Small Creek, once a chain of ponds waterway in suburban Ipswich, was concreted in the 1980’s. Our Senior Environmental Scientist, Ben Walker, led the naturalisation of this waterway from project inception through to maintenance post construction incorporating concept design, detail design construction tender and supervision. Recognizing that the success or otherwise of this type of project rests with the community and wider stakeholder group, the Small Creek design employed a co-design process, whereby the community were asked what they wanted to see before any design work was undertaken. The concept design was undertaken on site over five days, allowing the team to develop and refine the design in front of the community over this time. The approach delivered environmental benefit, but most importantly provided the community with a connection to its re-imagined Small Creek. It also aimed to deliver other benefits including active transport connections, improved amenity, activation, urban cooling and education. Traditional owner advice was taken on as more than ‘traditional elements’, instead the advice regarding traditional owner use of waterways and as a resource was core to the whole design approach. Small Creek is now establishing as a new and stable waterway. Sampling has shown that it is home to an abundance and diversity of native fish, the plants are establishing well and the community have embraced the change from lifeless concrete channel to waterway teaming with life. It has received many awards, accolades and commendations from industry bodies such as AILA, Stormwater Queensland and a highly commended award at the Ministers Urban Design Awards. E2Designlab recently completed detailed design of Stage 3 in conjunction with project partners, bringing our understanding of designing for improved ecology, place making and experience through construction and establishment to the team. The design responded to a more space constrained reach and continued participation of community members to reflect their desires for the creek corridor in the design.
