Story of the Billabong Parklands

Campbelltown City Council was awarded a grant from the Western Parkland City Liveability Program (WPCLP), a key commitment under the Western Sydney City Deals, for the Campbelltown Billabong Parklands project, securing co-funding from the Federal and State Governments, and Council.

The purpose of the project was to add a new, unprecedented and distinctive high-value open space and recreation element to the liveability of the Campbelltown-Macarthur centre, which will be of regional significance. It is a destination where people can gather, relax, play and make memories. The project aligns to Campbelltown City Council’s Reimaging Campbelltown City Centre Masterplan, which is a long-term plan that sets the vision for the city centre transformation.

The Campbelltown Billabong Parklands will transform Apex / Bradbury Park into a unique, regional recreational destination.

The concept for this transformative project, has drawn inspiration from the local Dharawal National Park, reflecting the city’s natural environment and embracing local Aboriginal cultural heritage in its design, establishing a strong local identity that resonates with the community. The concept has looked to create a connected, distinctive, attractive, safe, secure and accessible public place that will draw people, through a series of interlinked and flexible open spaces in a riverine-like parkland setting, for passive and active recreation, entertainment and community use. It accommodates to a range of distinct user groups, reflecting different experiences.

The Campbelltown Billabong Parklands concept has been designed to:

• Create a series of interlinked and flexible open spaces in a riverine-like parkland setting, for passive and active recreation, entertainment and community use
• Reflect the natural environment of the Georges River, its tributaries and the nearby Dharawal National Park
• Accommodate a range of distinct user groups, reflecting a gambit of different experiences in the one location
• Establish an iconic gateway to the southern end of the Campbelltown CBD and the Campbelltown Cultural Precinct
• Integrate the parklands with other nearby areas, both visually and physically, making it a destination place within the Campbelltown CBD.

Council engaged Public Artists Milne and Stonehouse to work with Council and the local Aboriginal community to develop a vision for the Billabong Parklands. This included the preparation of a Stakeholder and Community Consultation Report (completed in July 2019). This report informed the direction of the artworks by consulting with the local Aboriginal community to gather their views and aspirations for the project.

Once completed the artists prepared an overall Public Art Strategy (completed in September 2019) for the site. This strategy outlined a number of public art concepts for the site. This Strategy was workshopped with Council staff and the Aboriginal community. Further development was undertaken and a Public Art Conceptual Framework (October 2020) was developed for the site. From this Conceptual Framework public art projects were developed. The major projects developed for the project include:

1. The Bridge was developed in consultation with key Aboriginal stakeholders and the Yirran Miigaydhu Weavers Group. The bridge acts as a symbolic connection between Aboriginal People and dissects the main Billabong as a landscape feature. Themes include the land between two rivers story and weaving items such as dilly bags or a carrying vessel.
2. The Entry Sign was developed in consultation with key Aboriginal stakeholders and artist Danielle Mate. This sign reads: Njirgangga dharidhamayi Dharawal nguradha You are standing on Dharawal Country. The sign also depicts a range of artworks developed by Danielle Mate including lyrebird and human footprints. Sandblasted patterns guide patrons through the Billabong's main entry pathway and respond to the entry sign graphics been positioned to show lyrebird feet tracking in and out of the Billabong entrance garden beds.

    

Public artists involved:

• Milne and Stonehouse
• Danielle Mate
• Yirran Miigaydhu Weavers Group
• First Nations Advisory Group

A key feature of the project is the extensive landscaping that incorporates approximately 1000 trees to fulfil the aspiration of the parklands representing the local Dharawal National Park.

Throughout the Billabong site we have 10 ex ground trees that have been transplanted. These include:

• Ficus rubiginosa
• Ficus macrophylla
• Livistona Decipiens
• Brachychiton acerifolius