Campbelltown Billabong Parklands
Campbelltown Billabong Parklands is a four-hectare outdoor recreational destination in the heart of the Campbelltown City Centre. Featuring pools and water play facilities, landscaped areas, parklands and amenities, this new space provides the opportunity for passive and active recreation, entertainment and community use, enhancing the liveability of the local area.
The Brief
Campbelltown City Council wanted to deliver a new and unprecedented open space area to their community to increase the livability of the Campbelltown-Macarthur centre. They planned to transform Apex / Bradbury Park into a unique, regional recreational destination.
The project drew inspiration from the local Dharawal National Park, reflecting the city’s natural environment and embracing local Aboriginal cultural heritage in its design. The centrepiece was to be the 1600m main billabong pool, interconnected with a smaller children’s pool, cascades and a zero-depth splash play area.
Meeting The Brief
When it came to the construction of the Campbelltown Billabong Parklands project, we aimed to deliver a comprehensive and competitive construction strategy. Our focus was on proactive design development, risk identification, and mitigation.
Working closely with Crystal Pools and Arcadia Landscape Architecture for our client, Campbelltown City Council, we have created Campbelltown’s newest water and outdoor recreation facility together.
The parklands include an interactive splash play area, water features and rock pools, a children’s pool and Billabong pool, shaded huts, seating and picnic shelters, BBQ areas, amenities facilities, artwork, large turfed areas, pathways that meander throughout it all and so much more. The landscape features of the design are based on the local Dharawal National Park and Georges River.
Going Beyond It
A welcome artwork greets you as you enter the parklands, developed by Campbelltown City Council with public artists Milne and Stonehouse, the local Aboriginal community and artist Danielle Mate.
A series of rings and metal mesh structure has pride of place above the pool, featuring an artwork that symbolises Campbelltown’s location between the Georges River and Nepean River, and the theme of the park. It was designed with public artists Milne & Stonehouse, along with Aunty Phyllis Stewart, Aunty Annette Houston and Clarinda Vinter from the Yirran Miigaydhu Weavers Group at Campbelltown Arts Centre.
The shelters and furniture were also custom-designed and fabricated by our Urban & Play team.
The Pluses We Brought To This Project
Challenges
- Throughout the project’s duration, proactive measures were taken to mitigate any design or construction challenges and expedite progress wherever possible. Each phase of the project presented unique opportunities for refinement and improvement, ensuring that when complete, the parklands not only met but exceeded original expectations.
Fun Facts
- A series of interlinked and flexible open spaces in a riverine-like parkland setting, for recreation, entertainment and community use
- Reflects the natural environment of the Georges River and the nearby Dharawal National Park
- Large Landscape Umbrellas 5.5m Wide and PVC Commercial Umbrellas installed
- An amenities building including restrooms, showers, change rooms and storage facilities
- Bespoke design and constructed outdoor furniture
- Design and constructed water feature drawing the eye at the entry to the park
- 1000 trees were planted to tie in with the local Dharawal National Park. Native plants were utilised as much as possible to enhance biodiversity within the parklands and create habitat for local fauna.
- Mature trees were installed to serve as focal points with the parklands. This included natives Ficus rubiginosa, Ficus macrophylla, Livistona Decipiens and Brachychiton acerifolius, selected for their shade and habitat benefits.
Project Partners
- Client: Campbelltown City Council
- Pool Construction: Crystal Pools
- Landscape Architect: Arcadia Landscape Architecture
Community Engagement
- The four-hectare parkland has been a hit with the local community. With bookings regularly full, and the park attracting both locals and those from all over Sydney, we are happy to say that the parklands have achieved their aim in creating a space where people can gather, relax, play and make memories.
Award Wins
- Awarded Silver in the Commercial & Civil Construction Over $8 Million Category | The Landscape Association | 2024
- Winner in Outstanding Community Infrastructure Project | The Boomtown! Project of the Year Awards | 2024
What They Say
The Billabong Parklands will offer the people of Campbelltown a new and unique public space with a range of fun activities for people of all ages. With activities like water play, landscaped areas and parklands, as well as a swimming lagoon and zero-depth play area for those with young families. “
Paul Scully, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces,
NSW Government