Evaluating success

The success of an environmental design is evaluated in relation to the criteria established in the design brief. The short and long-term consequences of that design need to be considered during the planning of the project but how the environment functions over time is an important way of evaluating success.

Peter believes the most successful wetland is one that is sustainable. His company wants its wetlands to work effectively for a long time into the future.

?What makes a successful wetland design is something that's sustainable ? sustainable is a word that just means it is going to keep going. It's not a short-term solution ? it doesn't necessarily mean it has to function well in the short term ? we're much more interested in the long term environmental outcomes. A sustainable wetland is one that does function, it does look good for many decades to come.?

The Blue Hills wetland has public art surrounding it. Courtesy: Powerhouse Museum.

The Blue Hills Wetland is in its early stages of operating, there is still a lot of housing construction happening in the area which is creating lots of runoff into the wetland.

?Blue Hills Wetland is at an interesting stage ? it's functioning more to treat the construction site of the property development. The success or failure of it to treat water quality really won't be known for another ten years or so but I believe the very large edge effects and the very large presence of plants in the water column will only get bigger as the wetlands get older and as the catchment settles down, as the houses are built, as there is less exposed dirt I believe the water quality in the system will be fantastic.

Everyone seems to love the Blue Hills Wetland. It's won a NSW environmental award for the Urban Development Institute of Australia ? it's a fairly prestigious award ? very high competition to win that award. The very large walking track around it has become a feature. The sales office for this site is right on the wetland which gives you an indication of the perceived support of the community because the property developers want to sell the land. Community groups, local scout groups have been involved in planting it ? there's a growing affinity for the wetland.?