Ballast Point: From Fossil Fuel Storage to Renewable Energy Provider

Energy and sustainability, FULL, McGregor Coxall, Middle Density, Project, Territory and mobility, Urban Paradigms

Adaptive reuse, Australia, Built landscape, Ecological agencies, Ecological researches, Energetic Approach, Fuel, Future Urban Legacy Lab, Green, Harborfront, Overlapping layers, Park, Playground, Project, Recycling, Regenerated industrial facility, Sustainability, Sydney, Territorial Approach, Urban Legacy, Water, Waterfront, Wind energy

This multi award winning 2.5ha post industrial waterfront park is located on a contaminated former lubricant production site on the Birchgrove Peninsula in the inner reaches of Sydney harbour. The site’s richly layered history included occupation by indigenous people, construction of the ’Menevia’ marine villa in the 1860’s, quarry use for ship ballast and finally petroleum distillation by Caltex from the 1920’s until 2002. As lead consultant, McGregor Coxall undertook project management, design development, construction documentation and administered the construction contract for the client. This project’s design is driven by a strong environmental agenda where recycled materials are used site wide. Wind turbine generators reflect a movement away from fossil fuels and an integrated stormwater management and recycle system ensures that all stormwater entering Sydney Harbour from the site has been cleaned and polished prior to its discharge.