Cockatoo Island / Wareamah Master Plan recognised for design excellence on national stage

The Cockatoo Island / Wareamah Master Plan was recognised by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) at their national awards ceremony, held last week.

The Harbour Trust engaged Tyrrell Studio to lead the design on the vision for Cockatoo Island laid out in the master plan. The studio's work was informed by the island's layered history as well as aspirations for its future.

Repeat success at the AILA awards

Our collaboration with Tyrrell Studio culminated in a National Landscape Architecture Award for Cultural Heritage at the AILA National Awards in Melbourne on Thursday 24 October. This is the second award for the master plan this year. In July, the strategic document was recognised with a Landscape Architecture Award for Cultural Heritage at the AILA NSW Awards.

"The Cockatoo Island / Wareamah Master Plan success lies in its ability to bring together the island's layered history with new visitor experiences, adaptive reuse and staged transformation over time," said Harbour Trust Executive Director Janet Carding.

"We congratulate Tyrrell Studio in collaboration with Mott McDonald and Klok Advisory who have demonstrated this beautifully in the master plan."

The Harbour Trust also thanks the other master plan contributors; namely, Bangawarra's Dr Shannon Foster, Left Bank Co., OCP Architects, Thompson Clarke Shipping and the Harbour Trust project team. This team included Gujaga Foundation, Rowena Welsh Jarrett, Ian Hoskins, Michael Pender, Duratec, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, MBM, Dransfield and John Jeremy.

An important plan for an iconic place

Mark Tyrell, the master plan design lead, attributed the state and national accolades to the expertise of the Harbour Trust and the dedication of the extended project team.

"We drew upon the depth and complexity of the island's history and wove these historic layers together with new aspirations to create a compelling and strategic master plan for Cockatoo Island," he said.

"Tyrrell Studio are honoured to have been entrusted to lead the design of the master plan and are grateful to both the state and national awards juries for acknowledging the success of this important plan for this iconic place."

Truth-telling and cultural preservation

The National Awards Citation reads as follows:

'The Cockatoo Island / Wareamah Master Plan is a visionary document that exemplifies a deep commitment to truth-telling and cultural preservation of the island's storied past. The master plan is distinguished by its strong strategic thinking, clear objectives and innovative budgeting that will be essential for successful implementation. Enhanced accessibility, effective management of urban heat and strategies to increase visitation are all key components that underscore the work's commitment to social sustainability. The plan serves as a guiding light for future developments on the island, and for interpretating cultural heritage with innovative approaches to budgeting and engagement. It advocates for Indigenous stories, establishing a program for connecting to Country and setting a new benchmark for sustainable development in Sea Country.'

The Cockatoo Island Master Plan's most recent award coincided with its endorsement by the Members of the Trust and release to the public. This followed careful consideration of community feedback on the draft plan, which was subject to public consultation last year.