Landcom and Australand have given the green light for work to commence on the first of two major ponds and rain gardens at The Ponds.
The two water gardens 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 and the other will be located off Paddle Street.
“The $3 million water gardens 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 Kerry Robinson, General Manager from Landcom.
“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 commenced construction. Award winning landscape architectural practice Clouston Associates designed the landscaping and J Wyndham Prince are the civil engineering designers 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 constructed in concrete and masonry with architectural concrete, steel and rock finishes in adjacent landscape works,” said Ryan Kudsi, Project Engineer for Ford Civil Contracting.
“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.”
Justine Williams, Associate Director for Clouston Associates 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 390 hectare master-planned community which is being developed by Landcom and Australand. When complete it will comprise over 3 000 homes and 80 hectares of parkland.
For further information call 9629 1212 or visit the Sales and Display Centre located on Riverbank Drive. The Ponds is open daily from 10am to 5pm or click on www.theponds.com.au
Media contact: Natasha McGuire, Red Leopard Media, Phone: 02 9328 4248 or 04000 90553.
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