Park Design Guidelines

Park Design
Guideline
Safe, responsive and sustainable
parks for our city
November 2018 – Version 2.0
Contents
Introduction 2
Purpose 3
How to use these guidelines 3
Part 1 – Principles 4
Part 2 – Guidelines 6
Part 3 – Park categories 14
Gold Coast Conservation
Estate (Natural Areas) 15
Open space parks 18
Utility reserves 20
Sports parks 22
Non - standard park categories 24
Part 4 – Key design objectives 28
Equitable access 28
Crime prevention through
environmental design 32
Maintenance 38
Responsive 52
Safety 56
Natural areas 58
Part 5 – Park data sheets 64
Part 6 – Reference documents 86
Park Design Guideline 1

1
Introduction
City of Gold Coast (City) is committed to the provision of a safe, Environmental benefits
responsive and resilient public parks network for all residents
• Protection of areas of conservation, biodiversity or cultural
and visitors to the city.
heritage value.
Parks provide an array of social, health, economic and
• Managing climate change impacts by:
environmental benefits to individuals and to the community
as a whole. Parks are an essential ingredient for enhancing • providing shade and cooling
the liveability of a city and improving the quality of life for its
• contributing to stormwater management
residents.
• contributing to urban heat abatement and
There is significant local and international research regarding the
wide ranging benefits of parks, these include: • reduction of air and noise pollution.
Social benefits Economic benefits
• Connect and build strong communities by providing • Parks add high amenity value to a city and are considered
opportunities for local people to come together for a range pre requisites for some business types, particularly creative
of leisure, cultural and celebratory activities. and knowledge based industries. Maintaining parks in areas
that business can access/or employees can access can
• Enhance opportunities for social cohesion and inclusion.
therefore increase business investment and activity.
• Improve liveability in urban environments by offering a diverse
• People will often seek out areas of high amenity when
range of recreation opportunities for the community.
determining their place of residence. Having parks within
walking distance and/or having significant city recreational
Health benefits
and/or sporting facilities in an area can contribute to higher
• Encourages physical activity. population growth when compared to areas of lower
amenity.
• Enhances physical and mental health.
• Studies indicate that it was not uncommon for properties
• Helps reduce the risk of developing health issues.
within an 800m radius of a park to have a value that is 3–5
• Assists in recovery from mental fatigue. per cent higher than properties further afield1.
• Enhances children’s development and wellbeing. As the population of the Gold Coast continues to grow, the
need for public parks and pressure on the existing public parks
network will increase.
The City is committed to ensure the design process for all parks
recognises and promotes these benefits so that the community
is provided with high quality, safe, responsive and sustainable
public parks.
1
Valuing Parks & Sports Facilities in the City of Gold Coast, Change Sustainable Solutions, 2015
2
Purpose The key elements of the guidelines are:
This document has been developed as a guide to the design Part 1 – Design principles
of safe, responsive and sustainable public parks that will
This section details the key design principles for the successful
contribute to the existing network. This guideline has primarily
creation of public parks and gives an outline of why they are
been prepared to guide the design of public parks in conjunction
important.
with new residential, commercial, industrial or mixed use
developments.
Part 2 – General design guidelines
It is not the intent of these guidelines to negate the need
Each design principle generates its own set of guidelines.
for designers to consult other publications (including City
Several of the principles will share common design guidelines.
publications) and use their professional knowledge and
experience to ensure the community is provided with high It is important to note that the guidelines are general and flexible
quality, safe, responsive and sustainable parks. rather than definitive. They recognise that each setting, site and
community will require an individual design response.
How to use these guidelines
Part 3 – Park categories
These guidelines are intended primarily for public park design,
Parks can be divided into a number of different classifications
however the principles upon which the guidelines have been
and categories depending on their function and use. This
developed can be applied to all types of public open space.
section outlines the broad classifications and categories that
are used for parks within the city. A Statement of Intent for each
park category is also given that explains the purpose and need
for these types of parks.
Part 4 – Key design objectives

This section details key design objectives for the successful
creation of public parks.
Part 5 – Park data sheets

While the general design guidelines will apply to all park
categories, there are specific design guidelines that will be
applicable to specific park categories. This section provides
further detailed design information for the various types of parks,
in the form of a park data sheet for each park category. Included
in this park data sheet are specific design guidelines and
permitted embellishments.
Part 6 – Reference documents

This section lists other City of Gold Coast publications and
reference material that must be referred to when designing
public parks for the city.

Principles
The following list of principles should not be read as individual elements, but rather as a group that when implemented
all together will ensure that safe, responsive and sustainable outcomes are achieved.
Public parks and their embellishments should be Public parks must be cost effective.
located and designed to provide a safe and user
Why is this important?
friendly environment.
Parks maintenance costs and whole of life cycle asset costs
Why is this important? represent a significant part of the City’s budget. These costs
are ultimately passed onto the community through the payment
People will not use spaces that they do not feel safe in. The level
of rates.
of comfort that a person feels when using a public space or park
is directly related to the level of safety that they feel and perceive. Maintenance costs are a significant part of the City budget.
To ensure effective use of the budget and resources, parks
Public parks must be accessible and equitable for design should consider ongoing maintenance costs.
the entire community. The City receives and installs a large number of park assets
(embellishments) each year. The intention of this document is
to ensure efficiency of the park estate. This can be achieved
City of Gold Coast is committed to creating and maintaining through appropriate material selection and suitable location of
equitable access throughout the city. This has been articulated in park assets, ensuring that the infrastructure is used as intended.
the City of Gold Coast Accessible and Inclusive City Action Plan
2014–2019 and the City of Gold Coast Equitable Access Policy.
To quote from this policy “Equitable access maximises civic
participation in the community by identifying and removing
barriers that prevent people from knowing about, using and/
or participating in a service, facility, open space or decision
making process provided by Council and others.”
4
Public parks must be relevant to community Public parks must protect and enhance natural and
needs and expectations. heritage features and values.
Why is this important? Why is this important?
Parks should reflect the natural environment and local Natural and heritage features and values need to be preserved
community values and needs. Successful and enduring parks and conserved to ensure that communities can access and
are those that remain relevant to people’s day-to-day lives. enjoy them, and that they remain intact for future generations
Such success is not only a function of the available recreational to enjoy. Such features can be of local, regional, or national
facilities but more importantly for people, the connections that importance. Parks must be planned and designed to ensure that
those places make with their community, their environment and there are no detrimental impacts on natural or heritage values.
their history.
Public parks must be innovative.
Public parks must be socially and
environmentally sustainable.
It is important that the design of public parks is innovative
Why is this important? in its regard to form and function and response to existing
City of Gold Coast is committed to progressing the concept of environment and surrounds. An individual design response for
Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) to ensure enhanced parks rather than a generic design response is required for each
individual and community wellbeing, welfare, equity within and setting, site and community.
between generations, to ensure the protection of biological
diversity and maintain essential ecological processes.
All public parks, as with all development, shall be designed and
constructed using environmentally sustainable development
(ESD) design principals.
Lifestyle flexibility must be catered for in the provision of public
parks. Because the demographics of areas can change, parks
must be designed to be flexible and adaptable.

Guidelines
Definitions
Accessible – Features intended to facilitate access
for everyone.
Accessible path of travel – An uninterrupted, barrier-free,

path of travel to, into or within a building and connecting key
facilities places and spaces.
DDA – Disability Discrimination Act 1992

(Commonwealth) (DDA).
Equitable access – Individuals have fair and socially

just access to services, information, facilities, places and
opportunities to engage in civic life free from discrimination.
It requires the identification and removal of barriers that
prevent equitable access.
6
Principle
Public parks must be accessible and equitable for the entire community.
General design guidelines Why is this important?
Create multiple access /egress points along the park perimeter. This allows for people to have choice in access and egress and
allows for more flexibility in paths of travel.
Signage is to be located at the front of the park to ensure Clearly identifies the park for visitors from outside the
improved visibility. immediate environs.
Provide a hard surfaced pathway that traverses the park and This allows unassisted equitable access by all people.
links into embellishments such as shelters, seats, barbeques, This promotes walkable neighbourhoods and enhances
playgrounds etc. pedestrian and cycle path networks.
Include access provisions consistent with the intent of the This allows unassisted equitable access by all people.
DDA and relevant Commonwealth Disability Standards in all
specifications for the design of public park amenities
and facilities.
Ensure DDA compliant paths of travel are provided. If an accessible path of travel does not exist or cannot be
constructed, then the utilisation of a park by all the community
can be negatively impacted upon.
Ensure public parks are compliant with the outcomes and The title of this plan is ‘Everyone’s Included’ and this is the goal
actions of the City of Gold Coast Everyone’s Included Accessible in creating a city that is genuinely accessible and inclusive for
and Inclusive City Action Plan 2014-2019 all. Equitable access to public parks is part of this goal.

Principle
Public parks and their embellishments should be located and designed to provide a safe
and user friendly environment.
Create multiple access /egress points along the park perimeter. This allows for people to have multiple escape routes if placed
in a position of danger.
Create designated maintenance vehicle access to the park. Helps to minimise vehicle pedestrian conflict.
Designate a main entry point into the park. This provides legibility to the park and can assist people with
mobility disabilities.
Locate signage at the frontages of the park for good visibility. Clearly identifies the park for visitors from outside the
immediate environs.
Locate bollards, barriers, perimeter trees and/or fencing to Prevents vandalism of parks by vehicles.
prevent unauthorised vehicular access into the park.
Provide a hard surfaced pathway that traverses the park and This allows unassisted equitable access by all people into the
links into embellishments such as shelters, seats, barbeques, park and to the embellishments within the park.
playgrounds etc. This promotes walkable neighbourhoods and enhances
pedestrian and cycle path networks.
Maintain clear sight lines across passive and active use areas. Increases the capacity for passive and active surveillance.
Maintain clear sight lines to potential hazards such as Assists in reducing the potential risk of harm that may be
water bodies, open drains, car parks and roads. caused by natural and built infrastructure within parks.
Use low shrubs (500mm) and groundcover planting that do not Makes users feel more comfortable as they have good sight
interrupt sight lines or create possible ‘hiding’ spots. Mature lines through the space and the potential for ‘hiding’ is
trees to have clear trunks for a minimum height of 2.8m to align significantly reduced.
with CPTED guidelines
Utilise existing trees or plant new trees to create shade This will increase comfort levels for users.
to passive and active activity areas.
Plan and design parks to avoid user conflicts. This will increase enjoyment and safety for users. For example
bike parking areas should not be placed too close to pathways
as they can cause potential obstructions when people park and
move their bikes.
Design parks in accordance with CPTED principles. Increases peoples comfort levels as they will feel safer and will
Refer to ‘Crime Prevention through Environmental Design, be safer.
Guidelines for Queensland’, Queensland Government 2007.
Locate safety cameras in high profile sites. This will increase the public safety and surveillance in high
profile areas and locations.
8
Principle
Public parks must be cost effective.
Plan and design parks so that cost effective maintenance Maintenance costs are a significant part of the City’s budget.
programs can be established. Poorly designed parks can become a liability to maintenance
budgets, that ultimately result in redesign of the park.
Plan and design parks and facilities for energy and water To ensure effective use of the City’s budget resources,
conservation, optimised lifecycle and selection of materials design should consider ongoing maintenance costs and it’s
with low embodied energy. commitment to sustainability
Select materials and furniture items that are easily maintained, This is important to ensure the long term design intent of the
cleaned and replaced if damaged. park can be maintained and afforded. Materials and furniture
items that are difficult to maintain and difficult or costly to
replace may have to be replaced with alternative materials and
furniture items in the future. This can then be detrimental to the
intended character of the park.
Plan and design embellishments within parks so that they can Careful design and planning of the more significant and
be easily and safely maintained. expensive embellishments that are required in certain
categories of parks can ensure sustainable ongoing
maintenance costs and achieve long lifecycles.
Do not over design or over embellish parks. Parks should not contain an excessive amount of
embellishments that results in an inefficient maintenance cost
to the community. Less is often more with regards to parks and
often simple features such as paths, trees, grass and seats are
those that have the widest appeal.
Embellishments should be appropriate to the type of park,
and to the intended catchment of users. For example, it is
not desirable for a local park to have public toilets provided
however such facilities are more desirable at district and
city parks.

Principle
Public parks must be relevant to community needs and expectations.
Design parks to be embellished to an appropriate standard. Parks should not contain an excessive amount of embellishments
that results in an inefficient maintenance cost to the community.
Less is more with regards to parks and simple features such
as paths, trees, grass and seats are those that have the widest
appeal. Embellishments should be appropriate to the type of
park, and to the intended catchment of users. For example it
is not desirable for a local park to have public toilets provided
however, is desirable at district and city parks.
Plan and design parks so that it does not adversely impact Where parks are designed to encourage visitors to natural
natural, cultural or heritage features and values. or heritage features it is important that the natural, cultural
or heritage features will not be adversely impacted upon or
damaged, thus destroying all or some of the ‘reason for being’
at the park.
Plan and design parks so that the incorporation of natural, Public safety and wellbeing is of paramount importance for
cultural and heritage features does not present a hazard public parks. The incorporation of natural, cultural and heritage
to visitors. features within a park (e.g. historic artefacts displayed along
a path way) must be done in a way that both preserves the
feature as well as making it accessible and safe to view.
Create spaces that are multifunctional and flexible and Parks can be important meeting and gathering places for
facilitate and provide opportunities for social interaction. communities. Well planned spaces promote
opportunities to interact socially and can contribute to and
encourage healthy communities.
The demographics of areas can change. Parks need to
be flexible so that they can cater or adapt for changing
communities and social needs.
Utilise existing trees or plant new trees to create shade to This will increase comfort levels for users.
passive and active type areas.
Plan and design parks in accordance with Increases peoples comfort levels as they will feel safer and will
CPTED principles. Refer to ‘Crime Prevention through be safer.
Environmental Design, Guidelines for Queensland’,
Queensland Government 2007
Ensure that sports based facilities also provide for passive This will create better and wider use of the parks.
recreation opportunities.
Plan and design parks to avoid user conflicts. This will increase enjoyment and safety for users. For example
bike parking areas should not be placed too close to pathways
as they can cause potential obstructions when people park and
move their bikes.
10
Principle
Public parks must be socially and environmentally sustainable.
Plan and design parks and facilities for energy and water This is important to save costs to the City and to demonstrate
conservation, optimised lifecycle and selection of materials with to the community a commitment to sustainability that can
low embodied energy. provide learnings to the community.
Incorporate Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) into Water is a valuable resource that has a financial cost to the
the design of parks. City and the community. The design of parks must minimise
water usage, and where possible and feasible harvest water
for reuse within the park.
Create spaces that are multifunctional and flexible and Parks can be important meeting and gathering places for
facilitate and provide opportunities for social interaction. communities. Well planned spaces promote opportunities to
interact socially and can contribute to and encourage healthy
communities.
The demographics of areas can change. Parks needs to
be flexible so that they can cater or adapt for changing
communities and social needs.
Use materials and designs that are local and particular This can help create a character or ‘sense of place’ that can be
to the place wherever practical. recognised and appreciated by the community.
Ensure that sports based facilities also provide for passive This will create better and wider use of the parks.
recreation opportunities.
Plan and design parks so that it does not adversely impact Where existing natural or heritage features form a prominent
natural, cultural or heritage features and values. element in the park design, those features must not be
adversely impacted upon or be damaged, thus destroying all or
some of the ‘reason for being’ of the park.
Provide opportunities, where feasible, for the environmental Interpretation of natural systems provides an educational tool
and cultural values of the place to be interpreted and used for promoting environmental awareness.
as an educational resource.

Principle
Public parks must protect and enhance natural, cultural and heritage features and values.
Plan and design parks so that it does not adversely impact Where existing natural or heritage features form a prominent
natural, cultural or heritage features and values. element in the park design, those features must not be
adversely impacted upon or be damaged, thus destroying all or
some of the ‘reason for being’ at the park.
Plan and design parks so that the incorporation of natural, Public safety and wellbeing is of paramount importance for
cultural and heritage features does not present a hazard parks. The incorporation of natural, cultural and heritage
to visitors. features within a park (e.g. historic artefacts displayed along a
path way, natural geological feature within space) must be done
in a way that both preserves the feature as well as making it
accessible and safe to view.
Plan and design parks so that where feasible, the This will assist the community in becoming aware of natural
environmental values of the place can be interpreted systems and environmental values and also act as another
and used as an educational resource. activator of the park.
Use innovative design and detailing to enhance and This will contribute to the public’s enjoyment of parks and to the
protect natural, cultural and heritage features and values. character of the park.
12
Principle
Public parks must be innovative.
Where possible, locate parks adjacent to activity generators. By locating parks adjacent to activity generators, synergies
can be created that will increase the use of the park and the
adjacent activity generator.
Examples of this are:

• parks located adjacent to public libraries which can create
opportunities for outside reading, learning and other
activities.
• sports parks located adjacent to schools which can create
opportunities for cost sharing and better park utilisation.
Design and plan parks to allow for temporary events. This increases the City’s capacity to offer and hold outdoor
events of all types and sizes, and increases the revenue
opportunities that are possible for ‘pay to attend’ events.
Use innovative design and detailing to enhance and protect This will contribute to the public’s enjoyment of public parks
natural, cultural and heritage features and values. and to the character of the park.
Incorporate existing natural features into play spaces where Play spaces are constantly evolving and improving, however
appropriate and safe to do so. often the most successful play spaces are those that link into
natural features.
Investigate the local history and stories of the area and if Parks with local character and stories incorporated into the
appropriate incorporate into the planning and design of the park. design will foster community interest and ownership much more
than ‘generic designs’.

Park categories
Parks within the city comprise many individual areas differing Within each of these classifications there are a number of
in size and form that make up the public parks network. categories. For the creation of new parks, or the embellishment
of existing parks, the classification and category of the park
Within the Gold Coast, parks are divided into four broad should be determined. This should be confirmed by the City’s
classifications that are: Parks and Recreational Services Branch.
• Gold Coast conservation estate (Natural Areas)
• Open space parks
• Utility reserves and
• Sports parks.
City of Gold Coast park classifications
Conservation estate
Open space parks Utility reserves Sports parks
(Natural Areas)
Conservation area Local recreation park Utility reserve District sports park
Environmental reserve District recreation park Drainage reserve City sports park
Bushland reserve City recreation park Natural drainage Specialised sports park
reserve
General reserve Open space linkage Major sporting facility

Access linkage
Amenity space
Water body
Civic park
Figure 1: Park classifications
14
Gold Coast Conservation Estate (Natural Areas)
Natural Areas are defined by the City as ‘areas of land, General rules:
predominantly with native vegetation cover, managed principally
• The primary purpose is conservation.
for nature conservation purposes’. The Gold Coast Conservation
Estate is broken down into four categories. • Any park which is an Open Space Preservation Levy
(OSPL) acquisition.
• Conservation area
• Size: The park is typically greater than 5ha and has a high
• Environmental reserve
ecological value as determined by the NAMU classification
• Bushland reserve system (e.g. zonation score >0.66).
• General reserve. • The park may be located within a:
• critical corridor; or
Conservation areas • substantial remnant; or
City of Gold Coast defines a conservation area as a parcel of • coastal wetlands; or
land with high ecological value, containing a high percentage • core habitat system or hinterland core habitat system.
of remnant vegetation and/or rare or threatened or locally
• Any park dedicated through the development assessment
significant species.
process that has been termed ‘conservation’ in the land
These areas may vary from large sites with a high diversity of transfer condition of a development approval and is also
vegetation communities and extensive connectivity to smaller high scoring and selected by the City’s Natural Areas
isolated sites, which, although fragmented, provide habitat for Management Unit classification system (e.g. zonation score
significant plants, animals or vegetation communities or protect >0.6 for parks greater than 5ha).
an intact section of riparian habitat. • Park may have some cleared or degraded areas requiring
rehabilitation, but the majority is remnant vegetation.
Although these sites are of high ecological value, they may
contain some cleared or degraded areas requiring rehabilitation. • May extend into State unallocated waterways and
unformed road reserves.
Conservation areas in most cases must not be designed to
encourage public access. These areas shall be for the sole • Use: preserve conservation values, given the high
purpose of protecting and enhancing the ecological value of the biodiversity value some uses such as appropriate
site. If public access is required through Conservation Areas the commercial activities and nature-based recreation may
access shall ensure that the site’s ecological values are protected not be sustainable in some areas of the parks or in the
and access shall be restricted to low impact trails. Refer to the entire park where the ecological values are sensitive to
City of Gold Coast – Recreation Trail Design Guideline. disturbance. Conservation areas may currently or have
the potential to support appropriate recreational uses,
such as outdoor recreation or nature-based activities like
bushwalking, bird-watching and low impact eco-tourism.
• PIP/LGIP Use: Non trunk infrastructure

Environmental reserve Bushland reserve
General rules: City of Gold Coast defines Bushland Reserves as bushland
areas of generally lower ecological value than Conservation
• The primary purpose is conservation.
Areas. Rare, threatened or locally significant species are absent
• Any park with high ecological values as determined by the and there is little or no viable connectivity with adjacent habitat.
NAMU classification:
Vegetation in bushland reserves is mostly regrowth, although
• for parks greater than 5ha the zonation score is
occasional mature trees or small fragments of ‘not of concern’
between 0.33 and 0.66
remnant vegetation may be present. Despite their lesser
• for parks less than 5ha the zonation score is greater ecological value, bushland reserves have an important function
than 0.8 in providing habitat for common native species and providing
• May or may not be connected to other park sub types. green open spaces within the city.
• The park may be located within a: Depending on the outcome of the assessment of reports and
• critical corridor; or management plans, bushland reserves in the future, may be
rehabilitated into more ecologically viable conservation areas or
• substantial remnant; or
utilised for limited recreation activities as outdoor recreation parks.
• coastal wetlands; or
• core habitat system or hinterland core habitat system. General rules:
• Any park dedicated through the development assessment • The primary purpose is conservation.
process that has been termed “conservation” in the land • Has vegetation of value or serves important
transfer condition of a development approval and is also ecosystem services.
high scoring and selected by the City’s Natural Areas
Management Unit classification system (e.g. zonation • Has the potential to be restored and costs are not prohibitive.
score >0.8 for parks less than 5ha). • The park may be located within a:
• Size: Will vary. • critical corridor; or
• Any land identified as possessing offset potential and that • substantial remnant; or
adjoins a reserve classified as Conservation Area. • coastal wetlands; or
• Use: preserve conservation values, given the high • core habitat system or hinterland core habitat system.
biodiversity values nature-based recreation and appropriate • Includes parks with mid-range ecological values as
commercial activities may not be sustainable. determined by the City’s Natural Areas Management Unit
classification system.
Environmental reserves may currently or have the potential
to support appropriate recreational uses, such as outdoor • May or may not be connected to conservation areas or
recreation or nature-based activities like bushwalking and environmental reserves.
bird-watching. • If not connected it should have obvious and high
• PIP/LGIP Use: Non trunk infrastructure. restoration potential.
• Size: Will vary.
• Use:
• May be used to preserve natural waterways (such as
buffers along creeks).
• May be suitable for nature based recreation and
appropriate commercial activity.
• May be used (where appropriate) for more intensive
nature-based recreation pursuits such as horse riding
and mountain biking.
• PIP/LGIP Use: Non trunk infrastructure.
16
General reserve
General rules:
• Primary purpose is to support nature conservation but • Does not make a significant contribution to a:
also may provide open space and support nature-based • critical corridor; or
recreation.
• substantial remnant; or
• Potentially any park with low ecological value as determined by • coastal wetlands; or
the City’s Natural Areas Management Unit classification system.
• core habitat system or hinterland core habitat system.
• Is not connected to any other conservation estate park type
• Size: May vary.
but may be connected to open space park sub types or
community facilities. • Use: If the park were to be improved, it could be used for
either conservation or recreation (nature-based, passive or
• Has potential for revegetation (for example ex grazing/
active) depending on the nature of the improvements and
pasture land) and may be useful for future planting from
whether these provide an overall benefit to the community
offsetting, creating buffers to waterways or increasing the
in the future. General Reserves may currently or have the
urban forest cover etc. However, restoration works are likely
potential to support recreational uses and nature-based
to be cost prohibitive.
activities like bushwalking and bird-watching or (where
appropriate) more intensive nature based recreation
pursuits such as horse riding and mountain biking.
• PIP/LGIP Use: Non trunk infrastructure.

Open space parks
City of Gold Coast defines recreation parks as open space areas District parks
that positively contribute to the Recreation Facilities Network
as defined in the Gold Coast City Plan (City Plan). Within the District parks are intended to serve several neighbourhoods
classification of Recreation Parks are seven categories: and visitors to the city. They should be suitable for a wider
variety of informal recreational uses than local parks and
• Local parks suitable for a more comprehensive range of recreational
• District parks and community facilities. In some cases it will be possible
to integrate informal recreational opportunities with other
• City parks forms of recreation such as active sport where the area is of
• Open space linkage sufficient size.
• Amenity space General rules:

• Water body • Will service several neighbourhoods.
• Civic park. • Fairly well known around the area.
• Variety of recreation types (i.e. playground, dog off
Local parks leash area, barbecues and tables, ‘kick and play’ open
Local parks generally serve the needs of the immediate space, etc.).
neighbourhood (within 400m or 5 minutes walk) by providing • Can accommodate larger groups for longer periods of time.
limited recreational opportunities, and catering for short visits
• May have toilets.
only. Most local parks will be used for informal social activities
and informal sporting activities. Typical facilities include shaded • High amenity value.
seating areas, open space areas for ‘kick and play’ and shaded
• Size: Generally larger than local recreation parks but usually
pathway connectivity throughout the park. Local parks will
smaller than city recreation parks.
generally not have carpark facilities.
• Use: Recreation purposes only – no organised sporting
General rules: facilities and attracts people to visit for longer periods of time.
• Car parking, toilets, barbeques and playground facilities are • PIP/LGIP Use: Trunk infrastructure.
more suited to a district or city park.
• May form part of a larger park, (for example, district City parks
sports park).
City parks are intended to provide for the recreation needs of the
• Size: generally smaller than district or city recreation
local residents, wider city residents and visitors/tourists. They
parks and with fewer embellishments.
shall be designed to draw patrons from across city, state and if
• Use: Short visits only, recreation purposes. possible the country. They shall include all the intrinsic qualities
and design elements of local parks and district parks but shall be
• PIP/LGIP Use: Trunk infrastructure.
planned on a grander scale. Parks shall be designed to attract
patrons from across the city by offering recreation facilities to
accommodate the widest demographic possible.
General rules:
• Facilities enable long periods of time to be spent at these
parks: i.e. toilets, ‘kick and play’, open space, barbecues,
multiple shelters, water bubblers and taps etc.
• Can host organised events.
• A major destination in the city.
• Size: May be equal to or larger than the size of a district
recreation park.
• Use: Primarily recreational uses, but no organised sport
(e.g. Southport Broadwater Parklands, Gold Coast Regional
Botanic Gardens, Cascade Gardens, MacIntosh Island,
Village H).
• LGIP Use: Trunk infrastructure.
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Open space linkage Water body
The primary purpose for open space linkages is to physically, In terms of open space parks, the City defines a waterbody as a
visually and cognitively connect recreation facilities, community property parcel or part there of that is covered by a permanent
infrastructure, commercial centres, active transport routes and body of water such as a canal, lake or water feature.
public transport nodes. Open space linkages are an essential
component of active transport routes and provide opportunities General rules:
for cycleways and walkways. Open space linkages can also be • Includes permanent water bodies that have a primary
implemented when the desired shape of the recreation facility is purpose of amenity value.
unachievable due to site constraints such as adjacent coastline
• Not part of a SQID (Stormwater Quality Improvement Device).
or water bodies or environmental reserves.
• May or may not be created solely for amenity purposes.
General rules:
• Is a permanent body of water (e.g. does not drain, nor
• Flexible and multifunctional spaces that may include is ephemeral).
high levels of site hardening • Can be a canal or lake.
• Connects recreation facilities as part of the parks network. • Size: Not so small that it would be considered a SQID,
• Provides pedestrian or cycle access between road or a pond (e.g. Coomera Springs, Gold Coast Regional
networks and other land uses. Botanic Gardens)
• Not intended for utility purposes, intended for recreation • Use: Can be used for recreation purposes, (for example,
or open space provision. the waterbody at Damian Leeding Memorial Park).
• Size: Generally will be linear in shape, and is smaller than • LGIP Use: Non trunk infrastructure.
a city or district recreation park.
• Use: Must connect recreation parks or other land uses, or
Civic park
can be for a recreation or for providing a circuit. Civic parks are generally urban open space within medium to
• LGIP Use: Non trunk infrastructure. high density areas. They enable passive recreation with shaded
spaces for social interaction and visual amenity and are centrally
Amenity space located to maximise accessibility.
General rules:
General rules:
• Flexible and mutifunctional spaces that may include high
• Space landscaped for amenity purposes, including
levels of site hardening
landscape buffers, fountains or memorials, but not
stormwater treatment. • Physical and visual connectivity
• Size: Typically of small to medium size. Will generally • High amenity value
be linear and narrow.
• Size: Typically small to medium in size
• LGIP Use: Not trunk infrastructure.
• Use: Recreational and social activity, high amenity
• LGIP Use: Not trunk infrastructure

Utility reserves
Utility reserves are defined by the City as parcels of land that
are not recognised as providing any formalised terrestrial
recreation function. These parcels of land may informally
contribute to the city’s parks network and although not
recognised as contributing any recreational function these
areas may be developed in the future when the current use is
discontinued or to meet community needs.
Within the classification of Utility Reserves are four categories.

• Utility reserve
• Drainage reserve
• Natural drainage reserve
• Access linkage
Utility reserve
In terms of open space parks, the City defines a utility reserve
as land for utility infrastructure such as electricity transmission,
telecommunications, water and sewerage. Statutory Authority
and City regulations apply to these types of open space.
General rules:
• The primary purpose or reason for this land is utilitarian
relating to service provision, e.g. high voltage power lines.
• Any space providing infrastructure related facilities
(e.g. transformers, pump stations, telecommunications,
and waterways/sewerage).
• Will generally have easements over the relevant utility
portion of land.
• May have footpath connections or other recreational
embellishments but are encumbered due to the presence of
the Utility(ies).
• LGIP Use: Non trunk infrastructure.
20
Drainage reserve Natural drainage reserve
In terms of open space parks, the City defines a waterway/ • Primary purpose is natural drainage (that is, no or limited
drainage reserve as land associated with waterways, creeks, hardening or armouring of natural watercourses or flow
drainage lines and stormwater infrastructure. In most examples, paths) and may buffer waterways which serve to support
these types of parks must be designed to be maintained water quality.
as a natural area. Land associated with buffers to existing
• These parks may contain inactivated recreational
drainage lines must be rehabilitated or restored to reflect the
connections and may also provide some local scale wildlife
pre-disturbed vegetation type as mapped by the City or the
corridor values and urban/suburban amenity.
Queensland Government or as defined by ecological reports
that have been accepted by the City. • Park may be vegetated and may contain remnant
vegetation and thus provide important urban amenity.
General rules:
• Some areas within the park may be highly degraded,
• Land that provides part of the stormwater network. requiring high levels of intervention to restore, or high levels
• Can fluctuate between inundation and non-inundation. of ongoing maintenance.
• Primary purpose is water flow and drainage. • Any park with a low ecological value as determined by the
City’s Natural Areas Management Unit classification system
• Applies to Reserves which are more man made and (e.g. zonation score <0.1).
engineered, than natural.
• Typically, limited connectivity to other conservation estate
• May be vegetated on occasion, particularly if developed in but may be connected to other park and sub-park types,
more recent times. e.g. specialised sports park.
• SQIDs within open space are to be labelled drainage reserve. • Does not make a measurable contribution to a:
• Size: N/A • critical corridor; or
• Use: Over-land drainage and water flow, WSUD. • substantial remnant; or
• coastal wetlands; or
• Areas that primarily exist for vegetation retention or
restoration are not drainage reserves and need to be • core habitat system or hinterland core habitat system.
classified under the conservation estate or as natural • Size: May vary, but typically less than 2 hectares.
drainage reserve.
• Use: If the park were to be improved, it could be used as
either conservation or recreation (nature-based, passive
embellishments but the development or potential of the park
or active) depending on the style of the improvements
for recreational use is encumbered due to the presence of the
and whether these would provide an overall benefit to the
drainage, the stormwater device or to the wetness of the area.
community in the future.
embellishments but the park is encumbered due to the
presence of the drainage, the stormwater device or to the
wetness of the area.
• These parks are not intended to be further degraded or
encumbered by additional services or utilities by their
inclusion within the Utility Reserve Park Type.
Access linkage
• May provide minor local linkages for pedestrian connectivity
or recreation
• Primary purpose is overland flow or service and utility
easements etc.
• Primary intent of land was not for open space linkage.
• Generally of small size and narrow width.

Sports parks
The City defines sports parks as open space areas that primarily District sports park
cater for a variety of formal sporting activities through the
provision of infrastructure that promotes a range of competitive District sport parks shall be used primarily for organised
and training sporting opportunities. sporting activities, although the area may include areas for
informal recreation outside the bounds of the designated
Sports parks must positively contribute to the Recreation
playing fields.
Facilities Network as defined in the City Plan, LGIP Part 4.4.5
Recreation Facilities Network Desired Standard of Service or The topographical placement of the district sporting parkland
4.12 Recreation Facilities Network. shall be suited to the development of ovals, playing fields,
tennis courts, netball courts etc. The design of the area shall
Within the classification of Sport Parks there are four
be able to incorporate future additional facilities including, but
categories.
not limited to car parks, amenity blocks, clubrooms, spectator
• District sport park facilities, sports lighting and storage areas.
• City sport park General rules:

• Specialised sport park • Parks dedicated for sport with multiple facilities but also
• Major sporting facility. may include other recreational areas
• Caters for only 1 or 2 sport types with 2 or more
playing surfaces
• To include toilets and clubhouse
• Has the ability to provide for multiple uses
• Size: Usually smaller than city sports parks
• Use: Organised sporting on City assets
22
City sports park Specialised sports park
City sport parks shall be used primarily for organised sporting Specialised sport parks provide for sporting activities where
activities, although the area shall be physically linked to the nature of the activity and subsequent land and facility
other areas for informal recreation outside the bounds of the requirements result in provision on a regional basis. Specialised
designated playing fields. sporting activities include motocross/ motorcycling, state level
equestrian, golf, shooting, car racing, model aeroplanes, lawn
In some cases it will be possible to integrate informal bowls, field archery/bow hunting and cycling (velodrome).
recreational opportunities with other forms of recreation such as
active sport where the area is of sufficient size. Unlike most other sporting parks within City of Gold Coast,
specialised sports parks provide for sporting activities where
The topographical placement of the City sports parks shall be the nature of the activity precludes free, unrestricted access to
suited to the development of ovals, playing fields, tennis courts, members of the public.
netball courts etc. City sport parks shall represent a sporting
recreation facility that is utilised by local clubs and city wide General rules:
sporting organisations.
• Sports within this category are specialised, such as cycling
The design of the area shall be able to incorporate future (velodrome), tennis courts, bowls and the like. Generally,
additional facilities including, but not limited to car parks, amenity only the sport the facility provides for could be played upon
blocks, clubrooms, spectator facilities, sports lighting and the facilities.
storage areas. • The activity provided can be a regional type activity (i.e. the
catchment is larger than district or citywide for activities such
General rules: as cycling or archery).
• Parks dedicated for sport with multiple facilities but also • Activity precludes free, unrestricted access to the public.
may include other recreational areas.
• Size: N/A.
• Includes multiple clubs and organisations.
• Use: Sporting activities which are not catered for within
• Fields have lighting, toilets, canteens and grandstands / City and District Sports Parks.
sport viewing facilities.
• Includes facilities ancillary to, or required to facilitate the
intended sport use (i.e. storage shed, seating areas, car Major sporting facility
park etc.)
• These facilities are not owned by the City.
• Size: May be equal to or larger than the size of a
District Sports Park. • Size: N/A.
• Use: Multiple types of organised sporting events. • Use: Major organised sporting activities.
• LGIP Use: Trunk infrastructure. • LGIP Use: Not applicable.

• Examples: Metricon Stadium, Runaway Bay Sports
Super Centre
Park type summary

Gold Coast Open space parks Utility reserves Sports parks
conservation estate
Conservation area Local recreation park Utility reserve District sports park
Environmental reserve District recreation park Drainage reserve City sports park
Bushland reserve City recreation park Natural drainage reserve Specialised sports park
General reserve Open space linkage Access linkage Major sporting facility
Amenity space Comment: Not City owned,
e.g. Skilled Park
Waterbody
Civic park
Table 2: Park type summary

Non-standard park categories
Composite park General rules:
• A number of small individual parks and linkages promoting
A Composite park is defined as a number of individual parks
use similar to a District park
and linkages that attract a similar amount of use as one large
park. The individual park spaces each contribute to provide a • Will service several neighbourhoods
combination of useable spaces for recreational activities typically
• Can accommodate dispersed larger groups for longer
promoted in District parks.
periods of time
Generally composite parks provide linkage access from local
• Variety of uses (i.e. playground, barbeques, shelters / picnic
areas to points of interest such as schools, parks and natural
nodes, ‘kick and play’ open space, etc.)
environmental areas. These linkages are accessible with pathway
connections and are generally of high visual amenity. Within • May have toilets
these linkages, one park within the composite park group may
• High amenity value
be larger in size, and therefore promote a number of uses with
embellishments such as playgrounds, barbeques, picnic nodes, • Size: Generally a number of small individual parks, linkages
shelters, ‘kick a ball’ space, room for large gatherings and public contributing to a size similar to a district park.
toilet facilities.
• Use: Recreation purposes only – attracts people to visit for
longer periods of time.
• LGIP Use: Trunk infrastructure
• Example: Damian Leeding Memorial Park
24
Damian Leeding Memorial Park is located adjacent to the park area where a playground, barbeque, shelters and picnic
Coomera River and has features similar to a Composite park. nodes are located. It also consists of smaller parks, linkages and
Damian Leeding Memorial Park is situated around a water body amenity spaces which make up the total area size resulting in
(not always necessary) providing an accessible pathway network greater use and therefore being classified as a district / city park.
around the perimeter. The path network leads back to a larger
Large
park
Figure 2. Damian Leeding Memorial Park, Coomera
Lake Orr and Varsity Foreshore Parklands can be viewed in a by the public in a similar way to Damian Leeding Memorial Park.
similar way. A number of smaller individual connecting parks and Varsity Foreshore Parklands would be similar to the larger park
linkages are contributing to a composite park that is being used area where embellishments would be located.
Large
park
Figure 3. Lake Orr and Varsity Foreshore Parklands

Shared use parks
A shared use park is a park being used for informal sporting and
recreational activities being; for school children/sports (within
school hours), before and after school activities and informal
recreation use. Generally there are two definitive types, being:
• Education Queensland use of City land
• City use of Education Queensland land.
The agreements that create these types of shared use parks
are negotiated early and signed off by each stakeholder. All
agreements should outline shared funding sources for ongoing
maintenance costs as well as park asset renewal.
Early negotiations can also outline the conditions of use whereby
schools have access between school hours and the local
community can have access before and after school, weekends
and school holidays. The increased activity provides active
surveillance for schools and parks.
General rules:
• Can be used by Education Queensland for use between
school operating hours
• Can be used by the community before and after school as
well as school holidays for informal recreation
• Will service several neighbourhoods
• May have ‘kick and play’ open space, playground,
barbeques, shelters.
• Size: N/A
• LGIP Use: N/A
• Example: Education Queensland school use of Varsity
Central Park and City of Gold Coast Active & Healthy use
at Gilston State School, Worongary State School, Merrimac
State School etc. Figure 4. Varsity College School Oval
26
Park Design Guideline – August 2018 27
Key design objectives
Equitable access
The creation of equitable access will create public park
environments that are usable by all the community, including
people with vision and hearing impairments; families with prams
and young children; people with injuries; the elderly; and people
with mobility impairments.
Equitable access will create synergies that contribute to overall

use, function, enjoyment and safety of public environments.
Equitable access must be implemented for continuous paths of

travel or journeys to the park as well as within the park.
Reference documents
• Disability Discrimination Act 1992
• Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards 2010
• Building Code of Australia
• Universal Design Principles
• AS 1428 Design for Access and Mobility Set
• Everyone’s Included, Accessible and Inclusive City Action
Plan 2014-2019, Version 1 June 2014, City of Gold Coast
a) A clear width of 1000mm is adequate b) People who use wheelchairs require c) A clear width of 1500mm allows a d) To allow two wheelchairs to pass
for people with ambulant disabilities, a clear width of 1200mm. wheelchair and a pram to pass. comfortably, a clear width of 1800mm
just allows passage for 80 per cent of is required.
people who use wheelchairs, and is in
accordance with AS 1428.1
Figure 2: Non ambulant space requirements
28
Example of a picnic node designed for equitable access. The node is linked into a continuous path of travel. Shelters, barbecue, drinking fountain and bins are accessible
by all. Generous circulation space is provided linking all embellishments (trees and soft landscaping omitted for clarity).
Figure 3: Picnic node designed for access

Equitable access – desirable outcomes
• Good connectivity to street and footpath network. • Wheelchair accessible picnic tables provided beneath shelters.
• Wide internal pathways allowing for multiple users and • Accessible toilets linked into pathway.
wheelchair users to easily pass each other.
• Exercise equipment linked into pathway.
• Seats connected into paths with adjacent hard surface for
• Clear trunked trees located along path that will provide
prams and wheel chairs.
shade to path and maintain view lines.
• Shelters, barbeques, drinking fountains connected into path
network allowing access.
30
Equitable access – undesirable outcomes
• Poor connectivity to street and no continuous path of travel • Shelter located in grassed area with access only available
along streets to park. across grassed area.
• No internal pathways within park to facilitate access • Exercise equipment located in grassed area with access
for everybody. only available across grassed area.
• Seats located in grassed area with access only available • Play equipment with little to no shade most of the day.
across grassed area.

Crime prevention through environmental design
By nature most people avoid places that they do not feel safe in. Key principles to be applied in the development of public parks
Parks must be designed to reduce the opportunities for criminal are as follows:
and/or anti-social behaviour and to create public spaces that Promotion of passive surveillance
people feel comfortable in without fear for their wellbeing. An
established body of knowledge and research has been created Parks must be integrated and designed in a way that promotes
in this field which has been given the acronym CPTED – Crime the visibility of users and avoids the creation of vulnerable settings.
prevention through environmental design. One method of achieving passive surveillance is by locating parks
along road frontages and residential boundaries. This is particularly
There are three main concepts2 behind the theory of CPTED.
applicable to the category Open space parks – local parks.
These are:
Visibility in public spaces and along routes
• crimes against people and property are less likely to occur if
other people are around Public spaces, pedestrian and bicycle paths should be designed
to provide:
• important that people in adjoining buildings and spaces are
able to see what is happening • Good visibility of spaces or routes by all users
• important to give people safe choices about where to be and • The user of the space is visible by others through natural
how to anticipate and respond to problems. or other surveillance
All designers must be conversant with CPTED principles and • Maximum street frontage with clear sightlines along
apply them to the design of parks. other edges.
Opportunities for passive surveillance shall be maximised by
adherence to the criterion set out in the table below.
2
rime Prevention Through Environmental Design Guidelines for Queensland,
C
Queensland Government 2007
RECREATION PARKS
Outdoor recreation, Sports
CRITERION Local, district, city linkage park park Natural area Utility reserve
Unobstructed line of sight 50 metres 20 metres 50 metres 15 metres 50 metres
Concealed spaces No No No Minimise No
Entrapment spaces No No No No No
Ground to canopy clearance 1.8 metres 1.8 metres 1.8 metres Existing 1.8 metres
Steep changes of grade No Existing grades No Existing grades Minimise
Table 3: Surveillance criterion
32
Lighting
All outdoor public spaces should be appropriately and consistently lit where night time use is expected and encouraged. Areas or
facilities that are not designed for legitimate use after dark should remain unlit to deter anti-social behaviour.
• Key public spaces (including key bicycle and pedestrian • Light fixtures are mounted high and are vandal-resistant.
routes, public facilities and signs) are lit to the minimum Bollards are not preferred as they can cause glare and
Australian Standard AS1158 – Public Lighting Code. are easily vandalised.
Figure 4: Lighting spread
Landscaping
All vegetation and other landscaping features established in or around any public park area shall be located to maximise passive
surveillance opportunities, maintain clear lines of sight and avoid the creation of concealment spots.
Figure 5: Lines of sight and ground to canopy clearance
Trees, shrubs and other landscaping features should be chosen and located in a way that does not block surveillance,
create concealment spots or reduce sightlines.
• Visibility through vegetation is clear to a minimum • Trees are setback a minimum of 2 metres along routes. Low
height of 1.5 metres. planting not exceeding 0.5 metres in height can
be planted along routes.
Figure 6: Example of clear sightline Figure 7: Clear sightline criteria
Landscaping in public areas to provide clear sightlines Clear sightlines along footpath and road areas using:
and visual access to perimeter areas.
• shrubbery setback from footpath
• lighting sphere under tree canopy
• avoiding large mass of vegetation.

• Landscape form and the arrangement of embellishments and Locations of embellishments and features in parks
vegetation shall not create gun barrel routes or pinch points
• Embellishments and features in parks shall be configured in
along paths, trails and linkage parks. All forms of connections
compatible arrangements and located where they are easily
shall conform with minimum clear length to width ratios
visible from the street or surrounding activity areas.
presented in table below.
• Embellishments and features in park areas shall be located
Length (metres) Width (metres)
to avoid creating a concentration of incompatible activities
or activity nodes that could generate crime, conflict and
200 50
nuisance behaviour (including vandalism). An example of
150 37.5 such a concentration is depicted in the Figure below. The
dog off-leash area is too close to both the bike track and
100 25
playground. The playground is too close to the cycle track
80 20 and the skate park.
• Activity nodes shall be configured to promote community
60 to 20 15
safety by providing sufficient distances between nodes of
>20 10 incompatible activity; clustering compatible activities to
encourage both user activity and community interaction;
Table 4: Length to width ratios for safe connections and locating nodes adjacent to areas that may otherwise
be vulnerable or isolated, particularly along bicycle and
pedestrian routes to increase activation of the area.
Target hardening and access control
All park areas shall be designed and constructed to reduce the Wayfinding and legibility
potential for unauthorised access, graffiti and vandalism.
Parks should be designed to assist easy orientation within
• Provide access hindrances to elements vulnerable to the site.
vandalism (for example, utility covers, grates, taps).
• Signage at entrances provides clear orientation to major
• Use materials that are resistant to graffiti and vandalism and points of interest such as the location of public toilets, safe
avoid large flat surfaces to restrict the opportunity routes, park activities and adjacent public transport.
for graffiti.
• Where large flat surfaces cannot be avoided treat them with
anti graffiti coatings to enable the quick removal of graffiti,
if it should occur.
Figure 8: Incompatible activity nodes
34
Passive surveillance – open space parks – local parks
Desirable outcomes Undesirable outcomes

Type and illustration Features Type and illustration Features
A. • Four road frontages E. • One road frontage

(entire lengths) • One boundary with
• Four boundaries with direct residential
direct residential frontage frontage
• 100 per cent passive • 25 per cent passive
surveillance surveillance
• Full pedestrian • higher levels of
connectivity potential potential entrapment
B. • Three road frontages F. • No road frontages,

• Three boundaries with only access points
direct residential frontage • No direct property
• 75 per cent passive frontage
surveillance • Extremely poor
• Increased density of lots connectivity
adjoining open space • 10 per cent passive
• Option to increase surveillance
passive surveillance • Limited options to
and connectivity with improve passive
transparent fencing on surveillance to an
adjoining residential acceptable level as
interfaces all properties are
rear facing
• higher levels of
C. • Two road frontages potential entrapment
(longer lengths)
• Two boundaries with
residential frontage
• Approximately 60 per
cent passive surveillance
D. • Two road frontages

• Two boundaries with
direct residential frontage
• 50 per cent passive
surveillance
Figure 9: Passive surveillance – boundary examples

Maintenance
Parks and park assets must be easy to maintain and financially Materials
sustainable to the City. An understanding of the long term
financial sustainability of the planned park is essential if Man-made components
community aspirations and City aspirations are to be realised,
Man-made materials installed in parks shall be:
and the quality of those spaces is to endure.
• robust
In reality many of the most important and basic elements in
• low maintenance
parks are not expensive to construct and have low ongoing
maintenance costs. For example, paths, trees, grass, and • fire resistant and vandal proof
seats are the simple features of our parks that have endured for
• non-corroding and non-corrosive
centuries and generally hold the widest appeal. Careful design
and planning of the more significant and expensive facilities that • sustainable, with low whole of life costs
are required can also ensure sustainable ongoing maintenance
• sourced locally (such as site rock, or rock obtained from
costs and achieve long lifecycles.
a nearby development)
• utilise recycled materials (such as bollards milled from
Financial sustainability
site timber)
Works that are undertaken for the creation or embellishment • visually unobtrusive
of parks outside of the development application process must
have a costed maintenance plan prepared that is accepted and • of the lowest possible amount of embodied energy
approved by the City’s Parks and Recreational Services Branch. (energy used in material and product manufacture,
transportation and installation)
Parks shall not be over-embellished, regardless of whether it is
• non-toxic, sharp edged or harmful to humans or environment
managed by the City or another entity. Embellishments should be
in any way
appropriate for the type and scale of park that is being provided.
Capital costs of assets installed in parks shall demonstrate low • consistent with relevant Australian standards.
whole of life costs and low establishment costs.
36
Materials appropriate for construction of facilities in Natural • in soil, where appropriate, that is treated to improve essential
Areas include: and trace mineral availability
• recycled plastics • appropriate species for the location
• galvanised steel • in soil that is conducive to growth of selected species
• stainless steel • in soil that is protected from evaporation through the use of
weed and seed-free mulches
• aluminium
• non-toxic
• stone (sourced locally)
• drought tolerant.
• concrete
• recycled hardwood
Materials installed in Natural Areas shall:
• composite timber products
• be natural in the most instance (e.g. hollow logs, boulders)
• recycled glass
• be non-toxic
• non-toxic paint.
• have low embodied energy
• have low whole of life costs
Natural components
• have high recycled content (where not natural)
Natural materials installed in parks shall:
• have high recyclable content (at the end of life)
• be resilient
• have a long life
• require minimal maintenance
• be locally available.
• be appropriate for the local environment.
Turf installed in parks shall be:

Vegetation established in parks shall be:
• hardy
• endemic to the area and should reflect regional ecosystems
(where appropriate) • drought tolerant after establishment
• appropriate for the area available for planting • fit for purpose
• appropriate to not cause harm or be hazardous to park users • hard wearing.
in certain area or locations e.g.: spikey thorns near paths and
playgrounds and seed pod drop near paths and seating areas
• appropriate to the changed conditions presented by
the development

Maintenance access Path alignments
Path alignments should follow natural paths of travel and should
Maintenance access must be provided into all parks.
form a connection to the various activity nodes such as picnic
Maintenance access must be: areas, playgrounds, seats etc.
• unobtrusive Paths should:
• be separated from pedestrian access points • not lead into dead ends
• have gates or removable bollards to control vehicular • generally not have sharp changes of direction (unless to
access; and where maintenance access crosses paths avoid existing vegetation)
must be reinforced
• not result in small areas of grass being created that may
become difficult to mow
Access to stormwater detention basins
• have a minimum width of 2 metres for pedestrian traffic
Appropriate maintenance access to water sensitive urban design only and 3 metres for shared bicycle/pedestrian pathway
treatment devices located within parks shall be provided.
• only cross over overland water flow channels where
The access shall: appropriately designed and constructed to ensure safe
• be appropriate to the device type path use
• provide space for dewatering bio-retention basins

Planting areas
• not be obstructed by retaining walls or batters that are not
safely traversable in heavy machinery. Planting areas need to be relative to the type and size of public
open space. For example a local park would have minimal to no
planting areas where as a city park or regional park may have
Stormwater discharge into parks numerous planting areas.
Stormwater discharge into parks and the installation of
Planting areas should:
stormwater infrastructure in parks must be done as a planned
and coordinated exercise during the design phase of a • generally not have any width narrower than 500mm
park. Measures to prevent soil and surface erosion must be
• not create any surveillance issues
implemented as part of any stormwater discharge or stormwater
infrastructure within or into parks. • not obstruct sight lines
• not contain any acute angles
Bollards • have a suitable hard and robust edge installed
Bollards need to be robust with a long life span. The design • comply with CPTED guidelines and principles.
and style of the bollard should be appropriate to the park type.
Painted colour finishes to bollards should be avoided. Local
parks generally should have simple bollards that are robust and
easily replaced.
38
Maintenance – desirable outcomes Maintenance – undesirable outcomes
Stormwater overland flow path. Concrete edge and mesh Embankment too steep, timber edge too thin and weak,
reinforcement over rock bed prolongs life span and reduces no embankment stabilisation, no planting. Result is eroded
maintenance costs. surface, visually unsightly and expensive to fix.
Generous pavements in heavy use parks allow for multiple Awkward small areas of grass created by alignment of path
uses as well as circulation. and pavement.
Simple curves in the path alignment prevent the need or Unnecessary bend in path alignment can create short cutting
desire for short cutting across grassed areas. across grass and creation of wear paths.

Min 3 metres
2.8 metres
Distance between
Clearance
footpath and tree
mature
height
Min 1 metre
Distance from footpath to
nominated plant species
Figure 10: Clear height requirements of mature trees
3 metres
General planting guidelines to minimise maintenance
• Sprawling groundcover plants and shrubs not to be planted
close to hard edges such as kerbs, paths and pavements. Pavement/
• Planting along hard edges such as kerbs, paths and Planting Areas
pavements to be offset so that when mature, the nominated
plant does not overhang the hard edge and require pruning.
• Spikey plants not to be used.
• Trees to be offset a minimum of 3 metres from paths, private
properties and pavements and 1.5 metres from carpark
kerbs and pavements.
• Trees with large seed pods and/or fruits to be planted within Turfed Areas
mulched garden beds and not overhang hard pavements.
• Planting when mature must not block sight lines or require
pruning to do so.
• Tree planting must be spaced adequately to allow for deck
mowers to access all turfed areas or grouped to gather in
mulch beds 4 metres
• Garden bed edging – concrete or spade edge cut initially
becomes sprayed edge in operation phase.
Figure 11: Minimum spacing to allow for deck mowers
40
Planting set back from edge of grass. Acute angles in planting areas usually result in failed planting.
Planting offset from edges of pavements in foreshore park. Planting offsets from the edge of pathways and pavements
need to be appropriate to species so that when mature the
planting has minimum overhang on the path.
Tree planting in grass with spacing to allow for deck mowers. Isolated planting areas within grassed areas for no apparent
reason should be avoided. Trees in grass are more effective
and have lower maintenance requirements.

General guidelines for bins in public open space
• Bins should be located at entry points and/or near activity
areas such as picnic nodes.
• In small public open spaces, bins should be located as close
as possible to entrances and/or road frontages.
• In medium to large public open spaces, bins should be
located along pathways and/or pavements and in locations
that can be easily accessed.
• Bins generally should not be placed within large expanses of
grass without connection to a pathway network.
• 240 litre size wheelie bins to be used with or without
enclosure, depending on type of park.
• Consideration must always be given to the emptying of bins
and locating of bins so that emptying can be undertaken as
efficiently as possible.
• Bins to be located to not cause interference with irrigation
spray patterns.
• Bins to be installed on concrete slabs.
42
• Bin located on hard surface. • Bin located in garden bed with no hard surface.
• Bin located with direct connection to path network. • Bin located too close to barbecue.
• Bin can be emptied without obstructing path. • Bin not connected into path network or other hard
pavement that would assist making emptying faster and
safer.
• Bin located off path with easy direct access for all. • Bin located too close to path.
• Location of bin prevents smells and rubbish interfering • Bin located in garden bed with no hard surface.
with the enjoyment of the barbeques and shelter, while still
being at a convenient distance for users of the barbeques
and shelter.

Maintenance – desirable outcomes
• Internal pathways within park reducing occurrence of wear tracks.

• Mortared rock walls reducing damage by vandalism and knocking against.
• Retention of existing trees and incorporation into mulched areas.
• Simple plant species palette.
44
Maintenance – undesirable outcomes
• No internal pathways within park resulted in wear and tear. • Area of planted garden beds within park is too great.
• Painted rendered walls prone to vandalism and • Poor plant species selection and planting area
accidental damage. preparation contributing to numerous plant failures.
• Site with shallow soil profile and weathered rock making • Concrete pavement subject to staining due to
successful turf establishment difficult. unplanned surface drainage.

Street network
Bushland
Natural areas – desirable outcomes
reserve
Amenity space
APZ – Asset protection zone

Street network Local
park
Bushland
Residences
reserve
Amenity space
Residences
Local
park
Residences
Residences
Amenity
space
Street network
Amenity
space
Figure 12 Street network
• Good connectivity to street and footpath network. • Where practical paths located a minimum of 3 metres
from large trees to prevent damage to tree during
• Good connectivity to adjacent local park path network.
construction of path.
• Revegetation does not impede onto path when mature.
• Asset protection zone (APZ) to be constructed along
residential boundary for fire management purpose.


Bushland Local
Residences reserve park
Bushland Local
Residences reserve park
Street network
Figure 13
• No barrier required between Conservation Estate park • Asset protection zone (APZ) to be constructed along
(Bushland Reserve) and local park, if barriers around local residential boundary for fire management purpose.
Street network
park perimeter prevent access into Bushland Reserve.
• No tree greater than 10 metre mature height to be planted
within 10 metres of property boundary.
46
Natural areas – undesirable outcomes
Street network
Bushland
reserve Street network
Amenity space
Bushland
reserve Local
Amenity space park
Local
Residences
park
Residences
Residences
Residences
Amenity
space
Amenity
space Street network
• Poor connectivity to street and footpath network. • No asset protection zone (APZ) constructed along
residential boundary.
• No connectivity to adjacent local park path network.
• Where the vegetation is too close to path and over grows
• Revegetation too close to path and over grows path
path when mature.
when mature.
Bushland Local
reserve park
Residences
Bushland Local
reserve park
Residences
Barrier
Barrier
Street network
Figure 15
Street network
• Barrier between Conservation Estate park (Bushland • No asset protection zone (APZ) along residential boundary
Reserve) and local park is not required if vehicular access is creates costly clearing.
already prevented by perimeter barriers to local park.

Natural areas – desirable outcomes
AP
Z–
Bushland one
Ass
et p tio nz
rot reserve ro tec
e ctio
nz ss et p
AP one –A es ne
Z – Re
Bushland Z enc o
Assside AP e sid ion z
et p nce R ect
rot s
ect
reserve ro t
ion et p
zon Ass es
Res e Z – enc
ide AP e sid
nce R
s
Street network
• Asset protection zone (APZ) that also can double as a fire • Preventative maintenance costs incurred by the City are
trail provides a clear maintenance strip between residential reduced as any large tree in proximity to the residential
and natural area boundary. boundary is removed.
Bushland
reserve
Bushland
reserve
n zone
et protectio
APZ – Ass
n zone
et protectio
APZ – Ass
Residences
Residences
Figure 17
• Asset protection zone (APZ) that also can double as a fire • Residential owners have no reason to carry out “clearing”
trail provides a clear maintenance strip between residential due to maintenance or fire risk concerns.
and natural area boundary.
48
Natural areas – undesirable outcomes
Bushland
reserve
es
Res enc
ide sid
nce Re
s
Figure 18
Street network
• No Asset protection zone (APZ) between residential and • Preventative maintenance costs are incurred by
natural area boundary. the City carrying out tree removal and tree pruning,
removing vegetative litter from fences that can act as
a fuel source for fires, and removal of noxious weeds.
Bushland
reserve
Private
encroachments
Private encr oachments
Residences
Figure 19
• No Asset protection zone (APZ) between residential and • Encroachment by residential property owners into
natural area boundary. natural area.

Natural areas – Example of change to bushland reserve
Bushland
reserve
1 Bushland
reserve
1
Residences
• Some trees cleared
• Shelter installed
Residences
Street Network • Some trees cleared
Street Network
Figure 20
• Park on edge of new residential subdivision categorized as bushland reserve.

• Over time a shelter and path and cleared area are placed in the corner.
Bushland
reserve
2 Bushland
reserve
2
Residences
• More trees cleared
• Playground installed
• Grass mown
Residences
Street Network
• Grass mown
Street Network
Figure 21
• With time a small playground is installed and cleared area increased and grasses mown.
50
Bushland
reserve
3 Street network

Residences • Shelter installed
• Mown grass area edged
and formalised
• Bollards installed
Corner of bushland reserve Street network

truncated and categorised as
amenity space or local park
Figure 22
• Cleared area is regularly mown, formal edging has been installed between grassed area and existing
natural vegetation.
• The changed use of this corner is clearly no longer bushland reserve.
• Corner is truncated from the bushland reserve and reclassified as amenity space or local park.
• Bollards required around section of local park.

Responsive
Public open space shall be responsive to potential users and Permeability, connectivity and accessibility
the environment. Parks must facilitate and encourage use, be
a place that people enjoy being in and that they want to visit. Paths in parks shall be configured to:
Ideally parks should be a place that people can identify with in • follow desire lines
some way.
• visit places of interest
Some examples of responsive parks may be:
• form circuits
• the installation of a playground that incorporates natural
• link destinations
features in the park that is located in a residential area with a
young demographic • contribute to a longer linkage
• the theming of a park to local history, local stories, local • contribute to linkages external to the site
vegetation, natural features etc. • protect and retain vegetation
• the co-location of parks next to commercial areas, public • avoid sensitive, concealed or potentially unsafe places
libraries etc. that create synergies of use
• follow natural contours where relevant.
• the design of passive and active parks that cater for all
Paths in parks shall be legible, shaded, clearly marked and
age groups.
have clear lines of sight.
Flexibility Recreation facilities established in parks shall be located

central to existing and projected catchments.
Recreation parks shall be able to accommodate a wide range
of activities at different times. It is important that the ‘level’ of Provision of embellishments and features within natural
flexibility is relative to the type and size of park. areas should be designed on a site-specific basis, and shall
minimise environmental impacts associated with construction,
A local park by its nature will generally be a much simpler type of maintenance, and access to and use of embellishment
park than a district or regional park, and can therefore be quite and facilities.
responsive to its catchment by simply providing some grassed
open space areas with a path and some seats under shade. Within natural areas embellishment and facilities shall be:
• located within existing cleared or disturbed areas, or along
vegetation edges.
• designed to have a minimal footprint, particularly in terms of
the area designated to impervious surfaces.
• fauna friendly where relevant.
52
Equitable Access
Routes and facilities in parks shall: Access to parks shall:
• where signed be legible to people of all ages, abilities and • enable all-weather access for maintenance to all areas
cultural orientations (for example, children, elderly, vision-
• locate entry/exits to promote active transport to, through and
impaired, people from non-English speaking backgrounds).
within the area
• locate and orientate facilities to maximise solar cycles and
prevalent climatic conditions.
Figure 23: Flexible design of public open space

Responsive – desirable outcomes
• Wide internal pathways allowing access by all to all areas of park.

• Inclusion of locally historic and significant features (i.e. locally historic boat in corner of park).
• Inclusion of multi use facilities such as the band stand, picnic shelters, playground, historic houses, and terraced grass
platforms with stone seating walls suitable for outdoor events.
54
Responsive – undesirable outcomes
• Extremely limited equitable access throughout park.

• Lack of identifiable entrances to park.
• Lack of shade throughout park.
• Park not activated to its full potential.
• No identity to park.

Safety
Parks must be safe to use and be in. The risk for injury Pavements
must be mitigated as much as possible. Good design
should minimise the exposure to potential natural hazards • Pavements must conform to all Australian Standards
within parks. (Note: also refer to Design Objectives – Crime regarding slip resistance and DDA requirements.
prevention through environmental design).
• Pavements must finish flush with adjacent hard surfaces.
The location and use of man-made and natural components,
• The shoulders of shared pathways are to be free of
equipment or embellishments should not exacerbate exposure
obstructions (refer Austroads 14).
to natural hazards.
Safety fencing Furniture locations

• Safety fencing shall be installed where there is a danger • Seats, litter bins, drinking fountains, light poles etc. must
of children gaining access to built hazards or hazardous be located so that they do not present a potential hazard.
areas (e.g. around stormwater drain head walls, outlets
and pollution control devices or non-obvious natural Planting
hazards (e.g. lakes) that are not in clear view and within
40m of a playnode.). • Tree species that have large heavy seed capsules/pods/
cones should not be used in spaces designed for active
• Where co-location of play nodes and vehicular traffic
and passive use, or close to roads or car parking areas.
cannot be avoided (the interface of roads and play nodes),
pool style safety fencing shall be installed parallel with the • Vegetation with sharp spikes or seed pods should not be
road and returned for three metres along the perpendicular used in spaces designed for active and passive use.
sides of the play nodes. The entire play node shall not
• Vegetation species that are known skin irritants or allergens
be enclosed.
should not be used in spaces designed for active and
passive use.
Risk mitigation
• A designers risk assessment must be prepared for all park
designs and all types of parks.
56
Maintenance – Desirable outcomes Maintenance – Undesirable outcome
Safety fence adjacent to stormwater detention basin Pavement for drinking fountain which is too small to be useful
in local park. has sunk causing a hazard for wheel chairs.
Seat and light poles offset a minimum 1 metre from edge of Drinking fountain too close to path presenting a potential
pathway that is meandering through park. hazard to people walking or cycling on path.
Waterbody with a wide low planting area around edge to Water body that is screened by vegetation adjacent to a
discourage access and to keep sight lines clear. sports park/recreation park. Potential hazard to young
children.

Natural areas Access
Access into natural area parks is to conform to the following:
Natural areas are parks with a primary function of conservation
and allowing user exposure to more natural settings. It is • Boundary marker posts, rather than fencing can be
important that the appropriate sub type classification is used where the park boundary is not likely to have illegal
designated. vehicle access problems. This will apply to parks in more
remote areas or in areas where natural topography and
Natural Areas comprise the following sub types of the Gold or vegetation makes access difficult. Boundary marker
Coast conservation estate: posts must be installed at every change of direction and at
• Conservation area intervals not exceeding 150 metres.
• Environmental reserve • Bollards or fences with natural areas park gates for vehicle
exclusion must be located near roads, tracks or other areas
• Bushland reserve where illegal vehicle access problems could occur.
• General reserve. • Fence and gates for natural areas must be installed at all
More than one sub type of conservation estate can exist locations where illegal vehicle access is a major problem.
within one park name (e.g. a conservation area and an The level of gate robustness should reflect the level of park
environmental reserve.) These parks can also be isolated remoteness and/or isolation from community surveillance.
or can be adjoining other park sub types (e.g. a bushland • Fencing, gates or other vehicle exclusion between the
reserve adjoining a local park). boundary of conservation estate parks and other park fence
Any sub type of conservation estate categorised park may types may not be needed. This will have to be assessed
contain recreational uses, these may be outdoor recreation or on a case by case basis with regard to the likelihood of the
nature-based activities, such as bushwalking and birdwatching. risk, and consequence of illegal vehicle access occurring.
• Trees are natural bollards – they should never be removed
Existing vegetation to install fences or bollards – trees should be retained.
Existing vegetation and its habitat value is a major reason for
• It is mandatory that unimpeded legal access over land must
designating natural area parks.
be provided for City vehicles to gain access to the various
• Retained trees located on private property boundaries, park sub types of the conservation estate.
entrances, trails and or in activity spaces need to be
• It is mandatory that access to existing fire trail networks
assessed to ensure that no risk is present to the public, and
is not restricted by new development or by construction
remedial arboriculture works may be required (e.g. Large
activities. All new property development projects must be
branches overhanging trails, structurally unsound trees near
designed to keep adjoining existing fire trail networks intact
trails, etc.).
and without impeding access to them.
• Protection of endangered, vulnerable and near threatened
• In most natural areas public access points shall be
species of native vegetation is mandatory.
co-located with the entry to maintenance and/or bushfire
• Hollow bearing trees have significant habitat value and management trails. Where this occurs, public pedestrian
must be retained unless they pose a direct threat to access shall be guided through horse step-throughs in
public or property. association with park access gates.
58
Bushfire management trails Rehabilitation
Bushfire trails shall be designed in consultation with City Rehabilitation works must be undertaken to all disturbed areas
officers. Bushfire Management must be in accordance with the to promote stability and ensure the system does not pass an
City Plan — Bushfire Management Areas Constraint Code and abiotic threshold and to ensure no topsoil is lost (this is critical
the Fire Trail Construction Guideline. where stability of soil is problematic and adjacent to and
downstream of construction or changed hydrology areas).
Bushfire trails must be designed with consideration to
surrounding bush fire trail networks, and not designed in Generally there are 4 rehabilitation approaches:
isolation of other existing bush fire trail networks.
1. Natural regeneration
Wherever practical bush fire trails should be constructed along
2. Assisted regeneration
residential boundary lines so that a clear buffer area is created
between the natural area and the residential boundary. 3. Reconstruction
4. Fabrication (type conversion).
The rehabilitation approach used will be dependent on the

issues present for each specific natural area. Note that more
than one approach may be required within a natural area.
In addition to the use of single or multiple rehabilitation
approaches, it may also be necessary to identify work zones
within a natural area. Zones shall often be appropriate on larger
(e.g. more than 2 hectares) and more complex natural areas
involving different vegetation communities and/or different
rehabilitation treatments. Determining the location of zones
should be made through the rehabilitation planning process.
Note that anticipated outcomes shall vary depending upon
the vegetation community being restored and the level of
disturbance. Rehabilitation planning shall be undertaken by
an experienced and suitably qualified rehabilitation planning
consultant and rehabilitation works shall be conducted by
experienced and suitably qualified bush regenerators or
ecological restorationists.

Detailed description of rehabilitation approaches
Natural regeneration Assisted regeneration
Applies to relatively large, intact and weed-free areas of Applies to natural areas where the native plant community
native vegetation. is largely healthy and functioning.
Where the native plants are healthy and capable of When native plant seed is still stored in the soil or shall be able to
regenerating without human intervention. reach the site from nearby natural areas, by birds or other animals,
wind or water (i.e. where a site exhibits resilience).
When native plant seed is stored in the soil or shall be able Where the natural regeneration processes (seedling germination,
to reach the site from nearby natural areas, by birds or root suckering, etc.) are being inhibited by external factors, such
other animals, wind or water. as weed invasion, soil compaction, cattle grazing, mechanical
slashing, etc.
Where the plant community has a high potential for recovery When limited human intervention, such as weed control, minor
after any short-lived disturbance, such as a fire or amelioration of soil conditions, erection of fencing, cessation of
cyclonic winds. slashing, etc. shall be enough to trigger the recovery processes
through natural regeneration.
When preventative action is all that is required to avert When the major component is weed control.
on-going disturbance, e.g. erection of fencing to prevent intrusion
by cattle.
Where the re-establishing plant community shall be similar in Where the re-establishing plant community shall be similar in
structure, composition and diversity to the original vegetation. structure, composition and diversity to the original vegetation.
Note: Planting in such sites can work against the aims of Note: Planting in such sites can work against the aims of
restoration by interfering with natural regeneration. restoration by interfering with natural regeneration.
Reconstruction Fabrication (type conversion)
Where the site is highly degraded or altered. Where site conditions have been irreversibly changed.
When the degree of disturbance has been so great and for long- When it is not possible to restore the original native plant
standing that the pre-existing native plant community cannot community.
recover by natural means.
To sites such as areas of fill, sites affected by stormwater flow, Where a better-adapted local plant community can be planted that
changed hydrological conditions and areas that have been shall function within the changed conditions.
drastically cleared, either mechanically or by stock even though
there may be a few remaining native trees or shrubs.
When a greater degree of human intervention is required, such as In situations such as the construction of a wetland plant
weed control, cessation of grazing and/or slashing, amelioration community to mitigate increased urban stormwater run-off.
of soil conditions such as importation of soils, drainage works or
reshaping of the landscape.
When a major component is the importation of local native species Where the re-establishing planted community should be similar
through planting. to a naturally occurring plant community of the same type, for
example, freshwater wetlands, in structure, composition and
diversity.
Where the re-establishing planted community should be similar Note 1: Revegetation (planting) is the major component in a
to the original vegetation in structure, composition and diversity fabrication program.
as well as addressing changed conditions or threats to landscape
by appropriate species selection and placement. Note 2: Sometimes a combination of approaches is required.
For example, when remnant native vegetation is surrounded by
cleared and degraded lands, an assisted natural regeneration
approach is appropriate for the remnant and a reconstruction
approach for the surrounding lands. If increased stormwater run-
off is a threat to the recovery of these areas, it may be necessary
to establish a wetland plant community (fabrication) that shall
slow run-off and increase nutrient uptake, thus improving the
quality of water entering surrounding areas, a natural area or
waterway etc.
Table 5: Detailed description of rehabilitation approaches
60
Site rehabilitation approach selection
Is there any native

vegetation on the site?
YES NO
Describe the pre-existing vegetation type

Describe the native vegetation type
i.e. pre-clearing
e.g. rainforest, sclerophyll
What Regional Ecosystem (RE)/Gold Coast
What Regional Ecosystem (RE)/Gold Coast
Vegetation Type (GCVT) did the original
Vegetation Type (GCVT) does it belong to?
vegetation belong to?
Does the native vegetation Have soil conditions

on your site resemble the been greatly modified?
RE/GCVT? e.g. fill, runoff, etc.
YES NO YES NO
Why not? Has the

Are there structure been Fabrication
Reconstruction
weeds present? destroyed? (Type conversion)
(e.g. only isolated
native trees?)
YES NO
YES
Are native plants

regenerating?
If not, do you
think they will?
Assisted Natural
regeneration regeneration
YES NO
Assisted
Reconstruction
regeneration
Figure 24: Site rehabilitation approach selection

Weed control in natural areas
The weed control and rehabilitation process shall follow stages presented in the table below.
Weed Control Stage Description
Primary weed control Involves initial weed control and rarely entails the removal of all weed species at once, but rather the
selective and strategic removal of weeds based on information gathered through site assessment and
rehabilitation planning.
Secondary weed control Follows the completion of primary work and is a vital stage in the regeneration process. During this stage it is
necessary to correctly manage the growth of not only weed species on-site, but also regenerating natives.
Maintenance and This is the final stage in rehabilitation. In order to ensure primary and secondary work is successful, ongoing
follow-up weed control maintenance and follow-up weed control is essential. The frequency and duration of this process shall vary
according to the resilience of native vegetation, the shape of the reserve, viability of weed seed in the seed
bank, the proximity of weed sources for re-infestation to the site, the type of weeds impacting the site and the
skill level of workers.
Table 6: Weed control stages for rehabilitation works
Embellishments Asset protection zones (APZ)

The installation of embellishments within the conservation Asset protection zones (APZ) are cleared buffers that are
estate park sub types is often minimal and many conservation required between natural areas and residential boundaries.
estate park sub types parks will have no embellishments at all. They are required to remove trees that are overhanging
The primary purpose of all conservation estate park sub types residential boundaries, reduce fuel for fire immediately
is conservation. adjacent residential boundaries and allow for maintenance
access. They can also act as bushfire trails if deemed suitable
It is possible that a conservation estate park can over time
as part of the Bushfire Management Plan.
be embellished or modified as a consequence of surrounding
land use change to such an extent that its classification should
be changed. An example of this is a park categorized as Signage
bushland reserve on the edge of a residential subdivision. Over
Signage is required in natural areas for information,
time a shelter and playground are installed in the corner of
interpretation and regulatory reasons. Reference must be
this bushland reserve facing the residential street, grasses are
made to the Natural Area Sign Development Guidelines.
replaced with turf and regular mowing starts occurring.
These guidelines are for the use, placement and content of
At this point, the corner of the bushland reserve should be information to be used for signage in the conservation estate.
truncated and categorised as local recreation park or amenity
space and separated from the rest of the intact bushland reserve.
Path networks
Paths are often placed in conservation areas, environmental
reserves, and bushland reserves. It is important that these
paths are planned in conjunction with nature-based recreation
opportunities and/or integrated into path networks that may
exist in surrounding park types.
• Paths must have connectivity into surrounding path
networks and surrounding suburbs.
• If paths are provided they must be fully accessible
for maintenance.
62
Park data sheets
The parks data sheets provide minimum design Additional definitions
standards, and levels of accepted embellishments
Picnic node
for each type of park.
Picnic nodes should be provided in public open space areas and
Reference specifications and standard drawings located at attractive and accessible locations in district and city
Refer to the Open Space section of the land development parks and adjoining natural features, or places of special interest.
guidelines for relevant park assets specifications, standard They should be designed for daytime use only and promote
drawings and other City of Gold Coast reference documents. passive surveillance through clear lines of sight.
Please refer to Land Development guidelines for requirements
and drawings specific to picnic nodes.
Entry statement
An entry statement is an optional element of landscape work.
They mark and define the entry to a property, including individual
developments, resorts, residential estates or precincts. They are
most commonly used as a promotional tool in the marketing
of new residential estates. Entry Statements can enhance the
character of streetscapes and improve legibility and orientation
within the City. They are non-trunk infrastructure and are not
accepted by Council in public open space or the road reserve.
64
Local park
Park Classification: Open space parks
Park Name: Coach Park, Upper Coomera
Specific design guidelines
Must have a useable recreation area of at least one hectare (1 ha)

free from all encumbrances (including, but not limited to stormwater
improvement/detention devices, over land flow paths and swales,
environmental buffers, existing or future easements and contaminated or
hazardous land).
Minimum 50% of park perimeter to have road frontage.
No mulched planting beds, shrubs or ground cover planting to be used.
Clear trunked trees only to be used.
Minimum of one of each type of embellishment to be linked into an

accessible path of travel.
Must be round or square in shape and preferably have a minimum width

of 50 metres.
One hundred per cent (100%) of the useable recreation area must be
above the Q5 flood level.
Seventy five per cent (75%) of the usable recreation area must be above
the Q50 flood level.
Minimum eighty per cent (80%) of the usable recreation area must have a
grade slighter than 1:10.
Maximum twenty per cent (20%) of the usable recreation area may have a
maximum grade of 1:10.
Embellishment table Local park Embellishment table Local park Embellishment table Local park
Barbecues No Groundcover vegetation Picnic shelter Yes
No – unless conditioned
and landscaped garden
Bicycle stands No otherwise No – unless conditioned
areas or beds Playgrounds
otherwise
No – users are
Gates Yes – 1 minimum
Bins encouraged to take Playing fields No
rubbish home with them Horse step-throughs No
Primary public
Yes – 1 minimum
Boardwalks No Irrigation systems No access points
No – unless conditioned Lighting No Public art No
Bollards and barriers
otherwise
Maintenance taps No Seats Yes
Car parks No
Ornamental water Shade structures No
No
No – unless conditioned features
Community gardens Signage – park entrance Yes – 1 minimum
otherwise
Park maintenance
Signage (other types) No
Dog off leash area No access and emergency Yes
vehicle maintenance Switchboard No
Drinking fountains No
Paths Yes Toilet blocks No
Fencing and Barriers Trails and tracks No
otherwise Picnic nodes No
Fishing pontoons/ No – unless conditioned Pedestrian bridges No Trees Yes
boat launches otherwise Turf Yes
Picnic tables and
Yes
benches Water supply No
Table 7: Local park embellishment requirements

District park
Park Name: Schusters Park, Tallebudgera
Must have a useable recreation area of at least five hectare (5 ha)

environmental buffers, existing or future easements and contaminated
or hazardous land).
No mulched formal planting beds, shrubs or ground cover planting

to be used.
Must facilitate wheelchair access to all activity nodes within the

recreation area and throughout the entire recreation area.
Must provide a variety of recreation types and/or opportunities and

attract people to visit for longer periods
of time.
To be for recreation purposes only – no organised sporting facilities.
All district parks must be round or square in shape and preferably

have a minimum width of 80 metres.
All district parks must form part of an existing or a proposed link

between other recreation facilities or facilitate new linkages to
existing surrounding recreation facilities.
One hundred per cent (100%) of the useable recreation area must be
Ninety per cent (90%) of the usable recreation area must be above the
Q50 flood level.
Minimum ninety per cent (90%) of the usable recreation area must
have a grade slighter than 1:10.
Maximum ten per cent (10%) of the usable recreation area may have a
maximum grade of 1:10.
Embellishment table District park Embellishment table District park Embellishment table District park
Barbecues Yes – 2 minimum Groundcover vegetation Picnic shelter Yes
and landscaped garden As required
Bicycle stands Yes Playgrounds Yes – with shade sail
areas or beds
Yes – wheelie bin on Playing fields No
security post unless Gates
Bins otherwise Primary public
otherwise conditioned Yes – 1 minimum
access points
– 2 minimum Horse step-throughs No
No – unless conditioned Irrigation systems No Public art
Boardwalks otherwise
otherwise
Yes – for main
Lighting Seats Yes – 5 minimum
No – unless conditioned pathways only
Bollards and barriers Shade structures Yes
otherwise
Maintenance taps Yes – 2 minimum
Car parks 5 per ha Signage – park entrance Yes – 2 minimum
Ornamental water
No Signage (other types) No
No – unless conditioned features
Community gardens
otherwise Switchboard Yes – 1
Park maintenance
Dog off leash area Yes if space allows access and emergency Yes Yes – 1 minimum
vehicle maintenance Toilet blocks
Drinking fountains Yes – 2 minimum (2F x 2M & 1 x DA)
Paths Yes Trails and tracks No
Fencing and Barriers
otherwise Picnic nodes Yes – 1 Trees Yes
Fishing pontoons/ No – unless conditioned Pedestrian bridges No Turf Yes
boat launches otherwise
Picnic tables and Water supply Yes
Yes
benches
Table 8: District park embellishment requirements
66
City park
Park Name: Broadwater Parklands, Southport
Must have a minimum usable recreation area of fifteen hectares (15 ha)
improvement/detention devices, over land flow paths/swales,
or hazardous land).
To be designed to have the capacity to host organised events.
To be designed as a major recreational destination in the City.
Embellishments and facilities to be provided to enable long periods of

time to be spent at these parks.

recreation area and throughout the entire recreation area.
Must provide a variety of recreation types and/or opportunities and

attract people to visit for longer periods of time.
To be for recreation purposes only – no organised sporting facilities.
Must be round or square in shape.
Must represent a recreation node that forms the centre of a web of

surrounding recreation facilities. All surrounding recreation facilities
shall be strongly linked to the city park using well defined active
transport routes.
Minimum one hundred per cent (100%) of the useable recreation area
must be above the Q5 flood level.
Minimum forty per cent (40%) of the usable recreation area must be
Minimum ten per cent (10%) of the usable recreation area must be
Minimum eighty per cent (80%) of the usable recreation area must have
a grade slighter than 1:10.
Maximum twenty per cent (20%) of the usable recreation area may have
a maximum grade of 1:10.
Embellishment table City park Embellishment table City park Embellishment table City park
Barbecues Yes – 2 minimum Groundcover vegetation Picnic shelter Yes
Bicycle stands Yes – 12 minimum Playgrounds Yes – with shade sail
areas or beds
Yes – wheelie bin on Playing fields No
security post unless Gates
Bins otherwise Primary public access
otherwise conditioned Yes – 1 minimum
points – entry statement
– 4 minimum Horse step-throughs No
Primary public access
Boardwalks No Irrigation systems No Yes – 4 minimum
points
Yes – to prevent vehicle Yes – for main
Bollards and barriers Lighting No – unless conditioned
access pathways only Public art
otherwise
Car parks 5 per ha Maintenance taps Yes – 4 minimum
Seats Yes – 10 minimum
No – unless conditioned Ornamental water
Community gardens No Shade structures Yes
otherwise features
Signage – park entrance Yes – 4
Dog off leash area Yes if space allows Park maintenance
access and emergency Yes Yes – Wayfinding as per
Drinking fountains Yes – 4 minimum Signage (other types)
vehicle maintenance City wayfinding strategy
Fencing and Barriers Paths Yes Switchboard Yes – 2 minimum
otherwise
Picnic nodes Yes – 2 Yes – 2 minimum
Fishing pontoons/ No – unless conditioned Toilet blocks
(2F x 2M & 1 x DA)
boat launches otherwise Pedestrian bridges No
Trails and tracks No
Picnic tables and
Yes Trees Yes
benches
Turf Yes
Water supply Yes
Table 9: City park embellishment requirements

Open space linkage park
Park Name: Gabriel Park, Robina
Must be a minimum of fifteen meters (15m) wide for the full length of
the recreation facility.
A sealed pathway must connect one end of the area to the other. The
pathway shall be designed to connect with other pedestrian/cycle
paths at both ends. (Refer to the City Plan – Version 5)
All paths must be sufficiently shaded using selectively positioned

shade trees, or existing/retained trees.
All open space linkage parks must not contain sharp or acute angles.
All open space linkage parks must maximise opportunities for visual
corridors or vistas.
All landscaping along open space linkage parks must enhance and
not obstruct visual corridors or vistas.
Where open space linkage parks are adjacent to waterways and

flow paths, the area must be designed to safely accommodate any
foreseen water flow and not obstruct the usability of the linkage.
Embellishment table District park Embellishment table District park Embellishment table District park
Barbecues No Yes – to prevent Playgrounds No
Gates
vehicle access
Bicycle stands No Playing fields No
Horse step-throughs No
Bins No Primary public access
Yes – 1
Irrigation systems No points
Boardwalks No
Lighting No Public art No
otherwise Maintenance taps No Seats No
Car parks No Ornamental water Shade structures No
No
features
Community gardens No Signage – park entrance Yes – 1
Park maintenance
Dog off leash area No Signage (other types) No
access and emergency Yes
Drinking fountains No vehicle maintenance Switchboard No
No – unless conditioned Paths Yes Toilet blocks No
Fencing and Barriers
otherwise
Picnic nodes No Trails and tracks No
Fishing pontoons/
No Pedestrian bridges No Trees Yes
boat launches
Picnic tables and Turf As required
Groundcover vegetation No
areas or beds Picnic shelter No
Table 10: Open space linkage park embellishment requirements
68
Amenity space park
Park Name: Paradise River Park, Ashmore
Must be a minimum of fifteen meters (15m) wide for the full length of
the recreation facility.
These spaces are not to be used for storm water treatment.
Typical uses may be for amenity purposes including noise and visual
buffers, fountains, memorials, art display etc.
Embellishment table Amenity space park Embellishment table Amenity space park Embellishment table Amenity space park
Barbecues No Yes – to prevent vehicle Playgrounds No
Gates
access
Bicycle stands No Playing fields No
Bins No Primary public access
Yes – 1
Irrigation systems No points
Boardwalks No
Lighting No Public art As required
otherwise Maintenance taps No Seats As required
Car parks No Ornamental water No – unless conditioned Shade structures No
features otherwise
Community gardens No Signage – park entrance As required
Park maintenance
Dog off leash area No Signage (other types) No
Drinking fountains No vehicle maintenance Switchboard No
Fencing and Barriers No Paths Yes Toilet blocks No
Fishing pontoons/ No – unless conditioned Picnic nodes No Trails and tracks No
boat launches otherwise
Pedestrian bridges No Trees As required
Groundcover vegetation
Picnic tables and Turf As required
and landscaped garden As required No
areas or beds
Picnic shelter No
Table 11: Amenity space park embellishment requirements

Water body
Park Name: Mangrove Jack Park, Helensvale
Must be a permanent water body (does not drain, nor is ephemeral)

with a primary purpose of amenity value.
Must not be so small that it would be considered a stormwater quality

improvement device (SQID), or a pond.
Can be a canal or lake.
Can be used for active recreation purposes.
All water bodies that are visible and accessible must have clear sight
lines maintained to their edges.
All water bodies accessible to the general public must be designed to

ensure safe, unhindered access out of the water body. Edge of water
body must not have sudden drop-offs that would prevent someone
walking out if they fell in.
Warning signage must be erected in parks where water bodies

are present.
A risk assessment is to be undertaken on water bodies where ever

public access already exists or is created. Consultation with City
officers is required prior to creating public access to water bodies.
All water bodies must have all weather unhindered maintenance

access for two wheel drive vehicles.
Embellishment table Water body park Embellishment table Water body park Embellishment table Water body park
Barbecues No Gates As required Playing fields No
Bicycle stands No Horse step-throughs No Primary public access
Yes – 1
points
Bins No Irrigation systems No
Public art No
Boardwalks No Lighting No
Seats No
No – unless conditioned Maintenance taps No
otherwise Shade structures No
Ornamental water
No
Car parks No features Signage – park entrance Yes – 1
Community gardens No Park maintenance Signage (other types) No
Dog off leash area No Switchboard No
vehicle maintenance
Drinking fountains No Toilet blocks No
Paths Yes
No – unless conditioned Trails and tracks No
Fencing and Barriers Picnic nodes No
otherwise
Trees Yes
Fishing pontoons/ Pedestrian bridges No
No Turf As required
boat launches Picnic tables and
No Water supply No
Groundcover vegetation benches
and landscaped garden As required Picnic shelter No
areas or beds
Playgrounds No
Table 12: Water body embellishment requirements
70
Civic park
Park Name: Federation and Victoria Park
Broadbeach, Como Park, Southport
Civic parks are urban open spaces within medium to high

density areas and must support diverse recreational and
social activities.
Open area for passive recreation/shaded spaces for social

interaction/visual amenity for external users and centrally located
to maximise accessibility.
Physical and visual connectivity with multifunctional civic spaces,

and highly embellished community facilities.
Disability access for key use areas
Civic parks help increase the urban green space as well as the
liveability, safety and sense of community.
Embellishment table
Civic parks are flexible spaces contributing to the amenity of an area.

They may include;
• Grassed lawns / passive recreation

• Garden beds
• Seating / seating nodes / benches / shelter
• Shade trees / arbours / green walls
• Pathway connections / bike racks / refuse bin
• Stormwater / Multifunctional space
• Toilets to service town centres
• Preservation of natural features where possible
• Event electrical infrastructure boards & digital walls
• Suitable access for maintenance
• Flexible space for markets
• Non trunk park

District sports park
Park Classification: Sports
Park Name: Robina Common, Robina
Must have a useable recreation area of at least ten hectare (10 ha)
or hazardous land).

recreation areas and spectator areas.
Must cater for 1 or 2 sport types. Refer to City of Gold Coast Parks
Officers for direction on sports types to cater for.
Must cater for passive recreation opportunities as well as formal

sports activities.
Free, unrestricted access to the public must be maintained at times

when formal sport is not being undertaken.
All playing fields to be designed in accordance with the recommendations

made in City’s Land Development Guidelines.
Must form part of an existing or a proposed link between other

recreation facilities or facilitate new linkages to existing surrounding
recreation facilities.
Sports field lighting to be designed with the provision of 100 lux with the
ability for 200 lux lighting level.
Minimum one hundred per cent (100%) of the active recreation area
must be above the Q5 flood level.
Minimum ninety per cent (90%) of the active recreation area must be
Minimum ten per cent (10%) of the active recreation area must be above
the Q100 flood level.
Minimum eighty per cent (80%) of the area of District Sport Parks outside
the designated playing fields must have a grade slighter than 1:10.
Maximum twenty per cent (20%) of the area of District Sport Parks
outside the designated playing fields may have a maximum grade of 1:10.
Embellishment table District sports park Embellishment table District sports park Embellishment table District sports park
Barbecues Yes - 1 Gates No – if fencing installed 2 Playgrounds Yes – with shade sail
Bicycle stands Yes – 6 minimum Groundcover vegetation Playing fields
Yes
and landscaped garden As required (sports fields)
Yes – wheelie bin on
areas or beds
security post unless Primary public access
Bins Yes – 1 minimum
otherwise conditioned Horse step-throughs No points – entry statement
– 2 minimum
Irrigation systems Yes – sports fields only Primary public access
Yes – 2 minimum
Boardwalks No points
Yes – for main pathways
Lighting
Yes – to prevent vehicle only and sports fields No – unless conditioned
Bollards and barriers Public art
access otherwise
Subject to individual Seats Yes – 5 minimum
Ornamental water
Car parks assessment. Minimum No
features Shade structures Yes
of 50
Park maintenance Signage – park entrance Yes – 2
Community gardens No
Dog off leash area No vehicle maintenance
Switchboard Yes
Drinking fountains Yes – 2 minimum Paths Yes
Yes – 1 minimum
No – unless conditioned Picnic nodes No Toilet blocks
Fencing and Barriers (2F x 2M & 1 x DA)
otherwise
Pedestrian bridges No
Trails and tracks Yes – 2
Fishing pontoons/
No Picnic tables and
boat launches Yes Trees Yes
benches
Turf Yes
Picnic shelter Yes – 4
Water supply Yes
Table 13: District sports park embellishment requirements
72
City sports park
Park Name: Pizzey Park, Miami
Must have a useable recreation area of at least fifteen hectare (15 ha)
or hazardous land).

recreation areas and spectator areas.
Must cater for multiple sport types. Refer to City of Gold Coast Parks
Officers for direction on sports types to cater for.
Must have capacity to accommodate multiple clubs and organisations

and ancillary facilities.
Must cater for passive recreation opportunities as well as formal

sports activities.
Free, unrestricted access to the public must be maintained at times

when formal sport is not being undertaken.
All playing fields to be designed in accordance with the recommendations

made in City’s Land Development Guidelines.
Must form part of an existing or a proposed link between other

recreation facilities or facilitate new linkages to existing surrounding
recreation facilities.
Sports field lighting to be designed with the provision of 100 lux with the
ability for 200 lux lighting level.
One hundred per cent (100%) of the active recreation area must be
Forty per cent (40%) of the active recreation area must be above the
Q50 flood level.
Ten per cent (10%) of the active recreation area must be above the Q100
flood level.
Minimum eighty per cent (80%) of the area of District Sport Parks outside
the designated playing fields must have a grade slighter than 1:10.
Maximum twenty per cent (20%) of the area of District Sport Parks outside
the designated playing fields may have a maximum grade of 1:10.
Embellishment table City sports park Embellishment table City sports park Embellishment table City sports park
Barbecues Yes – 1 Gates No – if fencing installed 2 Playgrounds Yes – with shade sail
Bicycle stands Yes – 6 minimum Groundcover vegetation Playing fields
Yes – restricted to Yes
and landscaped garden (sports fields)
Yes – wheelie bin on minimal areas
areas or beds
security post unless Primary public access
Bins Yes – 1 minimum
otherwise conditioned Horse step-throughs No points – entry statement
– 2 minimum
Irrigation systems Yes – sports fields only Primary public access
Yes – 2 minimum
Boardwalks No points
Yes – for main pathways
Lighting
Yes – to prevent vehicle only and sports fields No – unless conditioned
Bollards and barriers Public art
access otherwise
Subject to individual Seats Yes – 5 minimum
Ornamental water
Car parks assessment. Minimum No
features Shade structures Yes
of 50
Park maintenance Signage – park entrance Yes – 2
Dog off leash area No vehicle maintenance
Switchboard Yes
Drinking fountains Yes – 2 minimum Paths Yes
Yes – 1 minimum
No – unless conditioned Picnic nodes No Toilet blocks
Fencing and Barriers (3F x 3M & 1 x DA)
otherwise
Trails and tracks No
Fishing pontoons/ No
Picnic tables and
boat launches Yes Trees Yes
benches
Turf Yes
Picnic shelter Yes – 4
Water supply Yes
Table 14: City sports park embellishment requirements

Specialised sports park
Park Name: Gold Coast Velodrome, Nerang
Specific design guidelines for specialised sports parks to be

prescribed specifically for the proposed sport and site location.
Specialised sports parks will only very rarely be developed as part

of a residential, commercial, industrial or mixed used development.
As each facility will be developed to cater for the needs of varying
activities, specific design criteria must be sought through extensive
consultation with user groups/clubs, the surrounding community
and City officers.
Embellishment table
Embellishments for specialised sports parks to be prescribed

specifically for the proposed sport and site location.
74
Major sporting facility
Gold Coast Suns AFL club
Park Name: Metricon Stadium, Carrara
Not applicable as major sporting facilities are not owned by City of

Gold Coast.
Embellishment table
Not applicable.
Reference specifications and standard drawings
Not applicable.

Utility reserve
Energex 110Kv network corridor
Park Classification: Utility Reserves
Park Name: Hans Park, Upper Coomera
In terms of open space the City defines a utility reserve as

land for utility infrastructure such as electricity transmission,
telecommunications, water and sewerage.
Utility reserves shall be designed using specific design criteria from

the type of open space the reserve is directly adjacent to.
Example: Two local parks are divided by an electricity easement.
The easement may be designed as a continuation of both local parks.
Consult with the relevant utility infrastructure to ensure the proposal

will not conflict with the primary function of the reserve.
Embellishment table Utility reserves park Embellishment table Utility reserves park Embellishment table Utility reserves park
Barbecues No Horse step-throughs No Primary public
access points – No
Bicycle stands No Irrigation systems No
entry statement
Bins No Lighting No
Primary public
Boardwalks No Maintenance taps No No
access points
No – unless conditioned Ornamental water Public art No
Bollards and barriers No
otherwise features
Seats No
Car parks No Park maintenance
Shade structures No
vehicle maintenance Signage – park entrance No
Dog off leash area No
Paths No Signage (other types) No
Picnic nodes No Switchboard No
Fencing and Barriers Pedestrian bridges No Toilet blocks No
otherwise
Picnic tables and Trails and tracks No
Fishing pontoons/ No
No benches
boat launches Trees No
Picnic shelter No
Gates No Turf As required
Playgrounds No
Groundcover vegetation Water supply No
and landscaped garden As required Playing fields
No
areas or beds (sports fields)
Table 15: Utility reserve embellishment requirements
76
Drainage reserve
Park Classification: Utility reserves
Park Name: Isetta Reserve, Upper Coomera
All drainage reserves accessible to the general public must be

designed to ensure safe, unhindered access out of the water body.
All drainage reserves must have all weather unhindered maintenance

Open space surrounding a drainage reserve shall generally be

designed as a natural area and shall be rehabilitated or restored to
reflect the pre-disturbed vegetation type as mapped by the City or the
Queensland Government or as defined by ecological reports that have
been accepted by the City.
Occasionally public access to a drainage reserve may be encouraged

by the City. Extensive consultation with City office is required in
these circumstances.
All drainage reserves that are clearly visible and accessible must have
clear site lines maintained around their edges.
Embellishment table Drainage reserve Embellishment table Drainage reserve Embellishment table Drainage reserve
Barbecues No Horse step-throughs No Primary public access
No
Bins No Lighting No No
points
Boardwalks No Maintenance taps No
Public art No
Bollards and barriers No Seats No
otherwise features
Shade structures No
access and emergency Yes Signage – park entrance No
vehicle maintenance
Paths No
Switchboard No
Picnic nodes No
Toilet blocks No
As required, subject to
Fencing and Barriers Pedestrian bridges No
risk assessment Trails and tracks No
Picnic tables and
Fishing pontoons/ No Trees No
No benches
boat launches
Turf As required
Picnic shelter No
Gates No
Water supply No
Playgrounds No
No
Table 16: Drainage reserve embellishment requirements

Natural drainage reserve
Park Classification: Utility reserves
Park Name: Mugello Park Natural Drainage
Reserve, Oxenford
All drainage reserves accessible to the general public must be

designed to ensure safe, unhindered access out of the water body.
All drainage reserves must have all weather unhindered maintenance

Open space surrounding a drainage reserve shall generally be

designed as a natural area and shall be rehabilitated or restored to
been accepted by City.
Occasionally public access to a drainage reserve may be encouraged

by the City. Extensive consultation with City Officers is required in
these circumstances.
All drainage reserves that are clearly visible and accessible must have
clear site lines maintained around their edges.
Natural drainage Natural drainage Natural drainage

Embellishment table Embellishment table Embellishment table
reserve reserve reserve
No
points
Boardwalks No Maintenance taps No
Public art No
Bollards and barriers No Seats No
otherwise features
Shade structures No
vehicle maintenance
Paths No
Switchboard No
Picnic nodes No
Toilet blocks No
As required, subject to
Fencing and Barriers Pedestrian bridges No
risk assessment Trails and tracks No
Picnic tables and
Fishing pontoons/ No Trees No
No benches
boat launches
Turf As required
Picnic shelter No
Gates No
Water supply No
Playgrounds No
No
Table 17: Natural drainage reserve embellishment requirements
78
Conservation area
Park Classification: Gold Coast conservation estate
Park Name: Coogera South Conservation Area,
Ormeau Hills
All conservation areas typically have an area of at least five hectare

(5 ha) free from all encumbrances (including, but not limited to
stormwater improvement/detention devices, over land flow paths
and swales, environmental buffers, existing or future easements and
contaminated or hazardous land).
Conservation areas must be rehabilitated to ensure the dedicated parcel

of land is weed free and must be rehabilitated or restored to reflect the
pre-disturbed vegetation type as mapped by the City or the Queensland
Government or as defined by ecological reports that have been accepted
by the City.
All conservation areas must be restored to reflect the recommendations

made in all (City approved) environmental management plans. Open
space designers must liaise with all other planning, engineering and
environmental professionals to ensure a coordinated approach producing
the desired outcome.
Refer to the City of Gold Coast – Open Space Management Guideline –

Appendix 1: Guideline for the preparation of a Rehabilitation Plan.
Public access not to be encouraged.
Conservation values to be preserved.
The City vehicular access must be preserved and not be blocked by

future developments or construction activities.
Access to existing fire trail network must be preserved and not be able to
be blocked by future developments or construction activities.
Stormwater infrastructure is not to be put into Conservation areas.
Boundary marker posts may be used where location of park boundary is

not likely to have illegal vehicle access problems.
Where a conservation area adjoins an open space park, fencing or

bollards between the boundaries may not be required if vehicle exclusion
is maintained around the boundary of the open space park.
Restoration works must be undertaken to all disturbed and / or unstable

areas to ensure that no erosion of soils or surface materials occur.
A bushfire management plan must be provided and implemented for

conservation areas.
Access to existing fire trail network must be preserved and not be

blocked by future developments or construction activities.
Embellishment table Conservation area Embellishment table Conservation area Embellishment table Conservation area
Barbecues No Irrigation systems No Primary public access
No
Bicycle stands No Lighting No
Bins No Maintenance taps No No
points
Boardwalks No Ornamental water
No Public art No
features
Bollards and barriers Seats No
otherwise Park maintenance
access and emergency Yes Shade structures No
Car parks No
vehicle maintenance
Signage – park entrance No
Paths No
Picnic nodes No
Switchboard No
Toilet blocks No – unless conditioned
Fencing and Barriers Yes – to prevent access
Picnic tables and
No Trails and tracks No
Fishing pontoons/ benches
No
boat launches Trees No
Picnic shelter No
Gates Yes Turf No
Playgrounds No
Groundcover vegetation Water supply No
Playing fields
(sports fields)
areas or beds
Table 18: Conservation area embellishment requirements

Environmental reserve
Park Name: Len and Muriel Godlonton
Environmental Reserve,
Runaway Bay
Environmental reserves have a variable size free from all encumbrances

(including, but not limited to stormwater improvement/detention devices,
over land flow paths and swales, environmental buffers, existing or
future easements and contaminated or hazardous land).
Environmental reserves must be rehabilitated to ensure the dedicated
parcel of land is weed free and must be rehabilitated or restored to
been accepted by the City.
All Environmental reserves must be restored to reflect the recommendations
made in all (City approved) environmental management plans and all other
City accepted reports and plans. Open space designers must liaise with all
other planning, engineering and environmental professionals to ensure a
coordinated approach producing the desired outcome.
Refer to the Gold Coast City Council – Open Space Management Guideline
– Appendix 1: Guideline for the preparation of a Rehabilitation Plan.
May currently or have the potential to support appropriate recreational
uses such as bushwalking and bird watching. These activities may justify
embellishments such as trails and tracks, bird hides and boardwalks.
Refer to City of Gold Coast Parks Officers for direction on the suitability
of Environmental Reserves for recreational uses.
Access to existing fire trail network must be preserved and not be able
to be blocked by future developments or construction activities.
Stormwater infrastructure is not to be put into environmental reserves.
Where an environmental reserve adjoins an open space park, fencing
or bollards between the boundaries may not be required if vehicle
exclusion is maintained around the boundary of the open space park.
Restoration works must be undertaken to all disturbed and / or unstable
A bushfire management plan must be provided and implemented for
Conservation Areas.
Access to existing fire trail network must be preserved and not be
blocked by future developments or construction activities.
Embellishment table Environmental reserve Embellishment table Environmental reserve Embellishment table Environmental reserve
No
points
Bird hides By exception Maintenance taps No
Public art No
Boardwalks By exception Ornamental water
No Seats No
features
Bollards and barriers Shade structures No
otherwise Park maintenance
Car parks No
vehicle maintenance
Paths No
Switchboard No
Picnic nodes No
Toilet blocks No
Trails and tracks By exception
Fencing and Barriers As required
Picnic tables and
No Trees No
Fishing pontoons/ benches
No
boat launches Turf No
Picnic shelter No
Gates As required Water supply No
Playgrounds No
Playing fields
(sports fields)
areas or beds
Table 19: Environmental reserve embellishment requirements
80
Bushland reserve
Park Name: Vennor Reserve, Ormeau and
Hardy’s Road Reserve
Bushland reserves have a variable size free from all encumbrances

(including, but not limited to stormwater improvement/detention devices,
over land flow paths and swales, environmental buffers, existing or
future easements and contaminated or hazardous land).
Bushland reserves must be rehabilitated to ensure the dedicated parcel

of land is weed free and must be rehabilitated or restored to reflect the
pre-disturbed vegetation type as mapped by the City or the Queensland
Government or as defined by ecological reports that have been
accepted by the City.
All Bushland reserves must be restored to reflect the recommendations

made in all (City approved) environmental management plans and
all other City accepted reports and plans. Open space designers
must liaise with all other planning, engineering and environmental
professionals to ensure a coordinated approach producing the
desired outcome.
Refer to the Gold Coast City Council – Open Space Management Guideline
– Appendix 1: Guideline for the preparation of a Rehabilitation Plan.
May currently or have the potential to support appropriate recreational

uses such as bushwalking and bird watching. These activities may justify
embellishments such as trails and tracks, bird hides and boardwalks.
Refer to City of Gold Coast Parks Officers for direction on the suitability
of environmental reserves for recreational uses.

Access to existing fire trail network must be preserved and not be able
to be blocked by future developments or construction activities.
Storm water infrastructure is not to be put into bushland reserves.

Where a bushland reserve adjoins an open space park, fencing or

bollards between the boundaries may not be required if vehicle
exclusion is maintained around the boundary of the open space park.
Restoration works must be undertaken to all disturbed and/or unstable

Embellishment table Bushland reserve Embellishment table Bushland reserve Embellishment table Bushland reserve
Barbecues No Groundcover vegetation Playgrounds No
Bicycle stands No Playing fields
areas or beds No
(sports fields)
Bins No
Bird hide By exception No
Irrigation systems No points – entry statement
Boardwalks By exception
Lighting No Primary public access
No – unless conditioned No
Bollards and barriers points
Maintenance taps No
otherwise
Public art No
Ornamental water
Car parks No No
features Seats No
Park maintenance Shade structures No
Dog off leash area No access and emergency Yes
Signage – park entrance No
Drinking fountains No vehicle maintenance
Switchboard No Paths No
Toilet blocks No
Fencing and Barriers Yes – to prevent access Picnic nodes No
Fishing pontoons/ Pedestrian bridges No
No Trees No
boat launches Picnic tables and
No Turf No
Gates Yes benches
Picnic shelter No Water supply No
Table 20: Bushland reserve embellishment requirements

General reserve
Park Name: Sandhurst Crescent General Reserve,
Upper Coomera
General reserves have a variable size free from all encumbrances

(including, but not limited to stormwater improvement/detention
devices, over land flow paths and swales, environmental buffers,
existing or future easements and contaminated or hazardous land).
Refer to the Gold Coast City Council – Open Space Management

Guideline – Appendix 1: Guideline for the preparation of a
Rehabilitation Plan.
May currently or have the potential to support appropriate

recreational uses such as bushwalking and bird watching. These
activities may justify embellishments such as trails and tracks, bird
hides and boardwalks. Refer to City of Gold Coast Parks Officers for
direction on the suitability of General Reserves for recreational uses.
Note for developers
There should be no creation of general reserve open space in any

private developments that will be taken over by the City. If such open
space exists in private developments it is to be improved to an open
space parks category park, or to a bushland reserve, subject to
discussion and direction from City officers.
Embellishment table General reserve Embellishment table General reserve Embellishment table General reserve
No
points
Bird hides By exception Maintenance taps No
Public art No
Boardwalks By exception Ornamental water
No Seats No
features
Bollards and barriers No
Shade structures No
Park maintenance
Car parks No
Community gardens No vehicle maintenance
Dog off leash area No Paths No
Switchboard No
Drinking fountains No Picnic nodes No
Toilet blocks No
Fencing and Barriers As required Pedestrian bridges No
Fishing pontoons/ Picnic tables and
No No Trees No
boat launches benches
Turf No
Gates As required Picnic shelter No
Water supply No
Groundcover vegetation Playgrounds No
Playing fields
areas or beds No
(sports fields)
Table 21: General reserve embellishment requirements
82
Notes
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Reference documents
Australian Standards
It is the Designers responsibility to reference the latest version of
all applicable Australian Standards
City Open Space Specification and Design Index

This is a spreadsheet document that hyper links to relevant • SE QLD Regional Plan 2009-2031
specifications, standard details and other City of Gold Coast
references for various asset types (embellishments) for design • QLD Greenspace Strategy 2011-2020
and planning of public open space – parks.
• The Planning Act 2016
Prior to commencement of planning and design, consult
with the City’s Parks and Recreational Services Branch to • Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
identify the latest version of specifications and/or standard Guidelines for Queensland
details and to gain access to the City of Gold Coast Park Asset
Specification and Design Index. • Waterway Guidelines
• SE QLD Ecological Restoration Framework

• City of Gold Coast Signage Masterplan Version 1.0
• Gold Coast Landscape Strategy Part 1. Landscape
July 2013
Character Guiding the Image of the City
• Draft Foreshoreway Design Manual, June 2012
• City Plan
• Fire Trail Construction Guidelines developed by the Natural
• City of Gold Coast Corporate Plan – Gold Coast 2022
Areas Management Unit (NAMU), Gold Coast City Council.
• Urban Greenspace 2030 – DRAFT
• Gold Coast City Council Risk Assessment Methodology
Council Playgrounds and Associated Risks 30 June 2011 • Gold Coast Landscape Character Landscape Heritage Study
by Echelon Australia
• Nature Conservation Strategy 2009-2017
• Open Space Management Guideline November 2007
Version 1, GCCC Appendix 1: Guideline for the preparation • Our Natural City Strategy
of a Rehabilitation Plan
• Our Natural Playground – A Parks and Recreational
• Public Convenience Modular Space Design Strategy Version Services Guide
2 June 2009, GCCC
• Parks & Leisure – Open space planning and design guidelines
• Public Art Policy 17 September 2007 Guidelines for
Implementing the Gold Coast Public Art Policy October 2007
• GCCC Strategic and Operational Plan For Skate & BMX

Facilities on the Gold Coast’ prepared by Plan C for the City,
August 2007.
86
City of Gold Coast – Park asset specification and design index
Specifications
Refer to the City’s Parks and Recreational Services Branch Natural areas............................................. Parks – Natural Areas
to obtain the latest version of specifications. Netball courts........................................... Parks – Netball Courts
Artwork/sculptures.......................................... Parks – Public Art Park lighting ...............................................Parks – Park Lighting
Basketball courts.................................Parks – Basketball Courts Paths..................................................................... Parks – Paths
Baseball practice nets................. Parks – Baseball Practice Nets Pentaque courts...................................Parks – Pentaque Courts
Bocce courts.............................................Parks – Bocce Courts Play equipment.......................................Parks – Play Equipment
Barbecues..................................................... Parks – Barbeques Picnic settings......................................... Parks – Picnic Settings
Bicycle stands..........................................Parks – Bicycle stands Plaques and memorials..............Parks – Plaques and memorials
Bins......................................................................... Parks – Bins Retaining walls.........................................Parks – Retaining Walls
BMX tracks...................................................Parks – BMX Tracks Roads.................................................................. Parks – Roads
Boardwalks ................................................. Parks – Boardwalks Running tracks....................................... Parks – Running Tracks
Bollards............................................................................ Vacant Score boards.............................................. Parks – Scoreboards
Bridges............................................................... Parks – Bridges Seats..................................................................... Parks – Seats
Car parks........................................................ Parks – Car parks Shade structures................................. Parks – Shade Structures
Chess courts..............................................Parks – Chess courts Shelters..............................................................Parks – Shelters
Cricket wickets.......................................Parks – Cricket Wickets Signs..................................................................... Parks – Signs
Cricket practice nets...................... Parks – Cricket Practice Nets Softball practice nets.....................Parks – Softball Practice Nets
Croquet green......................................... Parks – Croquet Green Soft fall zones.......................................... Parks – Soft Fall Zones
Cycling tracks...........................................Parks – Cycling Tracks Stairs..................................................................... Parks – Stairs
Dog off leash area.............................Parks – Dog Off Leash Area Shuffleboard courts......................... Parks – Shuffleboard Courts
Drainage.................................................... Parks – Site Drainage Skate park..................................................... Parks – Skate park
Dressage arenas.................................... Parks – Dressage Arena Spectator seating................................Parks – Spectator seating
Drinking fountain.................................. Parks – Drinking Fountain Sportsfield......................................................Parks – Sportsfield
Electrical bollards/pillars.............Parks – Electrical Bollards Pillars Sports field lighting............................Parks – Sports field lighting
Fencing..............................................................Parks – Fencing Taps........................................................................Parks – Taps
Fire trails...........................................................Parks – Fire Trails Tennis courts............................................. Parks – Tennis Courts
Fish cleaning sinks (stations )........Parks – Fish Cleaning Stations Tracks/trails.......................................... Parks – Trails and Tracks
Fitness equipment............................. Parks – Fitness Equipment Trees......................................................................Parks – Trees
Footbridges................................................ Parks – Foot Bridges Throwing circles.................................... Parks – Throwing Circles
Garden beds..............................................Parks – Garden Beds Toilets................................................................... Parks – Toilets
Irrigation............................................................Parks – Irrigation Turf........................................................................... Parks – Turf
Kerb and channel............................... Parks – Kerb and Channel Viewing platform .................................. Parks – Viewing Platform
Lawn bowls green.............................Parks – Lawn Bowls Green Volleyball courts.....................................Parks – Volleyball Courts
Long jump run up and sand pit.......................Parks – Long jump Water features..........................................Parks – Water features
run up and sand pit Water supply..............................................Parks – Water supply
Water tanks..................................................Parks – Water tanks

For information
P 1300 GOLDCOAST (1300 465 326)
W cityofgoldcoast.com.au
13794

Park Design Guidelines

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Park Design

Park Design Guideline 1

Social benefits Economic benefits

Part 4 – Key design objectives

Part 5 – Park data sheets

Part 6 – Reference documents

Park Design Guideline 3

Park Design Guideline 5

Accessible path of travel – An uninterrupted, barrier-free,

DDA – Disability Discrimination Act 1992

Equitable access – Individuals have fair and socially

General design guidelines Why is this important?

Park Design Guideline 7

General design guidelines Why is this important?

General design guidelines Why is this important?

Park Design Guideline 9

General design guidelines Why is this important?

General design guidelines Why is this important?

Park Design Guideline 11

General design guidelines Why is this important?

General design guidelines Why is this important?

Examples of this are:

Park Design Guideline 13

City of Gold Coast park classifications

General reserve Open space linkage Major sporting facility

Park Design Guideline 15

Park Design Guideline 17

• Amenity space General rules:

Park Design Guideline 19

Within the classification of Utility Reserves are four categories.

Park Design Guideline 21

• City sport park General rules:

• LGIP Use: Trunk infrastructure. • LGIP Use: Not applicable.

Park type summary

Table 2: Park type summary

Park Design Guideline 23

Figure 2. Damian Leeding Memorial Park, Coomera

Figure 3. Lake Orr and Varsity Foreshore Parklands

Park Design Guideline 25

Equitable access will create synergies that contribute to overall

Equitable access must be implemented for continuous paths of

Figure 2: Non ambulant space requirements

Figure 3: Picnic node designed for access

Park Design Guideline 29

Park Design Guideline 31

Concealed spaces No No No Minimise No

Steep changes of grade No Existing grades No Existing grades Minimise

Table 3: Surveillance criterion

Figure 4: Lighting spread

Figure 5: Lines of sight and ground to canopy clearance

Figure 6: Example of clear sightline Figure 7: Clear sightline criteria

Park Design Guideline 33

Figure 8: Incompatible activity nodes

Desirable outcomes Undesirable outcomes

A. • Four road frontages E. • One road frontage

B. • Three road frontages F. • No road frontages,

D. • Two road frontages

Figure 9: Passive surveillance – boundary examples

Park Design Guideline 35