Jury comment
In this legacy project that has been undertaken over a 24-year period, the landscape architect has been instrumental in the delivery of sustainable outcomes associated with the planning, design and implementation of the 675-kilometre duplication of the highway between Hexham, New South Wales and the Queensland border. This sweeping green highway provides panoramic views to the Great Dividing Range and forests, farmland and coastline. The sustainable outcomes have been exceptional and include the provision of an important connection to Country and the creation of an environmentally sensitive and responsive landscape. Social and environmental outcomes include the minimizing of visual impacts, the provision of rest areas and parks, the integrated design of bridges, tunnels and walls, and the maximizing of landscape spatial qualities such as soils, planting and seeding. These measures have significantly improved the design and created an outstanding outcome for both the community and the stakeholders. The depth of thought and leadership demonstrated in this project has resulted in a national benchmark for highway design with an ecological dimension.
Pacific Highway Upgrade is located from Hexham to the Queensland border in New South Wales on the land of the Worimi, Biripi, Dainggati, Gumbaynggir and Bundjalung people.
Project credits
Project team Transport for NSW and its engineering, planning, environment and design contractors Urban design contractors AECOM, Arup, Conybeare Morrison, Context Landscape Architecture, Corkery Consulting with Studio Colin Polwarth, DEM Architects, DesignInc, Environmental Partnership, HBO+EMTB, Hassell, Jackson Teece, KI Studio, Spackman Mossop Michaels, Tract and Centre for Urban Design Photographer Transport for NSW
To view all the winners of the 2021 National Landscape Architecture Awards, go here.
