Yarra Flats Park: Reconnection and Revival/Yingan Huo

Yarra Flats Park: Reconnection and Revival Design with Country: Resilience Studio

Yingan Huo

Acknowledgement of Country I would like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people who are the Traditional Custodians of this Land.

I would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present of the Kulin Nation and extend that respect to other Indigenous Australians present.

Introduction The project aims to make a vision for the resilient and sustainable future of the Yarra river, or "Birrarung" in Kulin languages, which means "river of mists".

Yarra river was an important gathering and camping place for wurundjeri people for thousands of years, it is closely connected to their culture, livelihood, and identity.

The Kulin nation has its own way to record the seasons' pass: the Kulin calendar. It shows how nature works, and the activity of the Kulin people is closely connected to the land, and nature.

"Country...comprises ecologies of plants, animals, water, sky, air and every aspect of the ‘natural’ environment. Country is a spiritual entity: she is Mother. " (Foster & Paterson Kinniburgh, 2020)

Kulin Calendar

Location

Melbourne

Language group-Woiwurrung Map source: (Clark (1998), as cited in City of Moonee Valley, 2012)

Bulleen Precinct

Site analysis

Data mapping

Yarra Flats Park(Transect No. 5)

N

Conceptural transect

The site starts from the residential area of the Eaglemont suburb, and then crossing the Yarra flats park and Yarra river, further extending to the Bulleen industrial area and former Bulleen drive-in.

Design Concept

The Banksia billabong, located on the north side of the transect, used to be an important gathering site of indigenous people and important wildlife habitat, is lacking enough water sources. The shelter and the toilet lack maintenance.

The original vegetation used to be cleared and the site was used as farmland, which could be seen from the historical photo on the last page.

However, the site also has high cultural and ecological value, which brings the potential for the site to revive and become a significant precinct.

A place where people can feel the connection to the country

Improving the visiting experience for both indigenous peo ple and no nindigenous people

Environment restoration & make the site more resilient, creating habitats for animals

Stakeholders

Examples of the documents YARRA RIVER BULLEEN PRECINCT

YARRA FLATS PARK

LAND USE FRAMEWORK PLAN

Revised Concept Plan

CONSULTATION DRAFT AUGUST 2020

2013

A revised concept plan for the northern section of Yarra Flats Park has been developed to incorporate feedback from community consultation.

Background

What this means for the plan

Yarra Flats Park in Eaglemont is popular with walkers, cyclists, picnickers and birdwatchers. Parks Victoria undertook community consultation to test community support for proposals for the park which include: revegetation and new walking paths; an Impressionist Lab Art Gallery and Education Centre proposed by Banyule City Council; a tree-based adventure course proposed by Parks Victoria and Ecoline; and a stormwater wetland proposed by Melbourne Water.

Parks Victoria considers that the three proposals are all consistent with its Healthy Parks Healthy People philosophy, which aims to encourage more people to enjoy the park more often.

How we consulted Formal community consultation on the draft plan ran from Friday 26 April to Thursday 31 May 2012. A Community Information Day was held at the park on Sunday 29 April from 10am to 2 pm, which approximately 110 people attended.

The feedback we received Parks Victoria would like to thank the many people who took the time to complete the survey or make a submission. The total number of surveys returned was 217, of which 168 were on-line responses and 49 were paper surveys. Letters or emails providing further comment were received from 10 individuals and organisations. A petition with 151 signatures, opposing the Impressionist Lab location and seeking the proposed wetland works to rejuvenate the remnant billabong, was received from the Riverland Conservation Society.

The survey indicated: Revegetation Almost 90% of respondents were in support of a long-term program to revegetate the river bank and billabong areas to strengthen the habitat corridor.

Wetland - Around 79% agreed/strongly agreed the wetland would be of community benet and 64% said it would increase their use of the park.

Impressionist Lab - Around 61% of respondents agreed/strongly agreed that an Impressionist Lab Gallery would benet the community and 45% say the presence of the gallery would increase their use of the parklands.

Tree Course - Around 50% of respondents agreed/strongly agreed that a tree based adventure course in the park would benet the community and 35% say a tree course is likely/highly likely to increase their use of the park. (note that the majority of respondants were older than the average tree course user).

The Concept Plan has been revised to take into account many of the important concerns expressed during the consultation.

A summary of the survey results is available on the Parks Victoria website www.parks.vic.gov.au under Plans Underway, Yarra Flats Park.

Yarra Flats Park

Yarra River-Bulleen Precinct Land Use Yarra Flats Park: Revised Concept Plan 2013 Framework Plan

Submission from Riverland Conservation Society of Heidelberg Inc We are the Friends Group of Yarra Flats Park, Heidelberg.

We have been involved with this park for over 30 years and have good understanding of the evolving nature of the community’s expectations of the park.

Our submission mainly pertains to suburban parks with a natural or semi-natural character, such as our park.

PUBLIC USAGE ISSUES

The recent coronavirus situation has highlighted that large green spaces like Yarra Flat Park are highly sort after for passive recreation and their ‘green oasis in suburbia’ function.

Large numbers of people are enjoying the park for the pleasure of immersing themselves in a natural or semi natural environment, with the well-established mental and physical health benefits that ensue.

The great delight of people discovering wildlife, such as kangaroos in the middle of Melbourne, is something very special.

Over the last couple of months there has been a preponderance of people walking in the park, outnumbering joggers and bike riders by 2 or 3 to 1.

In my travels around the local parks of the area, it is apparent that Yarra Flats Park is the most heavily used park in the area - especially by walkers. I think people are attracted to the more natural setting and a pleasant gravel path to walk on. (The gravel path also slows bike riders down which makes it more pleasant for walkers and those wanting to appreciate the natural ambience).

A lot of people are using the adjacent tranquil Boulevard road to complete a circuit walk.

Many stop to check the Artist Trail signage with their pictures of the Heidelberg School’s work.

With this background in mind we suggest the following priorities for park infrastructure.

Yarra River 50-year

Community Vision Wilip-gin Birrarung murron

Yarra River 50-year Community Vision

• • • •

Well formed gravel paths that allow for a good appreciation of the park’s natural assets.

Circuit routes should be deployed where practical.

Signage to inform people of points of interest in the park are very valuable.

Adequate budgets to allow maintenance of the park’s infrastructure by the park manager.

NATURAL HERITAGE ISSUES

The conservation and rehabilitation of the natural assets of parks is an important priority.

Melbourne’s increase in urban density is resulting in rapidly declining tree cover and biological diversity.

Submission from Riverland Conservation Society of Heidelberg Inc

Different stakeholders could provide useful guidance or suggestions which could helps making wiser decision when doing design,

Time scheme

Master plan

1:2000

N

0

0.1

0.5km

Graphical diagram Accessibility

Water

Existing Entrance New Entrance New walking trail Bridge/boardwalk Existing trail Paved path

Sustainability strategies

Habitats

Green architecture Rain garden Riverbank protection Increase vegetation

Woodland

Riverbank

Meadow

Wetland

Constructed wetland Recycled/sustainable materials Permeable pavers

Detail 1: Bird watching tower

1200.0 1200.0 5000.0 5000.0

Dimension

The application of translucent polycarbonate creates soft diffused light, this is a special interpretation of the "mist and shadow" of the Yarra river. The structure of the walls is modular and easy to install. It allows people to enjoy the view of the whole site, and the location is not too close to the ecologically sensitive area near the billabong.

Modular structure

Materials:

2500.0 2500.0

15000.0 15000.0

Polycarbonate sheets Power coated steel (White)

Recycled timber

Detail 2: Constructed wetland and viewing platform The constructed wetland act as part of the Banksia billabong reviving project, it could collect and clean the water from Banksia street to the billabong. It also provides habitats for wildlife. The selection of material is plastic lumber which has a higher resistance to weathering and rot, and it is also made of recycled materials.

Materials:

Plastic lumber

Species selections:

Goodenia ovata

Dianella revoluta

Juncu spallidus

Isolepis cernua

Juncus flavidus

Carex appressa

Section A-A: Constructed Wetland

1:200 0

5

10

15

20

25

Detail 3: Native meadow garden Meadow garden has a soft texture and wild appearance, native species are selected which further creates a garden that is naturally incorporated into the surrounding landscape.

Materials:

Concrete(Off-mould finish)

Corten Steel

The interpretive signage along the circular paths tells the story of aboriginal people. The garden has a "meditation circle" layout, and it allows people to walk around, relax and meditate.

Species selections:

Themeda triandra Lomandra longifolia Dichelachne ‘Breeze’ micrantha

Xerochrysum bracteatum

Microseris sp.

Linum marginale

Section B-B: Native meadow garden

1:200

0

5

10

15

20

25

Detail 4: Bunjil pavilion Sketches of preliminary idea

The pavilion is inspired by the creator "bunjil". It has a shape that is similar to a bunjil spreading the wings that form a shelter and protect its people.

Materials:

Its "feather" is made of a hybrid of timber and steel to prevent rot of timber during flooding.

Zinc coated steel

Australian Hardwood

Detail 5: Foot bridge across yarra river The bridge connects two sides of the Yarra river, shape of the footbridge (boardwalk) is inspired by the boomerang of aboriginal people.

Pigmented boomerang (Source: National Museum Australia)

The design of the handrail pattern will be a chance to cooperate with indigenous artists (the pattern on the left is to show the concept only). The bridge will connect not only the green space but also cultures.

Fatherhood by Reko Rennie(2019)

Pattern on the handrail

Section C-C Footbridge across yarra river

1:200

0

5

10

15

20

25

References: City of Moonee Valley. (2012). The Wurundjeri Willam – The Original Inhabitants Of Mooney Valley by Moonee Valley City Council. 24.

Foster, S., & Paterson Kinniburgh, J. (2020). There’s No Place Like (Without) Country. In D. Hes & C. Hernandez-Santin (Eds.), Placemaking Fundamentals for the Built Environment (pp. 63–82). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9624-4_4 Reko, R. (2019). Fatherhood. Retrieved June 8, 2022, from https://rekorennie.com/work/fatherhood/

Thanks for reading.