Urban eco-constructs studio challenged the students to investigate and employ natural ecosystems and eco-systemic cycles as a model for landscape design. Studio works of Monique Govers, Nicholas Beer, Bride Blake (Chlorophyll park), Keith Farnsworth, Faculty advisor: Archana Sharma

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25. SAFE
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26. SAFE
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ACTIVITY

92. Design Through Making Studio
Westgate Park
constructed-ecologies in hyper-urban environments
RMIT Landscape Architecture
Folio
Nicholas Beer (s3078289)
Tutor: Archana Bhatt

93. Introduction - The Hunch
Westgate Park is one of those places that you
become exposed to when driving along a freeway;
one of those places you say to yourself: ‘I should go
there one day’. The patchwork of different coloured
lakes seen from atop the Westgate freeway seem to
inspire thoughts of otherworldliness; surrounded as
it is by an unrelenting industrial context.
On visiting the park, one is drawn into the world of
wetland birds, distant views and the occassional
snake slithering across the path. Like many parks
these days, Westgate park has a few information
boards. Looking across the stretch of lake refered to
as the salt lake, one notices a large body of water
surrounded by dwarfing grassed mounds and the
imposing Westgate freeway. After wandering
around for a while, we arrive at the freshwater
lake and rather than admiring the water itself, our
attention is drawn to the many birds which seem to
call the lake home.
How is it that two lakes, not more than a hundred
metres apart, can display such a difference?
It is from this question that this project begins. The
hunch being that a site surrounded by salt water
(Port Phillip Bay and the esturine reach of the Yarra
River) should be able to support at least as much
wildlife in its salt water habitat as in the freshwater
environment.Westgate park is relatively isolated
from adjact residential communities. Access to the
park is predominantly from bicyclists’ visiting from
recent residential developments at Docklands,
South Melbourne and via river access provided
between Newport and the park’s eastern boundary.
It is believed that the key to the success of Westgate
park revolves around the management of its various habitats, as this element provides a key difference between other inner public spaces.
Due to hypersaline conditions, the saltlake functions more as an ornamental lake than a viable habit.
“We are focusing most of our attention on the freshwater lake because
that is where most of the life is”
(Friends of Westgate Park)
“The freshwater lake is actually brackish, and the saltwater lake is
hypersaline”
(Neil Duncan, Eco-centre)

94. Westgate Park : a brief history
Design Through Making has been an eight week landscape architectural design
studio based at Westgate Park exploring techniques in constructed ecologies.
The studio brief was to undertake independent research which explored the
relevant issues pertaining to Westgate Park’s role as a designated habitat area
for indiginous flora and flora and how this might be responsive to its broader
context within Melbourne’s industrially zone Fishermans Bend, as well as the
human occupation of the site.
photo circa 1940’s indicating site bounday of Westgate park
Westgate Park is located on the site of an old sand quarry which was subsequently used an aircraft landing strip during WWII (refer opposite) and later
as a landfill. During the construction of the Westgate freeway (which adjoins
the park), the site was designated as parkland, who’s design was largely
dictated by the need to incorporate vast quantities of the Westgate freeway’s
excess excavated soil and construction debri. This construction fill was utilised
in the partks design to serve various purposes such as: windbreaks, clearly
defined water catchment areas, to provide opportunities for different plant
communities and also to reveal distant views.
Westgate park has continued to mature over the past twenty years. Today, the
casual visitor might observe a distinctly Australian-looking landscape clothed
in eucalypts, heathlands and several wetland environments; which serve as
habitat for an array of birds, and other animals. Despite its naturalistic appearance, Westgate park receives considereable outside attention to maintain its
role as a habitat for a diverse range of species. A look ‘behind the scenes’ of
Westgate park reveals a different nature altogether... one inhabited by: underground pipes and mechanical pumps transporting water from outside and
within the park; and an ongoing human labour, be it planting, weeding or
handwatering to maintain and expand the stock of plants within the park.
Such is the nature of nature in our cities these days.
photo circa 1995 indicating site bounday of Westgate park
Constructed ecologies such as Westgate park have the potential to create rich
environments for wildlife and human recreation. Like all parks, Westgate park
is a product of its past, present and projected future. As the scale of habitats
continue to diminish, spaces like Westgate park are asked to perform compressed ecological functions over and above the natural systems on-site which
might enable these to emerge. Far from being a problem-solution scenario,
constructed ecologies invite us to explore and play with alternatives to expand
the domain of ecology to what might seem at first unrelated fields.

95. Westgate Park
residential
Exchanges
combined
industrial
Webb dock
salt water habitat
park entry points
bike path, river punt
train line
Westgate park is located at the intersection of several major urban scaled edges, most notably that of the Fishermans bend peninsular.
The park’s immediate neighbours are large scale industry, the Yarra River and Webb Dock (currently under redevelopment). Rain water
is harvested from several locations outside the park. Considering the parks proximity to the salt water environments (Port Phillip Bay,
Yarra River, Marybrynong River and Stony Creek) it is surprising that most of the park’s wetlands are focused on fresh or brackish
water environments
pedestrian access
habitat edges
infrastructure
industry

96. Colonisation
Westgate park is located in area of the esturine reach of the Yarra River. Over millions of years, the processes of sedimentation and
accumulation of aeolian sands in the area created a rich environment for esturine species. Successive generations of development
around Melbourne’s docks precinct have transformed the area from a rhythmic delta (constantly eroding and colonising areas according to climatic variations) by an extensive process of land reclamation which has imparted a somewhat regular course to the Yarra
River. Despite the monumental changes to the Fishermans bend peninsular, it still maintains an ongoing relationship with the historic
processes which originally shaped it, both above and below groun level: the Fishermans bend peninsular is generally one to two
metres above the high tide mark, and continues an intimate relation with the salt waters of the Yarra and Port Phillip Bay through two
water aquifers created by the sedimentary layers of the Yarra River’s past. What this means for Westgate park, is that it must develop
strategies to either work with, or against, the the presence of salt. At present the park has been successful in the former, but as yet
seems to struggle with coming to terms with this most mediating of site conditions.
10 teatree
scrub
07 brackish lake
08 island habitat
09 brackish
lake
SECTION AB DETAIL 1:1500
11
path
path
salt water lake
13 carpark
12 bench
14 Todd Rd
SECTION AB 1:6000
01 industry
A
02 Shipping
Dock
04 industry
03 Yarra River
05
06
Webb Dock Goods Train
Recommissioned circa 2017
refer section detail
15 Motor Racing
Circuit
Schematic Diagram of the Hydrological Cycle of the Fishermans Bend &
Webb Dock Precinct. (refer also geological sections)
01
02
03
04
05
B
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
14
13
15
Westgate Park
Salt Lake
Westgate Park
Brackish Lake
Salt Water (Port
Phillip Bay &
Tidal Reach of
Yarra Delta)
Yarra River (Brackish Water)
Terrestrial Run-off
Ground Water
Salt Water Terrestrial Intrusion

97. westgate park boundary
salt concentration (lake depth)
webb dock railway
frog habitat
existing physical barriers between park and train line
friends of W.P depot
wetland vegetation communities
flat ground (buffer before mounds)
paths

98. Hydrology
The watertable at Fishermans bend is saline and close to the surface. Unlike the smaller wetlands which are perched, Westgate
park’s two main lakes are deep enough to be effected by the saline groundwater. The differing construction techniques and access
to surface run-off between these two wetlands has resulted in the larger wetlands displaying distinct ecologies. The northern
wetland has a low-permeability clay lining which reduced groundwater infiltration and also receives stormwater run-off from an
adjacent road and from the roof of the herald-sun building; these combined conditions maintain the lake at a brackish concentration (slightly saltier than fresh water but well below sea water salt concentrations.), The southern wetland is a relic from the earlier
sand mining. Groundwater is the main recharge of this lake and decades of evaporation have gradually caused the lake to becopme
hyper-saline (ie: several times the salt concentration of sea water).
train
access road
car park
paths
car park
Water bodies and paths: light blue brackish; Dark blue - salt
Drainage patterns: Black - ridgelines; Arrows - surface water flow
Water movement: Red - gravity
fed; Blue - mechanical
Brackish Lake
Combined
Salt Water Lake
Clay Lake Lining
Fill
Sand
Coode Island Silt
Geological section adapted from Westgate freeway geological survey.

99. salt concentrations: Blue - salt content increases with water depth; Yellow - salt contnt highest at top of silty clay soil profile
Presumed sectional profile (pre-european): Brown - silty Clay; Yellow fine
sand; Red - existing section
Surface Run-off
Presumed content of Fill: Red - landfill including toxic pollutants; Grey - rubble
Surface Run-off
Wet-land
fill
Groundwater (sand)
Confining unit (silt)
Aquifer (Gravel)
Confining unit (silt)
Geological Section of Salt Water Lake 1:1000
Three primary factors contribute to producing hyper-saline conditions in the saltlake.
01. The lake receives much of its recharge
from saline groundwater.
02. Sand mining has created conditions
whereby the bottom of the lake has close
proximity to the underlying Coode Island
Silt, which concentreates its salt load at its
upper horizon.
03. The evaporative process removes water
from the lake but not water’s salt content.
As a result the salt content increases over
time.

100. Freshwater lake edges
Cherry Lake Reserve - Melbourne Water Retarding Basin (Altona) sections 1 :200
Variations at the waters edge create environments with distinct wetting
regimes, which are exploited by plants adapted to those conditions.
Constant edge conditions favour the emegence of a dominant species,
while rapid fluctuations are colonised by a greater range of species.
grasses &
small shrubs
single species of reed
melaleuca and cassuarina
transition zone
grasses &
small shrubs
single species of reed
open water
transition zone
reed
open water
Newport Lakes Park (former Bluestone Quarry) section 1 : 100

101. Salt water edges
Unlike the freshwater wetlands where growth is dictated by how close a
plant is to water, saltwater wetlands are dictated by how far away a plant
is from water. The reason for this is that plants require very special adaptations to deal with the harsh growing conditions provided by salty conditions. The further away a plant is from the saturated area (seepage zone, or
groundwater) the less salt that the plant must deal with. This phenomena is
evident in a visual banding around saltwater wetlands. Plants growing
high salt concentration areas tend to be short-stunted plants. As such, we
can predict with reasonable accuracy how these bands will be distributed
and what plants will grow in these bands, should we attempt any changes
to these environments. Saltmarsh environments are generally associated
with low lying areas next to the coast and receive varying salt laden tidal
waters from the sea (such as Point Cook). The exception to this scenario is
in areas which were at one point in history submerged by the waters of the
ocean and as a result the soil and groundwater retain a high concentration
of dissolved salts (such as Lake Eyre and Westgate Park).
50cm
20cm
00cm
Cheetham Wetlands - Point Cook section 1 : 50
moderate salt content: grasses - small shrubs
high salt content: succulent groundcovers
high salt content: no growth
saline watertable: no growth

102. Case Study:
Murray River: Groundwater interception_ salt harvesting
02
01
03
04
The Murray River creates an arterial of water which passes through the dry interior of south-eastern Australia. Water from the Murray River is used to irrigate
farmland. The presence of water in an otherwise creating dry laqndscape enables a vastly improved productivity to areas inland from the Murray. As the
‘natural’ conditions of the area have been modified, salt (deposited when the area was part of an inland sea) has begun to mix with the freshwater of the
Muraay Basin. The presence of high salt concentrations are not conducive to the farming practices of the area which rely on freshwater. The major source of salt
contamination in the area is the move ment of saline groundwater into the Murray River. To moderate the amount of salt entering the Murray River a large
number of groundwater interception projects have been initiated. These projects work by first isolating whichgroundwater aquifers have high salt concentrations.
The saline groundwater in these areas is pumped to the surface before it can enter the Murray River. The project creates a condition where there are large
quantities of salty water. Some of this salty water is used in aqui-culture farms for the raising of saltwater fish, but the majority of the saltwater is utilised by
harvesting chrystal salt through means of evaporation.
04
Diagrammatic workings of groundwater
interception salt harvesting scheme
salt harvest
upstream flow (fresh)
evaporation
relative salt concentration
03
02
saline groundwater
net loss of salt entering river
01
groundwater pump

103. Case Study:
Large Scale Salt Harvesting (Port Said, Egypt)
This salt harvesting operations is located close to the shores of the Mediteranian Sea, and as such has a virtually unlimited reserve of salt water which it can
process. This salt farm is situated on a large tract of flat land which enables it The salt farm pumps water from the sea in order to regulate intake of water to
match the changeable evaporation rate (ie: variations in temperature and wind strength).

104. Case Study: Small Scale Salt Harvesting (Vinh Tien, Vietnam)
This salt harvesting operation is located next to the ocean. The phases of the moon create abornmally high tides once or twice a month. This projectutilises
these high tides to bring sea water into its first storage pond. The advantage of this method is that it is cheaper than pumping the water, yet it does not
allow the same control of water volumes, which have a direct influence on the evapoartion rate.

105. Salt Harvesting Schemes
SALT HARVESTING CYCLE
isolate
concentrate
evaporate
SALT WATER
dissolved mineral
TRANSPORTATION
tidal
gravity
mechanical
groundwater
POND DIMENSIONS
depth
surface area
EVAPORATION
temperature
wind
transpiration
rainfall
CHRYSTALISED SALT
harvesting
All salt harvesting schemes require reliable access to salt water; this is generally sourced from the ocean, inland seas, or saline groundwater. The climatic
requirements of a salt havesting scheme are a consequitive three moth (minimum) period where evaporation rates are higher than precipitation rates. In order to
produce a harvestable amount of salt the water content must be evaporated. Salt harvesting scheme use a number of sequential ponds so that the salt concentration in the water is progressively increased so that at the end of the processes a significant amount of salt is deposited in one place. The water must either be
pumper or gravity fed betwenn these ponds.
Salt harvesting in Peru. The use of
terraces allows the water to be gravity
fed from one pond to another. Unfortunately the terraces require alot of
maintenance as the processes of wetting and drying create instability in
the soil. For this reason the majority of
salt harvesting schemes are located on
flat ground, which also reduces the
construction costs.

106. Water Budget
To achieve a net reduction over time in salt concentration of the
hypersaline lake it is important to calculate the volume of water
in this lake and its fluctuations over time. The lake is experiencing drought conditions at present which enables an assessment of
the lakes’ profile. A conservative average depth of the drought
level of the lake at 1-1.5m means that the lake experiences a 10%
fluctuation during drought conditions. This upper 10% occurs at
the shallow edges of the lake which has a low volume to surface
area ratio. As a general rule the more water that is in the lake the
lower the evaporation rate and hence a slowing of the hypersalinity process. With the lake experiencing a 10% variation of volume
between high rainfall years and drought conditions, it is considered that a removal of around 2% will keep lake levels within the
existing fluctuation range.
Evaporation Rates: Melbourne’s six warmest months
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Precipitation
Evaporation
67mm
108mm
59mm
138mm
59mm
162mm
48mm
177mm
47mm
168mm
51mm
120mm
Difference
41mm
79mm
103mm
129mm
121mm
69mm
# days rain
14
12
10
8
7
9
days >30 deg.C
1
3
6
8
7
5
Month
wind speed 15km/h 16km/h 16km/h 15km/h 15km/h 14km/h
Sustainable average water budget for salt pans
2% of 15,000 m3 = 300 m3. With four viable evaporative periods
available this equates to four first stage evaporative ponds with a
capacity of 75m3.this upper 10% would lead to higher evaporation rates in the lake.
estimating salt lake volume
recent maximum level +50cm
average rainfall years +20cm
drought level 00cm
effect of drought conditions on volume of water in salt lake
fluctuation
lake full
20cm fall
50cm fall
surface area volume difference water loss in drought
15,902m2
1,275m3 = 8.5 %
14,710m2
- 238m3 @ full
11,252m2
- 1,037m3 @ -20cm
estimate of lake volume at drought level (ie: - 50cm mark)
av. depth (@ -50cm) volume @ - 50cm
1m
11,252m3
1.5m
16,878m3
volume @ at full
12,572m3 (10% fluctuation)
18,153m3 (8% fluctuation)
estimated level in salt lake during average rainfall years
15,000 m3
continuous bands around lake reveal 3 constant levels

107. Salt Pond Specifications
(Adapted from Nelson, 1991: Design & Construction of Small Earth Dams)
The proposed salt pans must respond (at minimum) to several functional considerations. We must consider what are the specific spatial and climatic requirements of a salt harvesting scheme and how do the conditions of Westgate park inform the place ment and design of such a scheme.
Dam Type Study
Hillside Dam
DISADVANTAGES
Largest storage area
relative to amount
of earthworks.
Water is naturally
directed towards
dam.
Gully Dam
ADVANTAGES
Predominately a
approach to catch run-off
or stream flow. Site’s
gully’s are too small to
accommodate salt pond
network.
Provides gravity
supply to flow
regime. Site conditions present several
suitable hills, with
the added advantage of close proximity to flatish
areas.
Significant earthworks
required.
Pressure of water
is evenly distributed as opposed to
dyke wall. Relativley cheap, as main
requirement is for
sealing base of
dam. .
Requires relatively flat
ground. As the water
table is high, excavation
in these areas will
generally cause these
dams to fill up. Hence,
unsuitable for evaporation purposes. Also,
gravity to flow regime
becomes difficult.
Excavated Tank
excavation depth
SITE LOCATIONS
picnic area
small
isolated

108. Dam type study
The process of concentrating the salt content in water is
undertaken in a series of ponds (as mentioned previously). A common method employed by most salt
harvesting schemes is to maintain a similar surface areas
of each ponds. As a significant proportion of the water
evaporates at each stage the volume of water decreases,
with the effect that the size of the dam also decreases.
Recommended depths at the various stages are:
15cm chrystalisation pond
30cm evaporation pond
pond 01 50cm
pond 02 30cm
pond 03 15cm.
Ponds 01 and 02 require access only for opening and
closing the gates which allow water to flow between
ponds. The dimensions of Pond(s) 03 are dictated by the
harvesting method. Small scale salt farms are generally
harvested by raking the salt into piles. As a result the
maximum width of these ponds is generally under 4m.
50cm evaporation pond
sectional qualities 1:100
Zoned
Diaphram
Advantages
Disadvantages
Construction of dam is simplified by the
use of a single structural clay.
Homogenous
Subject to excessive expansion and
shrinkage if water levels in dam are not
relatively stable (as is the case in salt
harvesting)
Stucturally the strongest type of dam
and can therefore be built with steerper
slopes, which reduces the amount of
earthworks.
This type of dam maintains its impermeability zone in the centre of the dam,
thus absorbing much of the concentrated
saline liquid.
Less like to experience structural change
with continual wetting and drying. The
remainder of the dam wall can be
constructed from material on-site.
Requires more earthworks and is not as
structurally sound as a zoned dam, yet
considering the shallow water level
required for salt harvesting this does not
pose a significant problem.

109. Case study: 50cm Evaporation Pond at different grades
If the cost of costructing is dam is largely dependent on the
amount of earthworking required, then it is not surprising that
most salt harvesting schemes are located in flat areas, or ones
with gentle slopes. The advantage of locating a dam on a slope
is that the dam can intercept surface run-off water. The intention of salt pans is not to collect water but rather to store water
in conditions conducive to its evaporation. Salt pans necessarilly need to be shallow for this purpose, as a result, their
construction on slopes requires significant amounts of earthwork to achieve minimal storage volumes
1:3 Slope Over 50m
1:200
1:200
1:25 Slope Over 50m
1:200
1:10 Slope Over 50m

110. numbers
The three stages of the evapoartive process require variations in size of ponds required. To maintain structural stability the fill required for the dams
becomes greater relative to the volume it needs to hold. Having calulated these dimension a series of quick placement excercises reveal many combinations
which might be achieved, and allow us to speculate on how these ponds might transform the spaces they inhabit.
50cm evaporation pond
(plan 1:1000)
15cm chrystalisation
pond
30cm evaporation pond
massing study exploring the relationship between ponds and proposed path
ponds informed by pedestrian path
pedestrian path informed by ponds
15cm chrystalisation pond
without harvesting access
15cm chrystalisation
pond
15cm chrystalisation
pond
module form

111. Locating Salt Pans (socio-topographic-climatic considerations)
existing topographic conditions
Pedestrian Circulation
Vegetation Adjacencies
Prevailing Wind
Infrasrtucture Adjacencies
High Solar Penetration
e
a
s
t
s
l
o
p
e
slope requiring major additional earthworks
slope requiring significant additional earthworks
slope requiring moderate additional earthworks
Three Potential Salt Pan Sites
northerly wind
slope requiring minor additional earthworks
northerly
westerly
wind
e
a
s
t
s
l
o
p
e
westerly
03
02
01
south westerly
south-westerly wind

112. Considerations
The spatio-functional requirements of a salt harvesting scheme processing 2% of the total salt lake volume can be met at three
seperate locations at Westgate park. Site 03 has been chosen as it offers the greatest potential for the project to create interactions the surface run-off created by the areas topography.
Slope, Vegetation, Pedestrain Circulation And Prevailing Winds
Potental Intermingling Zones Between Salt Water
Seepage And Surface Run-off Water
northerly wind
westerly wind
03
02
03
02
01
01
DRAINAGE EDGES
south-westerly wind

113. Surveying potentials
No accurate contour information exists
for Westgate park. Having isolated Site
03 as a potential location for the salt
pans, it was undertaken to survey the
surrounding area at 50cm contour
intervals. As the proposed salt pans
require approximately 100m3 of fill
consideration as to where this might be
removed from was investigated. The
slopes in this area of the park serve either
windbreak functions, or are part of the
pedestrian circuit. A decision was made
to remove the cut from the south-west
corner of the surveyed area as this
location did not interfere with the salt
pan scheme and even moreso, this
location provided the opportunity to
address safety issues and could greatly
enhance the experience and scope of the
salt pan project
points of access
potential areas to remove cut
cut
flat areas
long views
unplanted mounded areas
train edge (safety)
sloped areas
combined

114. 50cm contour plan 1:1000
01
view A
02
03
view A
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
view C
view B
view C
1:350 slope
view B
Sequential Surveyed Sections 1:1000
section 01
section 07
section 02
section 08
section 03
section 09
section 04
section 10
section 05
section 11
section 06
ground water level based on port of melbourne bore survey

115. Slope, Vegetation, Pedestrain
Circulation And Prevailing Winds
Slope
The mounding in this area of Westgate park serves the primary function of intercepting and calming the
prevailing westerly winds. The mounds are partly planted and rise to a height of 2-2.5m.
03
02
01
Existing Sectonal Elevation East 1:600
Potental Intermingling Zones Between Salt
Water Seepage And Surface Run-off Water
03
02
01
drainage edges
Existing Cross Secton Looking North 1:300
Existing Sectonal Elevation West 1:600

116. Planning strategy
01
proposed salt marsh habitat
existing salt marsh habitat
existing salt marsh habitat
01
The state government has recently announced
plans that Webb Dock will be expanded as a
container port and storage facility. Integral to the
projects success is the recommissioning of the
freight rail link, scheduled for 2017. Work is
currently underway to establish a layer of
construction fill over a large saltmarsh owned by
Webb Dock. The Webb Dock saltmarsh is
approximately twice as big as Westgate park and
is an important habitat. The loss of the Webb
Dock saltmarsh will place extra pressures on the
saltmarsh habitats at Westgate park
Webb dock development land-reclamation.
Presently functioning as tidal saltmarsh
Salt lake effected
by hypersalinity
Long-term measures taken to
mediate effects of Hyperslinity
ie: removal of a small quantity
of the highly concentated salt
found at the bottom of the
lake.
By-product of the works
(water with high salt content)
used as the catalyst for salt
harvesting scheme, which
requires construction fill.
By-product of the works (hole
in the ground) used as the
catalyst for the creation of a
saltmarsh, which compensates
for any displaced species
effected by the lowering of
salinity levels in the salt lake
and further integrates the
parks edges with its adjacent
ecologies.
The construction of the salt
pans requires vegetative cover
to to bond the dam wall, which
function as corridors allowing
the salt ponds to interact with
the wider salt marsh ecologies.

117. A
Saltmarsh
10mm Grading Plan (1:200)
Located at the intesection of the freight rail and pedestrian path (where they pass under the
Westgate freeway), the saltmarsh provides a topographic and vegetive buffer between park
users and the passing freight trains.
above grade buffer
existing grade
60cm+ : grasses and low shrubs
40-60cm: medium succulent growth
20-40cm: low succulent growth
00-20cm: pond edge (no growth)
C
salt pond (groundwater)
D
C
D
section CD 1:200
B
A
B
section AB 1:200

118. Cut strategy
In many ways the salt pans function as a
mechanical organised system; pumping
water from the salt lake, storing then releasing the water several times via operated
gate-locks, until all the water has evaporated and we are left with salt. Seen in these
terms a salt pan scheme can be ‘inserted’ in
almost any place we might desire. The
challenge for the strategy is: How can the salt
pans utilise and adjust existing site conditions
to create and strengthen relationships in the
park?
1
0
The salt pan scheme derives its strategy to
meet its requirements of 100m3 of on-site
fill plugging-into the changing politicoecological circumstances surrounding the
loss of saltmarsh habitat at Webb dock. The
volume of cut required creates the potential
to create a saltmarsh by excavating an
adjacent area of land which lays a little over
a metre above the saline watertable. The
size of of the saltmarsh is proportional to
the average depth of cut. By refering to
salmarsh precedents we can reliably predict
the effect which variations in micro-climate
will create (vegetation relative to topographic height.
0 1
The salt marsh is thus created by its potential to maximise its size under the constraint
of required cut. By adapting to the existing
slope conditions the saltmarsh can receive
additional surface run-off water and in this
regard, provide the imputus for the siting of
the salt pans.
2
1
0
0 1 2
2
2
0 1
1.5
1
0 1 2
0.5
0
0m
-0.5m
0
1
-1m
500mm contour plan (1:1000)
rl: 0m
2

119. Salt Pan Strategy (first iteration)
1
0
The first two salt pans wrap around the wind break, creating a channel and
allowing sufficient space for a pedestrian path which follows the contours of
the pond. Without modification the salt pans will gradually erode as water
runs off the windbreak, and grading as yet does not deliver run-off water to
the saltmarsh area.
(C)
(A)
1:500
1:500
1
0
(D)
(B)
0 1
(second iteration)
The introduction of a swale enables the transport of water
run-off in two directions from the centre of the wind break.
Sections AB and DC are indicictive of the upper reach of
the swale, which is elevated to create flows further down
the swale. All dams create a small amount of seepage
which is indicated by in red (full volume for each dam) and
yellow (evapoarted level prior to transfer into the next
pond. The salt water seepage combined with freshwater
run-off created envirnomnts suitable for saltmarsh plants.
top of
bank 0.6m
(C)
(A)
2
1
0.5
0m
0
1
2
0.5 0.5
0m
(D)
0
-1m
0
top of
bank 1m
0 1 2
2
0 1
1.5
-0.5m
(B)
section CA amendment detail 1:100
section AB amendment detail 1:100
2
500mm contour plan (1:1000)
1
2

120. Salt harvesting strategy
To minimise the amount of fill required to realise the
salt harvesting scheme it is necessary to position
each of the three stage ponds in close proximity , so
as to reduce the fall required to gravity feed each
pond. For this purpose each of the three ponds have
been tied into each other and a release gate positioned to facilitate water trasnport. The final stage
(chrystalisation ponds) have used (with access
modification) a type of dam refered to as a turkey’s
nest dam. The turkey nest dam solves several problems unique to the chrystalisation ponds. Firstly, the
rquirement for access to the evavorated salt
(maximum 2 metres from either side). Also, the
existing conditions created difficulties in forming
more than one pond. Multiple chrystalisation ponds
would need to be progressively further away from
the source of water in the second evaporative pond
and therefore increase the slope required to gravity
feed the water. These small changes to the chrystalisation ponds would necessitate large changes to the
height of dams which feed them. This problem is
solved by the creation of one large dam. To provide
access to pedestrians and the people harvesting the
saltthe centre of the turkey dam has been modified at
two opposite ends to create ramped access. The
ramps contain a pipe which allows the flow of water
from one side to the next. A small depression has bee
created north of the chrystalisation pond to collect
surface run-off water from the swale on the side of
the windbreak.
saltmarsh
swale
existing path
proposed path
existing mounds
chrystalisation pond
evaporative pond 01
evaporative pond 02
section 11
10
longitudinal section
09
08
07
06
05
04
03
02
01
run-off pond
freight rail
water release gate
pump station, underground pipes
longitudinal section

121. longitudinal section 1:600
sequential section 1:500
section 11
section 10
section 09
section 08
section 07
section 06
section 05
section 04
section 03
section 02
section 01

122. Chlor oph y ll Pa r k
westgate park

123. 1 Port Melbourne Development Plan 2006-2035
2 park site analysis macro scale- Westgate Park’s role in the Port of Melboutne
3 Ecological metabolism:the carbon cycle- a self renewing system
4 PoM Industrial metabolism: the energy cycle- a non renewing metabolism
5 carbon sequestering systems and public parks
6 the ef ciency of current carbon sinks- a solution or a time bomb?
7. Westgate Park’s industrial heritage
8 Lifespan of a tree- it’s ability to sequester
9 park site analysis micro scale
12 intention and purpose
13 on site plant analysis- survival rates
14 intervention details
15 modeling
16 tree speci cs analysis
17 design life cycle- re-use of biomass energy for industrial purposes
ta ble of c o n te n ts

124. The PoM ‘Port Development
Plan’ is a 30 year proposal to
manage the growth of Melbourne
and its docklands. It speaks of
‘sustainability’ in an economical
sense, but does not propose any plan
for ecological bene ts/ detriments
caused by such rapid development.
The issues of channel deepening
Port Phillip Bay is discussed to
compensate for an increase in ship
size and numbers. No environmental
repercussions of this act are
discussed, only noting that it is vital
to maintaining Port of Melbourne
as a key economic hub of Australia.
An increase in ship numbers will
bring an increase in greenhouse gas
emissions from the shipping industry.
In 1999, 1269 gigagrams of carbon
dioxide was released by the shipping
industry in Australia. (Australian National
Greenhouse Gas Inventory p62.) Carbon dioxide
emissions from shipping accounts for
four percent of all emissions in the
world. (Carbonfund.org)
The plan threatens, without proposed
development and ecological
manipulations to the bay, Melbourne’s
Docklands will be bypassed for more
favourable shipping conditions in
other states, taking with it
employment and possible economic
growth for Melbourne. If this
development is inevitable, it’s
environmental impacts must be
considered and strategies implemented
to minimise pollution and recycle
industry and developmental waste.
Por t De ve lopme nt Pla n 200 6 - 2 0 3 5

125. City
Westgate Park
PoM land
Ma c r o sc a le pla n 1:28,000

126. roads and transportation
residential
business
industrial
parks and recreation
1:700,00 pla n s e r ie s
P or t of Melbourne Zoning

127. Westgate park is a green fortress in the heart
of Melbourne’s industrial centre. It plays an
important role in balancing the total quantity of
carbon in the atmosphere. The park is surrounded
from every side by developed land and cannot
branch out . It is an important site and must be
retained as a green space.
1:10, 0 0 0 p la n
compar ison of developed land and park land

128. plantable area
267988 m2
water bodies
8450 m2
existing planting
4740 m2
pathways
7563 m2
entir e area: 288741 m 2
Westgate Park
1:3500 current site plan

129. Westgate Parks’s industrial
heritage included a sand mine
and an air strip. Contours below
show possible layout of site
post mining, which brought
about the formation of the salt
lake. To retrace the history of
Westgate park, the salt lake will
be retained. With close proximity
to the bay, there is a high salt
content in lakes and soils. Salt
tolerant species are prefered on
site.
2
1
0
2
3
1
4
2
2
2
industr ia l he r ita ge - a san d min e

130. 2
2
3
4
2
3
4 4
1
1
3
3
2
2
1
3
4
2
3
1
2
3
4
3
1
4
2
2
2
4
3
1
1
3
1
3
4
2
4
5
4
3
5
1:3000 pla n c ontours c u r r e n t

131. Herman Prigann
Yellow Ramp 1993-1995
open cast mine near Cottbus, Germany
pr e c e de nt: a san d min e
ecological r eclamation of industrial sites

132. a plant can produce carbon
dioxide for growth through its
own energy cycle. Carbon dioxide
is one substance in a process
that converts raw materials into
energy for plant growth, emitting
oxygen as a waste (by-product).
This process is photosynthesis
and occurs in the green part of
the plant, called the chlorophyll.
While plants convert carbon
into oxygen and water, they also
release carbon dioxide back into
the atmosphere
through respiration, and also store
carbon in the soil and their biomass.
The amount of carbon a plant
absorbs from the atmosphere
exceeds the amount that it rereleased during the ‘growth’ stage of
its lifecycle, making trees bene cial
for their role against overproduction
of carbon from anthropogenic
(human) sources such as fossil fuels,
transport and industry.
sunlight
oxygen
carbon dioxide
glucose
rule no 1. carbon consumption
6CO2 + 12H20 + light = C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O
carbon cycle- self renewing
micto scale odum diagram
diagramed with physical cycle
water
Ec ologic a l Me ta b o lis m
the carbon cycle

133. Industry has the ability,
through innovative spatial
planning to create a self
renewing metabolism,
where each individual
company or business takes
responsibility for its own
waste products arisen from
goods production. They can
recycle this waste by finding
other companies that can
productively use their waste
as a new energy source for
production. Through selling
this waste they economically
benefit and also benefit the
environment, where otherwise
unused waste products
would go directly into the
atmosphere or landfill. In
this example from Kalundbeg
Park, waste outputs such
as gasses, acid, ash, waste
water and heat, are sold to
neighbouring industries.
Parterning companies are
in close proximity to each
other to minimise loss, or
accumulation of additional
waste through transport.
K alu n d b erg I n d ustr ia l Park- Denmark
macr o scale Odum diagram
consumer
co n s u m er
transform
t ran s fo rm at i o n producer e r
produc
e n e rg y f l o w
I ndustr ia l Meta b o lis m
an eco park

134. carbon dioxide is released
into
the
atmosphere,
primarily by fuel from
shipping. This waste
product has no current reuse as a new energy source
within the docklands
precinct, thereby failing
to create a non-renewable
metabolism.
CO 2
Carbon dioxide was not always
a detrimental ‘greenhouse’
gas. It is normal to have a
certain amount of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere.
Humans
release
carbon
dioxide when they breathe, as
do plants. Carbon dioxide has
become a problem as industry,
transport and coal mining
have created an imbalance in
its atmospheric volume, due
to the fact that they create
volumes of this waste product
but do not re-use it as plants
and animals do.
carbon dioxide is released
into the atmosphere through
the respiration of plants,
and is also reabsorbed by
the plants as a new energy
source for growth. Westgate
Park’s green plants, post
industrialisation, have a new
source of their energy- the
docklands. however, plants
can only absorb so much
carbon. Emissions from
shipping far exceed the ability
of westgate park to absorb.
CO 2
Docklands
CO 2
Westgate Park
CO 2
CO 2
cconsumer r
onsume
transform
tra n s fo rm at i o n producer
p ro d u cer
en erg y fl o w
P oM Do c k la n d s
I ndustrial Metabolism

135. sunlight
oxygen
one m etr e
carbon dioxide
glucose
carbon cycle- self renewing
water
one me tr e
rule no. 1- carbon sequestration
rule no. 2- absorption per metre
for carbon absorption to occur at rule no.1 rate, plant
must be at a growing stage of the plant life cycle, water
and sunlight must be present.
one metre squared of healthily, growing planted
space absorbs approximately 714 kgs of carbon
dioxide, at its most ef cient, each year.
This is its optimum level of absorption.
de sign e le men t r u le s
absor ption per planted metre
plant carbon cycle

136. C a r bon Flux- C atalyst A BC
R e p o rt e r : P a u l Wi l l i s
R e s e a r c h e r : L e o n i e Ha n s e l l
4 March 2004
Have our forests gone crazy? Forests are often called ‘the lungs of the world’
- huge carbon sinks soaking up the carbon produced by the industrialised
world, and producing the oxygen we need to live. But now researchers at the
Australian Canopy Crane Research Facility in the Daintree Rainforest are
nding worrying evidence that this forest may have started to produce carbon.
It sounds unthinkable, but is it possible that rainforests could start to fuel the
cycle of global warming rather than being the solution to it?
“Put simply, Carbon ux is the balance between carbon gobbling photosynthesis and carbon dioxide producing respiration by the plants and microbes in the
soil.
Mike Liddel: So we’re interested to know what exactly the forest is doing. Is it
doing more photosynthesis or more respiration?
Once the forest had grown back, they expected it to start behaving as a balanced carbon neutral forest – using up as much carbon as it produced. What we
know is that last year we had very little rain throughout the dry season. This
year again it’s been a relatively dry season, drier than normal and the forest
then is carrying out less photosynthesis... and the result is that our forest is producing carbon dioxide which is the last thing we want.Without enough water
available to photosynthesise carbon into new plant matter decomposition was
taking over and releasing carbon into the atmosphere.”
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s1058761.htm
the e ff ic ie nc y of c ur r e nt c a r b o n s in k s
a solution, or a time bomb?

137. equal
mature age tree: input of carbon equals outputgrowth has ceased
leaf mass thins with age, decaying
branches release carbon
death of aged tree releases soil and trunk
accumulated carbon into atmosphere.
ratio of carbon input vs carbon output
growing stage: absorption exceeds release
1 year
5 year
10 year
15 year
20 year
30 year
50 year
80 year
time
deciduous trees vs evergreen trees
lif e - c yc le o f a tr e e
and its ability to sequester carbon dioxide
( eucalyptus- lif espan of 80 years)

138. In 1999, 1269 gigagrams (1,269,000,000kg) of carbon
dioxide was released by shipping fuel consumption in
Australia. 332 gigagram (332,000,000kg) of carbon
dioxide was emitted from shipping in Victoria.
.10
If
6
(extracted from Renaissance Magazine- http://www.ru.org/22forest.html)
5
one square metre of healthily growing, planted
space can absorb seven hundred and
fourteen kilograms of carbon dioxide per year,
and our site perimeter area is
squared,
288,741 metres
4
1269,000,000kg
714 kg
= 1,777,310 metres squared
is needed to absorb Victoria’s annual carbon dioxide
emissions from Shipping.
3
1,777,310m2
288741m2
= 6.10
In other words... we need 6.10 Westgate Parks,
fully planted and constantly at ‘growing’ phase’
to absorb Victoria’s shipping emissions.
2
1
The c a r bon me ta bolism of Vic to r ia
non- r egener ating metabolism

139. A large public park situated within a high density
city plays an important role as an atmospheric
‘cleaner’ while balancing its position as a public
space. it must serve its residents with avialable
open space and amenities that allow safe, comfortable, traversable use of the park, and also
planting trees that can sequester overproduced
carbon dioxide from its host city.
Central Park, New York- refered to as the
‘lungs’ of the city, by absorbing carbon dioxide
and converting it to oxygen for re use
the me ta bolism of a pub lic p a r k

140. Battle i Roig Arquitectes
La Vall d’en Joan Land ll Landscape
2002
restoration of controlled rubbish dumpmediating its storage use and potential
as an energy source- agricultural crops
planted in between standard vegetation
planting dependent on slope
e c ologic a l r e c la ma tion of industr ia l s ite s

141. ‘weave’ model
grey shaped to site boundaries, strings can
be pulled, increasing surface area,
shown by the ltering of brown into
boundaries
folding model
piece of paper cut to site boundary shape
once folded, site retains surface area but
has reduced boundary size by 75 percent.
could this be plantable though?
mesh model
pinching mesh allows curves
to form, visually representing
possible alterations on site
Ken Yeang
Green skyscrapers
note folding design of levels
m o d e llin g
ability to maximise sur f ace ar ea, thus increasing planting

142. current site: one metre contours, height reaches
no more than ve metres. contours have evolved
from sand mining in which the salt lake was created.
proposed site: intention to ‘stretch’ contours by
ten metres per metre, to increase surface area
and increase potential for westgate park to sequester carbon dioxide amounts.
c ur r e nt c ontour s vs. ne w c o n to u r s

143. park user safety issues? will temporary
rails need to be implemented
planting and erosion stability issues arise
area of greater increase per variation
will need additional
structural support
area of greatest increase per variation
902.06
880.00
862.00
847.54
836.61
828.06
820.95
815.92
812.04
808.03
805.97
803.60
801.11
800.00
798.56
797.32
796.22
795.26
794.40
793.63
792.93
792.31
791.74
791.22
790.74
790.30
789.90
789.52
789.12
788.85
780.00
1:1000 sectional variation in slope and opportunities for folding
inve stiga tion of slope va r ia tio n s
sur f ace ar ea in crease outcomes

144. 568 m
511 m
11% dec
588 m
3% inc
721 m
26% inc
find balance
nding a a bal- within
ance within
this middle ground,
this middle
for plants to survive
ground, for
whileplantsincreasing
also to
surface area and
survive between one
and 276 percent
increase
surface area
between 1
and 26 percent.
me d ia tio n

145. 1/2
1/2.5
1/2.1
1/2.5
1/1.2
1/2.6
healthy plants
-small grasses with drought
tolerance
- steep, but also tall and
wide, a well established hill
dying plants
- erosion of mulch and
topsoil.
- hill is tall and narrow,
unstable
healthy plants
-next to lake, salt
specific plants
- slope part of an
original contour of site
healthy plants
-well spaced shrubs,
slope protected from
wind and full sun
-well established hill
dead plants
-tall and narrow hill
- unsuitable plant
species, fragile trees.
-salt spray
dying plants
-full sun unsuitable for
plant species
-’cleanfill’ visible from
surface.. not enough
capping and topsoil
on-site a na lysis of pla nt he a lth in r e la tion to slop e g r a d e s

146. small grasses:
. 8 metre spacing
medium-large shrub:
1.5 metre spacing
low lying shrub:
1.5 metre spacing
large grasses: .
1.2 metre spacing
semi mature large tree:
3-4 metre spacing
small perenials:
. 8 metre spacing
on - site a na lysis of pla nt he a lth in r e la tion to s p a c in g

147. 20 metres
too steep a slope
- safety issues for
pedestrians
- health of tree planting
138 metres surface area
increase in surface area
but at cost of plant
health
15 metres
125 metres surface area
10 metres
114 metres surface area
05 metres
106 metres surface area
more suitable slopes
- possibly inhabitable by
humans for recreation
low percentage increase
103 metres surface area
assigned pathways
me d ia tio n
sur f ace area increase vs
suitability of slope

148. local work e r s
employees from surrounding
industry are often found in the
carpark or as a group at wooden
tables during lunch hours
b i k e r iders
path connects to Beacon
Cove and city along the
Yarra
wa lke r s
bird enthusiasts, Beacon
Cove locals or loiterers
thr e e c ommon use rs o f p a r k
isolated park, limited users

149. 1:3000 pla n of inte r ve ntion top o g r a p h y
w ith section lines

150. 1:3000 c olour pla n of inter v e n tio n

151. detailed intervention a.
grade: flat surface
detailed intervention b.
grade: flat
detailed intervention c.
grade: 1/1.06
detailed intervention d.
grade: 1/4.3
detailed intervention f.
grade: 1/.8
detailed intervention e.
grade: 1/1.4
1:4000 plan of inte r v e n t i o n
with slope grades

152. b.
1.
w
e
intervention 685 m
existing 642 m
length 640 m
a.
2.
c.
n
intervention 616 m
existing 558 m
length 556 m
n
s
2.
w
1.
e
s
1:30,000 inte r ve ntion s e c tio n s
length of entire site

153. intervention: increase in surface area by stretching site 10 metres vertically
a.
111m
104m
existing potential of site for tree planting
increase in rows of trees
22 rows of trees- entire site 9,000 trees
24 rows of trees- entire site 10,000 trees
1:600 intervention detailed se c t i o n a .

154. more mounding,
less stability with
small intervention
b.
increase in surface area by 10 percent- tree planting on site
water running off
sharp edges could
erode topsoil
water loss
through runoff
116m
will capture more
water, gradual slopes
will reduce erosion
likelihood
105m
water will be
lost, mulch will
be lost
smaller scale intervention surface cuts to allow water to capture and prevent erosion through water loss
1:6000 intervention detailed sec t i o n b .

155. c.
increase in surface area through 10 metres, stretched vertically
94m
78m
steep section- cannot be utilised for plantation for access and growth reasons
choose more suitable plantation that will control soil erosion issues and can
be removed by hand once reached its carbon sequestering potential
1:6000 intervention detailed sec t i o n c .

156. d e t a i led intervention b
1 : 1 0 0 0 plan of timber transportation
t h r o u g h existing train line

157. detailed interven t i o n d + e
1:300 plan of human inhabitation of gent le sloping areas
- tiered pathways mediating slope

158. detailed interv e n t i o n a
1:600 plan active r ecr eation possibilities on flat slope.

159. inte r ve ntio n a r e a c .

160. inte r ve ntio n a r e a f .

161. possibilities f o r s a n d
w aste f r om dedging to be used as f ill f or extreme topography
mixed w ith other soils or clean fill for stability

162. 1 5 y e a rs
first round planting harvested,
leaving soil to rest before
re p la n tin g
3 0 y e a rs
second round planting
harvested, leaving soil to rest
b e fo re re p la n tin g
f ir st r ound planting
second r ound planting
thir d r ound planting
1 5 y e a rs
third round planting
harvested, leaving soil to rest
b e fo re re p la n tin g
pla nting a nd ha r ve s tin g p la n
time based str ategy f or maximum car b on sequestration
based on tree lifespan- ability to sequester

163. Eucalyptus polyanthemos
Myrtaceae
Red Box
ORIGIN AND HABITAT
central and north-east Victoria, and south central New South Wales.
PLANT TYPE AND HABIT/FORM
round-headed to upright evergreen tree.
CULTIVATION AND MAINTENANCE
no special attention needed.
PROPAGATION
seed.
NOTES
a very handsome tree; very popular as an ornamental in California. Slow
growing for a eucalypt, although quite fast when young.
tree
evergreen
5 years
2-2.5 X 1m
Maturity
10-15 X 6-8m
full sun
average to good salt spray
very good drought tolerance
average wind tolerance
waterlogging not known
tr e e spe c ie s sp e c if ic s

164. WESTGATE PARK

165. A PROJECT by KEITH FARNSWORTH RMIT SUMMER STUDIO 2006
design through making_bridging landscape_

166. CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
COLLAGE
WESTGATE PARK LOCATION
1
SITE GEOLOGY
2
TOPOGRAPHY
3
SOIL AND WATER ANALYSIS
4
REMEDIATION
5
CONTEXT MAPPING AND ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES
6
CONCEPTUAL PLAN
7
CONTOURS PLAN
8
DESIGN PROCESS
9
COLLAGE
10
PROPOSED PLAN
11
DESIGN DETAILS
12
MATERIALITY, FLORA AND FAUNA
13
3D PERSPECTIVE
14

167. INTRODUCTION
This studio relates to taking an ecological basis and understanding of landscape systems and their
processes to generate flexible programs and adaptive uses of space whilst maintaining biodiversity
and providing opportunity for creating habitat.
An ecological understanding of the site and its industrial urban context and history as an industrial landfill
and sand mine, provides a foundation for the development of design elements, structure and materiality to
address the effects of industry by-products and its impact on the surrounding environment.
The challenge is a design outcome that is able to meet cultural, aesthetic and ecological sustainability with
flexibility to have an adaptive strategy as evolving, emergent events occur.
As Westgate Park is considered contaminated from being a non-biodegradable landfill site, my approach
began from an abiotic position studying leachate flow and the role of producers and consumers in
remediating or degrading toxic material.

169. 01
VE
R
WESTGATE PARK PORT MELBOURNE
WESTGATE PARK IS LOCATED ON THE EASTERN BANKS OF THE YARRA RIVER,
BORDERING THE WESTGATE BRIDGE, TODD ROAD AND AN INDUSTRIAL PRECINCT. OPEN SPACE ,
CLOSE TO THE MELBOURNE CBD IS RARE AND HAS ONLY EVOLVED BECAUSE OF BEING UTILISED
AS AN INDUSTRIAL WASTE AND SAND MINING SITE. THE SITE HAS TWO LAKES, ONE FRESH WATER AND ONE
SALT WATER. CURRENTLY, FRESH WATER IS PUMPED FROM STORMWATER COLLECTED FROM THE ROOF AREA
OF THE HERALD/SUN BUILDING TO THE FRESH WATER LAKE WHICH THRIVES WITH LIFE, BUT THE SALT WATER
LAKE IS POLLUTED,DEAD AND STAGNANT, NOT SUPPORTING LIFE.
YA
R
RA
RI
DISCONNECTION
THE LAKES ARE DIVIDED AND SEEM DISCONNECTED NOT ONLY FROM EACH OTHER, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY
WITH THE YARRA RIVER. THERE IS NO TIDAL FLOW, NOR THE DIFFUSION OF FRESH AND SALT WATER THAT
ONCE EXISTED IN MARSHES ACROSS THE YARRA DELTA.
N
FRESH WATER LAKE
SW VIEW
30
60
90
120
150 180
scale
SW VIEW
VIEW OF WESTGATE PARK FROM OPPOSITE BANK OF YARRA RIVER
SALT WATER LAKE
210
230
260
290 M

170. SITE GEOLOGY
GEOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE YARRA DELTA
Referred to as the Jolimont Valley, the original valley was eroded
in the Silurian aged bedrock and has since been filled with volcanic
rocks and sediments deposited through time by the Yarra River.
Tertiary aged sediments and volcanics form an uneven terrain,
which in turn have been overlaid by the Quartenary sediments.
BRICK AND CONCRETE FILL
COMPACTED CLAY CAPPING
SOUTH MELBOURNE SAND
COMPACTED EARTH
Cross section through the Yarra Delta area (Modified after Geological survey of Victoria 1:63360 scale geological map)
Qrf
GR
AH
AM
Fill
Qrp
SA
LM
ON
ST
ST
R
RE
E
EE
T
r
ive
17
re
aR
bo
BW
Ya
rr
MM
T
Port Melbourne Sand
WATER
The Port Melbourne Sands is the upper unit of the Yarra
Delta Group. The unit is generally 5 to lOm thick. It is
present on the southern side of the Yarra River in the Port
Melbourne area near the West Gate bridge.
The sand forms an Aquifer that extends SE towards St Kilda
and generally consists of fine to medium grained sands.
It overlies Coode Island SIlt and extends through West Gate
Park with a width of aprox. 90m.
WATER TABLE
INDUSTRIAL WASTE
NOT TO SCALE
SAND MINING
SW ASPECT
BOTH LAKES HAVE COME TO EXIST IN CONNECTION WITH LANDFILL,ONE FROM SAND MINING AND THE OTHER
FROM THE DEPOSITING OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE. THE SAND THAT WAS REMOVED, ORIGINALLY PROVIDED A NATURAL
FILTRATION SYSTEM TO THE AQUIFER BENEATH THE WETLANDS. HIGH SALINITY LEVELS IN THE SURROUNDING SOILS
IS DETRIMENTAL TO PLANT SPECIES AND HABITATS.
AQUIFER
Qrc
Qrf
Qrp
Qrc
Port Melbourne Sand
Qrf
Fisherman’s Bend Silt
Qrc
Coode Island Silt
Coode Island & Fishermen’s Bend Silt
The Coode Island Silt is widely distributed in the Yarra Delta
but is absent in some areas, mainly overlying the deposits
of Fisherman’s Bend Silt. It is thickest where there is an
absence of the underlying Fisherman’s Bend Silt and tends
to then overy the Moray Street Gravels. Its thickness varies
to 30m and consists of grey silty clays with clayey silts and
sand lenses.
Fill:
Various amounts of have been
placed in and around the Yarra
to achieve the current river
channel and surface profile of
site. The fill consists of sandy
clay, gravely clay, silty clay,
clayey sand and clayey gravel
with some organic material
refuse and rubble. The fill may
be contaminated in places. It is
up to 7.5m thick however is
generally 0.5-2m thick.
Industrial waste dump 1930’s for 23 year period,
capped with clay aprox. 1956-1960. Fresh water
lake established over dump site during the late 1980’s
Fresh water lake
Sand mining 1930’s over 10 year period
resulting in current saline lake
Salt water lake
N
SCALE 1:5000
NOT TO SCALE
SW ASPECT
THIS SECTION SHOWS THE STRUCTURE OF THE SUBSOIL LAYERS OF MOUNDS AND SALTWATER LAKE.
THE TOPSOIL HAS A DEPTH OF 100 MM OVER HARD COMPACTED CLAY AND IN SOME AREAS CONSTRUCTION
RUBBLE IS VISIBLE JUST UNDER THE TOPSOIL SURFACE, PREVENTING THE PLANTING OF VEGETATION. BRICKS,
CONCRETE AND DEBRIS LINE THE EDGES OF THE SALTWATER LAKE AND GREEN AND BLUE (CYANOBACTERIA)
ALGAE BLOOMS THROUGHOUT THE LAKE INDICATING AN UNHEALTHY LAKE CONDITION
02

171. 03
TOPOGRAPHIC SECTIONS
A
A
B
B
N
RIDGE
WATER RUN OFF
SCALE 1:5000
Contoured mounds formed of construction fill, compacted clay and
shallow topsoil, surround the lakes areas to catch rain water and provide wind breaks.
The slopes encourage water runoff to the lakes, but have contributed to the toxic condition
of the salt water lake and the stressing of vegetation.
PREVAILING WINDS
SCALE 1:2000
20
Runoff
Runoff
Runoff
40
60
80
100
120
05m
04m
03m
02m
01m
00m
A
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
brackish lake to salt lake section
65
70
75
80
83.5m
0
B
A
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
salt lake to carpark section
40
45 46.2
B
Some potential views are prevented
by the mounds, but also cause
thermal stratification in the lakes
Mounding prevents Wind currents
from stirring water (mixing), causing stratification,
stagnation and algae/bacterial blooms
SALTWATER LAKE
FRESHWATER LAKE ABOVE LANDFILL
WATER TABLE
SEDIMENT DISPERSAL THROUGH AQUIFER AND WATER TABLE
10 METERS
PORT MELBOURNE SAND AQUIFER
A CONTAMINATED PLUME CONSISTING OF IRON,CHROMIUM, CADMIUM,
MERCURY,LEAD AND OTHER TOXIC SUBSTANCES ARE LEACHED INTO THE
AQUIFER AND EVENTUALLY INTO THE YARRA RIVER AND PORT PHILLIP BAY
140
160
180
200 M

172. SOIL AND WATER TESTS
the landfill
08.
07.
06.
CONSTRUCTION FILL AND COMPACTION
The lake salt lake edge reveals construction fill
that has also been utilised to establish mounds.
The photo of the lake below, shows signs of
enrichment from phosphorus and nitrates.
There is evidence that salinity is increasing
throughout the site. Photo 1. & 2. of the lake
edge, shows signs of high levels of osmotic stress.
There is very little evidence of the food chain
throughout the salt lake areas, except for where
there may be a fresh water drain.
05.
04.
01.
03.
Fresh water lake
02.
2.
Salt water lake
3.
N
SCALE 1:3500
01.
Dark sandy topsoil 100mm to extremely hard clay, exacerbated by drought conditions, very dry and
would be considered a generic sample found in exposed open positions.
02.
Top of mound, dark sandy topsoil 100mm, hard clay
03.
Salt water lake sample, eutrophic, pea green color cyanobacterial blooms, planktonic algae,
nitrogen levels in the water exceed 0.3 mg/L and phosphorus levels exceed 0.01 mg/L (Metcalf & Eddy, 1991, p 1213).
oxygen levels extremely low, probably stagnant.
04.
Jetty site on fresh water lake: slightly moist at start of clay at 100mm
08.
EUTROPHICATION
Shaded area to East side of fresh water lake, dark sandy topsoil to 100mm, hard clay compacted under topsoil
07.
4.
Southern side of bank, soil profile to 300mm, 120mm black sandy loam topsoil to moist ocre colored clay with
fragments of shale to 5-50mm. Moisture possibly from fresh water lake through capillary action.
06.
An enriched lake is one which
contains too many nutrients, like
nitrogen and phosphorous.
Symptoms of such enrichment
may include excessive algae, odor
problems and low levels of
dissolved oxygen.
Lake shore line: black, silty clay, pungent odour, anaerobic condition, toxic sedimentation, detrimental to
supporting plant life, lack of emergent macrophytes, soil organic colloids, high salinity, low pH.
05.
1.
Fresh water lake sample: Very clear, olygotrophic to mesotropic, supporting wide variety of plant life
The Port Melbourne Sand aquifer, tends to
flow in a SE directions, following the course
of the river. It is assumed that suspended
leachate particles are dispersed in this
direction also. As the water table is high and
replenishes the salt water lake, contaminated
sedimentation would be evident throughout the
lake and soils.
CONTAMINANTS
The principal contaminates of concern that are possibly found leaching from West Gate Park, are
metals (arsenic, zinc, mercury, lead, copper), phenolic, ammonia, hydrocarbons and volatile chlorinated
hydrocarbons. Other contaminates recorded in the area include TPH, PAH, PCBs, OC Pesticides, cyanide
and heavy metals (Sinclair Knight Merz, November 1999). Metals are often related to contaminated fill
used in the area.
Soil texture - Inorganic fractions
• Gravel - particles greater than 2 mm in diameter.
• Coarse sand - particles less than 2 mm and greater
than 0.2 mm in diameter.
• Fine sand - particles between 0.2 mm and 0.02 mm in
diameter.
• Silt - particles between 0.02 mm and 0.002 mm in
diameter
• Clay - particles less than 0.002 mm in diameter.
Soil Related Stress Soil compaction frequently causes
long-term health problems with
plants. This compaction resulted
from the use of a "sheep's foot,"
a piece of equipment used to compact
soils in preparation for construction
N
INDICATES OLD LANDFILL SITE CONTAINING NON-BIODEGRADABLE WASTE FROM INDUSTRY
DISPERSAL OF LEACHATE PLUME
SE DIRECTION OF CONTAMINANT SPREAD
04

173. 05
REMEDIATIONS AND SOLUTIONS
OLD SALT LAKE
MSW MACHINE DRILLING PRB
NEW CAPPING & LINER
VOLVO
Rhizofiltration and Bioretention
Remediation
AQUIFER
PORT MELBOURNE SAND
AQUITARD
As the analysis of West Gate Park reveals major environmental
and ecological problems, remediation must be approached from
a combination of abiotic and biotic chains to have a sucessful
design outcome.
As anthropogenic activity has precluded any notion of a ‘restoration’
to a state that previously prevailed under certain conditions, consideration
of possibilities that address current and future issues provide a
guideline for design. Remediation involves ‘below/ above’, or
starting from under the ground up, or more correctly, where both planes
meet..
COODE ISLAND SILT
MOUNDING TO BE REMOVED, MATERIAL CLEANED & SORTED CONCRETE, BRICK & STONE TO BE CRUSHED AND RECYCLED IN GABIONS
& TO CONSOLIDATE GRAVEL FILTER BEDS IN WETLANDS. A PERMEABLE REACTIVE BARRIER COULD BE CONSTRUCTED TO CLOSE OFF THE LANDFILL.
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A WELL COULD BE LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE PRB TO SUPPLY GROUND WATER TO THE LAKES FOR FURTHER FILTERING AND
ULTIMATELY RECHARGED BACK INTO THE AQUIFER.
PERMEABLE REACTIVE BARRIER (PRB)
Modern landfills could be described as a sealed ‘box in the ground’.
As the old landfill at West Gate Park cannot be sealed at its base to
prohibit leakage into the Port Melbourne Sand aquifer, it would still
be feasible to construct a PRB that penetrates into the aquitard
(Coode Island Silt) to filter out contaminants.
Heavy metal soil stabilization techniques
1. Phytovolatization
2. Microbial Bioremediation
3. Extraction of Heavy Metals
Containment of leachate to aquifer
PRB PLAN VIEW
4. Constuct a bentonite & permiable
reactive barrier around contaminant source
5. Empty salt water lake, extract non biodegradable waste
6. Cap salt water lake
7. Establish bioretention ponds and treatment train through
a new freshwater wetlands
Process and recycle
8. Sort, grade and process current construction fill mounds
9. Recycle large solid masonry fill through crushing and grading
into various sizes for gabion cages, wetlands base. and use in
bioretention train.
SCALE 1: 5500
N
Linkage to Yarra River edge
10. Establish fresh water lake close to the Yarra River edge, acting
as recharge source, amenity and linkage to Yarra system /Port/ City.
VOLATIZATION
ACCUMULATION
METABOLISM
Red lines show mounds, preventing wind circulation and blocking views through to Yarra River
UPTAKE
BIODEGRADATION
CONTAMINANTS
THE PHYTOREMEDIATION PROCESS
Contaminants are incorporated
into the plant's tissues
Opposite West Gate Park, mounds block views to the park and city beyond. Narrow sandy beaches at River’s edge, are used for fishing.

174. CONTEXT MAPPING & ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES
KEY:
CITY
WESTGATE PARK
INDUSTRIAL
RESIDENTIAL
RIVERS, BAYS & TRIBUTARIES
LEACHATE FLOW DIAGRAMS
MACRO SCALE DIAGRAM
CITY
YARRA RIVER
RESIDENTIAL
WESTGATE
PARK LANDFILL
PORT
PHILLIP
BAY
INDUSTRY
ATMOSPHERE
MICRO SCALE DIAGRAM
AMMONIA
NITROGEN
N
INDUSTRY
PORT
STORM WATER
AQUIFER
BENZINE, DDT, ARSENIC, LEAD, MERCURY
SALT LAKE
RUNOFF
LEACHING
AIR/ DUST
ATMOSPHERE
PRECIPITATION
PORT
PHILLIP
BAY
MACROPHYTES
LANDFILL
SOIL
STORAGE
PRODUCER
MACROPHYTES
PORT MELBOURNE SANDS AQUIFER
CONSUMER
BENZINE, DDT, ARSENIC, LEAD, MERCURY
YARRA RIVER
06

175. CONCEPTUAL PLAN
WETLANDS ARE VANISHING FAST, ALONG WITH SPECIES ENDEMIC TO THE UNIQUE AND COMPLEX ECO-SYSTEMS WITHIN
COASTAL ESTUARIES AND RIVER DELTAS. ALTHOUGH AN ORIGINAL TIDAL ESTUARY FLOOD PLAIN CANNOT BE RESTORED,
CONNECTIONS AND REMEDIATIONS CAN BE APPLIED TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE EXISTING LANDSCAPE SYSTEMS, AND
ALSO ENCOURAGE AWARENESS OF THE UNIQUE FUNCTIONS THESE SYSTEMS FULFILL. THIS PROPOSITION MAKES
MULTIPLE CONNECTIONS TO VARIOUS LEVELS OF INTEREST, CONSOLIDATES THE PRECIOUSNESS OF OPEN SPACE
WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE CITY AND PROVIDES A WORTHY ENHANCEMENT TO THE WESTGATE BRIDGE LANDMARK
AND WESTERN CORRIDOR. THIS CONCEPT POTENTIALLY ESTABLISHES WESTGATE PARK FOR CONSIDERATION AS OF STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE FOR
PURCHASE, ACCORDING TO THE CRITERIA GOVERNING THE LAND AQUISITION DOCUMENT. CONCEPTUALLY THIS PLAN ATTEMPTS TO BRIDGE A LINK
BETWEEN INTERFACES, PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECLAIM A SMALL PORTION OF THE YARRA DELTA THAT MAY EMERGE AS SIGNIFICANT IN TIME
FOR THE FUNCTION THAT IT FULFILLS ECOLOGICALLY. THIS PROJECT MAY BE CONSIDERED AS AN EMERGENCY CORONARY BYPASS TO RESTORE
CIRCULATORY FLOW WITHIN THE MIDST OF AN INDUSTRIAL METABOLISM
KEY:
STAGE 1 SEDIMENTATION
LAKE
B
STAGE 2 NUTRIENT STRIPPING
LAKE
STAGE 3 TIDAL ESTUARY
INLET, MARSH &
LAKE TO YARRA
RIVER
FILTER STRIPS & SWALES
TREATMENT CHAIN
C
TODD
RA
RIV
ER
ROAD
A
YA
R
07
1.
2.
2.
STORMWATER
INLET, SEDIMENTATION
TRAP & SAND FILTER
TO TREATMENT TRAIN
LIMESTONE & DOLOMITE ROCKS
TO REDUCE & NEUTRALISE LOW PH
OF WATER
(CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM
CARBONATE CONTENT)
BOARDWALK & BBQ AREA
A
EPHEMERAL MACROPHYTE
ZONE/ CARBON TRAP
1.
B
TIDAL MARSH
PATHWAYS & BOARDWALKS
C
SAND & SOIL REMEDIATION CELLS
BRIDGE OVER ESTUARY INLET
EXTENT OF WORKS
20
N
40
60
80
100
120
140
SCALE 1:2000
160
180
200 M
TODD ROAD

176. CONTOURS PLAN
2
+2.5
2
2.0
3.0
R.L 0.0
Yarra River
2.6
+1.8
3
2.5
1.1
6
1.
0.0
+2.3
2
2.5
3
2.0
1.1
.7
1.4
2
+2.8
2
2.0
2
08

177. 09
DESIGN PROCESS
LEACHATE DISPERSION
PERMEATION
PATHWAYS
DISTRIBUTION
THE DESIGN PROCESS EMERGED FROM LEACHATE FLOW INTO
IMPERMEABLE AND PERMEABLE BARRIERS, INTERSECTIONS AND
CELLULAR STRUCTURES AT MICRO AND MACRO SCALES.
CORRIDORS FOR THE MIGRATION OF SPECIES ACROSS EDGE
ZONES AND THE ABILITY OF CELLULAR ZONES TO MORPH AND
RESPOND TO EMERGING CONDITIONS, PROVIDES AN
UNDERLYING DESIGN PRINCIPLE AND STRATEGY WITHIN
A FIELD OF ORGANISATION.

178. CORRIDORS FOR MIGRATION
10

179. ER
RIV
375
300
Ø
RA
YAR
750 Ø
300
Ø
AR
IV
ER
WESTGATE PARK PLAN VIEW
Ø
1650
Ø
300
Ø
STREET
1650
LORIMER
Ø
1800
Ø
300
300
Ø
Ø
300 Ø
Ø
1800
300
Ø
300
STREET
Ø
INDUSTRIAL SECTOR
300
Ø
Ø
Ø
300 Ø
LORIMER
300
750
300
Ø
750
Ø
300 Ø
300
300
Ø
Ø
TODD
Ø
1800
ROAD
750
RIV
ER
Ø
Ø
750
225
Ø
300 Ø
225
Ø
Ø
675
300
Ø
Ø
Ø
1800
300
600
Ø
YAR
RA
ET
STRE
750
Ø
600 Ø
DRIVE
PRIVATE
Ø
IMER
675
Ø
300 Ø
AY
Ø
675
600
Ø
Ø
600
LOR
750
WIRRAW
300 Ø
450Ø
1200 Ø
600
300
600
Ø
Ø
Ø
300 Ø
300 Ø
Ø
300 Ø
450
DRIVE
Ø
Ø
1200 Ø
Ø
375
Ø
300 Ø
375
Ø
Ø
Ø
375
450
1050 Ø
Ø
375
D
300
ROA Ø
R
Ø
STREET
525
LORIME
Ø
RF
WHA
300
Ø
Ø
300
RAILWAY
Ø
375
300 Ø
300 Ø
DOCK
WEBB
Ø
675
Ø
Ø
375
Ø
1050 Ø
750
Ø
Ø
300
525
Ø
300
300 Ø 300 Ø
450
750x225
300
Ø
300
750x225
750
750
Ø 300 Ø
375
Ø
Ø
300
300 Ø
Ø
525
Ø
300 Ø
Ø
Ø
300
TODD ROAD
750
375
300
TODD ROAD
Ø
Ø
525
SABRE
525
300
750x225
YA
RR
Ø
300
E)
300
DRIVE
Ø
(PRIVAT
450
Ø
750
Ø
300
Ø
450
Ø
NETWORK
Ø
GE
BRID
525
SARDINE
(PRIVAT
WEBB
TE
Ø
525
TGA
Ø
Ø
STREET
Ø
Ø
675
675
Ø
600
Ø
Ø
300
300
Ø
Ø
300
300
COOK
300
WES
600
300
(OVER)
Ø
BRIDGE
300
WESTGATE
PARK
DOCK
E)
ATE
Ø
1050
Ø
675 Ø
RAILWAY
STREET
WESTG
300
Ø
1050
Ø
TODD
Ø
300
300 Ø
300 Ø
Ø
300
Ø
E
BRIDGE
300
Ø
1050
300
Ø
PARADE
1050
ROAD
WESTGAT
HOWE
(UNMADE)
Ø
Ø
2100
300
Ø
HOWE
PARADE
300 Ø
2100
ROAD
Ø
GOVERNMENT
YARRA RIVER
11
(UNMADE)
300 Ø
2100
Ø
Ø
TODD
2100
ROAD
300
Ø
2100
Ø
300
Ø
300
Ø
300
Ø
Ø
LORIMER
300
FORMER
DOCKSIDE
300
Ø
300
ROAD
ROAD
STREET
Ø
OWN
WILLIAMST
ROAD
TOWN
WILLIAMS
FORMER
B
R
VE
RI
WEB
A
RR
YA
DO
CK
LORIMER ST/TODD RD STORMWATER
OUTFALL PLAN
EXISTING FRESH WATER LAKES
LIMESTONE WALL WITH REBATED PATHWAY
GRASSLANDS
LAKE FLOOD OVERFLOW DRAIN
W
ES
TG
AT
E
GROSS POLLUTANT TRAP
LIMESTONE INFILL TREATMENT TRAIN
BR
ID
GE
CARPARK
2
SEDIMENTATION LAKE
D
A
A
WETLANDS
RD
TIDAL OUTFALL LAKE
D
TO
3
1
WETLANDS
WETLANDS
SAND DUNES
WETLANDS
TEA TREE THATCH RETAINING WALLS
TE
TGA
GE
BRID
WES
SHIPPING CONTAINERS
N
0
10 20 30 40 50
A
60
70 80 90 100 M

180. DESIGN DETAIL
12
CELL & GABION DETAILS
A. Wetland cells phytoremediation
B. Secondary phytoremediation
C. Final wetland remediation
1. Wetlands sedimentation lake
2. Bioretention lake
3. Salt water lake and marsh
MACROPHYTES
0.2
2
3
1
Gabion cage wall
A
A
A
B
Width variation to
suit pathways and
cell walls
(adaptable)
C
B
A
B
N
0
10 20 30 40 50
60
0.9
70 80 90 100 M
MACROPHYTES
Gabions form moveable walkways
and permiable walls.
Configurations can be adapted to
suit macrophyte growth and pedestrian
traffic
B
2M Fall total
0.9
B
SCALE 1: 200
SECTION DETAIL
Macrophytes to varying depths
0.9 - 0.2 M
Wetlands depth 0.2- 0.9M
0.5M fall from lake to wetlands
2
3
2M max depth to lakes
1
Clay capping
Fine & course gravels
2.0
1.5 M
GRADIENT OUTLINE
Filtration
Heights of Gabions can be
adapted to facilitate variations
0.2

181. 13
WATER CELLS & LAKES
SOIL GROWING MEDIUM
FINE GRAVEL
LARGE GRAVEL FLOW LAYER
GEOTEXTILE LINER
COMPACTED CLAY LINER
GABIONS
MACROPHYTES
STORMWATER FLOW
GRAVELS
IMPERMEABLE CLAY LINER
DIAGRAM SHOWING PERMEABILITY OF GABION
STRUCTURES AND GRAVEL SUBTRATES
A sampling of flora and fauna

182. PERSPECTIVES
WASTELAND TO WETLAND
WESTGATE PARK EMERGES FROM
A LONG PERIOD OF CONTAMINATION
TO RECONNECT WITH ITS ANCESTRAL
RIVER DELTA PAST
14