Issuu

RDJ

R Y L A N

J A C K S O N

PUBLISHED IN NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 2022 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to congratulate and commend my fellow peers on their research commitments and determination to their projects. This project sits among some beautiful, delicate and considered responses as part of the UON 5th year thesis cohort with so much diversity. This project and compendium would not be possible without their continued support as well as encouragement from tutors and academics. The latenight encouragements and plenty of tunes in the studio. I have no doubt this will continue till the end of 2022. I would also like to acknowledge the Awabakal people on which their land this book has been written and the project resides itself upon. I would like to pay my respects to elders past , present and emerging.

Rebirth A LIFE AFTER COAL IN NEWCASTLE

The University of Newcastle ARBE 6233 STUDIO 9 Tutor: Justin Cawley Name: Rylan Jackson

Contents 1____ What is Rebirth?

2____ The Question and Method 7 3____ Initial Research Enquiry

4____ Proposal One

5____ Proposal Two

6____ A Critical Reflection

7____ Research Advancement

8____ Bibliography

What is Rebirth ? CHAPTER 1 The ambitions and general significance of the design research inquiry

Rebirth.

What is it? That is the same question I asked myself 13 weeks ago and as I sit here to write this compendium. It is a journey that has shaped how I think about the industry, infrastructure and people. Their relationship with each other and the world around them as sole entities.

new industries and economies. Thus Newcastle again is in a state of death. Longing for a new identity before its inevitable death, where ports lay dormant, where metal rusts, ships become obsolete and the coal dust that drifts through the air is finally laid to rest.

To get to this point, though, after 13 weeks, we must first understand the meaning of Rebirth itself. The Oxford Dictionary states Rebirth as the process of being reincarnated or born again.

Another industry going through a similar cycle is the once prosperous oyster industry. The effects of this industry can be seen around the globe and linked to one main cause that being climate change. The unstable nature of the industry caused by rising temperatures, increasing natural disasters and poor water quality has seen the industry lose millions of dollars in Australia alone and has had to reinvent itself to stay sustainable in a changeling climate. The oyster itself is such a valued commodity for so many reasons. Its natural water filtration and ability to consume have seen it as a popular staple globally.

"the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth" This definition defines the project's ambitions and the history of the chosen sited intervention. Newcastle, Australia, is Australia's second oldest port city and the largest coal exporter globally. Its history since the first exportation of coal in the 1790s to India has seen the harbour continually reinvent itself to support this industry. In this same harbour, the introduction of Steel manufacturing from BHP in 1915 reinvented itself as a harbour once more. A heavy hand on the global economy and manufacturing fronts shaped the city's expansion to what it is today.

This originally lead to the query of how a coal industry in decline, as well as an oyster industry, merge together through sited intervention to reshape Newcastle for a new economy. This is in a state of death ready for a rebirth. At this point, I began my journey to understand coal, oysters and industry. It has been one that has changed weekly very rapidly due to the ever-changing nature of such a topic and one that is being spoken about in the context of Newcastle for what happens to the port after 2040? This research would enable this conversation to occur between oyster farmers, port authorities, the council and the people of Newcastle. Rebirth can redefine not just coal ports in Australia but globally. Here is my journey...

Slowly though, as the world reshapes itself and revisions how we must operate to protect the environment and create more secure fiscal economies, the industry is on the decline. As we know, BHP ceased its Newcastle operations in 1999. Although coal is still being sold at record highs, we are currently in a political and global state of uncertainty and change about non-renewable energies. Our governments realise the reliance on this must shift, and targets have been made for 2040 to be the year we must let go and transition to 5

[1] "View of Newcastle Harbour 1880"

[4]"Old harvesting ways at Coffin Bay " N.D

[2]"Newcastle Steel Works” by David Moore 1963

[5]"Clearing debris at Coffin Bay " N.D

[3] "Coal Loading at the Dyke" 1894

[6] Bountiful leases: Gwawley Bay in 1958 by George Lipman

The Question and Method CHAPTER 2 The Thesis question and its significance ion the frontier of knowledge

" How can the redevelopment of coal ports for residential and commercial uses facilitate ecologically regenerative industries?"

The question as stated above is one that took

Towards a more sustainable future compared to their other counterparts. Although somewhat frustrating for the reality of such a proposal, this was okay. This progressiveness helped develop the project and the industry's broad ambitions to reshape its operation. It highlights that the current trends aren't fiscally viable.

a lot of development over the initial 4-5 weeks of the project. I wanted a question that fuelled the ambitions for the project as well as encompassed the delicacy and intertwined nature of dealing with such an issue. It enables the three areas of the current industry, future industry and community to be brought into the architectural response and research and create more precise core drivers as the project developed. At this stage of the research, I was able to identify the main groups that would be affected by such a propostion. An understanding there possible points of view enriched the development of the project.

To get to the halfway result for the year-long thesis in which this compendium will journey you through the research question led me to understand the history of Newcastle as a harbour, its development and its future. It also highlighted the damage that it has done by its roaring success. It brought the question to the forefront of how these damages get mended, is there a permanent solution, or are there only partial mends.

It leads the conversation in how extremely different groups, ones not naturally placed side by side could come together and talk about the future of their own industry and ambitions. It was clear from the out set that the agriculture industry especially oyster related organisations had a more progressive way of thinking about their actions to keep fostering a positive environment and shifting

Concurrently researching possible ecologically regenerative industries surfaced oyster farming as an intervention to aid in this solution. Although there were frontiers of knowledge within the space, how could this knowledge be adapted to such a site and environment was the challenge. The questions non-specific sited location opened the opportunity to try and create a formula or a way these typologies of ports could operate in the future or reshape themselves to become after the year 2040. The project-based on this took two takes, one with a bold and ambitious strategy based on wellknown oyster facts. Another is the current state of the project today is based on more delicate and precise research with the five shared groups of common interest all in mind.

Newcastle Community

The groups with shared interest of such a project

Initial Research Enquiry CHAPTER 3 Precedent , Investigation & Principle

With the question at hand, it became about understanding and investigating research to help answer the question to the best of my ability. Due to the nature of the question the resreach was broken into to main parts one being oysters and the other being Newcastle in 2040. Oyster Farming

I wanted to understand the industry; for me at the time I wanted to know if this was going to be the new way of thinking moving forward, was it going to replace coal-like for like? If not by what percentage? To do this, I needed to understand oyster farms and their make-up. Additionally, I went further in this initial phase. I questioned what if we farm more by introducing natural marine life back to the harbour, creating more biodiversity and increasing the type of yield output possible. This is by suggesting an increase in crayweed for certain crayfish varieties to add to the fiscal percentage going to be missed by coal in 2040. To break this all down I needed numbers. I first utilised the NSW Oyster Industry, Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy. This book highlighted the industry in its current state and looked at ways for its continual growth moving forward. The industry has the ambition by 2026 that oyster farmers will increase their value of crops by on average 17%. This would come from the registered 2254 oyster farms covering about 3000 hectares across NSW estuary systems. In an analysis of the report and strategy which then came to my attention at the halfway mark of this research thesis, the report doesn't talk about the vulnerability of farming as something to highlight and find strategies to mitigate. Rather finding revenue and securing laws around oyster

NSW Oyster Industry Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy guideline and review 2021

Production seems to be a more crucial topic. However, I find it curious if the industry is unstable, as I later found out why are arent governments trying to aid in the most prominent typology of aquaculture in the state? However, a conversation to inquire about at a later date, what was the fiscal amount of the largest aquaculture industry? It was only $58 million. Although quite a large amount when thinking about oysters, compared to the industry the project wanted to replace, which was nowhere near the required amount. The coal industry was valued at exports in Newcastle alone to be worth $18.6 Billion in 2021, even during a downturn in trade due to the global implications of Coivd-19.

It became apparent that this wasn't the industry for the task at hand or this proposal had to be on a large scale. I think this is the very basis of the discussion around coal. There won't ever be an industry that will replace it like for like regarding what it provides for the economy. Instead, a discussion needs to be had around the combination of different industries that can help replace the gaping.

Fish

Oysters

Crayweed

NSW FISH VALUE (REPORTED/LICENSED) $32,988,229 2026 14% INCREASE

CRAYFISH NSW FISH VALUE (REPORTED/LICENSED) $13,630,786 2026 8% INCREASE

HARBOUR FARMING

HOST ENVRIOMENT FOR

PACIFIC

ANGASI

TOP VARITIES SYDNEY ROCK

DUSKY FLATHEAD (PLATYCEPHALUS FUSCUS)

SURF BREAM (ACANTHOPAGRUS AUSTRALIS)

JAPANESE MEAGRE (ARGYROSOMUS JAPONICUS)

AUSTRALASIAN SNAPPER (CHRYSOPHRYS AURATUS)

NEWCASTLES MOST CAUGHT VARITIES

NSW OYSTER VALUE (REPORTED/LICENSED)

ABALONE NSW FISH VALUE (REPORTED/LICENSED) $4,104,391 2026 2% INCREASE

$58,270,492 2026 17% INCREASE

Map highlighting reported farmed and caught produce in NSW equalling around $108 million for the NSW economy

The hole that will be left after 2040. Additionally, what can repair its damages moving forward so that the harbour can be resued once for but for other ventures.

Five closest oyster farms to Newcastle. This turnover was around $11 million and contributed nearly 20% of the entire NSW industry. This raised the question, could these farms be merged to create one mega farm, a reflection of the history of coal and a transition from one largest exporter to the largest grower? If it were also the largest grower, it would be the largest water filter. This was the true ambition of the project, after all. To help repair the damage coal had left behind. I created a formula using current statistics available about the filtration of oysters. This could then be used to calculate any body of water, the amount of time, and the required oysters to filter polluted waters. I further wanted to understand projects with similar objectives as my own at this stage, if any were fabricated into the real world or where they all conceptual based of scientific data.

The ambitions were made for the first proposal that canvassing the harbour in an oyster farm would be beneficial and challenge the industry that would be left behind. To do this, I needed to understand the scale of oyster lots, the type of techniques used and the average income of these lots. The average oyster farm was around 15 hectares which sitting across the Newcastle harbour was a fair size in relation to the width and depth of the harbour. The investigation of yield was also conducted. Using the aquaculture financial review of 2021 i was able to find the revenue of the 11

AVG PFY

PORT STEPHENS

NSW

HUNTER RIVER

BRISBANE WATERS

HAWKESBURY

TOTAL

$8,689,667

$483,285

$1,069,282

$1,246,301

$11,488,535

19% of NSW Industry

[8]Study of Pacific Oyster from Camel Estuary (Susan Ray)

Absorbtion Rate Average for Adult 75150L per day

20 oysters

Formula

[7] Oyster Dissection (1979) Encyclopedia of Earth Science. (Sewell H. Hopkins)

24hrs

Daily Rate of absolute filtration = 120 litres

OYSTERTECTURE

HARBOUR FARM

CRUSHED FOR LIME AS A SECONDARY ECONOMY

OYSTER PURCHASED

3 CONSUMED

The first precedent was Harbour farm. It is a Dutch harbour rejuvenation project designed to combat harbour underutilisation whilst cleaning the water quality, providing education about marine life and providing food services in a cutoff sustainable environment. This project utilises a modular format that allows it to shape its program based on events or seasonal changes. Additionally, this approach allows this to be used in multiple locations quickly and affordably through easy fabrication. The highlight of this project is its allocation of space based on a grid format. This allows a proposition of translation to a Newcastle context, playing with grids and space to create a function with form to follow.

RETURNED FOR A % FEE 10C PER SHELL

GOES INTO FURTHER SITE DEVELOPMENT

Oyster-tecture aims to improve habitat and water quality, restore biodiversity to tidal marshes and encourage new relationships between New Yorkers and their harbour. The project envisions that oysters are a way to diversify marine life in a busy harbour via new marine life technologies to encourage this development and growth via fuzzy webs. As a result, this will assist in cleaning millions of gallons of harbour water by harnessing the biotic filtration processes of oysters mussels, and eelgrass. The project looks at a long term vision of oyster farming and its sustainability in a life cycle format. This is from sperm to oyster as well as consumption to returning of shell for further use.

The Newcastle Economy

If I was going to be replacing the industry it was important to understand Newcastle's ambitions as a growing and developing city moving forward. Newcastle city council has some interesting documents available to the public outlaying their ambitions and targets for the future. One is Newcastle 2030 which is community-driven strategic planning highlighting the UN sustainable development goals in relation to the cities' growing ambitions. This is important to note as to how would a project like a rebirth, in reality, fit the visions of Newcastle. Areas that are highlighted include, protecting the environment, creating safe active public spaces, an inclusive community and a livable built environment.

OYSTER FARM

Fishing Processing

Dining

Oyster Farm looks at an old Scottish town that, back in the 1950s, relied heavily on the oyster industry for town growth until water quality became so poor that the city froze and moved on to other industries. The site now has improved water quality improvement the project looks at how the town can go back to its glory days on a master planning scale. The clusters consist of two key elements. One industrial - farmyard, processing sheds and the farmhouse; the other is a public promenade with a restaurant at its end. Together they encapsulate ideas of productivity and consumption, industry and recreation, ruggedness and luxury and enclosure and openness. There seems to be a relationship between the space of certain elements creating pathways and set spaces between specific programs.

Additionally the greater metropolitan plan of 2036 highlights the extent to which Newcastle is expected to grow in regard to housing, transport and industry. Newcastle is predicted to transition from coal to a service economy which will be the first-ever shift in Newcastle's rich history. This changes the way the city will operate and its priorities moving forward. IF we are proposing such an industry on-site, how are people going to work and live on-site and can it answer some questions around mix used land developments. Where industry hosts farmers and commercial settings, creating selfsustained new suburbs along the Newcastle harbour.

The two documents driving Newcastle's future ambitions

Proposal One CHAPTER 4 The first attempt and critical reflection

B ased of the initial research conducted i

Reflection on Phase 1

This proposal was somewhat bold. Although it had research behind its reasoning, it was mainly focused on trying to be the next replacement for coal. In reality, though, nothing is going to be the replacement for coal fiscally as the margins between this industry and the nonrenewable industry are complete opposites.

began to create the first proposal for rebirth. As stated the ambitions of the project for this first stage were to use the harbour as a canvas for oyster farming as future proof for the economy as well as aid in the natural healing of the harbour through water filtration.

The aim was to heavily rely on the ability of the oyster population to grow but also create an industry for other aquaculture industries such as fishing, shellfish and abalone. All of this would be encouraged to find Newcastle harbour as a home once more after the repair of the harbour floor due to dredging ceasing. The homing of the project would be situated on Dyke Point where the Hunter River meets Throsby Creek all of which meets the sea. Based on the man-made point and curvature it picks up the natural flow and high rates from the downflowing hunter river making it a great spot for oyster farming in the future based on the research conducted. It would also house the base of the economy such as commercial outlets and wholesaling as well as the residential component of the design. Over time it was suggested that as the industry grew and the harbour cleaned itself and introduced back natural marine life the production capabilities would expand across the harbour reaching further up the Dyke, across to Stockton and the second divide in the water at Walsh Point. This being that at each expansion of the production network more commercial and residential facilities be built to support the network creating a new industry and food hub for Newcastle. To be a coal city, steel city to an oyster city.

Additionally, the wait time for oysters to grow to full maturity at the scale would take way too long to actually aid in any form of water rehabilitation at the scale calculated using the formula. Additionally, by cleaning the poor water quality in the harbour these oysters would have to be thrown away due to the high toxicity of the current waterway. This would result in mass food waste but on the other hand, the excess shells had the ability to be crushed for lime and used in other means of production. However, the waste of food strongly outweighed the by-product of crushed lime in this case. Although farming at this scale could be a reality and aid in water filtering the mass scale could also come across as having the same environmental impacts as coal. Due to the mass nature and intensity of the industry, this could see other factors emerge in the harbour and counteracts the argument of trying to create more biodiversity. I.e how can there be if you're removing what you're trying to bring in? All of these thoughts on reflection were considered after the phase 1 proposal and were built upon in the second phase.

WALSH POINT

PROPOSED

35 AVERAGE

CARRINGTON

15.07

STOCKTON

CARRINGTON

STOCKTON

NEWCASTLE

SITE PROPOSITION

SIZE AVERAGE AND PROPOSAL

wind turbine blades

70% catch rate

oyster

rust components

coal microstructure

erosion

charadriiformes laridae

sand

5-6M

reflector towers

shit

sandstone

#9AB2B7

dredging

#A37B6A dyke pallet

#9D8F74 #6A5828 #A0A594 #4F4F4F #9F877E #D6E3FF

concrete

destiny

#52728D

TAXONOMY OF THE DYKE

PROCESSING

OYSTER RACK (TRADITIONAL)

OYSTER BASKET

FISHING

CRAYWEED GROWTH/CRAYFISH

KEY

1BOAT SHED 2PROCESSING 3COMMERCIAL MARKET 4RESEDENTIAL 5RESTAURANT

3 5 4

Proposal Two CHAPTER 5 The second attempt - the current state of the proposal

P hase two of the project ironically was a

sense of rebirth for me after the two-week break. A lot had changed in the world over that two weeks, which drastically changed the way I thought about my project and reflected on the feedback I initially received after the first proposal. During the phase1 proposal, the actual vulnerability of oyster farming hadn't been brought to my attention rather; the focus was on how oysters could increase harbour water quality. During the break, wide-scale natural disasters happened along the NSW East Coast. This resulted in the majority of oyster farmers losing yield. I took this as a change of direction for the project and one I researched further. Year on year, these events wipe out oyster populations, making it almost untenable even to consider running a business. So how could these events be mitigated? How could we increase population but also make it secure? Are there already systems in place?

PLACEMENT & SYSTEM

PUBLIC DOMAIN

These are always questions that shaped my initial research heading into Phase 2 of the project. As a result, I formed three core drivers for the project that being placement and system, public domain and built form. These drivers drastically changed the project's direction and outcome resulting in the end project today. The attraction of these as core drivers where the ability to keep on developing and evolving over the year-long project as there were so many ways that these drivers could follow. This chapter highlights where they took me and after the proposal where they can continue directing me moving forward for the next six months.

BUILT FORM

The information was then translated into graphs where they could be compared, highlighting similar rates and why these sites were so vulnerable to natural disasters. It became clear that the majority of the lots were situated in high flow locations with surface tray ysstems meaning that these would get destroyed as well as collect debris along river systems making them rip from the river beds. PLACEMENT & SYSTEM

It became clear that traditional systems of oyster farming had to change in the future for it to become a stable industry. During the floods, farmers hired warehouses to create makeshift hydroponic stations to keep oyster sprouts alive during these unprecedented conditions. This raised the question if oysters can survive with good water quality, and a certain current flow that was man-made, then why can't oyster farms look very different to what we see today. These alternative strategies are already in action with certain farmers splitting their crops between natural and tank set-up. This led to the investigation of still having a natural system within the harbour to help cleaning efforts of water quality and also creating a system using current technology to implement on site to aid in creating a secure fiscal environment for the oyster industry.

The theme of placement and system was a

crucial one for the second phase of the project as this was the main reason for intervention on site. This driver required the most research, not just about the site in more detail but about oysters themselves. How do they grow, and what do they need to survive? As highlighted in the first phase, I understood they could be an excellent filter and naturally help aid water quality in Newcastle over time. Still, the approach to the industry wasn't delicate at all but rather somewhat non-considering of the real issues at hand. Canvasing the harbour as one big oyster farm would solve one problem but create more significant problems overall. I began by understanding the damages that happened to oyster farms over the Easter break by researching the top 5 most impacted oyster farms along the east coast. Unfortuanlyety they are some of our most prominent producers of oysters in the state. The analysis became five-pronged in which i recorded: Location Photo evidence of the type of damage Fiscal Loss High and Low flow water conditions in relation to oyster farm lots The size of the loss

[9] Ken Cowden - An oyster farmer who uses a mix used strategy here in NSW. Ken states the trending method could be an effective insurance policy for the industry

$842,000 LOSS

BATEMANS BAY

$482,000 LOSS

10.1HA

12.7HA

$683,000 LOSS

18.2HA

PAMBULA

KEY

LOW FLOW

MAJOR OYSTER LOT

Five tiered analysis of the current top 5 oyster farms based on damage , with review on flow and damage size

$197,000 LOSS

$567,000 LOSS

OYSTER FARM ANALYSIS HIGH FLOW

BRISBANE WATERS

20.8HA

HAWKESBURY

19.6HA

PORT MACQUARIE

HAWKESBURY

PAMBULA

KEY

FLOORBED TRAY

BATEMANS BAY

BRISBANE WATERS

SURFACE TRAY

HIGH FLOW

LOW FLOW

PROTECTED BANKS

UNPROTECTED BANKS

Analysis of oyster farm traits to understand averages and trends

To understand if Dyke Point was still a suitable site, I analysed the highlighted five damaged areas. These were assessed based on six criteria of high flow, low flow, floored tray, surface tray, protected banks and unprotected banks. This was to see if there was any correlation between specific typologies of farms and the increase in damage costs due to natural disasters. Additionally, mapping this indicated the more common typology and combinations. It was founded that results averaged that surface trays, high flow waterways, and unprotected banks were common themes among the five sites, whilst also being their downfall, explaining the high rate of debris damage due to their location in high flow sections as well as being open to the elements. This gave an understanding of the type of areas that may be suitable on the Dyke point site. It was researched in Pahse1 that the site offers both flow varieties thus maintaining its suitability for the advancement of the project. Testing began based on the driver of placement and system.

Two tests were carried out one was DPOP (Dyke Point Oyster Placement), and the other was AOP (Assisted Oyster Placement). Through the DPOP model of card, string and pin. I began to use the average oyster grid lot size, testing specific locations around the edge of the site whilst considering flow rates, water topography and debris drift. Based on this, I chose the intervention of DPOP1.8. This lot will host natural lots that could be accessed by the public, allowing people to experience oyster farming, farm their own or be an observer. Through the same testing, I began to look at our alternative farming method and location. Using previous components of the dyke point shed, these were trialled along with the site until the infrastructure matched the site objectives and understood the environment. AOP1.6 was located based on its swung arm nature extracting water from the Hunter River and disposing of it in Throsby creek over time, cleaning our waterways. 29

Images of testing for DPOP and AOP proposals

AOP1.8

AOP1.7

AOP1.6

AOP1.5

AOP1.4

AOP1.3

AOP1.2

AOP1.1

DPOP 1.8

DPOP 1.4

DPOP 1.3

DPOP 1.2

DPOP 1.6

DPOP 1.7

DPOP 1.1

DPOP 1.5

1 2

These combinations result in the cited proposal, but how does the AOP assist system work? This led me to an investigation to understand more about water filtration and cleaning. Rather than solely relying on the oyster to do the heavy lifting , was there a way another alternative could aid in this process but also add to the infrastructure of the site. To understand the

proposal and system in its entirety I broke the design into four core parts. 1 & 2 being collection and filtration. 3 being oyster towers and second phase filtration and 4 being return.

1 Collection

2 Nano-Bubble Filtration

NANO BUBBLE PRODUCTION

(a)

(b)

Section 1 and 2 of the scheme uses a relatively new technology called nanobubbling. This is where through intense disbursement of water particles, water can be separated from waste resulting in filtered water without removing other vital materials of natural water like other filtering systems. The proposal creates a system where water is collected from the harbour and then transferred to be conditioned via nanobubble. This system already gets used in Japanese oyster farming techniques due to their struggles with water management and quality but on a smaller scale.

(c)

(d)

(a)Physical Stimulation (b)Mircobubble Formation (c)Collapse Point

Inspired by Japanese oyster farming techniques due to harsh environmental conditions and growing poor water quality issues. Hooper's island farm in Japan uses this technique for 85% of there oyster production

(d)Decomposition of organic chemicals

Collected via a suction chamber placed on the harbour floor. Mesh protects holes from debris.Suction cycle happens every 30 minute.

Nano Bubble filtering happens in the filtration tower. This process takes 30mins before the water is extracted and moved onto the next phase.

Oyster Towers / Phase Two Filtration

Assisted Oyster Towers

(a)

Section 3 highlights the alternative farming style created by creating vertical oyster towers and a second filtration phase. Water from the nano filtering is transferred along a pipe and filtered through vertical oyster trays mimicking the low tide conditions oysters thrive in, enabling them to grow. During this, the oysters are also able to filter the water extracted from the harbour for a second time. The water is then collected in an underground tank.

(b)

(c)

Thinking vertical is a way to reduce footprint across the harbour and create consistent yield due to oysters being protected rather the exposed to environmental uncertainty. The Blackwattle Oyster Farm by Sahlestrom Studio tests this.

(a)Distribution Pipe (b)Oyster Tower - small off pipes that filter water into each vertical tray. (c)Run off tank - collects run off from part b and send to next stage of the system

Continual slow water movement along towers mimics low tide habitats where oysters grow more rapidly

Close proximity to oyster towers enables sensory experience towards the system

4 Return and Flow

3 Assisted Oyster Towers

This is then moved to section four, where finally, water is returned to the harbour through a fanned system creating increased water flow on the low flow Throsby creek side whilst enabling the natural oyster development to flourish with not only stream but also clean water.

A component of Scapes Clean water and strong Oystertecture is natural flow will help aid natural filtration and flow back into oysters creating sustained the harbour.. Component 4 growth and increased spat of this proposal implements similar strategies to provide increased flow on Throsby Creek but also assist in growth and breeding of oysters

(a)

(b)

(c)

(a)Viewing Platform (b)External pipe carrying Oyster tower runoff (c)Bladed jet returning cleaned water back to harbour whilst creating waterflow for natural oyster placement

Overtime harbour quality will improve inviting marine life back into the harbour creating a rich marine environment

has been a change of industry happening at Dyke Point and that is reflected in the scale of the architecture being on such a dominant site on the city's landscape. Its vital that the new industry is one with nature and its community, allowing an ecological industry that Newcastle is proud of and wants to be a part of. The move of expanding the length of the shed and creating an open environment allows people viewing across the water from honeysuckle to see and engage with industry, be curious and show a public domain and infrastructure working for them and the environment. Moving forward how can this be further developed if you cut away heavy industrial height and replace it with a more levelled and suitable scaled design. Or by doing this does it affect the yield output of such a proposal and lose the historical nature of the industry on site.

PUBLIC DOMAIN

T he

Public Domain was an important driver for the project and will be moving forward. Now that I had the system and placement in shape how would people interact with the proposal now and into the future? One thing that the coal industry doesn't do is interact with the community that which it resides. All we see are glimpses of massive gestures of trade economy and scale with no real understanding of how it gets pulled together So for Rebirth, I wanted to start creating infrastructure that is open to the community is vital for this project. It gives the Newcastle community and those abroad the ability to interact and understand a site of this significance and industry. Being interactive and engaging with the system allows people to understand and feel a connection to the project. Rebirth allows people to roam freely across the main farming shed, experiencing the way oyster farming can be done on coal ports or in tight sites in the future. Encouraging people to touch, smell and take oysters as they please, creating a community hub around food and system. Moving forward I want to explore ways the main farming shed can change the scale or adapt itself to interact more with the public domain. This is so that through the architecture there is an emphasis that there

This enables the amphitheatre to react and change its programming based on tidal change and encourages people to sit with one with the water.

PD1.1

In the further development of the project, i think it is viable and will help cement the purpose of the project by pushing this threshold further. At the moment his proposal is safe and an investigation into the reasoning behind keeping the point a point might be of some benefit in testing the limits of edge and threshold.

PD1.2

PD1.3

It was also important how the public domain is used in correlation with guests alongside the proposed infrastructure. The project's push for a new economy and new suburb on dyke point means that a trio of factors come into play. This being people, infrasturce and reshaping harbour edge. I began to test how the harbour's edge could be pulled apart via using sketch test and using the same type of set-up as the placement and system test outlining a series of drawings a "PD" tests. Through these PD tests PD 1.4 was best suited as a trial for how the threshold between water and land would take place. This allows people to roam freely near oyster lots whilst creating an amphitheatre cut away from the edge of the site, allowing the waters to roam freely alongside the point.

PD1.5

PD1.4

PD1.6

Conceptual drawings of possible public domain interventions

PD1.5

maybe using the ideology of thinking like a farmer will bring a style to the site that will help create a story or fill in these connections between the three groups. One which may need more resreach and understanding but I feel will add that extra layer of fabric to the project. Additionally, to sustain this, residential and commercial offerings will be offered. It's essential to try and revitalise the once industrial land and approach it with care and responsibility. Advancing this and understanding the site's history in regards to its built form may aid in this returning the site into a more returned to nature proposition which will ultimately affect the strategic positioning and style of the built form.

BUILT FORM

Having the ability to shape the Dyke Point

proposal now and into the future was also a key move heading into Phase 2 of the project. This driver had to have the understandingof not just creating volumetric spaces on site but what their intentions were for the project to be seen as successful. The proposal almost leans itself towards being a self-sustained entity sitting on the cusp of land and sea.

Currently using current slabs in place, this will be the base for residential and commercial development. I tested ways in which possible street forms may appear over time and how both commercial and residential will operate within close proximity. It is the project's aim not to overdevelop, creating spacing rules based on the landscape between built forms but also leaving space for the site to expand based on its success. In this proposal, I've made the suggestion of apartments as placeholders for space on the site. Further investigation may be required into if this is the suitable approach for such a site and relates back to the theory of thinking like a farmer. This being the romance and delicacy of oyster farming co in hand has a connection to cottages similar to the Newcastle of old. Does this approach over large scale apartments again add to the fabric and value of the site in its built form capacity.

To achieve this I believed that making a project like this requires a commitment of three like-minded groups, residents who want to live in the new development, workers and visitors. Without the three groups, no industry can sustainably function as it enables a circular economy within one truly relying on each other for the best outcome. Over time it is proposed that the project will expand along with the site, and with these three groups working harmoniously, this can be achieved by creating solid fiscal goals and aiding in a new economy for Newcastle. This point where by reliance on each other to create a larger overhanging system of people could be explored in more of a circular economy context however i do think this is where the strengths of the project lies , although it is a driver. Rather 41

WORKERS

RESIDENTS OYSTER AS A MECHANISM

COME TOGETHER TO HOUSE INDUSTRY

ENABLES GROWTH OF SITE AND INDUSTRY

VISITORS

RELIANCE ON EACH OTHER FOR END RESULT

A CYCLE OF CONTINUAL GROWTH

COMPONENTS OF TAXONOMY

COMMERCIAL

RESEDENTIAL

ROOM FOR GROWTH

GIVING BACK

Critical Reflection CHAPTER 6 A moment of pause and critique

I n the current position of the project I am

by three core drivers which are strong enough to keep the project developing for the next six months. I think it strikes a perfect conversation to have about ports, their uses after they stop being used as well as the relationship between land and water. Naturally, there is such a divide between the two but how can we merge them together so it is an intertwined and common experience to inhabit watered sites. These drivers are areas in which I wish to develop and are highlighted in chapter seven.

happy with how it has turned out over the thirteen weeks. I have to remind myself that thirteen weeks ago I wasn't even sure about what my project would end up like, where id find the answers or if the project was strong enough to keep developing. I have learnt so much about the site of Dyke Point and its history and feel continual revelations weekly shaping the project into what it is today and will continue to be in the future.

The direction of the project has been fascinating on reflection. Its strong direction of creating a critical proposal to use the harbour as a canvas and eliminate the purpose of large shipping vessels was a bold one but maybe a topic for future discussion, but in reality, didn't address the problems of the oyster industry but rather addressed the effects of coal to specifically to site. The break period proved vital for me to transition into a new way of thinking and make some crucial decisions to advance the project in the right direction.

The strength I feel also comes in the fact that the project is such a live project in the current context. The recent change of government, supported by people wanting action on climate change, as well as the oyster industry facing new challenges weekly with disaster, not including other natural occurrences such as diseases. This leads the project to be at the forefront of conversation and alternative methods of ecological regenrative industry and can assist in ways other ports in Australia but also globally can reshape themselves in a post-non-renwebale era.

The reactive nature of oyster farmers due to unfortunate natural disasters enabled me to shift focus on the greater issue at hand. The new direction I felt was crucial. This was based on the fact that after the first phase 1 of delivering the project I was questioning what would happen to the project through the rest of the year as I felt something was missing in regards to the foundations of the project. I was able to source direction and guidance and am happy that I've been able to achieve that and keep developing on this moving forward.

Rebirth's Weaknesses I think one of the weaknesses of Rebirth is the actual feasibility of such a project. It questions and almost points the finger at who would progress with such an intervention on the site. Is it the council, the agriculture industry itself or another party entirely? The site at Dyke Point also offers an interesting argument. Although the focus of the project is predominantly on the point the reuse of the entire point is still left unspoken. Is it safe to use these types of areas by 2040 or will further remediation be required to create these safe environments for the community and a new industry?

Rebirth's Strengths The rebirth project I feel has many strengths after the phase two proposal. Its cemented 45

The project also has a lens of "The Architect"; instead, I need to start thinking with a dual lens of the farmer. What would it be like to live and work on-site? The daily ritual and the interactions with the public. Additionally the eye of the visitor, the interactions and the education from such interventions.

Vertical farming could be a reality rather than reaction-based speculation. It would boost the project into an extremely strong position alongside other core drivers that are highlighted to be developed moving forward.

Finally the actual system itself. Although the theory behind such a system is there the actual feasibility of it is still yet to be questioned. Projects have suggested that this could happen or that the way to go about farming should be vertical in a climate where land and water are such a precious economy. I think if there was a way or understanding 46

Research Advancement CHAPTER 7 A week by week timeline of future research

The project's further development is based on the public domain and built form design more specifically. How the water interacts with the land, and how do we as people interact with the harbour in ways that we have not been able to do with coal dominating the waterways. Therefore the research development over the next 12 weeks will look at ways to further develop this relationship and how that may affect and shape the architecture into a more delicate and responsive proposal on the site in the forms of the built form and public infrastructure. Through current feedback on the proposal and where it is currently, I think this is the right direction for the project to head. It pays with the history of the site being a flat man-made object that sits on the water's edge to reinvite itself to its origins, where water becomes the controller and the environment around it must adapt. This has already begun its provocation with certain design moves in the public domain driver of the project. Moving forward the following books below will drive this development, understanding strategies and methods that work alongside waterways.

River Space Design will help understand and create threshold tests of what is suitable for the sited intervention

This is crucial as the idea of the project is to not categorise land and water as two separate entities but instead as an encompassed system, where people can be involved and change their habits based on tidal changes. These books will be the basis of this development as well as setting out weekly goals to obtain at least one crucial text and one crucial drawing to help inspire the final proposal over 12 weeks. Additionally making time to model the proposal I think will be beneficial for the project to understand water topography and its relationships with the site as well as seeing the architectural system and its positioning in relation to the land and broader context.

[10]"Lune de Sang" Model by Crofi Archiects - a style in which i wish to implement for the final model design

A supplementary to River Space Design riverscapes looks at embankments more specifically and the risks of flooding

Water v Urbans Scapes is a collection of designs based around waterways and there interactions

The Timeline Work on the Eastern side. The current proposal leaves it unchanged but how might it change in 2040 ? Can we aid it ? Does there become a relationship between Eastern and Western?

A reflection of current proposal , identify the areas of development

Work on the Western Throsby creek side of the development. Does the system and water merge closer ? How does this affect the first proposed public domain?

Finesse system feasibility , can it be scaled down ? if it can how does this affect the current architecture on site ? Is it a response then to industrialisation dismantlement ?

Keep developing both sides of public domain as well as architecture. Don't have resolved responses rather 80% completion

Presentation of current development. Take on board feedback and really develop areas that have been highlighted on top of project ambitions as well

Start begin on working model , timber ideally. Start adding to it weekly. Fresh eyes on project after semester break is there any other ways the project can develop ?

Keep developing both sides of public domain as well as architecture. Start working on presentation slides and adding weekly to this

The public domain resolution should be resolved. Shift focus to architecture finessing. How does the building open up and shift to respond top the public domain and other built forms around site

Develop architectural resolution , also start adding to masterplan other generic built form. Be careful of scale , does it represent the type of development aims ? Avoid apartments think in ways a oyster farmer would think and live.

Have a mock presentation complete , write speech and have model completed to 90% completion

Project Completion and Presentation. A time to reflect on 12 week journey as well as the larger year.

Bibliography CHAPTER 8 The foundation of good research

Images [1] "View of Newcastle Harbour 1880"Unknown. (1880). View of Newcastle Harbour [Image]. Retrieved from https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/19143? keywords=view%20of%20newcastle%20harbour&highlights=eyIwIjoibmV3Y2FzdGxlIi [2]"Newcastle Steel Works” by David Moore 1963 [3] "Coal Loading at the Dyke" 1894Snowball, R. (1894). Coal loading at The Dyke [Image]. Retrieved from https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/46311? keywords=Dyke%20Coal%20Loading&highlights=eyIwIjoiZHlrZSIsIjIiOiJoZWFkaW5nIiw [4]"Old harvesting ways at Coffin Bay " N.D History. (2022). https://www.coffinbayoysterfarm.com.au/history.html [5]"Clearing debris at Coffin Bay " N.D History. (2022). https://www.coffinbayoysterfarm.com.au/history.html [6] Bountiful leases: Gwawley Bay in 1958 by George Lipman [7] Oyster Dissection (1979) Encyclopedia of Earth Science. (Sewell H. Hopkins) [8]Study of Pacific Oyster from Camel Estuary (Susan Ray)

[9] Ken Cowden - An oyster farmer who uses a mix used strategy here in NSW. Ken states the trending method could be an effective insurance policy for the industry [10]"Lune de Sang" Model by Crofi Archiects Zoran Perin, h. (2018). CHROFI. Retrieved 8 June 2022, from http://www.chrofi.com/project/lune-de-sang-pavilion

Articles and Other Department of Primary Industries. 2020. "Aquaculture IN NEW SOUTH WALES". NSW: NSW Government. "Presidents Medals: Oyster Farm". 2010. Presidentsmedals.Com. http://www.presidentsmedals.com/Entry-25341. Carrol, David. 2022. "World’S Largest Coal Port Flicks Switch To 100% Renewable Energy". PV, , 2022. "Australia: Export Value Of Coal 2021 | Statista". 2022. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1120570/australia-export-value-ofThompson, Frances. 2008. "Newcastle Harbour & Hunter River Bottom Revealed". Newcastle Herald, , 2008. "Harbour Farm 2.0". 2013. Effekt. https://www.effekt.dk/harbourfarm. Interactive, Warp. 2010. "Presidents Medals: Oyster Farm". Presidentsmedals.Com. http://www.presidentsmedals.com/Entry-25341. "Operation Crayweed". 2021. Operation Crayweed. http://www.operationcrayweed.com/. Newcastle Herald. 2012. "Newcastle Harbour Clean-Up Continues Following Oil Spill", , 2012. "How Does Ballast Water Affect The Environment? - Sensorex". 2019. Sensorex. https://sensorex.com/2019/12/24/howdoes-ballast-water-affect-environment/. "Oyster-Tecture - SCAPE". 2009. SCAPE. https://www.scapestudio.com/projects/oyster-tecture/. 2019. https://www.natureaustralia.org.au/what-we-do/our-priorities/oceans/ocean-stories/oysters-filter-water/. 2020. Depws.Nt.Gov.Au. https://depws.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/589477/waterres-nt-factsheet-watervolumes.pdf. Figu (The Changing Face Of Oyster Culture In New South Wales, Australia. 2009. Image. ) Anatomy of an Oyster ( Operation Crayweed". 2021. Operation Crayweed. http://www.operationcrayweed.com/.) Newcastle City Council. (2018). Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan. Newcastle: NCC. Newcastle City Council. (2020). Newcastle 2030 - Community Strategic Plan. Newcastle: NCC. Aquaculture – Nano Bubble. (2021). 2022, from https://www.nanobubble.com.au/applications/aquaculture/

Kahn, P., Zhu, W., & Nasir, G. (2020). Micro–nanobubble technology and water-related application. Retrieved 2022, from Hoopers Island's Floating Upwellers Help Japanese Oyster Farmers. (2021). from https://hoopersisland.com/grow-out-gearshipped-to-japan/ What are Nanobubbles? | Moleaer. (2020). Retrieved 2022, from https://www.moleaer.com/nanobubbles Gortan, R. (2021). Why live tanks are the future of oyster storage. from https://thefishsite.com/articles/why-live-tanks-arethe-future-of-oyster-storage

A CLOSING NOTE At this stage of my development as I complete this book and flick through the pages I have written I am so proud of the achievements I have made. So a closing note to what is Rebirth. This project I feel so incredibly strongly about. The research, time and commitment to the project have seen me give like I have never given before and really challenged me in ways I've never been challenged before. Although daunting and sometimes relentless it is a journey that I will always cherish for me personally that this thesis investigation will be a research task like no other. To come from minimal to no understanding of a topic and try and combat a current industry, create my own brief and question to respond to is something I desired but had no tools as to how I would get there. I am grateful for the direction, motivation and support I have received. This current moment and position I am in only fuels me to keep on developing the research and project for a discussion around Newcastle in the future. I look forward to the next iteration with further developed and designed works of Rebirth , where i believe a project like this can shape Newcastle one oyster at a time.