Architects up the creek

A COMPLEX five year project transforming an agricultural dam in Officer into a meandering creek system providing habitat for threatened flora and fauna has won a major award.
The transformation of Officer’s Gum Scrub Creek was recognised at the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects state awards in the land management category, at an awards’ ceremony on 21 November.
The category recognises excellence in built ecology as well as the restoration, conservation, enhancement or maintenance of landscapes.
Final landscaping was completed on the project early this year, which is expected to influence future landscape design of built ecologies.
It will now be entered into the AILA national awards, presented in late 2015.
Places Victoria General Manager Land Development and Housing Joanne Wandel said the “complex project” involved collaboration between a number of industry experts, authorities including Cardinia Shire Council, local nurseries and Officer community members.“The creek is surrounded by open space and has become an environmental and recreational asset for the community,” she said.
“After five years of planning and design, it’s fantastic to see this final result.”
Ms Wandel said Gum Scrub Creek exceeded best practice design for a constructed waterway and provided protection for local habitat such as the Growling Grass Frog.
Karsha Dickinson from landscape architects Outlines said the project would challenge the way hydraulic creek systems are designed and are interacted with.
“The project provided an opportunity to collaborate with industry leaders to exceed best practice and deliver innovation on the ground,” she said.