Haig Park draft master plan - Territory and Municipal Services - ACT ...

DRAFT
HAIG PARK
MASTER PLAN REPORT
MAY 2012

DRAFT
Prepared by
Enviro Links Design (2011)
In conjuncon with
Eric Marn & Associates
For
ACT Shared Services Procurement
On behalf of
Parks & City Services
Territory and Municipal Services Directorate
Haig Park Master Plan 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Execuve summary 5
2 Introducon 7
2.1 Historical background and significance of Haig Park 7
2.2 Heritage significance 9
3 The study area 9
3.1 Site descripon 9
3.2 Landscape character 11
3.3 Role and current uses 11
3.4 Opportunies and constraints 13
4 Legislave framework and planning controls 13
4.1 Legislaon, policies and strategies 13
4.2 Haig Park specific planning and development controls 13
5 Consultaon with stakeholders 17
5.1 ACT Government stakeholder consultaon and public consultaon 17
6 The Master Plan—future direcons and proposals 17
6.1 Trees and other vegetaon 19
6.2 Access and circulaon 23
6.3 Spaces and funcons 25
6.4 Facilies and amenies 29
6.5 Interpretave signage and informaon 31
6.6 Artworks, feature lighng and commemorave elements 31
6.7 Safety and security 31
6.8 Design, materials and finishes 33
DRAFT
7 Implementaon 35
8 Monitoring and evaluaon 35
8.1 Tree management 35
8.2 Traffic management 35
8.3 Master Plan review 35
Appendices 39
Appendix A: Tree Management 40
Appendix B: Traffic Management 44
References 49
Haig Park Master Plan 3

List of Figures
Figure 1: Haig Park Local Context
Figure 2: Opportunies & Constraints
Figure 3: Original Planng Row Setout
Figure 4: Exisng Vegetaon
Figure 5: Exisng Pedestrian Access & Circulaon
Figure 6: Exisng Vehicle Access & Circulaon
Figure 7: Exisng Spaces & Funcons
Figure 8: Exisng Facilies & Amenies
Figure 9a: Haig Park West Master Plan
Figure 9b: Haig Park East Master Plan
Figure 10: Central Acvity Node (Depot Removed)
Unless otherwise stated all figures have been prepared and photo’s taken by Enviro Links Design Pty Ltd.
DRAFT
Haig Park Master Plan 4

1 Execuve summary
Haig Park is the third largest of the eleven Inner Canberra
District Parks. Located just north of the city centre and
either side of Northbourne Avenue, it is one of the most
prominent and significant landscape spaces in Canberra.
Listed on the ACT Heritage Register (Entry No. 20063)
both for its significance as a landscape feature and for its
mass tree planngs of nine species, the park requires a
standard of management appropriate with this high profile
landscape.
This Master Plan, which comprises Figure 9 (the Master
Plan) and this report, is intended to provide planning
and conceptual design guidelines to protect the unique
character of Haig Park, enhance recreaonal opportunies
and enhance the overall presentaon of the park.
The exisng condions, park usage, facilies, conservaon
policies, legislave and management frameworks have
been assessed, opportunies and constraints have been
idenfied, and community input received. Each of these
has informed the recommendaons.
These elements of Haig Park have been assessed and
recommendaons made for each:
• vegetaon
• access and circulaon
• spaces and funcons
• facilies and amenies
• interpretave signage and informaon
• artworks and commemorave features
• safety and security
• design, materials and finishes.
The intent is to retain and reinforce the landscape character
that defines Haig Park to protect the heritage values of the
park. Where opportunity exists, it has been recommended
that facilies, paths and spaces be upgraded to further
enhance park experience and ensure that Haig Park
connues to present as a high quality landscape.
The primary recommendaons are:
• Reinforcement of tree planngs throughout the
park, to ensure the ongoing succession of park trees
and the retenon of the park’s heritage (refer Secon
6.1.2).
• for two Heritage Integrity Zones, these are
recommended for areas that sll best represent
the original planng and layout intenon of 1921;
addional planng to beer reflect the original
planng is proposed (refer Secons 6.1.2).
• Creaon of a Central Acvity Node and focal space
using the former City Parks Depot (currently the
Lead Disability Services Depot) to take advantage
of the large open area. This is a large sunny area in
the most intensive use area of the park adjacent to
the commercial precinct. It provides an opportunity
to respond to community desire for encouraging
more acve uses of the park, without heritage tree
removal. This acon had general community support
during consultaons (refer Figure 10 and Secon
6.3.2).
• Upgrading of selected preferred (‘desire line’)
pedestrian routes to a higher quality surface and
combine tracks where feasible for more stable all
weather usability (refer Secon 6.2.2).
• Retenon of exisng small open areas on the
northern park edge that have beer solar access in
what is largely a shaded park (refer Secon 6.2.2).
• Upgraded park furniture and facilies for a more
unified and consistent presentaon in select locaons
(refer Secon 6.4.2).
• Addional interpretave signage and informaon
(refer Secon 6.5.1).
• Installaon of artworks and commemorave
features (refer Secon 6.6.2).
• Addional lighng, and select vegetaon removal
to improve park safety, parcularly at night (refer
Secon 6.7.2).
The recommendaons are driven by broad consideraons
of the park’s history and importance and by community
input. That is, they acknowledge the concerns, issues and
opportunies raised by the community and aim to address
these. They aim to encourage more involvement by the
community, specifically in contribung to some of the
park’s direcons, and most importantly by meeng the
desire for more aracve, acve community spaces.
The Master Plan provides strategic direcon and the overall
vision required for future works, at no me losing sight
of the size and significance of Haig Park. The scope of the
proposals reflect:
• heritage constraints
• the desire to retain much of the exisng character,
and
• realisc management and capital works outlays
(improvements are dependent on available funding).
DRAFT
Haig Park Master Plan 5

LEGEND
HAIG PARK
URBAN OPEN SPACE
AINSLIE
HAIG PARK
(WEST)
BRADDON
COMMERCIAL
DISTRICT
HAIG PARK
(EAST)
BRADDON
CORROBOREE
PARK
NORTHBOURNE AVENUE
O’CONNOR
HACKETT
GARDENS
AUSTRALIAN
NATIONAL
UNIVERSITY
P
TURNER
PRIMARY
SCHOOL
S
P
TURNER
P
P
ENCLOSED
SPORTSGROUND
ENCLOSED
SPORTSGROUND
S
S
MERICI
COLLEGE
LIMESTONE AVENUE
GIRRAHWEEN STREET
S
S
TORRENS STREET
McCAUGHEY STREET
S
S
AINSLIE
PRIMARY
SCHOOL
S
LONSDALE STREET
MORT STREET
DRAFT
CITY
0 100 500
1000
COMMERCIAL LAND USE
EDUCATIONAL LAND USE
RESIDENTIAL LAND USE
EXISTING LOCAL HALL
P PLAYGROUND
S
TENNIS CLUB
(m)
SPORTGROUND
PARK BARBECUE
N
LAWN BOWLS CLUB
BARRY DRIVE
Figure 1: Haig Park Local Context
Haig Park Master Plan 6

2 Introducon
The Haig Park Master Plan is set out at Figure 9, which
needs to be read in conjuncon with this document, the
Master Plan report.
landscape.
The following summarises key phases in its history, all of
which influence the thinking behind the recommendaons
in this report and Master Plan.
Enviro Links Design, a sub-consultant to Eric Marn &
Associates, was engaged by Parks & City Services (PACS),
Territory and Municipal Services Directorate (TAMS)
to prepare the Master Plan. Eric Marn & Associates
has prepared a Conservaon Management Plan (CMP)
concurrent with the Master Plan. There was joint
community consultaon. This approach aids an interacve
and consistent response. The Master Plan recognises
the park’s heritage values and recommends long term
management strategies and design soluons consistent
with those values.
The Master Plan has been developed as a planning and
concept design document, intended to guide the quality
upgrade of the park over the next five to 10 years, in
keeping with the heritage significance of the park. The aim
is to create a more vital, interesng, welcoming and vibrant
place offering mixed opportunies for diverse users and
more diverse uses. It is recognised that as the residenal
populaon of the inner north increases so too will the
demand for improved recreaonal opportunies.
2.1 Historical background and significance
of Haig Park
Haig Park is the third largest of the 11 inner Canberra
District Parks, nine of which are on or adjoin Lake Burley
Griffin. Haig Park is relavely disncve for this reason
(the other non-lake related park is the Redwood Grove
near the Canberra Airport). Similarly, only Haig Park and
Telopea Park are primarily surrounded by residenal and
commercial developments.
But Haig Park’s true significance and importance derives
from its origins and purpose, associated with the
establishment of Canberra.
It is considered unique for an Australian urban park
because of its linear planning framework. 1 The selecon,
mix and layout of trees are part of the design and aesthec
quality of the park. 2 The formal planng of exoc
deciduous and conifer trees applied on such a large scale
makes Haig Park a unique landscape space to Canberra. In
addion to this, the informality of pedestrian routes (other
than the north–south link pathways) creates a curious
relaonship between formality in the tree planng and the
informal use of the park. The result is a relavely relaxing
urban open space within a highly fixed formal structure.
This further enhances Haig Park’s individuality.
It is listed on the ACT Heritage Register (Entry No. 20063)
both for its significance as a landscape feature and for its
mass tree planngs of nine species. It requires a standard
of management appropriate for such an important
1 Eric Marn and Associates, 2011, Haig Park Conservaon Management Plan,
page 71
2 Marn, page 71
Haig Park 1921
Haig Park commenced its life as the East-West Shelter
Break 3 with the majority of the planng (over 7000 trees)
undertaken in 1921. 4 Its prime funcon was to protect the
first suburbs north of the yet to be developed Civic Centre
from wind and dust. 5 The Naonal Capital site at this me
was bare and windswept—hot winds, cold winds and dust
were significant problems as there was limited vegetaon
(savannah woodland) on the broad valley plains.
Haig Park would in me also serve as a park for the nearby
residents of the new city, becoming the community park
of today. The planng was designed by Charles Weston,
Canberra’s first Officer-in-charge of Afforestaon (later to
become Parks and Gardens), from 1913 to 1926.
Pinus radiata (Monterey Pine) was the dominant species, of
which Weston planted nearly 2000, reflecng his desire to
achieve quick results and wind / dust amelioraon. It was
common for the early planngs in Canberra to include fast
growing species such as Wales and Pinus radiata to offer
some protecon to other trees and for fast effect, oen
with the intenon to remove them within a few years. This
was probably the reason for the inclusion of Pinus radiata
in Haig Park. 6
Another tree that was heavily planted was Roman cypress
(Cupressus sempervirens ‘Stricta’) despite its minimal
windbreak contribuon. In western sociees Roman
cypress has been tradionally recognised as a symbol of
death and immortality. In Haig Park, its planng perhaps
reflected Weston’s intenons to pay tribute to the many
Australians who had not returned from the World War. 7
DRAFT
Haig Park was named for Earl Douglas Haig, Commander-inchief
of the Brish Empire Forces during World War I aer
his death in 1928. 8
Haig Park 1921 – 1950
Haig Park remained a strong landscape feature delineang
the northern edge of Canberra unl the early 1950s. Park
management emphasised the historic nature of the park.
The original design was maintained even though thinning
was found necessary. Wales and flowering trees were the
main species removed.
During the 1940s and 1950s work undertaken consisted
mainly of maintenance and the removal of some planngs.
Significant pruning was undertaken in 1946. John Gray
believes that the Wales were probably removed in the
3 J. Gray (1997) The Historical and Cultural Background of Selected Urban Parks
in Canberra
4 Eric Marn and Associates, 2011, Haig Park Conservaon Management Plan,
page 16
5 R. Boden et al. 2000, ‘Haig Park Tree Management Plan’, page 1
6 Ibid
7 Gray (1997)
8 Gray (1997)
Haig Park Master Plan 7

Image 1: Haig Park as viewed from Mount Ainslie
1927 (Source: Naonal Archives of Australia)
DRAFT
Image 2: Haig Park looking northwards viewed
from above Commonwealth Park During the
1950’s. (Source: Naonal Archives of Australia)
Image 3: Haig Park viewed southwards from
above Northbourne Avenue during the 1960’s.
(Source: Naonal Archives of Australia)
Note: No other planng had the size or
impact of those in Haig Park on the North
Canberra plains unl at least the late
1960’s.
Haig Park Master Plan 8

late 1940s by Professor Lindsay Pryor, then Director of Parks
and Gardens. 9
The exisng buildings were all built between 1948 and 1958, 10
other than the new toilet block, thought to be built in the late
1980s.
Haig Park in the 1970s
In the early 1970s public concern about the management of
the park led the Naonal Capital Development Commission
to restrict vehicular access and construct car parks, a fitness
track and picnic areas, and add irrigaon in some areas of the
park. 11
Haig Park 1980s onwards
In 1987, Margules & Associates prepared a Preliminary
Concept Proposals (Master Plan) for Haig Park. Their key
tree management recommendaons are summarised in the
Tree Management Table (refer Appendix A, also Secon 8.1).
Of primary importance was the Pinus radiata removal and
replanng, which had started in 1984 and connued in 1991
and in 1993. This was necessary to respond to concerns about
the ageing and general health status of many of these pines.
Other recommendaons of the 1987 Master Plan that were
implemented included:
• Replacement of the toilet block in the late 1980s.
• Also in the late 1980s, four barbecues were removed
and replaced by two new ones. (The 1987 Master Plan
envisaged five new barbecue/ picnic areas and the
upgrading of three exisng barbecue areas. A new such
area was planned next to the Turner Preschool, which
was recommended to be converted to a community
hall.)
• The concrete storm water channel east of Northbourne
Avenue was piped, which opened up this key area of
the park. (To the west of Northbourne Avenue channel
baers were to be laid back as much as possible without
impacng on trees to assist maintenance and to use
rock work in some areas where steeper baers where
needed. This work has not been undertaken. )
• Planng works were undertaken in 2010.
Appendix A to this report provides essenal further detail
(in summary form) from the 1987 Master Plan; also key
analysis and recommendaons from a major trees assessment
survey undertaken by the late Robert Boden, in 2000. The
Margules and Boden reports have significantly informed the
development of this report and the associated Master Plan.
Appendix A also includes tree management recommendaons
made as part of this report and Master Plan.
The irrigaon system was turned off at some stage to lessen
water or maintenance demand. (The 1987 Master Plan
envisaged irrigaon 300m either side of Northbourne Avenue
including the then exisng system. It is acknowledged in post-
2000 water sustainability frameworks that irrigaon to this
extent is highly unlikely to be implemented.)
9 Boden, page 2
10 Marn, page 39-41
11 Boden, page 2
2.2 Heritage significance
“Haig Park is a significant landscape feature of Canberra,
demonstrang the early establishment of planngs in
the city for protecon from wind, climac extremes and
landscape beauficaon. The Park is parcularly significant
for its designed funcon as a windbreak to protect the
developing suburbs of Braddon and Turner from dust-laden
north-westerly winds.
Constructed around 1921-23 it extends for over 1,780
metres and comprises fourteen rows of mixed evergreen
and deciduous tree species. The selecon, mix and layout
of trees are part of the design and aesthec quality of
the Park. This is a rare example of windbreak planng on
a large scale and remains highly intact. It is considered
unique for an Australian urban park due to the linear
planng framework on which it is based.
The selecon, mix and layout of trees are part of the design
aesthec quality of the park. Following expansion of the city
further north, the Park has become an integral component
of the landscaped open space system between the adjoining
suburbs, reflecng contemporary Garden City planning.
The Park is highly valued for its history, heritage and
recreaonal opportunies by the Canberra community,
parcularly the local Turner and Braddon residents.
Thomas Charles George Weston designed the layout and
supervised the inial planng of the Park and played a
seminal role in the early landscape design and planng
program in the Naonal Capital. Other significant
contributors were Lindsay Pryor and the NCDC who
insgated the coup method of tree replacement in the
1980’s.” 12
Haig Park was:
• in 1982, classified by the Naonal Trust of Australia
(ACT)
• in 1988, listed on the ACT Heritage Register (Entry No.
20063) as a significant landscape feature and for the
mass planng of nine different species of tree, and
• in 2000, tabled as a Variaon to the Territory Plan
Heritage Places Register.
DRAFT
3 The study area
3.1 Site descripon
Haig Park is located in Canberra’s inner north, encompassed
by the suburbs of Turner and Braddon (refer Figure 1). It is
1780m long and 143m wide for all but a small wider secon
near McCaughey Street, Turner. It is a significant space at
the northern edge of the city central commercial area. It
is almost enrely bounded by roads, with Masson Street
(Turner) and Girrahween Street (Braddon) being the most
heavily trafficked along the south–west and south–east
secons of the park, respecvely. Limestone Avenue to the
east and Frogga Street to the west bound the park in
12 Marn, page 74
Haig Park Master Plan 9

Image 4: The Sullivans Creek corridor bisects Haig Park West,
incorporang both passive and acve modes of pedestrian acvity into
the Park via the open grassed banks and community trunk shared use path
respecvely.
Image 6: Exisng seang area set into the landscape. This locaon has high
sun access as few adjacent large shade trees exist. This differs from other
more shaded focal seang or barbecue areas in the Park.
Image 5: Haig Park bounded primarily by low to medium residenal
development. It caters primarily to the residents of Turner, Braddon &
O’Connor.
Image 7: Wide spacing between the southern street trees and the denser
park rows is ulised by car parks in some areas. This also offers the potenal
for a pleasant shaded east-west pathway set back from the road for a more
park like experience than a kerb side path.
DRAFT
Image 8: Haig Park viewed eastwards
from above Turner in the early 1980’s.
Sullivans Creek corridor in foreground
with the contrasng autumn
yellows is a seasonal feature worth
preserving. Current apartment and
commercial developments in the quarter
of a century since, intensify
pressures on Haig Park.
NOTE: Significant linkage potenal of
both open space corridors. Haig Park
as a key east-west link (even from Mt
Ainslie to Black Mountain for
walking enthusiasts) and Sullivans
Creek as the main north-south cycle/
pedestrian open space route.
Haig Park Master Plan 10

those direcons while Henty Street (Turner) and Greenway
Street (Braddon) form the northern boundary. Northbourne
Avenue bisects the park, effecvely creang a barrier and
dividing the park into two secons, with further lesser (but
sll busy at peak mes) roads bisecng it further (Torrens
Street, in the east, and McCaughey Street, in the west).
The Braddon commercial district, adjacent to Northbourne
Avenue, is centrally located on its south side and it, along
with the city centre just beyond, contributes to a high
volume of pedestrian and cycle traffic through the park.
Sullivans Creek divides the western secon. The Sullivans
Creek trunk shared use path has high volume pedestrian
and cyclist traffic (mainly commuter traffic).
3.2 Landscape character
Haig Park is characterised by mature vegetaon in formal
planng rows that run the length of the park. With the
excepon of some large Phonia shrub planngs near
the outer rows (mainly to the eastern end), the park has
no understorey planngs. This allows a free roaming
circulaon paern.
Original planngs were laid out in 14 rows (refer Figures
3 and 4). Cedar and Pine tree rows form the ‘leading
permanent feature’ of the park, accounng for the large
majority of planngs. 13 Rows were generally planted
at spacings of 20 feet (6.1m), much denser than the
deciduous and street tree rows on the periphery, planted at
40 feet (12.2m) spacings.
Quercus palustris (Pin Oak) is the primary deciduous
species in the park, with these rows interplanted in
some areas with a Fraxinus species. The street tree rows
comprise Fraxinus and Cedrus species to the south and
Eucalyptus species to the north (refer Figures 3 and 4).
The formal linear structure of the planng is broken where
the Sullivans Creek floodway channel bisects the park.
Here, Poplar species have been planted in a more organic
and random paern. Only around 20, aer the removal of
10 in 2010 due to their declining state (refer Images 4 and
8, also Appendix A).
Haig Park is what might be described as a simple and
natural park on the ground plane, in that it is of a plain
character, the ground cover is dryland grass (i.e. there are
no formal grassed areas nor many formal pathways and
hardscapes). It invites informal and relaxed use amongst
the formality of the tree planngs. The primarily exoc
tree species palee provides seasonal colour, the varying
deciduous and evergreen foliage providing contrast and
interest. This mix of species and Haig Park’s significant
contribuon to the inner northern open space network
is highly valued by the surrounding community. This
was evident at the consultaons that occurred during
the development of this Master Plan and the associated
Conservaon Management Plan.
Whilst much of the understorey shrub vegetaon and
13 Boden, page 1
original Roman Cypress planngs have been removed over
the years, there are two areas where the original 1921
planng design is sll more evident. These have been
proposed as ‘Heritage Integrity Zones’, given they best
represent the original planng (refer Secon 3.4).
3.3 Role and current uses
Research undertaken during the development of this
Master Plan, including community consultaon, helped
build a picture of current use of the park. Whilst the park
was designed as a shelter belt for the early city, by the
1950s it was absorbed into urban expansion to become a
community park, as it is today. It is used both passively and
acvely by nearby residents, commuters, local business
workers’ and others. It is an aracve green space for
walking, running, observing and community gatherings for
local residents. Its value as a habitat for birds and other
wildlife as was noted in consultaons and idenfied in the
Conservaon Management Plan. It is also a desnaon for
the greater Canberra area, with people generally arriving
by car. It provides for commuters, cyclists and others, either
as they are passing through or as a passive lunch space
for local workers. Evidence of the park’s value by diverse
groups within the wider community can be seen in the
varied uses made of different parts of the park, in part
determined by the interests of the adjoining community
(see Secon 6.3, Spaces and Funcons for further
discussion).
Research found that 21 per cent of ACT residents said they
visited Haig Park in 2007/08, and that people commonly
visit city and district parks in the ACT for children’s play,
walking through and walking a dog. 14 Social value analysis
summarised in the Conservaon Management Plan
idenfies a range of communies having an associaon
with Haig Park. 15
DRAFT
The trunk shared use paths adjacent to Sullivans Creek and
McCaughey Street are higher acvity areas, with users of
these paths being from a more widespread area: for them
the park is a transional space between inner suburbs, the
city centre and instuons, such as the Australian Naonal
University, and suburbs further to the north.
With lile understorey planngs and the numerous access
points, informal, free form usage paerns have developed
in Haig Park. This is evident in the network of desire lines
worn throughout the park. The formal pathways tend to
be used mainly by cyclists, and some pedestrians, whereas
a high number of walkers appear more inclined to follow
desire lines, many of which are diagonally orientated (see
Figure 5).
From public consultaon workshops held throughout
the design process (primarily local residents’ input), park
users indicated a preference for the relavely low key and
informal undefined nature of the park beneath the canopy
and the overall row formality of the trees. That said, there
was strong support for increased diversity and increased
14 MARS, ACT Sportsgrounds, parks, open spaces usage and sasfacon survey,
October, 2008, TaMS
15 Marn, pages 66-77
Haig Park Master Plan 11

Typical Images (Source: Google Images 2010)
TURNER TENNIS CLUB CAR
PARK: OPPORTUNITY TO
FORMALISE CAR SPACES WITH
TIME LIMITATIONS TO MINIMISE
CONGESTION IN PEAK PERIODS.
ALLOWS MORE PARK USERS
THAN COMMUTER USE
NORTHBOURNE AVENUE
LEGEND
CPK
CHILDCARE
CENTRE
MAJOR NORTH-SOUTH ROADS
DIVIDE THE PARK AND FORM
BARRIERS TO EAST-WEST
PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT
CPK
CONDAMINE ST
MASSON ST
OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A
FOCAL POINT/ CENTRAL
ACTIVITY NODE IF THE LEAD
SERVICES DEPOT WAS
REMOVED
LEAD
DEPOT
CPK
AREA OF PREVALENT
ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
AREA OF DESIGN OPPORTUNITY
CPK
McCHAUGHEY ST
TORRENS ST
CPK
GIRRAHWEEN ST
SULLIVANS CREEK CORRIDOR:
- CONSTRAINS EAST-WEST MOVEMENT
-PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE UNLIKELY TO BE
FEASIBLE
-OPPORTUNITY TO REINFORCE DECIDUOUS
TREE PLANTING
GREENWAY ST VERGE:
-UNSUCCESSFUL PLANTING
- OPPORTUNITY FOR OPEN
SPACE WITH GOOD SOLAR
ACCESS
SPORTS OVAL
CPK
GREENWAY ST
CPK
HERITAGE INTEGRITY ZONE:
BEST REPRESENTATION OF
ORGINAL 1921 DESIGN
PLANTINGS. OPPORTUNITY TO
REINFORCE
CPK
CPK
HERITAGE INTEGRITY ZONE:
BETTER REPRESENTATION OF
ORIGINAL 1921 DESIGN
PLANTINGS. OPPORTUNITY TO
REINFORCE
MAJOR NORTH-SOUTH ROADS
DIVIDE THE PARK AND FORM
BARRIERS TO EAST-WEST
PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT
LIMESTONE AVENUE
DRAFT
HENTY ST
BARRIERS TO PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT
CPK
CPK
NORTHBOURNE AVENUE
0 10 50 100 200
(m)
N
AREA OF CONSTRAINT TO DESIGN
Figure 2: Opportunies & Constraints
Haig Park Master Plan 12

use of the park for informal leisure, so long as the overall
value of the park is not compromised. It was suggested
there was significant opportunity to provide local residents
and the park users with historical, landscape and contextual
informaon through good quality interpretave signage.
Suggesons for improved facilies included sculpture and
a mobile café van, although overall those consulted were
reserved about introducing facilies, parcularly as it was
ancipated this would dramacally alter the character of
the park. 16
3.4 Opportunies and constraints
4 Legislave framework and planning
controls
4.1 Legislaon, policies and strategies
Overarching legislaon:
The ACT (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988
determines the division of responsibilies between the
Commonwealth and the ACT Government for land use
planning and management. Responsibility for Haig Park lies
with the ACT Government under this Act.
In developing this report and Master Plan, some key
opportunies and constraints were idenfied (refer Figure
2). In summary, the key opportunies relate to:
• useable open spaces—create limited more useable
open spaces that encourage greater acve use of
certain areas of the park, without compromising the
heritage values and overall integrity and sense of
the park. This includes a Central Acvity Node and a
second, smaller node, at the western end of the park,
outside the heritage planng
• heritage integrity zones—create two such zones
encompassing areas within the park that best
represent the original structure and plant species
from 1921. There is potenal for extra planng in
these zones to strengthen the park’s cultural heritage
and ensure diversity in the spaces the park offers
(refer to Figure 2, showing the locaon of these
zones)
• pedestrian linkages—there are many informal tracks
across the path, there is opportunity to recognise
some of these as more formal, yet low key paths
• trees—in keeping with community desire for
celebrang and maintaining the history and
heritage of the park 17 a primary focus of the
recommendaons is on planng and replanng to
ensure the integrity of the linear tree planngs is
retained.
Secon 6 provides further detail, including analysis,
raonale and recommendaons.
The constraints, as shown on Figure 2, can be largely
summarised as physical constraints, namely, the restricons
on east-west movement created by Northbourne Avenue,
Sullivans Creek and, to a lesser extent, McCaughey Street
(at the westerly end) and Torrens Street (to the east), all of
which create barriers to pedestrian and cycle movement.
There are also issues associated with car parking and the
use of car parks around the park by commuters.
The Land (Planning and Environment) Act 1991, subsecons
5.7.2 and 5.7.3 require Haig Park to be managed in
accordance with its classificaon as public land in the
Territory Plan.
The Heritage Act 2004 establishes a system whereby places
and objects with cultural or natural value, in this instance
Haig Park, are recognised, registered and conserved and are
integrated with land planning and development.
Other applicable Acts:
• Lier Act 2004
• Hawkers Act 2003
• Roads and Public Places Act 1937
• Commonwealth Disability Discriminaon Act 1992
• ACT Discriminaon Act 1991
• Emergencies Act 2004
• Domesc Animals Act 2000.
Relevant ACT policies and strategies:
• ACT Weeds Strategy 1996
• ACT Memorials Policy 2004
• ACT Graffi Strategy 2004
• CUPP (PC&L) Irrigaon Policy 1999
• CUPP (PC&L) Mowing Policy 1999
• CUPP (PC&L) Sharps Policy 2000.
DRAFT
4.2 Haig Park specific planning and
development controls
Haig Park as an area listed on the ACT Heritage Register is
subject to a range of specific requirements, necessary to
protect its heritage status.
In addion:
• under the Territory Plan it is zoned urban space
• the Naonal Capital Plan makes specific reference to
it
• the Turner and Braddon Neighbourhood Plans
idenfy it as a key asset of these suburbs, and
• the 2008 Braddon Commercial Area planning study
makes specific reference to the park.
The following are extracted from the Eric Marn &
Associates Conservaon Management Plan (CMP) 2011
prepared in conjuncon with this Master Plan.
16 Ibid, see Aachment 5, Consultaon Report, pages 7 & 9
17 Ibid, page 9
Haig Park Master Plan 13

STREET TREES:
Eucalyptus cinerea (Henty Street)
Eucalyptus paucifl ora (Greenway
Street)
Quercus palustris (Pink Oak) and
Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Red Ash)
Cedrus deodora (Deodora Cedar)
and Cupressus sempervirens
(Italian Cypress) alternating
Pinus Radiata (Monterey Pine)
DRAFT
As for rows 3 & 4
As for rows 5 & 6
Image 9: Thomas Charles Weston (1866-
1935) in 1921 (Source: Naonal Archives
of Australia)
As for rows 3 & 4
As for row 2
STREET TREES:
Cedrus deodora (Girrahween
Street)
Fraxinus oxycarpa (Masson Street)
NOTE: Rows 1 and 14 street trees planted well after the 1921 rows 2 to 13
Figure 3: Original Planng Row Setout (Margules 1987, ‘Haig Park Preliminary Concept Proposals, p. 8)
Haig Park Master Plan 14

4.2.1 ACT Heritage Council
“Haig Park is on the ACT Heritage Register so the full
requirements of the Heritage Act 2004 apply.
“Proposed work on the place (Park) will require referral
of the proposal by the Approval Authority to the Heritage
Council for advice. Heritage Guidelines will specify the
conservaon objecves applicable to the place and its
constuent parts. Nevertheless, all proposals for change to
the place should involve consultaon with the ACT Heritage
Council.
of its objecves for upgrading safety and public comfort. It
highlights concern about the safety of walking in Haig Park
at night due to poor lighng, suggesng an assessment of
lighng and sightlines, with the possible removal of lower
tree limbs, is warranted.
Braddon Implementaon Plan (2011)
An implementaon plan to guide the future development
of the Braddon commercial area is currently being prepared
by the Economic Development Directorate (Strategic
Projects) and a dra is expected to be released for
comment late in 2011.
“Under the Heritage Act 2004, the ACT Heritage Council
has idenfied intrinsic features of significance and set out
specific requirements for the conservaon of Haig Park. The
site and trees are included in the list of intrinsic features
contribung to the cultural significance of the place and the
following specific conservaon requirements are given that
relate to the site and trees
“Haig Park be conserved and appropriately maintained as
an urban park incorporang rows of mixed tree species
consistent with its heritage significance as a windbreak.
“i) Plantaon Species
a. The species of trees found in the 14 rows shall be
retained so far as is feasible on arboricultural grounds
b. Replacement trees, where trees have been lost
or must be removed due to poor condion, are to
be of the same species or similar arboriculturally
appropriate species and located in a similar posion
to the original tree(s).
“ii) Development
a. No new development shall be permied where the
development detrimentally affects the heritage value
of the place.” 18
4.2.2 ACTPLA
“Haig Park is zoned Urban Open Space under the ACT
Territory Plan. The principles governing open space are
set out in Territory Plan – Open Space principles, including
purposes and possible uses.”
Turner and Braddon Neighbourhood Plans (2003)
These plans recognise and illustrate the important role of
Haig Park to both suburbs. Located generally central to
both areas, Haig Park is a focal point of each community.
The Turner Neighbourhood Plan, for example, includes
general objecves and strategies to:
• maintain the diversity of open space experience
• enhance recreaonal opportunies, and
• link the neighbourhood via the provision of safe and
easy movement. 19
Braddon Commercial Area Planning Study (2008)
This document refers primarily to the Braddon commercial
area to the south of Haig Park, but has relevance in terms
18 Marn, pages 81-84
19 Turner Neighbourhood Plans (2003), page 37
4.2.3 Naonal Capital Authority (NCA)
Naonal Capital Plan (NCP)
Responsibilies are outlined in the Naonal Capital Plan
(NCP) and the associated Development Control Plans:
“The Naonal Capital Plan defines areas that have the
special characteriscs of the Naonal Capital to be
‘Designated Areas’ (see Figure 4 of the NCP). In these areas
approval of works is the responsibility of the Naonal
Capital Authority (NCA).
In some areas, the Naonal Capital Plan sets out special
requirements for development in the interests of the
Naonal Capital. These areas include parts of Civic, land
fronng certain Main Avenues and Approach Routes to
the Naonal Capital, the Australian Instute of Sport,
Tidbinbilla Deep Space Complex, Telopea and Haig Parks,
Naonal Parks in the Capital, river corridors and some
Naonal Land sites.
In general special requirements require the preparaon
of Development Control Plans which are approved by the
Naonal Capital Authority” 20
DRAFT
The NCP outlines the following specific responsibilies for
Haig Park:
“It is in the interests of the Naonal Capital to ensure that
important open space places are conserved.
Special Requirements
Development of land within open space places shall
conform with development control plans agreed by the
Authority and forming part of the Territory Plan. The Plans
are to meet the following:
b. To conserve landscape and environmental qualies,
having regard to the historic and aesthec importance
of the areas the following requirements will apply:
c. Historical context will be considered and established
planng paerns respected.
d. Funconal linkages to other open space elements
should be enhanced.
e. Ulity of the areas for recreaon should be opmised
to the extent possible within aesthec constraints.
Provision should be made for appreciaon and use of
the areas by visitors to the city.” 21
20 hp://www.naonalcapital.gov.au/index.php?opon=com_content&view=arcle&i
d=1154:development-control-plans&cad=58:links-planning&Itemid=265
21 hp://www.naonalcapital.gov.au/index.php?opon=com_content&view=
arcle&id=1334%3A45-special-requirements-for-urban-areas-refer-figure-
20&cad=58%3Alinks-planning&Itemid=1
Haig Park Master Plan 15

Blank Page
DRAFT
Haig Park Master Plan 16

5 Consultaon with stakeholders
5.1 ACT Government stakeholder
consultaon and public consultaon
Public consultaon meengs, preceded by public
noficaon, were held on 29 June 2010 and 23 November
2010. Businesses located in the park and a range of
community and advocacy groups were nofied via email,
with public noficaon in the Canberra Times and ACT
Community Noce board on line. A leer box drop of
residences bordering the park and businesses in Braddon
was undertaken before the second meeng.
The first meeng drew many comments and suggesons
including:
• recognion of the heritage significance of the park
but general acceptance of suggesons to open up
some areas (those where integrity was lower) for
more acve community use
• concern for safety, especially at night
• issues of parking, footpaths and traffic
• issues of drainage, kerbs and flooding especially west
of Northbourne Avenue
• the desire for beer amenies east of Northbourne
Avenue (barbecues and seang) and for public toilets
(and perhaps a café) west of Northbourne Avenue,
and
• consideraon of walkways throughout the park and
the possible creaon of a path/bicycle way along the
southern side of the park.
The second public meeng further discussed these
concerns and supported the ideas presented by the
consultants to address these issues. No further issues were
raised.
In summary, it was found that “the park is valued for its
historic links to the early establishment and design of
Canberra and there is concern to ensure that the heritage
values will not be compromised in exploring design
opons to improve access and diversity of park uses. The
mature exoc landscape character is seen as a legacy for
current and future generaons from the early designers of
Canberra [and this] is deeply valued. There is strong support
for using creave responses to landscape and signage to
celebrate the history of the park.” 22
Meengs were also held with ACT Government
stakeholders including ACT Planning and Land Authority
(ACTPLA), Parks, Conservaon and Lands (PCL), Territory
and Municipal Services (TAMS) and ACT Policing on 23
August 2010. Others (including ACT Heritage) were invited
and provided separate comment. There was agreement
that Haig Park should retain informal, low scale facilies.
There was qualified support for using exisng gaps to
locate open areas that might support informal acvity like
throwing a frisbee, playing cricket or football.
22 Eric Marn and Associates, 2011, Conservaon Management Plan,
Aachment A, Consultaon Report.
Maers raised during consultaons helped set the
direcons of this Master Plan, for example, the responses
related to paths, a suggested café, lighng, the overall
informality of the park, and for protecon of the trees have
been explicitly addressed in this Master Plan and report, as
have many other topics raised.
6 The Master Plan—future direcons
and proposals
Haig Park is an intrinsic part of Canberra. Images one to
three and eight earlier in this report show it in context of
its original planng as a windbreak and over me, as it
become integral as a community park for the growing city.
Its ongoing management must connue to be undertaken
in a considered, structured and consistent manner.
The key aims of this Master Plan are to:
• reinforce and protect the heritage values of the
park whilst incorporang carefully thought through
upgraded facilies where opportunity exists
• further enhance the experiences and opportunies
available to users of the park, so as to encourage new
and acve uses as desired by the community, and
• ensure that Haig Park connues to present as high
quality landscape space into the future , with its
heritage values as a significant landscape feature of
Canberra preserved, valued and celebrated.
As noted in the Conservaon Management Plan, “Haig Park
exhibits outstanding design and aesthec qualies which
are parcularly valued by the local community. It is a major
landscape element that forms an important part of the
Garden City elements of North Canberra. It also provides a
link between Black Mountain and Mount Ainslie and along
Sullivans Creek as part of the open space corridor in the
Naonal Capital Open Space System. It mixes evergreen
and deciduous trees providing some colour and the mix and
layout of species is an important design element.” 23
DRAFT
The overriding principle that drives this Master Plan is
that:
Haig Park’s place is at the heart of Canberra’s heritage
and Canberra in the 21st century. Consistent with its
heritage citaon it should be preserved as a marker
within the overall landscape but there is scope for adding
acve uses that will help make it a more interesng,
welcoming and vibrant place, more appreciated and
enjoyed now and into the future by those who live and
work nearby and by the broader community. It should be
celebrated, cherished and used.
Proacve management will ensure the connuing longterm
preservaon of the original design intent and integrity
by:
• ensuring the ongoing health and vigour of the
dominant long lived tree species
• removing extraneous planngs that are in
compeon with the permanent species and not in
23 Ibid, page 69
Haig Park Master Plan 17

Typical Images: Exisng Vegetaon Character
NORTHBOURNE AVENUE
JUVENILE CEDRUS
PLANTINGS
LEGEND
10m PINES
10m PINES
7m PINES
MISSING CEDRUS PLANTINGS.
JUVENILE PLANTINGS AT 11m
SPACING
15m PINES
MASSON ST
Quercus robur
PLANTED IN LINE
ALONG PATH
GIRRAHWEEN ST
CONDAMINE ST
Figure 4: Exisng Vegetaon
10m PINES
ORIGINAL Pinus radiata (1921) PLANTING
EXISTING Pinus radiata
NEW PINE PLANTINGS (Approx. June 2010)
12m PINES
McCHAUGHEY ST
10-15m PINES 15m PINES
10-15m
PINES
12m PINES
15m PINES
4 No. LARGE ENGLISH ELMS
25-30m HIGH NOT IN PLANTING
ROWS
MASSON ST
8m CEDARS AT
CORNER
Haig Park Master Plan 18
10m CEDARS
15 No. NEW PINE
PLANTINGS AT
9m SPACING
SPORTS OVAL
HENTY ST
3 No.
DECIDUOUS OUT
OF SPACING
GREENWAY ST
HERITAGE TREE
INTEGRITY ZONE
THIS SIDE
8m CEDARS (Some with
crooked trunks)
12m PINES
GIRRAHWEEN ST
12m PINES
HERITAGE
INTEGRITY
ZONE
LIMESTONE AVENUE
18m PINES
24 No. NEW PLANTINGS
AT 8m SPACING (JUNE
2010)
DRAFT
EXISTING Cedrus deodora
EXISTING DECIDUOUS TREES (Quercus
palustris interplanted with Fraxinus sp.)
EXISTING STREET TREES (Eucalyptus sp.,
cedrus deodora & Fraxinus sp.)
NOTE:
INTEGRITY ZONES RETAIN THE
STRONGEST INTEGRITY TO THE
ORIGINAL 1921 PLANTINGS
HERITAGE
INTEGRITY
ZONE
NORTHBOURNE AVENUE
0 10 50 100 200
(m)
EXISTING Cupressus sempervirens Stricta and
Cupressus sempervirens
EXISTING PHOTINIA SHRUBS (Usually found in
N

keeping with the original design intent
• strengthening the community’s opportunity to
connect with and enjoy the park, including by
improved interpretaon of its place and significance
of place, and
• upgrading the facilies and amenies, albeit on a lowkey
scale in keeping with the relave informality and
simplicity of the park.
As such, the primary recommendaons of this report are:
• Planng. There needs to be a connuing program
of tree maintenance and replacement of older or
less healthy trees throughout the park to ensure
the ongoing succession of park trees and the overall
heritage integrity of the park.
• Heritage Integrity Zones. Two heritage integrity zones
should be created, in the areas that best represent
the 1921 plan and planng. In these zones there
should be not only a program for replacing current
trees as they reach an age for this to happen, but
also there should be extra planng to fill idenfied
gaps from the original planning. That said, it is
recommended some small openings be retained for
public amenity as acve open spaces (refer Secon
6.1.2).
• A central acvity node and focal space. A new
acvity ‘node’ should be created within the park to
encourage community use and acvity in this central
area (refer Figure 10 and Secon 6.3.2).
• Walking routes. Selected preferred routes (‘desire
lines’) should have a higher quality surface and
where feasible tracks be combined for more stable all
weather usability (refer Secon 6.2.2).
• Park furniture and facilies should be upgraded for
a more unified and consistent presentaon (refer
Secon 6.4.2).
• Interpretave signage and informaon. Selecve
further addions should be made (refer Secon
6.5.2).
• Artwork and commemorave features should be
installed (refer Secon 6.6.2).
• Safety and surveillance. There should be addional
lighng and select vegetaon removal to assist safety,
parcularly at night (refer Secon 6.7.2).
• Traffic reducon. Maintenance vehicle traffic in
the park should be kept to a minimum to reduce
compacng of tree roots 24 (refer Appendix A)
6.1 Trees and other vegetaon
“There is evidence that Haig Park is valued for its historical
links to the early establishment and design of Canberra.
The mature evergreen and deciduous landscape character
is seen as a legacy for current and future generaons and
is deeply valued. Haig Park is valued for Weston’s design
and ongoing conservaon. Haig Park is recognised as a
landmark defining the edge of the early city.” 25
The defining characterisc of Haig Park is the extensive
avenues of trees, many quite mature: the original planng
was for nine species planted in 14 rows, east-west. Pinus
24 refer to Aachement A of this report, Tree Management, page 37
25 Marn, page 68
radiata was the dominant species then and is today,
although many individual trees have been replaced over
me. See Figure 3 & 4 for the planngs as they stand today.
The Heritage Citaon, in the statement of significance
about Haig Park’s planng to protect the city from climac
extremes, as well as landscape beauficaon states: ‘This is
a rare example of windbreak planng on such a large scale
and remains highly intact.’ 26
The intent of this Master Plan is to:
• reinforce the tree planngs throughout the park,
most especially in the recommended Heritage
Integrity Zones where addional planng is proposed
• ensure the ongoing heritage integrity of the park in
total, and, at the same me
• create a more vital, interesng and welcoming place
that has mixed opportunies for park users.
Following is detailed site analysis about the current
vegetaon of Haig Park. (refer Figures 3 & 4)
6.1.1 Site analysis
Pine trees
Pinus radiata (Monterey Pine) planngs in Haig Park are
the primary feature species from the original 1921 Weston
design when they were planted in two double rows
relavely central to the park along its enre length.
There is a wide range of maturity in the Pines. In 2010, only
57 of the original Pines remained but were in decline. In
his 2000 survey the late Robert Boden (one of Canberra’s
most respected heritage arborists unl his death in 2010)
predicted that by 2010 only 38 of the Pines may be healthy
(see Appendix A). Over the years since the first replanngs
in 1985 27 and including 46 that were replanted in June
2010, over 600 of the original Pines have been replaced
(570 were removed between 1984 and 1993. 28 So today
the Pines are of varying sizes and maturity. This adds
visual interest to the linear planng style. The majority
of specimens are generally in good health, ranging from
7–15m semi-mature to mature trees.
DRAFT
Cedar and Cupressus trees
The Cedrus deodara species (Deodar Cedar), along with
the Pines, are a leading feature tree of the park. Planted
in three double rows, they are largely in good health and
mainly from 8–15m in height. The tree rows are largely
intact with the only large groups missing from the furthest
south-west and central northern rows. Some original
Pine trees exist in the Cedar rows and are gradually being
replaced as their health declines.
In much of the park, Cupressus sempervirens trees alternate
with Cedars in the planng rows offering a contrast in form
and colour. In some cases this planng arrangement has
deformed some of the Cedar branching and canopy form
because of the ght spacing and the resulng compeon
with the Cupressus sempervirens.
26 ACT Heritage Register, citaon 20063, Haig Park
27 Boden, page 7
28 Boden, page 7
Haig Park Master Plan 19

Typical Images: Exisng Access & Circulaon for Pedestrians
OBSERVED
BICYCLE ENTRY
POINT
S
CPK
CHILDCARE
CENTRE
S
B
B
B
S
MASSON ST
CPK
S
T
CONDAMINE ST
CPK
McCHAUGHEY ST
WIDEN PATH TO 2-2.5m TO
ACCOMODATE PROPOSED
TRUNK CYCLE NETWORK SAFE
USAGE DEMAND
LEAP
DEPOT
S
T
B
S
S
TORRENS ST
BS
BS
PEDESTRIAN
TRAFFIC
CPK
S
S
WIDEN PATH TO 2-2.5m TO ACCOMODATE
PROPOSED TRUNK CYCLE NETWORK SAFE
USAGE DEMAND
HENTY ST
S
CPK
GREENWAY ST
CPK
TRUNK SHARED USE PATH:
A MAJOR ENTRY POINT AND
TRANSIT ROUTE TO AND
THROUGH THE PARK
S
S
B
GIRRAHWEEN ST
3 No. TABLES, SEATS & BBQ
GRAVEL AREA (NO BBQ)
CPK
S
B
LIMESTONE AVENUE
DRAFT
CPK
S
B
B
CPK
CPK
T
S
4 No. TABLES & BBQ
NORTHBOURNE AVENUE
NOTE: VEHICULAR TRACKS OFTEN USE
PEDESTRIANS
N
LEGEND
MAIN PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST CIRCULATION
(2m width paved trunk pedestrian and cycle
path)
PARK IDENTIFICATION & INTERPRETATIVE
SIGNAGE BY TaMS (Installed late 2010)
1.2m WIDTH (Unless otherwise noted)
CONCRETE PEDESTRIAN PATH)
Figure 5: Exisng Pedestrian Access & Circulaon
TRACK ALONG AS
NO PATH EAST OF
LONSDALE STREET
PRAM RAMPS
HIGH USE VEHICLE TRACK- Unsealed
LOW-MINIMAL USE VEHICLE TRACK-Unsealed
HIGH USE PEDESTRIAN DESIRE LINE- Unsealed
LOW-MINIMAL USE PEDESTRIAN DESIRE
LINE-unsealed
CPK 1
S
B
0 10 50 100 200
(m)
EXISTING CAR PARK
SEATING
TB PARK TABLE WITH ATTACHED BENCHES
BINS
Haig Park Master Plan 20

Deciduous trees
Quercus palustris (Pin Oak) is the primary deciduous
species in the park, planted in singular rows offset from
the road on both north and south sides by approximately
16m. Smaller Fraxinus trees have been interplanted with
variable success under the larger Oaks. Overall the Pin Oaks
appear to be relavely healthy, although in his 2000 report
Robert Boden advised that they would be the next species
to be considered for replacement, that he expected they
would start to decline in 10 to 15 years (see Appendix A for
discussion). Visual assessment conducted for this Master
Plan indicate that those in and close to car parks appear to
be suffering, most likely because of soil compacon from
regular traffic suppressing feeder root potenal. Many
of the tree islands in the car parks now have no trees,
which suggests that there should be a re-evaluaon of the
planng condions and reconfiguraon of car parking set
outs that promote beer tree growth.
Within the vicinity of the Sullivans Creek channel planngs
of Poplars, Oaks and Fraxinus (Ash) fragment the formal
planng rows. From an aesthec and landscaping
perspecve, this creates a good contrasng effect or
interest.
Four very large English Elm trees opposite Lonsdale Street
provide an interesng contrasng feature in that the trees
are out of character with the trees of the park generally, in
terms of species and planng style. They provide a good
break up of vegetaon and should be retained so long as
they remain in good health and stature (currently they are
in apparent good health).
Street trees
The street tree species selecon varies greatly from the
northern and southern verges. Masson and Girrahween
Streets, on the southern side of the park, have the exoc
Fraxinus oxycarpa and Cedrus deodara, respecvely. On
the north of the park, the verges of Henty and Greenway
Streets have a primarily nave palee, Eucalyptus cinerea
and Eucalytpus pauciflora.
The Fraxinus trees along Masson Street extend into
McCaughey Street providing a good blend of deciduous
character when accompanied with the first row of
oak trees. They appear to be in relavely good health
throughout.
The Cedrus deodara on Girrahween Street match the three
central double rows in the park. This reinforces one of the
key feature species of Haig Park.
Eucalyptus in the open median spaces along both
Northbourne and Limestone Avenue are a good contrast
to the highly exoc planng palee of the park. Only a
very small number of the Eucalyptus pauciflora (Snow
Gum) along Greenway Street have survived since they
were originally planted which is not unusual with the
species in Canberra. The Eucalyptus cinerea (Argyle Apples)
in Henty Street are an excellent representaon of the
species in Canberra but as relavely mature trees are now
approaching the me when they can be expected to age
and decline (see Appendix A for a summary of Robert
Boden’s advice and the follow up assessments made for
this Master Plan) (also refer Figures 3 and 4).
Phonia shrubs
Phonia shrubs are present in the eastern secon of Haig
Park, with only a few instances in the western secon.
They work well in providing an element of understorey in a
park relavely void of such vegetaon. Like the Cupressus
they are seen as more appropriate if they are limited to
certain areas of the park as they pose a security issue with
prevenon of adequate sightlines for passive surveillance.
6.1.2 Recommendaons for trees and vegetaon
• As part of an overall Implementaon Plan for this
Master Plan, develop an on-going management plan
to ensure the replacement and connued succession
of healthy and successful trees in the park.
• Formally idenfy two Heritage Integrity Zones
within the park, namely at the most easterly end
and immediately west of Northbourne Avenue, both
being areas that most closely represent the original
plan and planng of 1921.
• Retain open areas le by recent Poplar removals
adjacent the Sullivans Creek.
Specific recommended acons:
• Plant missing Phonia and Cupressus trees within the
proposed Heritage Integrity Zones to return to a good
representaon of the original planngs.
• Remove the Photonia shrubs from all other areas
(except the Heritage Integrity Zones) as the health
or visual appeal of these shrubs declines. Do not
replace.
• Undertake planng to reinforce the original plan and
planng throughout the park. See the Master Plan
(Figures 9a and 9b) for proposed addional planng
(beyond renewal) in the recommended Heritage
Integrity Zones, to reinforce the 1921 planng plan,
including Phonia and Cupressus species (refer Figure
4).
• Plant missing trees in tree rows unless designated for
open areas.
• Consider replacing only every second tree during
the replacement planng in some of the ghter
planted Pine rows (for example, those currently at
6m spacings consider increasing to 12m). Reducing
the overall planng density would promote healthier
growth yet retain the strong row character.
• Planng of new trees should take into account
the desire for designated areas to remain open
to facilitate more acve forms of recreaon (refer
Figures 9a, 9b).
• As the health of the original 1920s Pinus radiata
specimens declines to an unsasfactory level or they
pose a danger to pedestrians, remove and replace as
required.
• In the Cypress rows replace the Pine planngs to
reinstate the overall design intent.
• Re-evaluate tree planngs in the formed tree islands
in the car parks, to decide whether the planng
condions are opmal or whether reconfiguraon car
DRAFT
Haig Park Master Plan 21

Typical Images: Exisng Access & Circulaon for Vehicles
CONDAMINE ST
CPK 7
REVIEW CAR PARK LAYOUT AND TIMING TO
OFFER A MORE EFFECTIVE CIRCULATION
AND CAPACITY AND LESSEN CONGESTION
IN PEAK PERIODS.
NORTHBOURNE AVENUE
NORTHBOURNE AVENUE
MASSON ST
CPK 5
CPK 10
CPK 11
DRAFT
TORRENS ST
CPK 4
HENTY ST
CPK 1
GREENWAY ST
GIRRAHWEEN ST
CPK 8 CPK 9
CPK 3
CPK 2
LIMESTONE AVENUE
CPK 6
NOTE: ALL CAR PARKS (EXCEPT SEALED CPK 10
& 11) HAVE POOR DRAINAGE AND SURFACING
N
0 10 50 100 200
LEGEND
(m)
CPK 1
EXISTING CAR PARK
CONCRETE KERB AND GUTTER
MAJOR DISTRIBUTOR AVENUES
EXISTING TIMBER BARRIERS
EXISTING RANGER GATE
NO CONCRETE KERBING
HIGH USE ROADS
Figure 6: Exisng Vehicle Access & Circulaon
Haig Park Master Plan 22

parking set outs is necessary to promote beer tree
growth.
• Monitor health of retained Poplars and replace as
necessary with an appropriate substute not included
on the Deleted Plants List (Design Standards for
Urban Infrastrucon 23) such as Prunus cerasifera
‘Oakville Crimson Spire’, Quercus palustris ‘Pringreen’
Green Pillar or Gingko biloba ‘ PNI 2720’ Princeton
Sentry.
6.2 Access and circulaon
Haig Park is highly accessible, on foot, by bike, via car and
public transport and the evidence is that it is popular for
all user groups. As noted earlier in this report, research
found that 21 per cent of ACT residents said they visited
Haig Park in 2007/08. 29 For locals, as was confirmed during
consultaons, the visits are oen much more frequent.
There are two key aspects in terms of access and circulaon
that are highlighted here.
First, as stated above, Haig Park is highly accessible. It
does not have formal entry points, and it is considered
these would not fit its natural, low-key style. What it has
is a myriad of informal tracks or ‘desire lines’ that regular
pedestrian use has created — they randomly criss cross the
park, oen in close proximity. There are also strong desire
lines along the southern boundary indicang high levels
of east-west pedestrian movement along this orientaon.
These are in addion to the formal paths that generally
facilitate north-south pedestrian movement. Figure 5
shows both formed paths and desire lines, both well used
and less used.
Upgrading selected preferred routes of heavily worn
pedestrian desire lines to higher quality surfaces may
prevent further damage to the park, as well as provide
beer all-weather routes for pedestrians.
Formed concrete paths and the two bitumen trunk
pedestrian/cycle paths present opportunies for creang a
sense of arrival into the park, for example through lighng,
signage and enhanced paving.
During the public consultaon parcipants clearly
expressed a desire that the park not become a myriad
of concrete paths, that any improvements to desire lines
(selecve hardening of paths) to make some of these
into more formal paths be done in such a way that they
remain as ‘natural’ as possible. It was felt many tracks
could be consolidated and that this could include some of
the maintenance tracks but that the selecon of tracks to
be improved needed to be done with care. The provision
of informal gravel paths would provide pedestrians with a
more stable walking surface through all weather condions
yet help maintain the lack of formality that is one of the
characteriscs of the park that is highly valued (refer also
Secon 6.8).
29 MARS, ACT Sportsgrounds, parks, open spaces usage and sasfacon survey,
October, 2008, TAMS
Pedestrian and cyclist acvity along the McCaughey
Street and central Sullivans Creek trunk shared use paths
carry high volumes of cyclists and pedestrians between
the ANU/ Civic and the Dickson and Lyneham areas. In
addion to their passing through the park, there is scope
for encouraging more people to see the park as a point
of desnaon, or a stopping off point, within their bigger
journey.
Second, a factor in terms of encouraging greater use of the
park is the issue of car parking availability for park users,
where they have to compete with commuters using park
car spaces during the working week.
6.2.1 Site analysis
The central areas of the park are used more heavily by
pedestrians. Factors thought to contribute to this are the
proximity to the Braddon commercial district, that there is
higher density housing nearby and these areas are serviced
beer by public transport from Northbourne Avenue,
Girrahween and Torrens Streets.
Pedestrians enter Haig Park via numerous informal and
formal entrances, although generally pedestrian access and
circulaon is highly informal, evident in the myriad of worn
desire line tracks. The connued use and creaon of these
worn tracks may have an adverse impact on tree roots and
resultant health due to compacon and erosion of soil
around tree roots.
The majority of formed paths facilitate north-south
pedestrian movement, catering for a relavely definite
movement paern. However, the clear diagonal orientaon
of desire lines (Refer Figure 5) suggests that people,
especially pedestrians, prefer more direct routes. It may
also suggest a preference for free form movement on
informal tracks. This has led to much of the inherent
character of the park.
DRAFT
East-west desire lines (specifically along the southern
verges) indicate a need for beer quality and more stable
walking surfaces along that orientaon. Heavy road
traffic oen inhibits fluid pedestrian movement in these
direcons (refer Figures 2 and 5).
There are 11 car parks dispersed throughout the park,
which experience varying levels of weekday commuter
parking. Southern car parks along Masson and Girrahween
Streets tend to be used heavily by city workers despite
parking me restricons (parcularly car parks 8-11). Car
parks 3-6 are relavely accessible most days. Car park
condions vary with the majority parally or completely
surfaced with decomposed granite gravel. These surfaces
present issues in adverse weather with poor drainage
leading to pooling and water logging. Only the two central
Braddon car parks are sealed (refer Figure 6).
6.2.2 Recommendaons for access and circulaon
As part of the overall Implementaon Plan for this Master
Plan, a detailed plan should be prepared for upgrading of
Haig Park Master Plan 23

West Haig Park Residenal
Zone
Sullivans Creek Corridor
Zone
Eastern Turner Zone Central Acvity Zone East Haig Park Residenal
Zone
NORTHBOURNE AVENUE
CONDAMINE ST
WEST HAIG PARK
RESIDENTIAL ZONE
CENTRAL ACTIVITY
ZONE
McCHAUGHEY ST
TORRENS ST
SULLIVANS CREEK
CORRIDOR ZONE
HENTY ST
GIRRAHWEEN ST
GREENWAY ST
EASTERN TURNER
ZONE
LIMESTONE AVENUE
DRAFT
EAST HAIG PARK
RESIDENTIAL
ZONE
CENTRAL ACTIVITY
ZONE
NORTHBOURNE AVENUE
N
0 10 50 100 200
(m)
LEGEND
WEST HAIG PARK RESIDENTIAL
ZONE
CENTRAL ACTIVITY ZONE
URBAN OPEN SPACE
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
(MERICI COLLEGE)
SULLIVANS CREEK CORRIDOR
ZONE
EAST HAIG PARK RESIDENTIAL
ZONE
MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL
AND / OR OFFICE DEVELOPMENT
CPK 1
EXISTING CAR PARK
EASTERN TURNER ZONE
Figure 7: Exisng Spaces and Funcons
LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL
DEVELOPMENT
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
(BRADDON COMMERCIAL DISTRICT)
Haig Park Master Plan 24

pedestrian and vehicular facilies associated with Haig
Park, to achieve a higher quality amenity, reflecve of the
park’s heritage status, its usage and how it is valued by the
community. The plan should include recommendaons for
reducing the number of informal tracks in order to protect
tree roots and the general health of the park (refer Figures
9a, 9b and 10).
Specific recommended acons:
• Upgrade selected preferred routes of heavily worn
pedestrian desire lines to a higher quality surface
and combine tracks where feasible. Paths should be
of an informal character with permeable surfaces
(e.g. stabilised granite) to maintain the park’s current
character (refer Secon 6.8 Design materials and
finishes).
• Two of the exisng narrow concrete paths across the
park are already designated as part of the proposed
trunk cycle route upgrades using both Henty-Mort
Streets and Forbes-Moore Streets. This will require
path widening to either 2.0 or 2.5m.
• Regrass the desire line tracks not converted to gravel,
and erect temporary protecve fencing to allow grass
establishment. It is envisaged that the myriad of paths
would reduce, although some tracks will re-establish
and their roles will need to be considered during
future reviews of this Master Plan to determine if
these should be gravelled or retained as is.
• Provide an east-west pedestrian pathway along the
southern boundary. It should be set back 10 metres
from the kerb, located between the street tree and
Pin Oak rows to provide a shaded pathway beneath
the exisng canopy.
• Key formed pathway entries could have an enhanced
sense of arrival to Haig Park by integrang lighng,
signage and enhanced paving or other elements
consistent with the park character and that meet
heritage and other agency approval.
• Resurface car parks where appropriate to improve
amenity. Gravel surrounds to the exisng trees within
carparks is suggested to improve permeability.
• Install a concrete kerb at the western end of the park
to assist vehicular management to formalise the
edge and match the road edges consistent with the
remainder of the park as well as to manage drainage
and prevent erosion (refer Figures 6 and 9a). Retain
the exisng log barriers to help prevent unauthorised
vehicles driving on the park.
• Remove the Mandalay Bus in car park 11. It is
unsightly, rarely used and using mulple car park
spaces.
6.3 Spaces and funcons
Physical constraints, namely north-south roads through
the park and Sullivans Creek, divide Haig Park into several
spaces. These spaces have varying spaal use, strongly
correlated with the demographics associated with
adjacent land uses, which include residenal, commercial,
educaonal and other recreaonal land uses (refer Figure
7). For example, the east and west ends are adjacent to
primarily low density residenal development with
relavely low park use being evident from observaon
and feedback during consultaon research. The more
central zones where there is higher density housing and
commercial land use have more intensified uses and
movement through them.
Generally local residents tend to idenfy strongly with the
eastern and western ends of the park. This was expressed
during public consultaon. The preference was to retain the
exisng ‘low key’ character with minor improvements to
furniture, paths and the addion of playground elements
(refer Secon 5.1).
The central zone, between Sullivans Creek and Torrens
Street, has higher levels of acvity associated with its
proximity to the Braddon and Turner commercial districts,
the City Centre, the ANU, medium to higher density
housing and beer connecon to public transport. This
area of the park is also beer serviced by facilies and
amenies (refer Figure 8).
One of the idenfied opportunies is to provide more
usable open space that encourages greater use of the park.
Although the formality of the tree rows means there is
lile open space that is suitable for more acve and group
orientated recreaon. However thereare several locaons
within the park where there are gaps in tree rows where
trees have previously failed. This provides an opportunity
to retain some of these as open space at the same me as
maintaining the overall planng integrity of the park (tree
succession and replanng is a major component of this).
Some areas, notably near the periphery of the park, are
ideal locaons for such open spaces.
It may be possible to selecvely provide a higher quality
landscape space. Open grassed areas may help create more
comfortable spaces and encourage higher levels of use.
DRAFT
One of the recommendaons of this report and Master
Plan, aimed at encouraging greater or different use of the
park, is for a Central Acvity Node with more intensified
formal design. Such a node could create a contained space
for a range of acvies. It would complement the overall
use of the park and the primary intent of this Master Plan,
which is to retain the informality of Haig Park’s current use
paerns and with the majority of the park in its original
character.
The busier central areas of the park adjacent to
Northbourne Avenue have been idenfied as appropriate
for a Central Acvity Node. Figure 2 highlights the former
City Parks Depot (currently being used by LEAD) as a
possible locaon for this node (the depot would require
being removed). A second acvity node in the westerly end
of the park immediately outside the heritage precinct of
the park also has potenal to enhance park usage.
6.3.1 Site analysis
West Haig Park residenal zone
The western end of the park is mostly used by Turner
residents. Evidence from observaon and community
consultaon indicates it has a lower volume of through
Haig Park Master Plan 25

Blank Page
DRAFT
Haig Park Master Plan 26

traffic than other areas of the park with it used for
recreaonal running, walking and relaxaon. During
consultaon residents also indicated it is highly valued as a
pleasant outlook for the surrounding residences. It has few
formalised facilies (such as barbecues and picnic tables)
that might otherwise encourage long stay or communal
group acvies.
A central drainage channel on an east-west orientaon
bisects the zone, dictang pedestrian movement to a single
pedestrian bridge. No formal provision, except the bridge,
is given to pedestrians and typical desire line tracks indicate
preferred direcon of travel (refer figure 5).
Turner Tennis Club and The Treehouse in the Park Childcare
Centre provide intermient visitor acvity, but these have
lile impact on wider use of the park. The unsurfaced car
park adjacent to the tennis club seems to be used regularly
as an all-day car park by many commuters who also use the
park as a thoroughfare toward Civic via the Sullivans Creek
corridor trunk cycle path.
This zone has more open areas than much of Haig Park due
to younger Pine and Cupressus planngs in some areas.
Some replanng is required amongst Pine tree rows and
removal of the Phonia hedge to the north may improve
overall passive surveillance into the park from the adjacent
homes and roadway.
Sullivans Creek corridor zone
This zone incorporates the Sullivans Creek concrete
floodway which bisects Haig Park. With the east-west
drainage channel connecng to Sullivans Creek on either
side, the area is effecvely divided into four separate areas.
This limits pedestrian movement, direcng it along Masson
Street toward the trunk shared use path.
The trunk shared use path here carries high volumes
of pedestrian and cyclist traffic from the city to the
inner northern suburbs (Refer Figure 5). It provides an
opportunity for a more formal entry point to the park for
pedestrians, and one that could be reinforced.
The trunk pedestrian/cyclist path along the eastern verge of
McCaughey Street is also an important distributor route for
O’Connor to the city centre or other southern desnaons,
such as the Australian Naonal University.
Removal of Poplars along Sullivans Creek in 2010 created
open spaces in an otherwise relavely densely shaded park.
Retaining these open spaces would be desirable to allow
for the creaon of useable areas with good solar access.
Eastern Turner zone
The zone incorporates a scout hall/childcare building that
generates intermient acvity at certain mes of the day
and week. The adjacent carpark (No. 8) is used heavily
as an all-day carpark (despite parking restricons), which
creates difficulty for park users to access this zone of the
park.
There are high levels of through pedestrian and cycle cross
cross traffic despite the lack of formal pathways, indicang
a likely area for upgraded paths.
No new planng is required in this secon of the park
as Pines were planted in 2010 in large open areas in the
southern rows.
Central acvity zone
This zone lies immediately to the east and west of
Northbourne Avenue and is close to the Braddon
commercial district. There is a large number of desire lines
in this secon of the park, indicang higher volumes of
pedestrian through traffic (primarily east of Northbourne
Avenue) when compared to other areas of the park.
This area has the most potenal to create a focal point,
given the higher level of acvity. It has the potenal to
include a playground to encourage the use of the park
by a younger demographic and provide for neighbouring
residences where no current local playground exists (Figure
1 illustrates local playground locaons).
East Haig Park residenal zone
The eastern end of the park is primarily used by Braddon
and, to a lesser extent, Ainslie residents, although their
access, especially for children, is impeded by Limestone
Avenue (refer Figures 1, 2 and 7). There is also some use
from Merici College to the north, primarily as students
travel to and from the college.
This secon of the park has the best example of the
original 1920s planng design and provides an important
opportunity for one of the recommended Heritage Tree
Integrity Zones (refer Figure 2 & 7).
6.3.2 Recommendaons for spaces and funcons
The more central and heavily used parts of Haig Park should
be considered for opportunies to improve and diversify
the spaces, funcons, amenies and facilies of Haig Park,
in ways that will not compromise the park’s heritage, social
and cultural status yet may add to the diversity of use and
users, and overall appreciaon and vibrancy of the park.
DRAFT
Specific recommended acons:
• A concept plan should be prepared for a Central
Acvity Node (on the former City Parks Depot site) to
provide a focal point or zone for community events
and larger social gatherings. The site is a large open
space, already without trees and with reasonable
solar access. Figure 10 illustrates the design strategy
and raonale of this recommendaon.
• A powered site could be provided to allow for a
licence for a temporary food/coffee van during the
day Similar vans of high quality operate in Centennial
Park in Sydney and near the Carillion (Lake Burley
Griffin).
• In consultaon with artsACT, consider iniang
a public art program with possible community
parcipaon for Haig Park (see Secon 6.6 for more
detail.)
Haig Park Master Plan 27

Typical Images: Exisng Facilies & Amenies
NORTHBOURNE AVENUE
S
L
L
L
L
L
S
L
L L
L
L
L
TOILET L
B
B
L
L L
CONDAMINE ST
B
L S
S
S S
L
L
L L
T
L
L
L
S L
T
L B
L L
L
L
L
McCHAUGHEY ST
L
TORRENS ST
L
L
L
S
MASSON ST
L
L
S
L
L
GREENWAY ST
S
S
S
BBQ area 1: 3 No. TABLES, SEATS
& BBQ
GRAVEL AREA (NO BBQ)
WITH 3 No. TABLES &
SEATING
B
S
B
L
S
L
L
L
B
L
L
L
B
L
LIMESTONE AVENUE
DRAFT
HENTY ST
GIRRAHWEEN ST
L
L
L
L
L
T
S
BBQ area 2: 4 No.
TABLES & SEATING,
& BBQ
NORTHBOURNE AVENUE
L
L
L
L
L
L
N
0 10 50 100 200
LEGEND
(m)
L
BBQ and / or SEATING AREA (Primarily paver
BUILDING FOOTPRINT
LIGHT POST
S
B
T
SEATING
PARK TABLES WITH ATTACHED BENCHES
BINS
Figure 8: Exisng Facilies & Amenies
Haig Park Master Plan 28

• Establish a second focal node in the western zone
near the tennis courts, in the more open area north
of the heritage-listed formal tree rows (refer Figure
9a). Include barbecues and seang within the area
to be perimeter planted and possibly children’s play
equipment.
• Provide for open grassed areas in high use zones such
as the proposed Central Acvity Node, as well as the
western major barbecue and seang area, in order to
help maximise recreaonal opportunies.
• Create a new barbecue and picnic area near the
Sullivans Creek trunk cycle path to encourage use of
the park by those passing through, as well as nearby
residents, as shown on Figure 9a (see also Secon 6.4
for more discussions on facilies and amenies in the
park and recommended posions for barbecues and
tables throughout the park).
6.4 Facilies and amenies
Analysis and feedback suggests there is an opportunity
to significantly improve the facilies and amenies of the
park, albeit in a low impact style in keeping with how the
park is seen and experienced.
The current facilies—lights, seats, picnic tables, electric
barbecues, toilets and rubbish bins—are what is required
by park users but their varying condion and oen
inappropriate locaons suggest that they are probably not
meeng user needs as well as they might. Currently, the
greatest concentraon is in the central areas near car parks
6, 8 and 9 (refer to Figure 8).
6.4.1 Site analysis
Seats
There are various styles of seang in the park, all mber
(except for one metal seat near the Northbourne Flats)
with the oldest being mber slab and newer seats made of
metal frames with mber slat seang.
There is no unifying element or design. Seats are scaered
throughout the park in open areas and at designated
barbecue areas. Seang is oen not located near preferred
travel routes, suggesng it may not be fulfilling its role. In
some cases seats are orientated towards enclosed wooded
areas, rather than to open acve spaces, which should or
might encourage use.
and evidence of where there was a barbecue previously.
Both use common materials but have different
composions and layout. They consist of a circular gravel
area containing 3–5 metal framed and wood slat benches
and tables located around the edge of the area. The gas
barbecues are brick with either le and stainless steel
plates or moulded stainless steel plate and top. They are
located on a concrete pad within a paved oval secon of
the gravel area. Some have a bench as well as tables.
Generally these areas contain a bin and a tap with a
stormwater grated sump below. Although the barbecue
areas offer the potenal to be acvity nodes, their average
to poor condion suggests limited use and as such they do
not reach their potenal. Opportunity exists to regenerate
these areas by upgrading facilies and/or relocang to
more appropriate sites within the park. See the Master Plan
(Figures 9a and 9b) for recommendaons.
Lighng
Lighng is sparse throughout the park and is mostly along
formal concrete paths, where paths meet road verges or
paths run along the side of the park.
Toilets
There is only one toilet block, located at the edge of
Carpark 8 (eastern side of Northbourne Avenue). It is a
painted precast concrete building with a steel framed hip
roof clad in corrugated Colorbond.
Rubbish bins
These are located throughout the park, adjacent to some
car parks as well as next to barbecue areas and some paths.
Generally, rubbish bins seem to sasfy user demand since
lile to no lier was observed during site inspecons. Bins
are primarily of standard green 240 litre Sulo bin style.
DRAFT
6.4.2 Recommendaons for facilies and
amenies
• Iniate a three-year plan for upgrades and
improvements to facilies and amenies in the park,
working to a unified style, with locaons as idenfied
in the Master Plan.
• Develop a unified palee for furniture, lighng,
facilies, materials and finishes that is appropriate to
the character of the park.
Tables
There are few freestanding tables, other those associated
with barbecue areas (or areas where there were formerly
barbecues). These are mber of generally similar design to
the associated seang.
Barbecue areas
Of the four original barbecue areas, two remain with actual
barbecues and only one is in reasonable condion (BBQ
Area 2 on Figure 8, on the south side of the park). The
other (near Henty Street) is badly deteriorated and in a
shaded locaon, which is likely to make it less inving to
park users except on hot sunny days. Another has tables
Specific recommendaons are as follows:
Seats
• Upgrade park seats to a more unified style.
• Reconsider seat locaons and orientaons.
Reposion seang in appropriate locaons that
are closer to the main trunk cycle path, pedestrian
paths and gravel paths and in open space areas with
greater solar access. Consider locang seang to take
advantage of aracve vantage points.
Tables
• Repair or replace exisng tables to achieve
appropriate seat and table heights. Replacement
Haig Park Master Plan 29

Image 10: Suggested furniture style, Boon and Gardiner ‘Prospect’ furniture
range. Provides a robust, hardwearing contemporary opon for installaon
throughout the park. This Master Plan recommends that furniture in the Park
should be of a unified style and character. (Images from Boon & Gardiner
webiste: www. www.boonandgardiner.com.au)
DRAFT
Image 11: Bega 8081 luminaire approved by ACT Roads for use in pedestrian
and open space lighng in precincts where warranted to enhance the
presge of the area. (DUS Standards Secon 12: Street Lighng p12-49)
Haig Park Master Plan 30

tables should match the style of new park seats.
Barbecue areas
• Upgrade exisng barbecue facilies (including
associated pavements, surfacing and furniture).
• Relocate the north-western barbecue area to a more
open locaon to the west (see the Master Plan, Figure
9a). There is potenal to locate adjacent to the trunk
cycle and pedestrian path.
• Install new barbecue facilies associated with the two
proposed key focal areas being the western area near
the Tennis Court facilies and also the Braddon high
use zone ulising the former City Parks depot area.
Lighng
• Reinforce lighng along key paths and the main desire
line tracks that are proposed to be resurfaced in
select locaons to increase safety (refer Secon 6.7
Safety & Security for more detailed direcon).
• Use lighng to formalise major entry points into the
park and to provide terminaon points in otherwise
‘black spaces’ at the end of Lonsdale and Mort Streets
in Braddon.
Toilets
• If and when funding is available, provide a new toilet
facility in the western secon of the park. It should
be close to acvity areas and is proposed to be near
to the Sullivans Creek trunk shared use path (see
Figure 9a). The design will need to be unobtrusive
but ideally of interesng form. It will need to be
low key, in keeping with the nature of the area, and
screened from neighbouring residences to reduce
visual impact. Ideally, a toilet block should be close to
acvity areas, as increased facilies could encourage
longer stay acvies from families and other visitors.
The locaon will also be determined by availability of
sewer and water supply.
Rubbish bins
• Introduce bin enclosures for added visual appeal over
exposed bins. (The style should be in keeping with
new seats and tables.)
• Add new bins at new barbecue areas and along
key desire lines while maintaining access for lier
collecon services.
6.5 Interpretave signage and informaon
Interpretave signage is essenal in Haig Park to assist
visitor appreciaon of the park’s rich history and heritage
significance and for way finding.
6.5.1 Site analysis
Before 2010, there was no direconal signage or
informaon. Now there are two major park idenficaon
signs, one minor sign and two interpreve signs.
These signs meet many of the requirements for informave
signage within the park and they have been well received
based on the feedback during consultaon.
6.5.2 Recommendaons for signage and
informaon
• It is recommended that further interpretave signage
(parcularly related to the park’s heritage value) be
added to ensure ongoing high quality presentaon of
the park.
Addional opportunies for further interpretave signage
include:
• the Heritage Integrity Zones
• selecve species idenficaon plaques on significant
trees within the Heritage Integrity Zones, and
• addional interpreve signage parcularly in the
higher used areas of the park such as the proposed
Central Acvity Node and the Western Acvity Node.
6.6 Artworks, feature lighng and
commemorave elements
Artwork within the park may help reinforce the identy
of Haig Park, add to the sense of place and provide points
of aracon without undermining the park’s exisng
character.
6.6.1 Site analysis
Haig Park does not currently include any authorised
artwork, feature lighng or other commemorave
elements.
6.6.2 Recommendaons for artworks, feature
lighng and commemorave elements
• In consultaon with artsACT, consider iniang a
public art program for Haig Park.
• As part of the Implementaon Plan for this Master
Plan, consider the potenal for the park as a site for a
major outdoor art event, similar to a ‘Sculpture by the
Sea’ event.
• Ensure community involvement in any program for
artwork and commemorave features, to establish a
greater sense of ownership.
DRAFT
Specific recommendaons include:
• priority areas for consideraon are the proposed
areas of more intense and formalised park landscape,
in the western and central-eastern locaons and the
Central Acvity Node, where a play sculpture could
be a parcular focal point.
• As proposed in the Webb Australia study of the
Braddon commercial area, more consideraon should
be given to uplighng the trees at the end of the main
commercial roads (Lonsdale and Mort Streets) to
highlight the trees as an aracve focal point rather
than ‘black space’ as at present.
6.7 Safety and security
• Safety and security within the park was an issue
raised and discussed extensively throughout the
Haig Park Master Plan 31

Image 12: Informave Interpretave signage erected October 2010. Assists
public understanding of the history of the Park within their community.
(Images taken by Eric Marn & Associates 2010)
DRAFT
Haig Park Master Plan 32

consultaons. Passive surveillance from neighbouring
developments and enhanced lighng on key routes is
essenal to safety and security.
6.7.1 Site analysis
Community consultaon idenfied that Haig Park is
generally not safe at night. The scale of the site, dense
trunks and oen low branched trees make the current
highly elevated lighng style ineffecve. Whilst Haig
Park does incorporate some lighng, its relavely limited
internal coverage reduces passive surveillance at night
A current and related project led by GHD is addressing
lighng issues of the park within the immediate vicinity
of the Braddon commercial realm. Current illuminaon
is ineffecve to the extent that car parks on the edge of
the park are not well lit and would not meet Australian
Standards.
Community consultaon on this Master Plan idenfied that
whilst lighng would be an effecve tool in ensuring greater
levels of safety in the park during the night, higher levels
of illuminaon would impact on neighbouring residences.
It would also encourage more park use at night, which may
prove counterproducve for safety.
6.7.2 Recommendaons for safety and security
The Implementaon Plan for this Master Plan should
include provision for improved lighng along main
thoroughfare points to promote more night usage and
allow pedestrians the opon of travelling through the park
at night.
Specific recommendaons include:
• addional lighng along select main trunk cycle and
exisng concrete paths
• focus lighng within the central Braddon district,
lights with direconal hooding will help avoid over
illuminaon of more residenal zones of the park,
thus liming impact on neighbouring residence
• selecve removal of dense vegetaon with low
crowns (i.e. Phonia and Cupressus trees) as well
as other larger trees within 5m of paths (total 10m
width) to reduce potenal hiding spots
• pruning of lower limbs within 20–30m of path to
a height of 2.5–3m above ground level to improve
sightlines and passive surveillance capabilies from
neighbouring residences, and
• removal of Phonia shrubs from areas other than
designated Heritage Integrity Zones to promote beer
sight lines overall in the park. Thin out or remove the
western Phonia hedge rows in parcular.
• Implementaon of these recommendaons will
be consistent with Crime Prevenon Through
Environmental Design (CPTED) principles to aid public
safety.
6.8 Design, materials and finishes
As noted in Secon 6.4 Facilies and amenies, the current
facilies—lights, seats, picnic tables, electric barbecues,
toilets and rubbish bins—are in varying condion. They
combine original, historical upgrade and recent addions
to the palee and as such there is considerable variaon
between style, quality, colour and materials.
Elements within the park most impacted by proposed
future upgrade works are the paths, both the exisng
formalised hard surface paths and those created by
progressive wear.
6.8.1 Site analysis
Refer also to Secon 6.4.1 Site Analysis of exisng facilies
and amenies including furniture, barbecues, lighng,
toilets and rubbish bins.
Current materials for formalised pathways include both
concrete and bitumen.
Bitumen surfacing is used along the trunk cycle/pedestrian
shared use paths in the western end of the park, adjacent
to Sullivans Creek and McCaughey Street. This material is
sufficient and appropriate for the purpose along high traffic
and higher speed pedestrian pathways.
Formed 1.2 to 1.5m wide concrete pathways surround
and bisect the park in many locaons (primarily in central
and eastern secons of the park). These paths facilitate
comfortable north-south movement in all condions (see
Figure 5).
Much of the observed pedestrian movement along worn
desire lines does not necessarily connect to concrete
paths, suggesng a hard finish is not necessary in further
design. A less impervious material may suffice. Certainly, a
preference for materials other than concrete and bitumen
was expressed in community consultaon.
DRAFT
6.8.2 Recommendaons for design, materials and
finishes
• It is recommended that Haig Park’s generally informal
ground character should inform the material and
finishing selecons. This should be addressed with
thoughul and considered selecon of furnishing,
materials and selecons and a palee should
be developed which is sympathec to the park’s
character and historic links.
• Guidelines for the selecon of materials and finishes
should be established and aim at an appropriate
visual fit to reflect the nature of the park.
• Avoid the use of branding and corporate colours
which invariably change over me.
• Ensure materials and finishes are robust, easy to
maintain and vandal proof and whole of life costs
should be carefully considered
• Generally, materials for pathways should be
permeable and of natural materials, in keeping with
Haig Park Master Plan 33

Blank Page
DRAFT
Haig Park Master Plan 34

the park character. Proposed acvity centres may
require impervious materials in high traffic areas
to provide a more durable surface with less formal
treatments in lower traffic areas.
Specific recommendaons aimed at upgrading paths
efficiently, with lower maintenance and in keeping with the
park’s character include:
• widen exisng paths to facilitate high traffic volumes,
using a bitumen or concrete finish
• paths in and immediately surrounding acvity areas
where high volumes of traffic are expected in peak
mes should have a concrete finish. This provides a
cleaner and lower maintenance soluon compared to
gravel and a higher quality appearance, and
• surfacing of main desire line tracks should be with
a gravel material with no formalised edge. It is
ancipated that over me a blurred disncon
between path and dryland grass will establish a
more natural appearance whilst sll providing for
comfortable and safe pedestrian travel in all weather
condions. (Formalised edges are suscepble to
breakage and liing of the edge by tree roots whereas
no edging offers a long term risk amelioraon and
maintenance benefit.)
7 Implementaon
The Master Plan (refer to Figures 9a and 9b) is intended as
a strategic document to provide direcon and guidelines
for future works as capital maintenance funding becomes
available. It does not include detailed design of specific
areas of the park and hence will require the establishment
of a staged Implementaon Plan that sets out specific
projects and the priority of their execuon. Such an
Implementaon Plan has been referred to throughout
Secon 6.
Individual projects could then be implemented based
on funding and resource availability. Alternave funding
should be sought, if feasible, to supplement Government
resources to ensure recommendaons made by this Master
Plan are implemented as envisaged.
The extent of new works recommended in the Master Plan
is relavely limited considering the size and significance of
Haig Park. The extent of proposed works is clearly defined
in Figure 9 (Master Plan). The Master Plan intent is to work
with the exisng elements of the park and to reinforce the
heritage value into the future.
Once parcular projects are idenfied and priorised,
they will be proceed through the normal project delivery
process with the development of a Preliminary Sketch Plan,
Final Sketch Plan and Detailed Documentaon – guided by
the Master Plan recommendaons. Addional consultaon
with key government and community stakeholders will be
required as part of this process.
8 Monitoring and evaluaon
There needs to be a monitoring and evaluaon program. It
will:
• ensure long term objecves and visions are met and
maintained to a high standard but also are responsive
to circumstances over me, including stakeholder
demands and any legislave and planning changes,
and
• ensure that the Master Plan remains responsive to
changing operang condions, climac condions,
tree management and changes in available
management resources.
Monitoring and evaluaon for Haig Park should be
incorporated into TAM’s asset management planning
system when that system is fully established and should
include:
• regular infrastructure condion assessments
• regular recreaonal user surveys to ensure user
demands are met
• event use monitoring
• tree and shrub health and performance assessments
• public safety reporng
• resource efficiency (low maintenance surfaces and
durable low maintenance furniture products), and
• review of car parking to ensure parking availability for
park users versus commuter parking and enforcement
of car park me limits.
8.1 Tree management
The trees within Haig Park are high value heritage
elements. An adequate monitoring and evaluaon program
is required to deal specifically with the trees management
and to ensure seamless succession in the future. Refer
to Appendix A for detail of historic and future tree
management recommendaons.
DRAFT
8.2 Traffic management
Refer GTA Consultants Traffic Management Plan (Appendix
B).
8.3 Master Plan review
Master Plan review and updang is recommended to
reflect changing circumstances and priories (such as may
result from increased density envisaged for Braddon in the
coming decade). As issues arise the Master Plan can be
reviewed to meet current requirements, either fully or in
part. A five to 10 year meframe may be appropriate. The
review can assess the effecveness of the current Master
Plan implementaon.
Haig Park Master Plan 35

Concept Images (Source: Google Images)
DRAFT
D1
D2
D3
36
DRAINAGE
Rectify poor drainage in low points
Extension of existing eastern pipework/ swale to lessen the park separation. To lessen costs,
placement of low-medium fl ow sw pipework in the current channel a high fl ow swale above
(to retain capacity) is suggested. The swale above to be battered back to achievable grades
for maintenance and ease of park user access. Care will be needed to minimise impact on
tree roots. (Alternatively consider if any merit in infi lling the channel with recycled plastic water
storage tanks to recycle water for the proposed irrigated areas in the Park. Allow for storm fl ow
SW bypass with no adverse backwatering higher in the suburban network).
As for D2 but lower priority at western end due to lower current park usage and more adverse
gentle channel grades that make added implementation diffi cult. Also a potential frog habitat
in poor draining swaleto be considered if works proceed.
P1
P2
P3
P4
PATHS
If an east-west path (2-2.5m) link is desired then the preferred route is approximately 10m
north of Masson Street so that close to the road for surveillance but not immediately adjoining.
Locate between the street tree and mature deciduous tree rows for a framed, shady walk, run
or cycle with appropriate connections to pram crossings and street lights.
Focus paths in this area to existing traffi c lights with suitable pedestrian provision for user
safety
Retain existing path next to road in well used zone near commercial precinct, carparks and
toilet block
Establish min 1200mm (prefferably 1500mm) concrete path next to kerb. relocate log barriers
to suit.
S1
S2
T1
T2
SULLIVANS CREEK CORRIDOR
Retain more open character albeit divided by the Sullivans Creek major concrete stormwater
channel. retain the mature trees within the zone while in safe health. areas particularly on
the east bank offer larger open areas in a wooded setting without the rigid formal rows of the
remainder of the linear park. retain for contrast and user experience diversity.
East-west path link across Sullivans Creek fl oodway not recommended from Bowls Club
to Greenway street(unless resources for a suitable wide span pedestrian bridge available).
utilise Masson Street bridge & Condamine Street for access.
TREES
When these pines die, retain as open space.
When mature pines reach an unsafe condition, replace with cedars to reinstate overall park
tree theme.
T3 Remove hedge when dies. do not replace
T4
Plant select either Pin Oak or Eucalyptus mannifera to reinforce failed snow gum street
trees.
T5 Retain as small open area by not planting 1-5 no. trees.
T6
Heritage/ tree integrity zone (100m west of Northbourne Ave). Good representation of most
original plantings. Plant missing photinia’s and consider new Roman Cypress where minimal
risk to Cedar form.
Figure 9a: Haig Park East Master Plan (To be read in conjuncon with Figure 9b)
Haig Park Master Plan

Concept Images (Source: Google Images)
Note: Images are not of Haig Park, but illustrate
potenal character of proposed of elements.
LEGEND
PROPOSED Pinus radiata
DRAFT
B
S
TB
PROPOSED Cedrus deodora
PROPOSED DECIDUOUS TREE (Primarily
Fraxinus species unless otherwise noted)
PROPOSED STREET TREES (Eucalyptus sp,
Cedrus deodora & Fraxinus sp.)
PROPOSED Pinus radiata
PROPOSED Cupressus sempervirens
PROPOSED PHOTINIA SHRUB
PROPOSED TABLE SETTING
PROPOSED SEAT OR BENCH
PROPOSED BBQ AREA
DESIRE LINES.
NOTE: ALL OTHER TRACKS TO BE
TOPDRESSED TO MATCH SURROUND-
ING LEVELS AND DRYLAND GRASSED.
TB
EXISTING PARK FURNITURE
S
EXISITNG BBQ AND SEATING AREAS (As
Noted)
EXISTING ORIGINAL Pinus radiata
MATURE TREES
HERITAGE TREE INTEGRITY ZONES
PROPOSED TOILET BLOCK
N
0 10 50 100 200
Figure 9b: Haig Park West Master Plan (To be read in conjuncon with Figure 9a)
(m)
Haig Park Master Plan 37

Resolve path entry/exit to either ulise
current low use driveway or for a
disnct separate pram crossing to suit.
(Improve and raonalise unauthorised
park access)
Realign path to retain mature tree
when widening path
Widen path to 2.5m (2.0m min) to
suit designated trunk cycle network
route. (Relocate and/or update lighng
to suit)
Hardy low shrub planng to reduce
worn intersecon. (Temporary fence
unl established)
Direct new path further from exisng
trees where feasible
HENTY STREET
IRRIGATED LAWN
Retain exisng driveway (extend for
van site)
Recommend 1 hour limit on street
parking to allow van patronage
Mobile food & beverage van with
bollards surrounding (not barriers so
more accessible opons)
Allow informal Petanque/ Boules on
gravel area or construct a purpose
built court (17 x 4m) nearby between
tree rows.
Current barriers and depot fence (and
gates) removed to aid park access
Play sculpture (With a Haig Park
Theme e.g. a pine conse sculpture)
Low shrub planng (

Appendices
DRAFT
Haig Park Master Plan 39

Appendix A: Tree Management
SUMMARY OF PAST TREE MANAGEMENT REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS (MARGULES 1983 & 1987 MASTER PLAN; AND ROBERT BODEN 2000) AND A COMPARATIVE TO THE 2011 MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS:
This offers a historic perspective of proven strategies and also where a new approach has merit either due to past less accepted outcomes or where past successes allow lower impact strategies to be implemented. Tree management is
an evolving sequence responding to past actions; recent events (storms or lightning events, vandalism and development); forward projection of scenarios and how to best manage ongoing overall long term health and viability of a tree
community to benefit successive generations (of trees and people!).
A Public Consultation notice by the NCDC (Canberra Times 1984 reprinted in the 1987 Haig Park Master Plan) nominated of the existing 2000 trees in Haig Park 1200 will be removed over the following 10 years and 1200 new seedling
trees planted. The 1984 advice noted that tree losses at the time by species where Pinus radiata (530 of 1243 No. trees = 43%); Deodar Cedar, Roman Cypress and Ash 18 -26% and Pin Oak 4% of their original plantings.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND ONGOING TREE MANAGEMENT ACTIONS:
MARGULES1983TREES
&1987MP BODEN2000
ENVIROLINKSDESIGN
RECOMMENDED2011
MP
CENTENNIALPARK
TREEMP2002(If
assertsasimilar
aproachalbeit
differentspecies/site)
Proactive corrective action needed to ensure long term preservation of original design intent (formal row character of largely exotic
trees). (Heritage citation states replace with same species or similar arboriculturally appropriate species)
Ensure ongoing health & vigor of the dominant long lived species. Replant Pinus radiata & favour Deodar Cedars, Pin Oaks & the
street trees as the permanent long lived species. Replant missing Pin Oaks & Deodar Cedars. NOTED
Preserve Haig Park as a marker within the overall landscape as seen from the surrounding hills (Black Mountain, Mt Ainslie, Mt Majura
& others). NOTED NA
Remove dying & diseased trees, plus unsafe trees
NOTED
Remove extraneous plantings in competition with the permanent species. Note in 2010 observed near the most eastern Girrahween
carpark a semi-circle of new eucalypt and wattle plantings out of character with the Park – therefore these should be removed before they
establish.
Remove Roman Cypress if they are competing with & hindering the Deodar Cedars or obstructing vision next to paths (retain
others but not necessarily replace). NA
Retain the spreading form of Roman Cypress recommended by Boden 2000 due to its rarity and use for vegetative propogation for
further planting in Canberra. NA
Trees in alternating species within the row are competing for water & nutrients and not allowing each other to reach a good mature form.
Remove if poor health or bad deformation.
(BUT USE
ALTERNATES IF
DOUBT ON DISEASE
RISK IN AN ORIGINAL
SPECIES E.G PALMS
OR ELMS)
Prune the Ash trees to favour the Pin Oaks with the intention of eventually removing them (or remove poor Ash). Do not replace Ash
trees. NA
DRAFT
Fertilise all permanent trees on a needs basis.
NA
Prune the lower drooping branches of Deodar Cedars due to public safety and aiding maintenance eg. up to 2.5m above ground.
X (ONLY ON KEY
PATHS
SUPPORTED)
NA
Similarly low branches of Pin Oaks can be difficult to see in winter so prune up to 2.5m above ground.
NA
Remove & replant Pinus radiata in blocks approx 100-140m long to ensure sufficient light (and less root competition) for good growth and
form.
(NEXT TIME
SMALLER BLOCKS)
(FIGS IN AVENUES-
BLOCK REMOVAL
ONLY KNOWN &
ACCEPTED
APPROACH)
Haig Park Master Plan 40

GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND ONGOING TREE MANAGEMENT ACTIONS:
Retain photinia shrubs east of Northbourne Avenue and replant in wide spaced pairs as occurred originally.
MARGULES1983TREES
&1987MP BODEN2000
ENVIROLINKSDESIGN
RECOMMENDED2011
MP
CENTENNIALPARK
TREEMP2002(If
assertsasimilar
aproachalbeit
differentspecies/site)
(IN SELECTED
INTEGRITY AREAS)
NA
Acknowledged high visual impact of the 1984 -1991 replacement program but sensitive design & staging had reduced the impact to
acceptable levels (note:1200 trees were removed & replanted or 60% of the 1984 total). NOTE
Refrain from pine removals September to February when Choughs, Sparrowhawks and other birds are nesting.
(SEE NOTE ABOVE
ON FIGS)
NOTED
(DO HABITAT
ASSESSMENT)
Rejected option of more informality and species diversity to the current formal rows (note some scattered mature inconsistencies occur but
retain if suits).
Oldest of Pinus radiata 80 years of age in 2000 should be retained whilst healthy & safe. Undertake annual review. (Boden advised
139 No. mature pines surviving in 2000 and predicted that a total 38 No. pines may be healthy in 2010 (actual 57 No. remaining in 2010).
This retention action feasible as the over 600 No. pines replanted in 1984-1991 and the 45 No. in 2010 now offer an overall healthy pine
age class due to the drastic but positive management strategy of 20-25 years ago.
At age 15-18 years the Pinus radiata be thinned to remove weak or poorly formed specimens followed by thinning to leave
approximately half the number of trees originally planted. This should be done in a diamond pattern to give trees space to develop.
Stumps to be ground then topsoil and dry grass. Based on this Boden 2000 recommendation - supported by Enviro Links Design - the 1984
– 1991plantings are now overdue for the thinning recommended to occur Year 2000 – 2009. This has not been done to date. (Boden also
observed the difficulty for some at the 2000 consultation walk to appreciate the effort required to plant to then thin half the relatively young
trees. Observations in the field by Boden are that young Pinus radiata planted at wide spacing tend to put energy into heavy lateral
branching rather than vertical growth and require more pruning. Closer planting encourages vertical growth and better form. At age 15
competition for light is starting to cause trees in adjacent rows to lean outwards. [Robert Boden has been long regarded as one of
Canberra’s most respected heritage Arborists and a ‘man of the trees’. He passed away in 2010. The wider tree spacing after thinning will
generally offer trees better health and form and the community a slightly more open sense of character and security in the Park, albeit still
heavily wooded. The 2010 plantings by PCL are generally at 8-11m along the rows compared to an average nearer 6m in the 1984-1991
plantings I was involved with with Ray Margules at the time. On my experience with him over many years based on his Forester and
Landscape Architect background and encouragement of thinning strategies with forward plantings I suspect he also anticipated future
thinning now that the windbreak function of the original plantings isn’t now applicable in established Canberra. The proposed thinning
regime would therefore be nearer to the wider more recent plantings spacings eg 11m better suited to an urban park (Jamie Dawson,
Enviro Links Design 2010 pers com )]
NOTED
(ACCEPTED IN
THEIR OUTER
WOODLOTS)
(ACCEPT
RETAIN IN THEIR
OUTER
WOODLOTS-IN
AVENUES REMOVE
WHEN
DERIORATES
THEN BLOCK
REPLANT)
NA
DRAFT
Boden 2000 recommended pruning of the lateral branches of the Pinus radiata be carried out gradually (no more than one third of
the height of the tree at one time). Formative pruning to avoid double leaders and heavy side branches should also be carried out. (These
instances if not pruned can have a propensity for later higher incidences of limb drop). Also protect young tree bases from mower and
whipper snipper damage.
NA
Haig Park Master Plan 41

Boden 2000 advised that the success rate of some recent plantings less than desired to achieve a balanced planting so that where three or
more spaces do supplementary plantings. Evidence in 2010 that PCL has been doing this in some areas and this should be continued as a
management strategy to reflect the desired thinned spacing as needed. Exceptions are near major paths where added setback could be
advantageous to security and lights lumination.
NA
GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND ONGOING TREE MANAGEMENT ACTIONS:
MARGULES1983TREES
&1987MP BODEN2000
ENVIROLINKSDESIGN
RECOMMENDED2011
MP
CENTENNIALPARK
TREEMP2002(If
assertsasimilar
aproachalbeit
differentspecies/site)
Encourage Park building occupiers and the general community to be conservation custodians of areas near them under management
guidance of acceptable and safe practices. NA
Boden 2000 advised that the next species to be considered for replacement will be Pin Oaks as some Pin Oaks will start to decline
and present a safety risk within the next 10-15 years (equates to 2010-2015.) One or two in the sealed carparks are showing signs of
decline in 2000 due to adverse compaction and sealing close to trunks. In 2010 similar impacts are evident in some gravel or part sealed
carparks. Boden recommends that when Pin Oaks removed in carparks they not be replaced as the adjacent Cedars provide sufficient
shade.
Boden identified 3 options for replacing the Pin Oaks being:
NA
(a) Remove and replace in the same position: Cannot commence until the trees decline and are removed. Result an uneven aged
planting. X X
(b) Plant Pin Oaks in the positions vacated by the Red Ash along the same row alignment: Planting could commence and generally be well
established prior to Pin Oak removals. Enviro Links Design believe that this approach would be successful for the southern row of Pin Oaks
despite reasonable shaded competition (and allow retention of the well established street tree avenue to Masson and Girrahween Streets).
If this program is not immediate then consideration of the current missing Pin Oak spacing infill plantings could commence. Please note
that with the Pin Oak rows in particular due to carparks that gaps in continual even spaced rows occur such that spacings realistically will
be reasonably variable yet signify the original intent.
(c) Plant Pin Oaks on the Photinia alignment opposite the Red Ash positions: Planting could commence and generally be well established
prior to Pin Oak removals. Enviro Links Design believe that this approach would be successful for the northern row of Pin Oaks and even
plant marginally closer to the eucalypt street tree alignment to offer greater separation to assist long term minimal crown branching
deformation between the Cedars and the Pin Oaks; and also open up the potential that the street tree eucalypts (which are unlikely to have
more than 15 years of remaining good health and vigour) not be replaced and allow the Pin Oaks to become the ‘defacto’ street tree on the
southern verge. The street trees on either verge where not in the original 1921 plantings and the evergreen band to the northern street
trees casts winter shade into the Park, particularly the dense Eucalyptus cinerea (Argyle Apple) on Henty Street. This is not noticeable on
Greenway Street as the Eucalyptus pauciflora (Snow Gum) have proven relatively unsuccessful as they typically do in Canberra. Measures
to increase sun accessibility to increase Park use opportunities, particularly in Winter, is regarded as an important aim within the Master
Plan as certainly the finding of a shady option is never an issue in Haig Park. (Boden 2000 rightfully points out that Option (c) will mean
that there will be two rows of Pin Oaks for some time which is a change in direction of the heritage citation, although offering more space
and less competition for the young Pin Oaks. This would require discussion with the Heritage Council.
(OPTION) (SOUTH ROW)
(NORTH
(OPTION)
ROW)
(DISCUSS
HERITAGE
COUNCIL)
DRAFT
Boden 2000 also did not favour replanting Greenway Street with Snow Gums or Henty Street with Argyle Apples if the forward Pin
Oak positions were adopted. If eucalypt street tree replanting was determined as necessary then the Eucalyptus mannifera option of
Boden for Greenway Street matched the Enviro Links Design selection. In Henty Street the Argyle Apples were advised by Boden despite
their then good condition as likely to result in rising maintenance costs in the next 10-20 years (equates to 2010-2020) – although as still
looking good in 2010 this may be extended. Argyle Apples are nominated in the ACT Government DUS Design Standards as not suitable
for road verges as subject to Gum Moth and scale and not to be planted within 4m of hydraulic services.
NA
Boden 2000 advised that the long lived Deodar Cedars have already had some reasonable aged class rejuvenation due to the
progressive replacement of missing trees in the 1980’s and 1990’s, plus it will be reinforced by the continued added replacements
identified in the 2010 Master Plan.
NA
Haig Park Master Plan 42

GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND ONGOING TREE MANAGEMENT ACTIONS:
Boden 2000 identified that the Lombardy Poplars along Sullivans Creek where in decline. Around 20 are surviving in 2010 with 10
removed earlier in the year. Boden identified their landmark feature which is supported as a long term intent. He stated that they do not
have the downstream spread issues of willows – but they since have become a Declared Weed in the ACT – so Enviro Links Design
recommend that new plantings should consider other deciduous fastigate forms (tall and thin) such as Gingko biloba ‘PNI 2720 Princeton
Sentry’, Quercus robur fastigata and Pyrus Capital. The fastigate Pin Oak not favoured as standard Pin Oaks and their autumn colour well
represented in the Park.
MARGULES1983TREES
&1987MP BODEN2000
ENVIROLINKSDESIGN
RECOMMENDED2011
MP
(BUT SPECIES
CHANGE)
CENTENNIALPARK
TREEMP2002(If
assertsasimilar
aproachalbeit
differentspecies/site)
Boden 2000 recommended removal of environmental weeds generally established by bird-borne seed.
Boden 2000 identified permanent tracks from barbecue and other maintenance vehicles creating wear and
compacting tree roots. Ensure trafficking at a minimum and to legitimate uses. Enviro Links Design identifies
significant use by service authorities that may need liaison on self regulation to limit use. The 2010 Master Plan
recommends regrassing many tracks in case some are previous routes that now have limited use and may be able to
sustain improved grass cover.
NA
NA
THE LONG TERM FUTURE:
Boden 2000 stated Pinus radiata in Canberra can live to 100-120 years although wide variability (so projected that some of the 1921originals may survive to 2020-2040). Deodar Cedars and Roman Cypress can live comfortably to at least
150 years of age (so projected to 2070).
In the long term second phase pine replacements on past performance will be required in say 2045 - 2100 (unless the improved genetic stock extends this). Enviro Links Design still recommend use of a scattered block replacement
strategy 50-80m long (but about half the 1980's block size) but with an earlier more proactive staged intervention so works at nearer to 5 year intervals for each stage (or only 1 or 2 blocks in a year) so less impact at any one time.
Delaying action until trees are in serious decline contributes to the need for a concentrated period of high impact tree removals (nearly 700 No.) as occurred in 1984 -1989. A further 103 No. pines were removed in 1993 leaving only 139
No. mature pines in 2000. A more seamless remove/replace transition in the latter part of this 21 st century should be achievable from recent experiences if tree managers are supported by political & community will – but it requires
acceptance that some not yet poor aged trees need to be removed for the long term good and a successful staged rejuvenation. Of course with the pines the staggered 1984-1993 and now 2010 plantings; followed by a further more
staggered planting stages late this century should develop a more diverse age class of pines throughout Haig Park that allow longer tree retention and less impact replacements to follow with good management in perpetuity. This principle
can be achieved with the other longer lived tree species eg Cedars, Pin Oak and Roman Cypress if a similar approach is undertaken with them.
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NA:NOTAPPLICABLEREFERENCESITEDINTHECENTENNIALPARKREPORT
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Appendix B: Traffic Management
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Haig Park Master Plan 45

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Table 1.3: Parking Restrictions and Capacity
Thursday 13 May 2010 Saturday 29 May 2010
Parking Area
No. of Vehicles Utlisation No. of Vehicles Utlisation
1 34 100% 21 62%
2 5 50% 0 0%
3 10 100% 1 10%
4 12 100% 0 0%
5 12 100% 2 17%
6 20 100% 0 0%
7 32 100% 0 0%
8 8 57% 1 7%
9 12 100% 3 25%
10 7 50% 0 0%
11 33 62% 0 0%
12 7 58% 0 0%
TheutilisationoftheparkingspaceswassignificantlyhigherduringtheThursdaysurvey,comparedtotheSaturday
survey.OnThursdayoverhalftheparkingareaswereatcapacityandallparkingareaswereatleast50%full.On
Saturdaythehighestutilisationrecordedwas62%,followedby25%.Thisindicatestheparkingdemandis
significantlylowerontheweekend.Therewasslightlyhigherparkingdemandintheeasternparkingareas,
comparedtothewesternparkingareas.
1.6.2 On-Street Parking
ThereisonstreetparkingalongsomeoftheroadsthatboundHaigPark;theparkingrestrictionsvaryfromstreet
tostreet.EastofNorthbourneAvenue,thepredominantparkingrestrictiononthesideoftheroadadjacenttoHaig
Parkis‘NoParking’between9:00amand11:00amMondaytoFridaywith‘NoParking’ontheoppositesideofthe
road.TothewestofNorthbourneAvenuethereisacombinationof‘NoParking’between9:00amand11:00am
MondaytoFriday,‘NoParking’between7:30amand6:00pmMondaytoFriday,aswellas2hourand3hourparking
between8.30amand7:30pm.
2.1 Recommendations
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Kerbrampsandfootpathsshouldbeprovidedtoensurethereareadequateconnectionsbetweenthenew
pathsandtheexternalpedestriannetwork.Pedestrianrefugesshouldbeconsideredtoassistpedestrians
wheretherearehighervolumesandtrafficspeeds,particularlyalongGirrahweenStreet.
Theprovisionofakerbandgutterissupportedtoformalisetheextentoftheroadwayandpark.
TheproposedaccesspointstoandfromthecarparkattheTennisClubshouldbedesignedinaccordance
withAS2890.1.
Wideningofthefootpathstoaminimumof2.5malongthetrunkcycleroutesissupported.
ConsidertrafficcalmingtreatmentsalongGirrahweenStreetandMassonStreettoreducevehiclespeeds.
Noadditionalcarparktothoseexisting.
Haig Park Master Plan 48

REFERENCES
ACT Heritage Council 2004 Entry to the ACT Heritage register, No. 20063.
Braddon Neighbourhood Plan - A sustainable future for Braddon, Source: ACTPLA Web Site - www.actpla.act.gov.au (Accessed
October 2011).
Centennial Parklands Tree Master Plan, Source: Centennial Parklands Web site - www.centennialparklands.com.au (Accessed
October 2010).
Eric Marn & Associates (2011), ‘Conservaon Management Plan’.
J. Gray (1997), ‘The Historical and Cultural Background of Selected Urban Parks in Canberra.
Margules & Associates Pty Ltd. (1987), ‘Haig Park Preliminary Concept Proposals’, prepared for the Naonal Capital
Development Commission.
MARS (October 2008), ‘ACT Sportsgrounds, Parks, Open Spaces Usage and Sasfacon Survey’, Territory and Municipal Services
R.Boden & Associates (2000), ‘Haig Park Tree Management Plan’, prepared for Canberra Urban Parks & Places.
Turner Neighbourhood Plan - A sustainable future for Turner, Source: ACTPLA Web Site - www.actpla.act.gov.au (Accessed
October 2011).
Webb Australia (2010), ‘Braddon Commercial Precinct Lighng Masterplan’ extracted from ACT Procurement Soluons (2010)
Braddon Public Realm Improvements Implementaon Plan.
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Haig Park Master Plan 49