620.13412 East Creek Corridor Waterbird Habitat Masterplan
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East Creek Linear Corridor DISTRICT RECREATION PARK IMPROVEMENTS TOOWOOMBA WATERBIRD HABITAT MAY 2020 Document No. 620.13412 East Creek Linear Corridor East Creek Corridor District Recreation Park Improvement Project Provision of Consultancy Services Request for Off er (Quote) - RF004987 Reference No: VP157702 Revision History Revision Revision Date Details Authorised by 001 24 April 2020 Toowoomba Regional Council Draft for Review Dean Butcher 002 27 April 2020 Toowoomba Regional Council Draft for Review Dean Butcher 003 18 May 2020 Toowoomba Regional Council Final Dean Butcher 004 22 May 2020 Toowoomba Regional Council Final Dean Butcher 005 29 May 2020 Toowoomba Regional Council Final Dean Butcher Client Toowoomba Regional Council Ingrid Steinhardt Prepared by SLR Consulting (Pty Ltd) Level 2 15 Astor Terrace, Spring Hill QLD 4000 PO Box 26, Spring Hill QLD 4004 Australia Phone +61 7 3858 4815 www.slrconsulting.com II East Creek Corridor | District Park Improvements Project | Toowoomba Waterbird Habitat Master Plan | Toowoomba Regional Council East Creek Corridor DISTRICT RECREATION PARK IMPROVEMENTS TOOWOOMBA WATERBIRD HABITAT MASTER PLAN 1.0 Introduction 02 2.0 Community Engagement Round 1 04 3.0 Site Analysis 06 4.0 Preliminary Design Development 08 5.0 Community Engagement Round 2 11 6.0 Master Plan 12 7.0 Materials and Finishes 17 8.0 Planting Palette 20 9.0 Priority Elements / Staging 24 Appendix Costing 25 Image: Waterbird Habitat © SLR Consulting Disclaimer: This master plan is a high level, yet aspirational, concept style document and it’s important to note that the identification of potential future infrastructure and improvements in no way confirms funding has been or will be allocated. 1.0 Introduction SLR Consulting was commissioned by Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) in September 2019 to assist with the East Creek Corridor Recreation Park in defi ning improvements across a series of parks that would help it meet the Desired Standards of Service (DSS) under the Open Space Strategy (OSS) A Gap Analysis of the existing linear corridor embellishment standards against the DSS was required to comprehensively outline what the shortfalls were and typically where they occurred along the corridor. Recommendations would then be suggested and prioritised to assist TRC in meeting current and future needs of the community with regards to open space standards. A component of the brief involved further development of individual park master plans for three key park areas within or in close proximity to the East Creek Corridor. These park areas included: • Emmerson Park • Toowoomba Waterbird Habitat • Lake Annand Park These park areas were identifi ed as providing the best opportunities to accommodate DSS requirements for District Park facilities to meet the DSS gaps for the East Creek linear corridor within the East Toowoomba, Rangeville, South Toowoomba and Centenary Heights catchment areas. Toowoomba Waterbird Habitat is located within the East Creek Corridor Parklands and is approximately 8.2Ha in size. It provides a valuable habitat and recreational area not only within the corridor but within the City of Toowoomba. The 3 Lakes and areas of native vegetation provide habitat for a range of terrestrial and water-based fauna species. It also provides a range of informal and low-key recreational opportunities focused around the ecological and aesthetic values of the habitat area. The internal facilities of the Waterbird Habitat are not the main focus of the site and could be considered to provide a basic level of amenity. Given its focus on local environmental values that are unique in the area, it was considered important to endeavour to make the park more accessible whilst maintaining ecological values and a place where the local community values the tranquillity of the spaces in contrast to the more active focus of adjoining parks in the corridor. The OSS references the intent to protect and enhance existing ecological corridors and increase biodiversity within the urban environment. Image: Waterbird Habitat © SLR Consulting 02 East Creek Corridor | District Park Improvements Project | Toowoomba Waterbird Habitat Master Plan | Toowoomba Regional Council Location and Context 1 2 Toowoomba Queens 3 Park East 4 6 Toowoomba 5 7 8 South Toowoomba 9 23 10 11 Rangeville Centenary 12 Heights 13 Waterbird Habitat Image: Waterbird Habitat © SLR Consulting 14 Waterbird Habitat is located on the western 1. Cathro Park 13. Emmerson Park 15 2. Chalk Drive Skate Park 14. Waterbird Habitat edge of the suburb of Rangeville and is one 3. East Creek Park 1 15. Ballin Park 21 of the larger open space areas within the 4. Vera Lacaze Park 16. Story Farm Park North 16 5. East Creek Park 2 17. Story Farm Park South East Creek Linear Park Corridor. 17 6. Mothers Memorial Garden 18. Maggie Park Kearneys 18 Springs 7. East Creek Park 3 19. Ramsay Street Detention Basin 19 Middle 8. East Creek Park 4 20. Ethan Street Park Ridge 9. Lake Annand Park 21. Middle Ridge Park 20 10. Joseph J Leadbetter Park 22. Menzies Street Park 11. East Creek Triangle 23. Centenary Heights High School 22 12. Garnet Lehmann Park East Creek Corridor | District Park Improvements Project | Toowoomba Waterbird Habitat Master Plan | Toowoomba Regional Council 03 2 . 0 Community Engagement Round 1 “Have Your Say” was undertaken by Council in September 2019 with the aim of receiving feedback and input from the community on a series of questions and suggestions for Waterbird Habitat. The consultation for Waterbird Habitat was undertaken in parallel with Emmerson Park as part of the East Creek Corridor District Park Improvements Project. As well as gathering data on the general age groups of those providing feedback the survey aimed to gain insight through community response of those elements most needed in these 2 parks as well as the preferences for possible location and types of embellishments. HAVE YOUR SAY Image: Waterbird Habitat © SLR Consulting 954 Visits to the Webpage Have your say 200 Visits to the Survey Most Wanted Recreational Improvements Toowoomba Regional Council is planning to upgrade Emmerson Park in Centenary Heights and provide additional improvements to the Toowoomba Waterbird Habitat in Rangeville. Please complete this survey to tell us what you love about these spaces, how you currently use them and what can be improved. Please return completed surveys to Council by Sunday 29 September 2019 by emailing [email protected], mailing Toowoomba Regional Council, Attn. Emmerson Park and the Toowoomba Waterbird Habitat, PO Box 3021, Toowoomba QLD, 4350 or to a Council customer service centre in your local community. You can also complete the survey online by going to yoursay.tr.qld.gov.au/east- creek-parklands. Waterbird Habitat Your details Please provide your details to receive project updates. 66 RESPONSES Name: Phone: 80% SeaƟ ng OpƟ ons Email: 18-24 Years 8% 1) What is your age group: 5-11 years 35-44 years 75-84 years 24-34 Years 32% AddiƟ onal Looped 12-17 years 45-54 years 85+ years 18-24 years 55-64 years Prefer not to disclose 77% 25-34 years 65-74 years Walking Paths 35-44 Years 16% 2) Which city of township do you live closest to? 3) Which park(s) would you like to provide feedback on? 45-54 Years 18% 73% InterpreƟ ve Emmerson Park (go to question 4) The Toowoomba Waterbird Habitat (go to question 39) 55-64 Years 18% InformaƟ on Emmerson Park 4) What do you like most about Emmerson Park? 65-74 Years 4% 58% Nature Based 75-84 Years 4% Learning Play 5) What do you like least about Emmerson Park? Image: Page from the Community Consultation Survey 04 East Creek Corridor | District Park Improvements Project | Toowoomba Waterbird Habitat Master Plan | Toowoomba Regional Council Waterbird Habitat - Community Feedback Analysis General Statistics from Feedback Positive Elements Suggested Additions or Changes (based on the number of responses to a specifi c questions) (generally in order of priority) • People preferred the park for its serenity The lower part of Garnet Lehmann Park (identifi ed as area 4) was and nature values 1. Wayfi nding, Entry and Interpretive Signage taken into consideration for survey feedback to determine if the 2. Bicycle Racks element of ‘play’ is preferred outside of the Toowoomba Waterbird • Retain the park in its current state 3. Picnic Facilities - shelters, settings, bubbler, signage Habitat park area. • Walkability is highly regarded 4. New Mackenzie Street Footpath • 80% of respondents strongly agreed/ agreed with the addition • Unique park within context of Toowoomba 5. Formalisation of Mackenzie Street on-street car parking of Seating Options as a potential improvement in either 6. Main pedestrian path lighting and shade planting areas 1 or 2. • Shading 7. Waterbird Drive Linking Element - path, shelter, picnic setting, • 77% of respondents strongly agreed/ agreed with the addition of • Birdlife seating, lighting, signage, planting and bubbler Looped Walking Paths as a potential improvement in area 2 8. Mackenzie and Alderley Street Entry Upgrades • Vegetation across the site • 73% of respondents strongly agreed/ agreed with the addition of - Fencing, lighting, paths Interpretive Information as a potential improvement in either areas 1or 2 Negative Elements 9. Mackenzie Street path lighting • 73% of respondents strongly agreed/ agreed with the addition of • Presence of Ibis 10. Waterbird Drive Interpretive Signage Nature Themed Play as a potential improvement in either areas 1 or 4 • Perimeter Fence stopping people from getting