8.2 Public realm spaces and cycle corridors
SUBMISSION
Next 8.3 The curious case of rapid transit
Cycle corridors are reserved for future cycle highways. A cycle corridor is a type of public realm space. This section introduces public realm spaces and where cycle highways fit.
The stages of the planning process
Cycle corridors reserve and preserve space for the later construction of safe and direct cycle highways. There are several reasons for this. First, the urban planning cycle is long, and it is necessary to make planners aware of the cycle corridors so that they can be considered in the concept plan and detailed designs. The cycle corridor is chosen, because it provides the characteristics that fast, safe and direct cycle highways require. The actual construction comes later and may be done in stages, such as for a greenfield estate.
There are different types of PUBLIC REALM in the Estate Development Code. Each type has PRIMARY FUNCTIONS. The code defines when they should be identified (STAGE IDENTIFIED).
Here is a rough timeline for the planning stages. Everything is calculated backwards from when we expect it to be finished.
- Structure Plan (30 years out)
- Concept Plan (20 years out)
- Estate Development Plan (10 years out)
- Development Application (2-3 years out)
30 years may seem a long time, but it is not really. Since its conception, Light Rail was planned for the Molonglo Valley, too. Infrastructure, such as the John Gorton Drive Bridge, is being made light rail ready. RobertsDay designed the Concept Plan with light rail in mind. The group centre in Molonglo 3 East is also designed for light rail. Sure, at this stage, the ACT Government has not committed to light rail for the Molonglo Valley, but everything is built on the presumption that it will come one day.
The types of public realm
The Estate Development Code includes many types of public realm, but most are of no relevance to cycling. The priority here is to identify those types relevant to the cycle corridor concept.
| Type | Structure Plan | Concept Plan | Estate Development Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Town park | yes | yes | |
| District parks | yes | yes | |
| District sportsgrounds | yes | yes | |
| Neighbourhood ovals | yes | ||
| Neighbourhood parks | yes | ||
| Heritage parks | yes | ||
| Lakes and ponds | yes | yes | yes |
| Broad scale open space | yes | yes | yes |
| Habitat sites | yes | yes | yes |
| *Pedestrian parkland | yes | yes | |
| *Access ways | yes | ||
| *Pedestrian lanes | yes | ||
| *Street verges and medians | yes |
Table 8-1 Public realm space types and the stage identified. Derived from the Estate Development Code (4 October 2013), 46-49.
The last four public realm space types are marked with *, as they belong to the “movement network“. Every development application includes a plan for the movement networks.
A cycle corridor should be identified in the Structure Plan or Concept Plan stage. Of the current movement network types, pedestrian parkland comes the closest. It would be feasible to define a new type of public realm space – a cycle corridor – that is identified at the Structure Plan stage.
Definition of Pedestrian parkland
Pedestrian parkland
Movement network
Concept Plans/Estate Development Plans
- Corridors providing for pedestrian and cyclist routes within and between suburbs and linkages with parks, schools and workplaces.
- May include playgrounds and fitness stations in suitable locations.
- Often co-located with waterways for urban stormwater management and treatment and may contain small ponds and wetlands.
- Often includes remnant vegetation and other natural features, may provide wildlife habitat conservation and/or Connectivity.
- Generally, the dominant surface treatment is dryland grass as dominant ground surface unless otherwise specified for the conservation of habitat, with planted vegetation to enhance shade, shelter, character, seasonal diversity or wildlife movement.
Definitions of types
Town park
Located in a Town centre
- A meeting place park, formal in character.
- With irrigated grass, paving, art, and street furniture.
- May have shrub or flower beds, pavilions and water features.
- May be associated with play facilities, lakes or ponds.
District parks
Recreational facilities
- Extensive, informal park or series of spaces, 4 -10 Ha
- Serving population catchment area of 25 – 50,000 minimum people.
- With grass and trees and a diversity of recreation facilities to cater for informal recreation for all age groups such as picnics, barbecues, adventure playgrounds and skateboard parks.
- May have natural or cultural heritage conservation or habitat creation purposes.
- May be associated with waterways, wetlands, lakes and ponds.
District sportsgrounds
Sportsground complex
- Training and competition venue for organised nominated sports at all levels, 8 ha minimum.
- Serving population catchment area of 25 – 50,000 minimum people.
- May be associated with high schools.
- With irrigated grass, public parking, training lights and a pavilion that includes change rooms, toilets and kiosk.
Neighbourhood ovals
Recreational or sporting activities
- Ovals used for sporting purposes and recreational space for local residents.
- Generally located adjacent to primary schools and/or local shopping centres with shared or separate parking.
- Neighbourhood ovals are an integral part of surrounding parkland, then not in use for sporting purposes.
- The area is irrigated and will require sufficient space for related amenities (small pavilion/toilet block and training lights).
Neighbourhood parks
Recreational or sporting activities
- Neighbourhood parks are classified as Local neighbourhood parks (0.5ha-1ha) or Central neighbourhood parks (1ha-2ha).
- Focal point park of all neighbourhood open spaces and off road movement networks to be an outdoor meeting place.
- To accommodate opportunities for informal free and innovative play as well as a range of unstructured recreation activities for a range of ages. The play space may include standardised playground equipment.
- Parks are linked or adjacent to other public realm spaces and may be located adjacent to a neighbourhood sportsground. Neighbourhood parks can also accommodate remnant native vegetation and other natural features.
- Provided with shade and shelter and drinking water.
Heritage parks
Special purpose park
- Open space area created to conserve heritage character and elements.
- May have heritage conservation and monitoring activities.
Lakes and ponds
For control of stormwater quality and quantity including flood mitigation from the urban catchments
Structure Plans/Concept Plans/Estate Development Plans
- Designed waterscape for aesthetics and water storage for irrigation and other second class water needs.
- Water uses may include conservation and or active recreation (e.g. fishing, swimming, boating) and passive recreation around lakes and ponds.
Broad scale open space
The bushland setting for Canberra
Structure Plans/Concept Plans/Estate Development Plans
- Areas of remnant and planted native vegetation, hills and ridges, waterway corridors and buffer areas between suburbs.
- To provide visual and landscape amenity, informal recreation and wildlife habitat.
- May contain sites for biological diversity or Connectivity, cultural heritage conservation and or for community activities (e.g. Landcare, Parkcare, Community Garden groups).
Habitat sites
The bushland setting for Canberra
Structure Plans/Concept Plans/Estate Development Plans
- Remnant grassland or woodland sites important for nature conservation purposes.
- May form part of a regional ecosystem, provide the food source for migratory species or contain endangered plant or animal species or be used for Connectivity and be subject to conservation activities
- and monitoring in accord with Action Plans for their conservation prepared under provisions of the Nature Conservation Act 1980.
Pedestrian parkland
Movement network
Concept Plans/Estate Development Plans
- Corridors providing for pedestrian and cyclist routes within and between suburbs and linkages with parks, schools and workplaces.
- May include playgrounds and fitness stations in suitable locations.
- Often co-located with waterways for urban stormwater management and treatment and may contain small ponds and wetlands.
- Often includes remnant vegetation and other natural features, may provide wildlife habitat conservation and/or Connectivity.
- Generally, the dominant surface treatment is dryland grass as dominant ground surface unless otherwise specified for the conservation of habitat, with planted vegetation to enhance shade, shelter, character, seasonal diversity or wildlife movement.
Access ways
Movement network
- Linear spaces for pedestrians and cyclists between residential properties providing direct access between streets and other public realm spaces.
- Low intensity management with seasonal variability.
Pedestrian lanes
Movement network
- Routes for pedestrians between buildings and /or properties providing direct access between shops and or streets.
Street verges and medians
Movement network
- An interconnected network of spaces, not necessarily symmetrical, for off road movement networks, and to incorporate trees, shrubs and ground cover plantings.
- To provide for aesthetic purposes and microclimate control as well as driving experience, character of place and environmental services.
- May contain underground services and street /traffic furniture. Surface treatments designed to maximise capture of rainfall for ground water recharge and vegetation health.