THE PONDS PARKLANDS: BRIDGES, BOARDWALKS AND SIGNAGE

Blacktown, NSW

Second Ponds creek lies at the heart of The Ponds, a benchmark 3000-lot residential development located on 80 hectares of parkland in Western Sydney. With waterfrontage such a key part of the estate, it was essential that pedestrian and road accessibility were addressed to facilitate easy movement through the popular parkland. Using infrastructure devices as placemaking highlights, CLOUSTON developed concepts for bridges, boardwalks and signage, increasing connectivity while maintaining sustainability.

Highlights include:

Stanhope Parkway, Riverbank Drive and Greenview Parade Bridges – These three bridge crossings link the eastern and western sides of Second Ponds Creek. CLOUSTON developed concepts for improving their aesthetic appeal and architectural gateway qualities with the intention of creating a suite of bridges that provided identifiable and memorable crossings for residents and visitors alike. The dual-carriageway Stanhope Parkway Bridge includes two cable-stayed pedestrian cycleways on either side of the plank bridge construction. CLOUSTON assisted with the development of the design and treatment of the abutments, handrails and cable-stayed columns.

Pedestrian Bridges and Boardwalks – Since 2006 CLOUSTON has designed 11 boardwalks and bridges at The Ponds, with a further two to be installed. We worked closely with leading fabricator Fleetwood Urban to ensure that buildability and protection of existing environmental features were incorporated from the outset. Most boardwalks lie below the 1:100 flood plain and any handrails have shear pins that will allow them to collapse in a peak rainfall event.

Orientation Signage – To assist future residents and visitors in navigating the extensive parkland, a comprehensive family of signs was developed. This includes major venue markers, orientation maps, directional signs and destination naming.