From Waverley News Spring 2023……Glenayr Avenue Landscape design by 33 Parallel
2021 AILA NSW Award for Landscape Architecture for Infrastructure
The Pacific Highway Upgrade has just won the 2021 AILA NSW Award for Landscape Architecture for Infrastructure. The citation reads:
In this legacy project that has been undertaken over a 24-year period, the landscape architect has been instrumental in the delivery of sustainable outcomes associated with the planning, design and implementation of the 675-kilometre duplication of the highway between Hexham, New South Wales and the Queensland border.
33 Parallel director Darren Mansfield, as director / lead landscape architect, has been involved in a good number of the individual upgrades that make up the Highway, so it is as good a time as any to reminisce about some of them, starting with ;
Aerial view of the 60 metre wide Koala crossing at Bonville on the Pacific Highway
Bonville- After advising on the planting for the Brunswick to Yelgun section, Darren, while director at design firm HBO+EMTB Urban and Landscape Design was the lead landscape architect for the Detail Design to Construction of the Bonville upgrade which included a 60 metre wide vegetated Koala crossing overpass.
Devils Pulpit-Detail Design to Construction
Oxley Highway to Kempsey – Concept Design
Macleay River and Floodplain Bridge – Tender Design to Construction
Oxley Highway to Kundabung – Tender design to construction
Kundabung to Kempsey – Detail Design
Nambucca Heads to Urunga-Tender Design to Construction
Tintenbar to Ewingsdale – Construction Phase
Glenugie to Maclean - detail design and construction documentation.
It’s also worth mentioning the 50km long Hunter Expressway which branches off the M1 Pacific Highway and was the first dual carriageway greenfield hinterland expressway to be constructed by NSW Roads and Maritime. Darren led the urban and landscape design for both sections working with Lend Lease on the western section between Kurri Kurri to Branxton and with the NSW Roads and Maritime/Theiss/Hyder/PB Alliance on the eastern section between the F3 to Kurri Kurri.
And more from the AILA award citation for Pacific Highway:
This sweeping green highway provides panoramic views to the Great Dividing Range and forests, farmland and coastline. The sustainable outcomes have been exceptional and include the provision of an important connection to Country and the creation of an environmentally sensitive and responsive landscape.
Social and environmental outcomes include the minimizing of visual impacts, the provision of rest areas and parks, the integrated design of bridges, tunnels and walls, and the maximizing of landscape spatial qualities such as soils, planting and seeding. These measures have significantly improved the design and created an outstanding outcome for both the community and the stakeholders.
The depth of thought and leadership demonstrated in this project has resulted in a national benchmark for highway design with an ecological dimension.
“Elwatan” Garden at West Pennant Hills, now the site of Oakhill College. Vestiges of the original garden remain.
Landscape Heritage
33 Parallel is nearing the end of a year long comprehensive study of the Hornsby Shire’s landscape heritage in collaboration with Extent Heritage who are also undertaking the archaeological heritage study of the Shire. The study seeks to capture all cultural and natural landscapes and attributes that have heritage significance, consolidate and collate the information from previous studies, review and assess the current landscape, update the heritage schedule and inventory sheets.
Study has required ground-truthing and photographic documentation of almost 300 key sites, gardens, parks, vegetation communities, individual trees and scenic landscapes, in order to document changes to existing listed landscapes, update inventory sheets and develop landscape management principles.
The study will also provide a practical tool for Council to manage development in relation to cultural and natural landscape heritage and inform the landscape heritage content of the subsequent LEP and DCP review.
Les Smith’s orchard at West Pennant Hills. The Hills district supplied most of the nations citrus needs and by the mid-nineteenth century, Hornsby Shire had become synonymous with the growth of citrus.
Lookouts
33 Parallel’s next challenge - replacing a series of lookout damaged by fire in another spectacular location.
Paddington House as featured in Belle Magazine Jan-Feb 2021. Roof top terrace and garden by 33 Parallel
Echo Point Upgrade completed
With a spectacular Blue Mountains backdrop of The Three Sisters and the Jamison Valley, the newly upgraded lookout at Echo Point, Katoomba designed by 33Parallel, was officially opened during NAIDOC Week (14 November 2020).
Blue Mountains City Council Mayor, Mark Greenhill OAM, Senator The Hon. Marise Payne and Gundungurra and Dharug Traditional Owners, represented by Aunty Sharyn Halls and Chris Tobin, opened the new accessible Gathering Place, lookout and walking tracks.
33 Parallel in East Arnhem land
After 10 weeks based in Gapuwiyak in East Arnhem Land , 33 Parallel’s Donna Mack is returning for a longer period to continue working with the Goŋ-Ḏäl Aboriginal Corporation to assist in establishing a program to encourage and support Yolŋu entrepreneurship in Gapuwiyak and surrounding homelands.
The Corporation plans to support participants with locating business opportunities, sources of capital and business management so they can operate successfully and independently in relevant markets, and improve the uptake of entrepreneurship and innovation in East Arnhem Land where business participation is low compared to the wider Australian economy.
Gapuwiyak is a small, inland Yolŋu town about 16 kms from the coast in the middle of Miyarrka, a region around Arnhem Bay, and located on a small lake called Lake Evella. This year will be the 50th anniversary of the town’s establishment.
ECHO POINT MOVES TO CONSTRUCTION STAGE
33 Parallel has recently completed the detail design and documentation for the Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Gathering Place at the iconic Echo Point Katoomba for the Blue Mountains City Council.
A wheelchair accessible raised boardwalk, bridge and lookout replaces the original track which had failed due to landslip and had been closed for several years.
At the entry to the boardwalk from the existing Queen Elizabeth lookout, bleachers have been added to provide a convenient and safe place for tourists to take photographs with the Three Sisters as a backdrop.
The walled Gathering Place provides amphitheatre style seating for groups learning about the Aboriginal stories of the location and will incorporate artwork in the pavement and pavement lighting. The walk is anticipated to open early in 2020 and has been designed to integrate with a future connection to the National Parks Three Sisters Walking Track.
