Case Studies
Greening the Pipeline Pilot Park
Design Feature
Type of project
Landowner strategy
State
Victoria
Location
Urban
Melbourne Water makes a vital contribution to the famous Melbourne lifestyle through its commitment to enhancing life and livability. One of its key projects is Greening the Pipeline, which aims to service the growing population of Melbourne's west by transforming the heritage listed Main Outfall Sewer (MOS) reserve and the Federation Trail bike path into a parkland.
The Pilot Park at Williams Landing was built along 100 metres of the reserve as a demonstration of ways to connect communities, provide opportunities for active recreation, improve amenity, provide shade and cooling, and manage water sensitively. The project was led by Melbourne Water and supported by Wyndham City Council, City West Water and VicRoads. Construction of the park commenced in December 2016 and was completed in April 2017.
The Pilot Park at Williams Landing was built along 100 metres of the reserve as a demonstration of ways to connect communities, provide opportunities for active recreation, improve amenity, provide shade and cooling, and manage water sensitively. The project was led by Melbourne Water and supported by Wyndham City Council, City West Water and VicRoads. Construction of the park commenced in December 2016 and was completed in April 2017.
Creative solutions
The Pilot Park at Williams Landing is located in the city of Wyndham, one of the fastest growing municipalities in Australia. It showcases the full potential of transforming a decommissioned heritage listed Main Outfall Sewer artefact (constructed in the 1890s) into a linear park (approximately 23 kilometres).
In 2014, Melbourne Water received part-funding from the Victorian Government to transform 100 metres of the MOS at Williams Landing. A key requirement of this grant was to incorporate a local stormwater harvesting system within the park. A number of community and stakeholder engagement activities were held over the course of two months in 2016 to inform the design of the pilot park.
Greening the Pipeline
In 2014, Melbourne Water received part-funding from the Victorian Government to transform 100 metres of the MOS at Williams Landing. A key requirement of this grant was to incorporate a local stormwater harvesting system within the park. A number of community and stakeholder engagement activities were held over the course of two months in 2016 to inform the design of the pilot park.
The park includes a stormwater treatment, harvesting and reuse system to ensure the sustainable irrigation of the green space and to minimise stormwater runoff to the downstream waterway.
To satisfy heritage requirements from Heritage Victoria, disturbance to the MOS was minimised and its structure retained beneath the park. Filling of the MOS in-situ was considered to be a form of preservation.
The design of the park consists of the following:
The park has improved the amenity of the area and encouraged greater activation of the MOS reserve as local residents have established a trial community garden next to the park to promote healthy eating and social connectedness. Removing existing cyclone fencing created a unified sense of place between two communities that were previously physically divided.
- A green public open space with trees for added habitat and shading;
- Easy access (walking and riding distance) to open space and exercise equipment within the residential area;
- Concreted area that provides a safe/off-road space for young children to ride their bikes and scooters;
- Integration with the regionally-important Federation Trail bike path and bike stands and drink fountains for cyclists. The trail is used by students of a nearby school and by the community to get to a nearby community center.
The park has improved the amenity of the area and encouraged greater activation of the MOS reserve as local residents have established a trial community garden next to the park to promote healthy eating and social connectedness. Removing existing cyclone fencing created a unified sense of place between two communities that were previously physically divided.
Project team
- Melbourne Water (project owner)
- Victorian State Government
- GHDWoodhead (design)
- CPB (construction)
- Wyndham City Council, City West Water and VicRoads (support)
Project cost
$2.8 million
Health value
- The park offers physical and mental health benefits through the provision of exercise equipment, a safe place for children to play, green space for sports, and a connected space to the existing Federation Trail shared path and other council paths.
- The park provides for urban cooling with the planted trees and irrigated turf, reducing local temperatures in an area that is normally hotter and drier than other parts of Melbourne.
- The inclusion of a community garden creates a built environment that supports healthy food behaviours.
Economic value
- The park offers property uplift of nearby residential areas as the amenity of the area has been improved.
- The park has improved access to facilities on either side of the reserve. For example, there is now a saving of 10 minutes for a resident on the north side of the reserve to walk to the local shopping centre at the south side.
- Increased visitation to the area/region by encouraging more cyclists to use the Federation Trail as the park forms one of many destinations along the trail.
Environmental value
The park offers benefits to the environment through:
- Increased habitat with the addition of 50 trees and 1,200 square metres of landscaping;
- Reduction in stormwater discharge into downstream waterways by capturing, treating and reusing stormwater to irrigate the park itself;
- Use of recycled stormwater for irrigation reducing reliance on potable water;
- Use of solar lights.
Social value
The park offers the following social benefits:
- Increased opportunities for social connection/engagement as it provides a safe and accessible open space for the surrounding community;
- Increased safety as the once isolated and fenced off reserve has now been activated, allowing for more increased visitation and passive surveillance;
- Increased social capital, empowerment and resident capacity by encouraging activities across the reserve, such as a trial community garden;
- Enhanced connection with Melbourne’s history as the park celebrates the heritage history of the MOS with an interpretive sign and clear views of the MOS.
Use value
- The park offers opportunities to engage in healthy behaviours by providing a safe and accessible open space, exercise equipment, and a destination to encourage more users of the Federation Bike trail.
- The project has responded to the top requirements of local residents for:
- Improved active transport infrastructure;
- Exercise equipment;
- More vegetation;
- Better lighting
- Easy to read and simple visual signage about heritage and the integrated stormwater system for the predominantly new migrant community.
- Visitation surveys have been undertaken for the park and have revealed an increase in visits to the area with very high satisfaction ratings.
References
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