Seamless design connects residential to rural

From protecting biodiversity to erosion control, great landscape architecture is critical for safe, sustainable road infrastructure.

The O’Mara Road Upgrade project provides a critical link for more than $100 million worth of industrial sites and development to the Toowoomba Cecil-Plains Rd and the Warrego Highway.

Commissioned by Toowoomba Regional Council, VERDé completed concept design and documentation for the project’s streetscapes, riparian and natural areas.

The project traversed a variety of character areas, each of which required a specific design response that maintained the strict standards for road safety whilst respecting the micro-climate, potential ‘low water’ future of the site and the environmental and sustainability requirements.

Overall the design focussed on the use of a low maintenance, proven road safe palette of endemic native trees, shrubs and groundcovers to protect the biodiversity of the site.

The project also included improvement of the multiple drainage corridors, channels and drainage lines crossing the road alignment through additional riparian plantings and erosion control measures.

The project is an outstanding example of the benefits of client and designer working closely together, saving time and money and delivering an exceptional outcome for what is now considered the central spine of the Charlton-Wellcamp precinct.