The much-anticipated Campbelltown Billabong Parklands is under construction in south-western Sydney, Australia. This water recreation experience, set to become a landmark attraction for Sydney-siders looking for new ways to cool off on a hot summer’s day, will also offer a parkland experience in the cooler months.
Centrally located on a four-hectare site, the swimming precinct has been designed by Arcadia for everyone to enjoy with a range of recreational water play facilities, including:
- Rockpools with streams, inspired by the rapids, waterfalls and rock pools of the Dharawal National Park
- Billabongs for children and adults to enjoy
- Splash pad water play area with a range of interactive water elements.
Understanding that construction value and lifecycle costing are some of the most challenging aspects of any project in the current climate, Arcadia’s design teams are adept at managing risks in the construction phase through clever design, documentation, and project management. In the construction phase, communication has been key to delivering the project under budget and to a high standard. The team, which includes Arcadia’s highly-experienced Landscape Construction Manager, Matt Tancred, collaborated with Campbelltown Council and contractors, Landscape Solutions, to prioritise elements of the precinct, looking at alternative construction and design to ensure that the community benefits from a premium quality sport and recreation facility.
With construction underway, the recently completed pool structure includes more than 300,000 individually laid Sukabumi Stone tiles, which bring out a range of vibrant green tones in the water to reflect the natural water features of the Dharawal National Park, on which the design of the Billabong Parklands is based.
A focus for the Campbelltown Billabong Parklands is to promote healthy communities, with the design fostering play, learning, creativity, and social connection for the Campbelltown community. By creating diverse spaces with cross-generational appeal, the Campbelltown Billabong Parklands will provide a variety of settings for existing community events and future uses, including:
- water play
- areas for events
- expansive lawn areas
- buildings and pavilions with amenities
- picnic areas with seating and shade
- generous tree cover with engaging native plants.
The planting palette will use a botanical approach to celebrate nearby O’Hares Creek in Dharawal National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty and significant cultural heritage. Palms, native and sculptural trees, with layered grasses and groundcovers, will provide a naturalistic aesthetic. The unique geomorphology of the landscape and the rich heritage of the Dharawal people is enhanced by the landscape architecture of the Campbelltown Billabong Parklands, creating a distinct and powerful connection to place and identity. An initiative of the Western Sydney City Deal Liveability Program, this project is funded by the Australian Government, NSW Government, and Campbelltown City Council, with construction by Landscape Solutions.
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Landscape Architect: Arcadia Landscape Architecture