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Frankston City Council invited tenders for the design, construction and installation of artwork for the Davey Street Bridge which crosses Kananook Creek connecting the Frankston commercial precinct with the foreshore.

In considering a tender response, the Collie urban design team took up the challenge with relish and developed a design response to this brief that proposed to remodel the bridge as a piece of art incorporating elements of the boating environment and boating activities.  Recognising that boating and fishing has always played a large role in Frankston’s sense of community and that these activities have centred on Kananook Creek, our design used evocative boating elements including white posts representing boat masts, sail cloths representing boat sails and vegetated trellises representing boat rigging.

Additionally, to echo the more substantial ocean going ships that head past Frankston on their way to and from the Melbourne Docks, we proposed that the bridge be clad on both sides in corten steel representing a ship ‘hull’ as viewed from the land adjacent to the bridge.  We intended that wave graphics cut into the corten steel along each side of the bridge be illuminated to bring the waves to life at night.  Planter boxes were positioned strategically along the inside of the corten steel ‘hull’ on the pedestrian side of the bridge to represent lifeboats and comprise a vegetative link between the landscapes on each side of the bridge.  Finally, to encourage pedestrians to stay a while and enjoy the views from the bridge, we suggested that seating be interspersed between the planters.

Davey Street brochure [PDF]

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The Davis family arrived in Melbourne from England in 1853 and moved to Wyndham in 1854.  The family bluestone homestead was completed in 1858.  Archeologists have discovered that the ruins, now a centerpiece in the new Davis Park, include bluestone walls, bluestone and brick wells, a brick tank stand, parts of a chimney and hearth and brick and bluestone paving.  The ruins reflect the European settlement and early agricultural use of the land.  Collie coordinated the assessment of each heritage element within the Park and proposed work to be completed to excavate, stabilize, reconstruct and rebuild each heritage element.  Collie worked closely with Diadem to create the heritage signage for the heritage area.

Davis Park brochure [PDF]

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The Masterplan provided for a bold introduction to the precinct with large signage on a hedge backdrop designed to stretch along the principal entrance to the site.  The entry point off Parks Edge Boulevard connects the majority of lots to the proposed defining tree lined avenue with bicycle and pedestrian pathways. This entry spine was designed to reinforce the link with the adjacent Casey Fields.  The Parks Edge plan used simple tree lined streetscapes, with single and double sequenced street tree arrangements and single median strip planting.  The design focused on an interplay between native indigenous tree species, connected public spaces and the arrangement of form, visual signage, colour and texture. 

The two parks were designed to be relatively maintenance free with constructed elements utilizing steel, timber and concrete.  They were to cater for young children and family activities and feature:

• coloured concrete pathways;
• contemporary pavilions and an arbour;
• barbecue facilities, seating and shelter;
• open grassed areas;
• remnant eucalypt trees;
• canopy trees;
• meandering pathways;
• planted beds;
• easy access by street and pathway networks.

Parks Edge brochure [PDF]

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The Wakool Shire which is characterized by flat plains and limited rainfall, has a population of approximately 4360 and encompasses the regional townships of Murray Downs, Tooleybuc, Barham, Moulamein, Koraleigh and Wakool. It is predominantly an agricultural region with the main activities being sheep, wool and cattle, cereal and rice crops, vineyards, citrus, dairy and other food production. Collie was asked to prepare design concepts for three separate community places – the Wakool Township Gateway, the Moulamein Sculpture Walk and the Murray Downs Community Park.

Wakool Township Gateway

Wakool Township is located between Deniliquin and Swan Hill. The design challenge was to create an entrance gateway to the Wakool Township to attract highway travellers to stop and spend time in the town. Collie proposed a Gateway Park at the entrance to the Township with facilities for both highway travellers and the local community.  Key design elements included a water feature reminiscent of the irrigation canals and water wheels to be seen in the immediate area, a barbecue area with seating and shelter and parking space. In addition, Collie proposed the installation of a gateway feature consisting of intensive structured plantings along the road reserves on each side of the highway leading up to the main intersection and road access to Wakool Township.

Moulamein Sculpture Walk, Sculpture Garden and Town Walk

Moulamein is the oldest township in the Riverina, the rural region which borders New South Wales and Victoria.  Moulamein is rich in heritage sites dating back to early pioneers including the historic courthouse. In the south west of the Moulamein Township is a significant large River Red Gum.  The Edward River skirts the southern and western edges of the town centre.  The design challenge was to create a link between the ‘big tree’ and the other key sites in the Moulamein Township and encourage visitors to spend more time in and find sites of interest in the township.

Collie prepared the design concept for a sculpture walk and park in the vicinity of the ‘big tree’ and Town walk, linking together these sites.

The sculpture walk was designed to follow the riverbank and was proposed to feature locally sourced sculptures within the treed setting. The Town Walk was designed to take in the key sites in the Township and link them to the sculpture walk.  Signage was considered to identify the walk, the sculptures, and the cultural and heritage sites.

Murray Downs Community Park

The proposed Murray Downs Community Park is tucked into a bend in the Murray River, located on the south western corner of the Shire. The site comprises approximately four hectares of former farmland sheltered from the Murray River by River Red Gum woodland.  The design challenge for this site was to transform the inaccessible, unused farmland into a community park and recreational space for the local community. Collie prepared a design concept which provided for easy access from abutting roads, bicycle and walk pathway. The proposed park included a picnic shelter, seating, a boating access area and locally designed information signage describing the local history and the environmental importance and sensitivity of the River Red Gum woodlands and the Murray River.

Wakool brochure [PDF]
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Collie prepared for Stockland a masterplan and urban design concept for development plan areas 11 and 13. The sites would contain about 1300 lots over 150 hectares plus schools, an activity centre and open space (creek) areas and parks. The urban design component included ideas for the open space themes / viscom and resulted in a design guideline document.

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The simple palette of plants have been utilised in a manner which forms a lush dense layers of plants as you travel along the main boulevard within the estate.

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Preparation of building envelope plans and associated residential development controls for approximately 100 residential lots.

The design controls dealt with setbacks and siting requirements for dwellings and garages, maximum building heights, fences and other matters.

The building envelope plans were prepared in accordance with specific permit requirements and were consistent with the provisions of an approved development plan also prepared by Collie.

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Collie provided streetscape concept and landscape design services in assisting Council with the reconstruction of a group of local streets adjacent to Moonee Ponds Creek and the Pascoe Vale ‘Urban Village’.

Work included the consideration and implementation of water sensitive urban design solutions, the management of traffic engineering services, the preparation of computer-based ‘before’ and ‘after’ views, digital concept plans and effective community consultation and engagement.

Awards

• 2003 Landscape Architects Awards Victoria and Tasmania – Commendation for Environment in Landscape Architecture in Sustainable Practice

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The project brief was to set a clear direction for landuse and traffic and for the streetscape of the retail main street, Belmore Street. Tasks included community consultation (establishing a program and organising a public meeting / workshop), steering group liaison and workshops, management of traffic, planning and retail consultants, preparation of a report with clear plans and graphics and production of concepts for furniture, planting and paving for Belmore Street.

Awards

• 2001 Landscape Architects Victoria Awards
• Commendation – Urban Masterplanning

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