove Council
Arcadia
Landscape Solutions
Location (City)
GPS
Country
Region
Year of nomination
St Leonards
Australia
data
Oceania
2024
Project specifications
With a narrative based on the resilience of the Wadanggari (banksia), Wadangarri Park is the only park in Australia built over a railway line. Using innovative thinking about space to deliver green open space in a dense urban environment, the park extends the green corridors of bushland which connect the CBD of St Leonards with Sydney Harbour. This much-needed public open space is a resilient and responsive landscape that reflects and enhances the local character and identity of St Leonards, while meeting the demands of urban growth, supporting active, vibrant and growing residential and commercial communities.
Object type
Roof area (m2)
Year of completion
Project in operation?
park
4750
2023
YES
Project details
Innovation
Wadanggari Park demonstrates how innovative thinking about existing assets, such as airspace over the railway line, has delivered open space to revitalise a local economy and build a community. Completed over live rail, adjacent to the Pacific Highway and bus-rail interchange and in proximity to commercial and residential properties, this highly complex project has given the St Leonards community, local businesses, commuters and visitors a stunning open space. providing critical open space amenity for the resident and worker community, with an open urban park that includes play zones, passive recreation, alfresco dining, retail activation and an events hub. The precinct identity design provides a strong connection to local Indigenous people and culture. Developed with local Elders and artist, the Wadanggari narrative is communicated through the form of the sculptural play space, paving inlays and patterning, interpretive shade structures, and art.
Maintenance
Maintenance With ongoing maintenance the responsibility of Lane Cove Council, decisions were made in the design phase to minimise impact to Wadanggari Park. The use of Indigenous, endemic species has benefits in the hardiness and water requirements for the plants. The materials used were selected to withstand the foot traffic for the high numbers of people who use the space for connections to public transport, retail, commercial and amenity. The combination of the Wadanggari precinct and the subterranean link, both accessible by lifts and stairs, allows residents and commercial workers to walk onto the park and under the road, taking thousands of pedestrian crossings off the highway, with associated safety and maintenance benefits. The play structures were also developed with maintenance and repairs in mind, considering the limited future access. Aluminium cladding, a more corrosive resistant material was used where applicable.
Project ecology
Wadanggari Park was created from thin air, so apart from minimal form work, there was no wastage from onsite construction. During the building of the park, there was no impact to the immediate existing landscape or natural systems as the amenity was created on a suspended deck over an existing railway line. The project has created a new green space, with habitat for flora and fauna over what was previously airspace over a railway line.
Biophilic design
Residential density changes made in line with significant infrastructure projects in the area, have allowed St Leonards to reinvent itself as a desirable residential and recreation destination vastly different to the harsh urban CBD character it was known as. As growing numbers of people enter a suburb with restricted open space, this park offers a unique green space for the community to gather. With a narrative based on the lifecycle of the Banksia, Wadanggari Park is designed for people of all ages and abilities, encouraging physical connections, activity, and play, with the design allowing for expeditions in the lush gardens, playground adventures and easily accessible through-site routes to train, bus and future Metro station. Elevated from the Pacific Highway frontage, the passive garden nook allows for biophilic connection with a mix of contemporary urban and sculptural seating typologies, surrounded by raised garden beds full of Indigenous planting and mounds of lawn.
Users
The space was programmed in consultation with the community to ensure that the diverse community would have a space that allowed them to mix and mingle in informal and unplanned ways, as well as enjoy programmed community events. With several new high-density developments already delivered, the number of children under fifteen in St Leonards has nearly doubled between 2011 and 2021, with that number set to grow even more as the St Leonards South precinct is constructed with 2,000 new dwellings approved for development. Providing open space and play amenity to address the needs of the new families and workers in the area was part of a long-term strategy from Lane Cove Council, which included a detailed analysis of the site’s potential for programming and circulation.
Users
public
Source of funding description
The park was built with $39 million from Lane Cove Council and $5 million from the NSW Government Public Spaces Legacy program and provides quality recreation space close to rail, bus, and new metro transport links, St Leonards Library and a 300-space Council-owned car park.
Source of funding
government
Please describe aspects of the project contributing to sustainable urban development?
To prepare for significant changes in St Leonards, including the expected Metro station, and residential rezoning planning commenced inn 2006. Policy directions highlighted that St Leonards needed to increase access to high quality open space, public areas and improved connectivity in line with the additional employment and homes coming to the suburb. Designed for 18-hour activation, Wadanggari Park precinct provides significant open space amenity with vibrant local retail, F&B, passive recreation space, an events hub space, play area, alfresco dining space and accessible connections to the St Leonards residents, workers and visitors. Laneways and pedestrian alleys add an alternative route for commuters to move between the train station, commercial tenancies and the future Crows Nest Metro station, assisting in activation of local retail and public spaces. The subterranean link under the highway improves connections between the new bus interchange and the existing train station for c
How the project contributes to climate adaptation?
Wadanggari Park alleviates the urban heat island effect in a densely populated area with more than 50 trees, along with Indigenous shrubs and ferns, providing increased greenery and shade. This required collaboration and problem solving as Wadangarri Park is built on a suspended slab over the busy, heavy rail North Shore railway line, next to the six lane Pacific Highway and with narrow side street access. Arcadia and Arenco collaborated to establish the load bearing zones for the planning of the different elements of the Park, including trees and playground structures. Wadanggari Park has contributed to the increase the use of public transport with its easily accessible through site connections and access to train, bus and the soon to open Metro station.
How is the project supporting local biodiversity and urban ecosystems?
Arcadia’s concept for the parkland zone extends the green corridors of bushland connecting the CBD of St Leonards to Sydney Harbour, widening the ecological and habitat corridors at a city scale, recognising remnant space that still exist through the urban fabric. The bushland extension into the urban environment provides opportunity for community to connect with the local context and its natural systems. Wadanggari Park enhances the sense of scenic heritage through the distinctive characteristics found in bush habitat of colour, smell and texture. The site will not only enhance the character and culture of the area, but also serve as a site of shelter and food for local fauna.
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