Work starts on Sydney ponds, rain gardens

They will form an integral part of The Ponds community, as a sustainable water management and rain water storage system, while also providing residents with attractive waterside leisure areas. One of the water features will adjoin Stanhope Parkway, which runs west off Sunnyholt Road less than 1km from Parklea Markets and Parklea Prison. The other will be off Paddle Street in the Ponds, a new suburb next to Kellyville Ridge.
“The $3m project has been designed in harmony with the existing parklands, while also playing an important water quality role to ensure the park and its ponds provide for a sustainable future,” said Landcom GM Kerry Robinson.
“The Ponds was aptly named to reflect the many water features that will be incorporated into the overall master-planned community. Several pieces of public art works carrying a water theme, have already been integrated in this landscape, including the iconic Float and Waterlines pieces.
“A number of government authorities and Blacktown Council have spent many years meticulously planning the water management strategy for The Ponds. This is to ensure that the final outcome is a real part of the community providing a waterside BBQ, picnic spots for residents and a home for local wildlife and vegetation,” he added.
Ford Civil Contracting has started construction. Award winning landscape architectural practice Clouston Associates designed the landscaping and J Wyndham Prince is the civil engineering designer for the ponds and rain gardens development. Incoll Management will project manage the structures.
“Both ponds are dual-purpose, water-quality treatment bodies, which will also be aesthetically pleasing. They will be built in concrete and masonry with architectural concrete, steel and rock finishes in adjacent landscape works,” said Ford Civil engineer Ryan Kudsi.
“A cascading structure, which follows the topography and stores water to create the ‘pond’ effect, will be evident for both ponds. Rain gardens will also be constructed to act as filters for the ponds.”
Clouston Associates’ associate director Justine Williams adds, “This project has been designed to add high quality visual amenity to this recreational space. Three further water bodies are also planned for The Ponds to manage the water quality.
“The Stanhope Parkway pond hosts decorative steel panels, featuring a series of dragonflies which are designed as perforations into the steel. Dragonflies were chosen as they represent ‘clean water.’ The ponds incorporate a series of terraces which allow the water to cascade.”
In spring 2009, the first water feature will be completed to coincide with the opening of Stanhope Parkway Bridge, over Second Ponds Creek.
The Ponds is a 390ha master-planned community being developed by Landcom and Australand. When complete it will comprise more than 3000 houses and 80ha of parkland.
More information: www.theponds.com.au