ALL ABOARD

A landmark civil infrastructure project in Victoria has produced a new public realm that changed the face of the city forever.

Unlocking the potential of Melbourne’s busiest rail corridor for public use is the purpose behind the Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project. Spanning the city’s south-eastern suburbs, this major infrastructure project has elevated the existing rail line, removed a number of level crossings and opened up previously underutilised land to develop new amenities across 22.5 hectares of open space and parklands for community use.

“The lifting of the rail not only has assisted in resolving safety and traffic congestion, it’s provided opportunities to recapture and develop a previously unavailable public realm for use,” states Andrew Wilson, PTA Landscapes Director. “It’s the biggest regiving of land in Melbourne since the opening of the Royal Botanic Garden in 1846.”

Some of the key features of this herculean project include five station forecourts, three linear parks, one civic square, and five large-scale activation/sport/multigenerational community nodes, as well as a memorial and a 17-kilometre-long cycling and pedestrian network.

Working alongside landscape architecture firm Aspect Studios, PTA Landscapes was engaged by CPB Contractors and Lendlease Engineering to complete the hard landscaping works for the activation node located at Heatherton Road in Noble Park, in addition to the RSL Memorial on Haughton Road in Clayton.

With a focus on creating a new playspace that complements the Noble Park skatepark, aquatic centre and nearby retail assets, PTA Landscapes undertook a range of works to deliver the Heatherton Road activation node for community use. Producing in situ concrete retaining walls, stairs and edging, together with coloured concrete and gravel pavements, rubber softfall and Laykold decorative surface finishes gave the area a durable and attractive framework. The installation of play equipment, including a custom salvaged-log parkour course, combined with exercise equipment, street furniture, bollards and barrier fencing gave the space its purpose.

The brightly hued and energetic activity zone in Heatherton Road presents a distinct contrast to the second stage project completed by PTA Landscapes, which consisted of a reflective open space containing the Clayton RSL Memorial. In completing the memorial, PTA Landscapes relocated the Cenotaph from the Clayton RSL to its new position under the rail line. Bluestone feature paving and memorial walls were installed, along with decorative gabion walls, coloured concrete pavements, flag poles, street furniture, bollards and fixtures to complete the space honouring Veterans.

Commensurate with the lofty ambitions attached to the overall project, the new precincts completed by PTA Landscapes helped to deliver quality public value and create a legacy space for future generations. The bold, engaging spaces offer users a sense of community, a safe space to gather and a distinct purpose that encourage physical activity and social interaction

Widely recognised for its quality, the Caulfield Dandenong Rail Upgrade project was honoured with the 2019 Victorian Park of the Year award by Parks & Leisure Australia, and the Open Space Landscape Architecture Award and Infrastructure Award of Excellence at the Australia Institute of Landscape Architects (Victoria) Awards.

Andrew said: “PTA Landscapes were delighted to be a part of the build, and we get great enjoyment returning and watching the local community interact with the new landscaped spaces we built.”

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PROJECT PARTICULARS
Client CPB Contractors & Lend Lease Engineering
Location Noble Park, Victoria
Project Design ASPECT Studios & Cox Architecture
Landscape Contractor PTA Landscapes