Lake Illawarra Shared Use Masterplan

Prepared for Wollongong and Shoalhaven City Council, NSW, 2024

About

Rhizome led the development of a shared path masterplan around Lake Illawarra (approx. 42 kilometres) and its two LGAs, the Wollongong City Council and Shellharbour City Council. This involved a place-based approach to understanding the lake system through a series of interlinked 1:100,000 and 1:40,000 mapping site analysis stages that revealed the potential of an interconnected and legible landscape-based experience around the entirety on the lake. This was packaged with a range of graphical explorations and mapping at finer scales that explored options for future alignments to complete the circumnavigations, capitalising also upon the surrounding communities and their recreational cultural needs in concert with hydrological, visual and ecological protection. Further detailing at five specific activity nodes introduces the region to a new suite of recreational opportunities and a previously under-performing visitor experience and amenity.

Due for completion by the end of 2023, a recent amendment to the scope now includes a broad-brush interpretive and signage masterplan. This is inclusive of further consultation, directional, interpretive and management signage and the development of a colour and materials palette alongside scoping future artist engagement with the lake.

Key skills

- Extensive infrastructure audit

- Development of masterplan, report through novel mapping and site analysis

- Community, LGA and stakeholder engagement

- Research, interpretation, materials and signage approach

Sub-consultant: Esther Hermans, Studio26 Urban Design

Link to report