Collie Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia

Location
The Kodak site is located in the City of Moreland, two kilometers north of Coburg [Melway Reference 18 B9].

Scope
Water sensitive urban design landscape concept.

Collie Role
Collie was asked to prepare a water sensitive urban design landscape concept.

Key Challenges
Including water sensitive urban design principles in the design process.

Download
Kodak Site Brochure (PDF)

Kodak Landscape Concept Plan

The project site, on which the Kodak factory was situated for many years, is now undergoing redevelopment. It is approximately 20 hectares in area and is bounded by residential development to the east, north and south with Edgars Creek running along the western boundary. Collie was asked to prepare a water sensitive urban design landscape concept for the site. The landscape concept plan aimed to improve water quality, increase recycled water storage and minimize direct surface water runoff to the creek.

Key features of the landscape concept plan include:

the incorporation of rain gardens, bio swales, permeable paving, bioretention basins and a detention tank;
plant species selected on the basis of their sustainability and ability to withstand minimal watering regimes;
feature canopied spotted gums on the entrance avenue for immediate visual impact to differentiate the entrance avenue from other roads in the development. A centre median strip as part of the avenue containing a bio swale and planted with low growing ground cover to enhance the natural landscape;
individual streets each planted with a consistent species for a visual cohesive presentation;
permeable paving for the lower order streets and laneways;
strategically located bio swales and bioretention basins within the street layout;
planting in streets on the edge of the development to assist in integrating the site into the surrounding area;
a centrally located local park situated halfway between the neighbourhood hub and Edgars Creek, featuring a rain garden;
a combination of trees, shrubs, grasses and groundcover planting on pedestrian and cycle paths along with a raingarden and a bioretention basin;
enhanced accessibility to Edgars Creek for existing and future residents;
provision for a retention tank, a bioretention basin and a bioswale abutting the Edgars Creek reserve to minimize direct surface water run off into the creek;