Archerfield Wetlands Parkland has been named the winner of the 2026 Landscape Australia Award for Public Design, a prestigious honour recognising projects that enhance the cultural life, character and amenity of their communities.

Once a former wastewater treatment site inaccessible to the public, Archerfield Wetlands Parkland has been transformed into a thriving urban wetlands and district park.

This landmark project showcases what’s possible when sustainable design begins with a deep understanding of a place. Shaped through extensive community consultation and in collaboration with the Yuggera Ugarapul People, the parkland reflects the site’s unique history, natural environment and significance to the local community.

Set within a degraded floodplain, the parkland has been designed to work with nature rather than against it. The landscape accommodates flooding, recovers quickly after inundation and continues to function as a welcoming public space.

The site’s industrial past remains an important part of its story today. Existing concrete tanks and infrastructure have been reimagined as play spaces, gardens and public amenities.

“This approach reflects our commitment to sustainable design. By adapting existing infrastructure, we’ve reduced demolition waste, avoided the need for additional construction materials and preserved an important part of the site’s heritage,” Brisbane Sustainability Agency Chief Executive Tracy Melenewycz said.

A standout feature of the District Park is the award-winning, nature-play adventure playground with unique play features made from old piping and materials. Along with picnic areas, netball and basketball courts, and a large oval, the playground has helped make the District Park a popular destination for families from across Brisbane.

A Bush Resources Garden, developed through collaboration with the Yuggera Ugarapul People brings another dimension to the experience, sharing knowledge about plants traditionally used for food and medicine.

Beyond the district park, extensive revegetation and habitat restoration are helping the wetlands recover after decades of industrial use and neglect. More than 150,000 native plants have been established, creating habitat for wildlife like possums, lorikeets and gliders.  On last count, more than 170 different bird species have been identified across the wetlands.

The Wetlands Community Hub provides a permanent home for the local catchment association, creating a permanent base for ecological monitoring and habitat restoration.

“Archerfield Wetlands Parkland shows we don’t have to choose between protecting nature and creating more to see and do. We can do both,” Brisbane City Councillor Tracy Davis said. 

Since opening in 2024, Archerfield Wetlands Parkland has quickly grown to become a favourite destination for families, birdwatchers and nature lovers from Brisbane and beyond.  Today, visitors can explore the wetlands along the Discovery Trail, take children to the adventure playground, or get stuck into volunteering at the community plant nursery.

This award is a proud moment for Brisbane and everyone who helped shape the Parkland into the place it is today. It recognises what thoughtful collaboration, sustainable design and a shared vision can achieve: a once industrial landscape transformed into a thriving place for people and nature.  

Thank you to everyone who made this possible: Brisbane City Council, Urbis, Vokes and Peters, Alcorn Middleton Architecture, Playscape Creations, Stantec, Webb Australia, Dotdash, SLR, Water Technology, Morrison Geotechnic, 28 South, Independent Arborists Australia, ASK Consulting, Knisco, Ecolateral, Rob Friend and Associates, Bligh Tanner, Epoca Constructions, Yuggera Ugaparul People, Oxley Creek Catchment Association, Greening Australia, GHD, Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure, Albert Smith Signs, Deb Mostert, Birds Queensland and BirdLife Southern Queensland.