Woodward Park masterplan: Flood concerns over Brickmakers Creek transformation

Fears by a councillor that dead animals, a mosquito problem and “unsustainable” maintenance costs could plague a multimillion-dollar plan to rejuvenate a flood-prone creek have been dismissed.

Playground and creek restoration as part of Woodward Place Masterplan. Picture: Terrior architecture

Fears by a councillor that dead animals, a mosquito problem and “unsustainable” maintenance costs could plague a multimillion-dollar plan to rejuvenate a flood-prone creek have been dismissed by Liverpool council.

Plans for a $43.9m WestInvest funded project to transform Brickmaker’s Creek – one of the tributaries connected to the Georges River – into a water oasis surrounded by a regional playground and new vegetation was tabled at Liverpool Council’s last council meeting.

The Brickmaker’s Creek transformation is part of the Woodwork Place masterplan to transform Liverpool into a $250m “iconic lifestyle precinct” including an aquatic and leisure centre alongside concert space for 30,000 people across the next 30 years.

Renderings from Liverpool City Council's Woodward Place Masterplan. Picture: Terrior architecture and Hassall.

The 28ha park masterplan looks to turn the “hot, dry” and “over-scaled” Woodward Park — currently home to a number of sporting and community facilities — into a regional landmark for sports and events.

Liverpool council urged councillors to endorse the Brickmakers portion of the 2020 approved masterplan in a bid to progress development to meet the WestInvest funding requirements.

However, independent councillor Peter Harle raised concerns about the development’s “ongoing unsustainable maintenance costs” as the portion of the Brickmaker Creek is a wide channel flood prone area for the last 50 years.

Leisure Centre shown as part of the Woodward Place Masterplan. Picture: Terrior architecture

“The water flow velocity will wash away, damage and destroy the proposed landscaping and water features,” he said.

“It will introduce an enormous amount of maintenance health and safety issues in terms of stagnant water, mosquito problems, unpleasant odours due to stagnant water ponds and dead animals trapped in them.”

Mr Harle said council “would regret” the project as numerous attempts have been made along the dish to improve water quality by constructing small dams and ponds but “all have failed miserably”.

“My suggestion is to either leave the dish drain or incorporate a low flow drain that will allow the area to be used for recreational purposes in dry periods,” he said.

Artist impressions of the outdoor recreation spaces.

“Anything else is a waste of time and money in my humble opinion.”

“So by all means spend multimillion-dollars, but remember, I told you so.”

The director of operations said the project was an example of “if we don’t spend the money we give it back”.

“Don’t forget the government at the time is no longer in and the appetite we’ve seen even for minor amendments to any of the WestInvest projects is almost zero,” he said.

Leisure Centre at the future Woodward Place: Terrior architecture

The director reminded council it was a “revitalisation project” on a small strip of the creek to transform the concrete drain back to its “natural barren surroundings”.

“It has been the subject of a water sensitive urban design and our designers have come back and said this is an appropriate treatment for Brickmakers Creek.”

Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun supported the motion and said it was a “great community outcome”.

Renderings of the possible community playground and cafes.

“Yes it’s never going to be perfect … I’m looking forward to the tens of thousands of people who call Liverpool home to be able to enjoy that very important open space that is unembellished at the moment,” he said.

Liverpool council has been contacted for comment.