Rocks Riverside Park

Last updated

Rocks Riverside Park
TypeRecreation
LocationCounihan Road, Seventeen Mile Rocks
Nearest cityBrisbane
Area26 ha (64 acres)
Created7 December 2003 (2003-12-07)
Operated by Brisbane City Council
StatusOpen
Awards2006 Water Saving Award, 2003 Year of the Built Environment Award, 2003 Innovation Award

Rocks Riverside Park is a park by the Brisbane River in outer south-west Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The park was opened on 7 December 2003, and features industrial artefacts from its previous use by the Queensland Cement and Lime Company. Public art which draws upon the park's industrial heritage are also featured throughout, as is a crop patch which reflects the site's farming days.

Brisbane River river in Australia

The Brisbane River is the longest river in South-East Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley, the first European to explore the river, named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Thomas Brisbane in 1823. The penal colony of Moreton Bay later adopted the same name, eventually becoming the present city of Brisbane.

Queensland North-east state of Australia

Queensland is the second-largest and third-most populous state in the Commonwealth of Australia. Situated in the north-east of the country, it is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean. To its north is the Torres Strait, with Papua New Guinea located less than 200 km across it from the mainland. The state is the world's sixth-largest sub-national entity, with an area of 1,852,642 square kilometres (715,309 sq mi).

Queensland Cement and Lime Company building material manufacturer in Australia

Queensland Cement and Lime Company (QCL) was a company that manufactured cement and lime for use in construction in Queensland, Australia. It supplied many major projects in Queensland. It was also known as Queensland Cement Limited.

Contents

Rocks Riverside Park is the largest riverfront park in Brisbane. It has 800 metres of riverfrontage and covers an area of 26  hectare. The park is nestled in amongst other industrial sites at 5 Counihan Road, Seventeen Mile Rocks in Brisbane, Australia.

Hectare Metric unit of area

The hectare is an SI accepted metric system unit of area equal to a square with 100-metre sides, or 10,000 m2, and is primarily used in the measurement of land. There are 100 hectares in one square kilometre. An acre is about 0.405 hectare and one hectare contains about 2.47 acres.

Seventeen Mile Rocks, Queensland Suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Seventeen Mile Rocks is a suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 11 kilometres (7 mi) south-west of the Brisbane CBD on the Brisbane River.

The project architect was Cenk Yuksel. [1] The main builders were Naturform and Stewart Constructions. [1]

Features

The park is broken into three major zones. There is the river flat, a formerly rich riparian environment, then market garden and industrial site; the bushland range, which forms the backdrop for the river flat area covered with dry eucalypt forest; and a major green link from the park to the suburbs to the south.

360deg Panoramic view of Rocks Riverside Park Rocks Panorama.jpg
360° Panoramic view of Rocks Riverside Park

Features include a water play area, a flying fox, shelters, lawns, bushland, gardens and electric barbecues. There are also adventure playgrounds, a climbing web, bikeways, a basketball court, a liberty swing for children with disabilities, an amphitheatre, a pavilion, and open spaces for lawn gatherings.

Basketball court rectangular playing surface, with baskets at each end

In basketball, the basketball court is the playing surface, consisting of a rectangular floor, with baskets at each end. In professional or organized basketball, especially when played indoors, it is usually made out of a wood, often maple, and highly polished and completed with a 10 foot rim. Outdoor surfaces are generally made from standard paving materials such as concrete or asphalt.

Amphitheatre open-air venue used for entertainment and performances

An amphitheatre or amphitheater is an open-air venue used for entertainment, performances, and sports. The term derives from the ancient Greek ἀμφιθέατρον (amphitheatron), from ἀμφί (amphi), meaning "on both sides" or "around" and θέατρον (théātron), meaning "place for viewing".

Five areas of the park are available for bookings. [2]

Water mining

The park features an underground, non-drinking water recycling project. Sewer grinding, ultraviolet disinfection and a reed bed treatment process were used. [3] The treatment process has a low environmental impact, is cost-effective and low-maintenance. The system allows the park to be watered during drought when water restrictions would otherwise apply. [3]

Rocks Community Garden

Rocks Community Garden is a community garden in Rocks Riverside Park, first established in June 2007. It is volunteer-managed and focused on the organic production of food crops. Community garden membership is open to anyone who supports organic gardening principles and accepts the rules and operating guidelines. The community garden has 34 individual allotments and 9 raised garden beds which plot holders rent on a yearly basis. There is also have a small orchard, which members assist in maintaining.

History

The Rocks Riverside Park area has had many different uses over its lifetime. Irish immigrants, Robert and Frances Henry bought the land and cleared the dense scrub and vine thickets from the site. Sugar Cane, Oats, Barley and Corn were grown on the site until the land was sold in the 1920s. From the late 1940s to the 1960s Tomatoes, Capsicum, Beet and Peanuts were grown by Frank Pettinato, a Sicilian immigrant.

During this time Queensland Cement and Lime Company (QCL) set up their operations in the area, as the site was a good source of fresh water, gravel and sand. Dead coral was brought up the Brisbane River from Moreton Bay as this was found to be a good substitute for lime.

In 1995, the Queensland Government decided not to renew QCL's licence to remove coral from Moreton Bay. The last shipment was received in 1997 and most of the coral used in 1998, resulting in the closure of the plant in 1999.

Park development

Brisbane City Council decided to redevelop the site in 1999. The council's vision for the site was to "create a significant, contemporary riverside park that showcases the innovative design and sustainable management for the enjoyment of all residents."

Hassell was commissioned to generate the initial master plan which was completed in 2000. [4] However, due to a change in design direction, land acquisition and a refinement in the budget the master plan required major alterations. City Design – landscape Architecture was commissioned for the redesign of park to ensure that the park was innovative and sustainable. City Design- Landscape Architecture and Hassel worked together to create the revised master plan. [4]

Signage by Dot Dash creates an identifiable look to the park, whilst complying with Brisbane City Council logo standards. Colours based on an architectural colour scheme provides cohesion throughout the parks built environment and with printed material. The general layouts of the signs are typically light green plates with cut-outs for major headings and white writing for long blocks of information. This plate is always attached to an abstract piece of galvanised steel which has lines of dots running at right angles punctured through it.

Awards

Rocks Riverside Park won the Playground and Recreational Association of Victoria's Innovation Award in 2003.

Brisbane City Council also received a Year of the Built Environment Award from the Australian Institute of Project Management in 2003, recognising the park as "an outstanding example of the Council’s achievements in managing the construction and refurbishment of Brisbane’s built spaces and parklands." [5]

The water mining project won a Water Saving Award from the Department of Infrastructure and Transport in 2006. [3]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Rocks Riverside Park". The Australian Institute of Architects. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  2. "Rocks Riverside Park". Brisbane City Council . Archived from the original on 25 September 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 "Rocks Riverside Park". Water By Design. Healthy Waterways. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Regional Riverside Park". Australian Institute Of Landscape Architects. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  5. Alan Tupicoff (14 September 2004). "Rocks Riverside Park Takes Built Environment Award". Project Management Achievement Awards. Australian Institute of Project Management. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2010.

Coordinates: 27°32′34″S152°57′41″E / 27.5429°S 152.9614°E / -27.5429; 152.9614