MASTERPLAN FOR INCLUSIVE, CLIMATE-RESILIENT COMMUNITY PARK IN LISMORE

Designed by award-winning landscape architecture practice, CONTEXT, the masterplan establishes a framework of phased upgrades to the 5.5 hectare site, that have community inclusion and climate-resilience at their heart.

Popular with families, walkers and cyclists, the park’s existing amenities, which include a footpath network, cricket oval, picnic facilities and play equipment are in significant disrepair following the 2022 floods. This, coupled with the park’s challenging terrain, has required the project team, working pro-bono, to collaborate at pace to deliver a masterplan that meets both the community’s short and long-term needs.

The masterplan includes proposals to upgrade shared and inclusive play spaces, improve kid’s bike track facilities, upgrade seating, bbqs and picnic shelters, create new accessible pathways, wayfinding signage and furniture, as well as the installation of accessible toilets and parking.

With a brief to create an ‘All Inclusive Park’, that’s in line with the NSW Department of Planning ‘Everyone Can Play’ guidelines, CONTEXT Director, Hamish Dounan says the masterplan envisions a space for all members of the community to come together, regardless of background, age or ability.

“Following extensive site surveys, detailed reviews of local planning policy, design guidelines and community consultation, our proposed framework has been tailored to the area’s unique topography and local community needs. A staged approach, each intervention will serve to
bolster the park’s resilience to future weather events, and serve all users for years to come,” says Dounan.

To mitigate the impacts of future floods, understanding the site’s natural and historic context has been critical. “Wade Park sits within what was once Australia’s largest expanse of lowland subtropical rainforest. Covering an area of approximately 75,000 hectares, it comprises fertile alluvial soils, which have subsequently been used for a variety of agricultural purposes. Past land-use continues to influence the landscape and how it responds to weather and climatic events. With a number of creeks feeding into Wilsons River and Leycester Creek which join at Lismore, future floods are inevitable. With this knowledge, we have curated a set of interventions that should endure for years to come,” explains Dounan.

Design measures include the retention of existing and the addition of new vegetation aimed at strengthening ecological connectivity and supporting the development of microclimates through the creation of shading zones. Further elements include positioning infrastructure investment away from the 1 in 20 year flood risk area, incorporating robust materials and finishes that will not be destroyed by water inundation, upgrading storm water systems and regrading the existing drainage channel.

The result of a legacy project instigated by Parks & Leisure Australia (PLA) NSW/ACT, project partners who have worked with CONTEXT to deliver the masterplan include Lismore City Council, Cred Consulting, Peak Water Consulting, with additional support from the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW). 

Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg said the new masterplan would help transform the already popular Wade Park. “Wade Park is one of our community’s most popular parks, but over the years the facilities have become dated and it's time to re-invigorate the park to ensure it meets the needs of the community," he explains.

Parks and Leisure Australia NSW/ACT Vice President Simon James added, “It has been fantastic to see a number of industry professionals collaborate together to realise this project. Following our industry conference in the region in 2022 we wanted to ensure we left a legacy for the community, and the completion of this masterplan provides Lismore City Council with a well thought out vision to upgrade the park. Our members understand the importance of high-quality parks and open spaces to the health, well-being and recovery of the Lismore community.”

With the masterplan now formally adopted by councillors, the City of Lismore Council will be responsible for its funding and delivery, via a staged approach over the next 3-5 years. For more information, read about the Wade Park Masterplan.