bowen_foreshore
Tract Consultants is proud of its partnership with the Whitsunday Regional Council (formerly Bowen Shire Council) in the redevelopment of the Bowen Foreshore since 2006. The evolution of our partnered vision has been a rewarding process leading to the successful completion of Stage 1. This document has been prepared for Council as a concise overview of the Bowen Foreshore project thus far and as a record of the opening celebrations on November 14, 2009. bowen_foreshore 1
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contents As It Was - Bowen Front Beach Vision For The Future - Design Development The Masterplan Realising The Vision - Foreshore Stage One Catalina Interpretive Centre War Memorial Wall Bowen Soundshell Australia Pavillion Dalrymple Plaza Sinclair Place Play Area and Bike Track Foreshore Promenade Morrill Skate Plaza Place For The People - Opening Celebration 5 7 9 11 17 29 35 39 43 49 53 59 69 79 3
as it was_bowen front beach 5
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visions for the future_design development7
In April 2006, Bowen Shire Council approached Tract seeking new opportunities to revitalise the foreshore precinct to provide greater interaction between the coastline and town. Key provisions identified for residents and visitors alike included: The celebration of the rich history and heritage of the region; Acknowledgment of diversity in local industry; Encouragement for use of the foreshore for events and festivals; Cater for wide range of water and recreational activities; and Be a safe and attractive place for all ages. 8
From this initial brief, Tract commenced a detailed master planning concepts process, based on a 12 point redevelopment plan. In summary, primary elements of this plan included: The Catalina Commemorative area and war memorials; The Festival Lawn / Event space include soundshell and pier precinct; Santa Barbara Park and Promenade development; Santa Barbara Parade upgrade including Plaza spaces; and Swimming facilities including Rock Pool Playground and Bowen Baths. A program for staged implementation was formulated. This program formed the basis for Council s funding applications which set a clear path for the future project. the_masterplan 9
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With funding secured and priority Stage 1 works identified, Tract and its consultant team proceeded to work closely with Council, Local and State stakeholders with the development of the design and facilitation of the planning approval process. Primary elements of the site responsive masterplan that have evolved in Stage 1 include: The Catalina Interpretive Centre; including the consolidated war memorials and hardstand area; The theatrical precinct including the Soundshell, the Australia Pavilion, movie interpretive centre and festival space; Dalrymple Plaza, Sinclair Place and Morrill Skate Plaza; Santa Barbara Parade redevelopment, increased parking and shade trees; Santa Barbara Park including the promenade and shade / BBQ amenity facilities; Playgrounds and bike tracks; A unique unified suite of furnishings, artwork, signage and lighting that responds to the Bowen Foreshore environment; and The retention of almost all existing trees. This process continued from late 2007 to mid 2008 with the completion of documentation. The works were tendered mid 2008 and construction contract subsequently awarded enabling commencement of Stage 1 works on site in late November 2008. With the November 2009 completion of the Stage 1 works the Vision is now realised, and with Council s key objectives now met, Bowen Foreshore is the major public domain providing the catalyst for development, consolidation of local identity elements and meeting the growing recreation needs for Bowen. realising_the vision_foreshore stage_one 11
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3 realising the vision _ foreshore stage one Aerial Series 15
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The Catalina Interpretative Centre has the dual purpose of providing visitor information about the former historic Catalina Flying Boats and accompanying base that was in operation on the site during WWII, and a War Memorial Wall commemorating those who served in various armed conflicts from The Boer War through to recent Peacekeeping missions. The roof has a dynamic wing like form, alluding to the giant steel shapes of the flying boats which once dominated the site. Underneath a series of large curved ceramic printed glass panels show the Catalina Flying Boats in their historic context; taking off and landing on water, and being serviced on the concrete hardstand. The viewer has a unique cockpit experience of being able to visualise the images juxtaposed with the real landscape in the background. A large timber deck area, a land jetty, provides for seating and wind protection and allows for large gatherings for memorial events. A long tapering knife like wall, The Memorial Wall, cuts through the site. The street side is clad with industrial weathered steel panels. The sea side is contrasted with smooth white limestone tiles and a timeline series of vertical grey aluminium panels containing information on each armed conflict. This is a side for reflection and contemplation. The Centre is partially concealed from the Festival Lawn by an earth mound planted with Casuarina Trees. This is to create a sense of destination and privacy from the rest of the parkland. The turf grassed landforms integrate and respond to the shapes of the relic of the coal loading facility which serviced the active port operation until the 1980s. catalina_interpretive_centre 17
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The War Memorial Wall with its rusticated steel and white tile cladding is designed as a large scale Monument ; a symbol of solidity and strength, onto which the contrasting black panels provide finely detailed images and descriptions of conflicts past and present. The War Memorial Wall at the Catalina Interpretive Centre does not replace the ceremonial function of the existing cenotaph at the top end of Herbert Street. It focuses on the involvement of the Bowen Community in wars and conflicts and provides both a place of reflection and contemplation, whilst also a source of visitor information. The wall brings into one location what was previously a disparate series of memorials around the foreshore precinct in various states of disrepair. The information on the eight panels represents the joint effort from representatives of Whitsunday Regional Council, the local branch of the RSL, Bowen Historical Society, National Servicemen s Association, Tract and Dot Dash. An extensive investigation, review and vetting process was undertaken to ensure accuracy of the information presented, with final authorisation sought and received from the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. The wall format allows for future panels to be added should this (although hopefully never) be required. The lighting provides for striking ambience when the wall and interpretive centre is viewed at night. war_memorial_wall 29
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Bowen Soundshell is a unique multipurpose structure incorporating a state of the art performance stage, backstage facilities, public amenities, information booths and a pavilion dedicated to the movie Australia. This is the largest building on the site. The large Performance Stage (14m x 8m) has been orientated together with the Viewing Terraces and Festival Lawn to accommodate both small and large crowds. Three rows of lighting bars, speaker hanging points, and terrace lighting poles allow for a variety of performance setups and are connected through a backstage patch panel for remote lighting control. The Backstage provides for discreet Stage access and contains preparation, amenity and storage areas. A courtyard separates the Stage and Public Amenities which can be used for backstage loading and by the performers for preparation during events. The roofs of each structure slope down to the courtyard allowing rain water to be gathered into a large underground concrete tank for use throughout the building. Timber batten screens have been used to allow filtered breeze and passive cooling to internal spaces. bowen_soundshell 35
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The Pavilion is a roofed shelter addressing Darlymple Plaza that has space for a future Cafe, and displays three glass panels depicting scenes and information about Baz Luhrmann s movie Australia. The arrangement of these panels directs the visitor to view locations on the site where actual scenes of the movie were filmed. A feature red painted lower curved ceiling alludes to the traditional movie opening red carpet walk. australia_pavillion 39
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The plaza provides an important forecourt arrival to the Bowen Soundshell, Australia Pavilion and Festival Lawn Precinct, as well as being the entry to the operational jetty and port facilities. The challenge being to make this significant people space both functional and safe. The design of this plaza, named for one of Bowen s first European settlers, is based around Bowen s industries and natural attributes. Striped pavement ribbons and rail tracks represent agricultural and produce growing of the past industrial coal loading use. Planter beds through the plaza are in the shape of the famous Bowen Mango and rows of Palms and Pandanus are planted as alternating agricultural stripes. Custom designed stone seats in black and white granite symbolise the veining in the local rock along the nearby foreshore zones. Unique glass mosaic artwork on these seats and furnishings represents the four main Bowen Industries: fishing, mining, agriculture and tourism. dalrymple_plaza 43
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Sinclair Place is named after Captain Sinclair and acknowledges the importance of the existing memorial commemorating the settlement of Bowen and its location at the axial termination of Herbert Street. The memorial sits central in the paved plaza on the time line, with radiating inlays listing significant events in the cultural history of Bowen. On one side are engravings of important events in Aboriginal history and on the other side significant post European settlement events are detailed. Unused inlays in the paving allow for future significant events in Bowen to be commemorated. The formal palm plantings within and around the contemporary plaza and intersection further reinforce the importance of this locality and provide contrast to the informality of the retained Fig and Casuarina trees that have been incorporated as part of the design. Stage 2 works will include the completion of Sinclair Place comprising the generously proportioned beach front boardwalk and access stairs to the rocks and water. sinclair_place 49
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The Amenities building caters for the Playground and future Rock Pools water play area. It has been designed as a garden wall, long and thin. This allows it to carefully fit within the existing Casuarina trees, whilst keeping open the view through the parkland. The long edge has a tilted roof that captures the breeze from the sea and shelters pedestrians on the street side. Timber batten screens, whilst giving a regional aesthetic, have been used to allow filtered breeze into the internal spaces. All rain water is collected from the roof to an underground tank for use throughout the building. Various Picnic and BBQ Shelters are scattered as a unified suite throughout the parklands. The roof forms mimic the other structures on site. Timber batten seaward screens provide shelter from winds and give privacy. BBQ benches contain an all-in-one cooking facility including electric hot plates, washing sinks, garbage bins and drinking water fountains. Picnic tables have been custom designed including wheel chair access. The arrangement of each shelter allows use either collectively or individually. play_area and bike_track 53
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The promenade provides a strong visual and physical link along the Santa Barbara Parade linear park. This linear thoroughfare has been sensitively sited to provide strong legibility to the pedestrian network and has ensured that all existing trees have been retained. Given both the prevailing on shore breezes and need for shade throughout the year, the retention of these existing trees, which have been established over a long period of time, was a fundamental design consideration of the highest importance. The amenity provided by these trees as part of the completed works cannot be underestimated. The new avenue tree plantings that have been carried out along Santa Barbara Parade will in time provide further valuable shade and contribution to both the foreshore park, and the frontage of existing and future development properties along the street. Banding and masses of low groundcover species plants, combined with the purpose designed furnishings and integrated art components, provide a locally responsive, high quality and rich finish. foreshore promenade 59
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This plaza, named after Captain James Morrill, one of Bowen s first European settlers, is located on the axial termination of Brisbane Street. The Skate Plaza is a world class facility that has been custom designed to both integrate this active use with the overall foreshore Masterplan and respond to the Bowen Foreshore climatic location. It provides for a wide range of ages and abilities of skaters and bikers, timber deck seating elements, and shade for spectators with the retention of significant existing trees and planting of new Pandanus trees. The wind fence provides baffling of the prevailing breeze for user protection and comfort. Signage, artworks, custom furniture and lighting all add to this as a vital hub for the youth of Bowen, who were extensively consulted during the concept design phase of the skate park. morrill_skate_plaza 69
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On November 14, 2009, after 11 months of construction, Stage 1 of the Bowen Foreshore was declared open by Councillor Mike Brunker, Mayor of Whitsunday Regional Council. In a clear demonstration of the Bowen communities enthusiasm and desire for a Foreshore events space to call their own, an estimated crowd of 4,000 (around half the total population) flocked to the Opening Celebrations. Throughout the day the events included: The skate park being given its first true test by the professional riders as the Mayor officially opened the facility, staying true to council s commitments to the youth and urging them to own and care for the park; Local performers providing exciting entertainment; and The Seafood Festival and refreshment tents providing local flavour and sustenance. On nightfall the great lighting and events installations become evident, as the new and rich ambience was felt, heightening anticipation. The Bowen sing sing, as part of the Queensland Music Festival, included local talents and cultures representative of the region and was a most appropriate way to celebrate the opening event. All involved are enormously proud of what has been achieved with the completion of Stage 1 and look forward to seeing it being well used and enjoyed by residents and visitors alike for many years to come. Stage 2 and the completion of the Foreshore Redevelopment, notably the Water Park, are also now eagerly anticipated. a_place_for_the people_opening celebrations 79
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We look forward to seeing the Foreshore enjoyed by the Bowen Community and visitors to the Region for many years in the future. Tract Consultants, December 2009 87
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