Sustainability in Action
Rocks Riverside Park
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made to last
economically sustainable
environmentally friendly
socially sound
positive impact on quality of life for this and future generations
Summary
The vision for the development of the Rocks Riverside Park was to create a sustainable
urban and nature park that would stand up to intensive use so that future generations would
enjoy it. The result is a hugely popular riverside facility, used by 500,000 people in its first
year for play, informal recreation, reflection, learning, social gatherings and community
events.
From the start of the planning process, the project team tried to create a high quality facility
and put together a package of initiatives that would showcase the diversity of positive
experiences possible in a contemporary urban park. The challenge was to leave a legacy
that had the potential to even out the commonly experienced troughs of government interest
over the ensuing decades and centuries.
Throughout planning and development of the park, the project team considered
environmental, economic and community factors to ensure the park had a long and popular
life, used resources efficiently, and enriched community life. The planners applied
sustainability principles to the park’s infrastructure, ongoing management and funding and its
connection with the community.
Infrastructure initiatives, including state of the art sewer grinding and water mining
technology, reduce the use of resources and the risk of negative environmental impacts.
Construction materials were reused from the site or other areas to reduce costs and retain
elements of the park’s industrial heritage.
The project team used a forward-thinking approach to reduce future costs. Examples
include planting appropriate plants and a new turf species to reduce water and maintenance
costs, and installing solar panels to power irrigation controllers. Four commercial
sponsorships will contribute to funding for the park’s first three to five years.
The project team integrated considerations of community engagement throughout the
planning and development process. A park cherished by the community is a park that grows
in physical terms and in emotional / cultural terms for the community. To achieve this, the
team created a unique contemporary park with features such as a popular water play area,
innovative play equipment, shelters and a community building. Local residents were
involved from the start in open days, bus tours, consultation and communication activities.
The park also has a range of flexible performance gathering places – many with the
backdrop of the Brisbane River.
The outcomes for the community and the environment are impressive
Project description
The Rocks Riverside Park is a 26 hectare area, half of which is bushland, on a former
industrial site adjoining the Brisbane River at Seventeen Mile Rocks. The site was a
Queensland Cement and Lime coral stockpile and processing facility. The design uses a
contemporary industrial theme, retaining elements from its past. It also features a popular
water play area, playgrounds, shelters, and plantings of native species.
Sustainability strong points
Sustainability was built into the vision for the project, which was:
“to create a significant, contemporary riverside park that showcases innovative design
and sustainable management for the enjoyment of all residents”.
A sustainability report card developed for the project outlines the range of ways in which this
project demonstrates sustainability.
Economic sustainability:
• The project was based on the premise that good planning, strong design and effective
management can minimise resource inputs.
• Ongoing costs were considered in designing the park. Local Asset Services park
managers participate in the design stage to knock out bugs that might increase ongoing
maintenance costs.
• A sponsorship policy attracted four sponsors contributing a total of $100,000 each year
for three to five years.
• Reuse of materials and use of technology such as water mining, solar power and electric
maintenance vehicles saved costs both during development and throughout the life of
the park.
Community sustainability:
• Communication with local residents ensured they were engaged with the park from the
start, attending open days, patronising bus tours and participating in consultations.
• A project officer based at the park is developing community programs, facilities and
interpretive activities to build community passion and ownership for the park, the
foundation for evolution of a “Friends of the Park” volunteer group.
• The park’s facilities are designed to make it a hub for events. Facilities include a
community building, eight shelters for parties, weddings and other functions, and formal
• event spaces for festivals and programmed activities.
• The park is used as a venue for community events such as the Sustainability Fair,
Centenary Rocks Festival and the Lord Mayor’s Neighbourhood Fair.
• A Council-sponsored Community Jobs Plan project gave unemployed people skills while
completing the amenities building and surrounding landscape works.
• The project team consulted with groups including the Rocks Regional Playground
• Residents’ Reference Group, local school students, and an overall Community
• Reference Group drawn from Your City Your Say members.
• One of the principles underpinning planning and delivery of the park is that multi-
dimensional parks create opportunities for enriched and engaged communities.
• Operational crews are rostered through a seven day working week, including weekends, to
provide park assistance for the busiest part of the week, with activities such as park
cleaning, bookings and volunteer programs.
Environmental sustainability:
• The use of 98% native and endemic plants and drought-resistant turf has reduced water
and maintenance needs.
• On-site resources were reused for the project, including top-soil, QCL industrial artefacts
and coral for carparking, roads and pathways.
• A water mining facility “polishes” effluent to generate water for park irrigation.
• The park uses a high pressure sewer grinder system instead of costly 19th Century
technology.
• Urban water design improves the quality of stormwater run-off before discharging it into
the Brisbane River.
• The park is used for educational purposes by schools and community groups.
Presentations by the project officer include strong messages about environmental
sustainability.
Long term thinking:
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During the development of the park, the project produced a Plan of Management and
an Operational Plan. The intent was to ensure the park’s ongoing management built on
the original vision.
Target areas:
This project responds to Council’s four Sustainability Target Areas:
• Resource efficiency through strategies to save energy and water and reuse materials
• Sustainable places and urban form by improving our environment, linking the park with its
surroundings and its past use, using greenways to reduce the need for cars for local
residents
• Biodiversity conservation through use of native plant, runoff quality, and retention of
bushland on half of the site.
• Community engagement through strategies to create a sense of ownership of the park
among local residents and sponsors.
Outcomes
• About 500,000 people – from infants to octogenarians – visited the park in its first year,
according to Council estimates.
• 40 groups participated in interpretive activities in the first year, mostly school groups.
• The park has already become established as a community hub, hosting festivals such as
Centenary Rocks, which attracted 9,000 people.
• The park has won awards from Parks and Leisure Australia, the Australian Institute of
• Landscape Architects and the Australian Institute of Project Management.
Project Strengths
• Establishment of a dedicated project team from a number of branches across Council,
based at a separate project office.
• Benchmarking of park development costs in Australia and overseas to inform budget and to
realise the vision.
• A good communication strategy with the local community to maintain community interest
strategies included sneak preview bus tours, newsletters and local media coverage.
• Peer design review process using a pre-eminent external expert to assess the
fundamentals of the planning and design.
Project Breakthroughs
• Unexpectedly high level of community interest from the start – for example 1200 people
attended an early open day – ensured political support and budget.
• Granting of triennial funding by E&C for the development of the park gave certainty for
the development process.
• Effective communication with key internal and external stakeholders and decision
makers.
Project Challenges
• Staff changes have made it difficult to maintain momentum and stay true to the original
vision.
• The handover from the project team to the areas which will manage the park for the long
term has presented some challenges.