Gawler River
Open space planning is crucial to the effective management of land controlled by councils and regional organisations such as the Gawler River Floodplain Management Authority. To ensure such work is successful, on-the-ground works should occur only after high quality strategic planning and assessment takes place.
Commissioned in 2007 by the Gawler River Floodplain Management Authority, the Gawler River Open Space Strategy was developed by URPS and Swanbury Penglase. The strategy establishes a framework to coordinate efforts to improve and manage open space along the length of the Gawler River across different jurisdictions.
More specifically, the strategy provides a framework which coordinates the actions of the relevant councils and government departments. It brings together the results of the background research and site analysis with an assessment of the environmental values, landscape character and recreational use of the entire river.
The strategy addresses a series of macro- and micro-scale issues, including the legislative context, environment and recreation issues, flooding, the role of the Northern Expressway, and population growth. Arising from the analysis is an overarching vision, strategic directions and specific actions.
The Gawler River project is an excellent example of how URPS personnel delivered a strategy that considers and makes recommendations about a raft of broad issues in different jurisdictions that will result in tangible outcomes on the ground.