Southport Broadwater Parklands Play Attractor

Background

The original design team consisted of POMO, Simone Eisler Artist and the landscape design team from AECOM. Working together we were tasked with conceptualising an iconic playground and defining the approach for an invitational pitch to the client, City of Gold Coast led by AECOM.

The approach that we collectively arrived at was a homage to the place in which the playground was to sit, the Broadwater Estuary at the Gold Coast. This is an area rich with migratory birds, sea life and environmental importance. This place-led approach helped define our concepts for the playground which featured a spiral play tower whose form was influenced by shells found in the area, and a range of custom learning and play experiences all linked back to the surrounding estuary.

The pitch won and we were lucky enough to be awarded the contract to carry out the placemaking design process through schematic and detailed design phases, working alongside and embedded within the larger design being led by AECOM.

The Design

The design process continued to stay true to the place based principles themed around the natural environment of the surrounding estuary. Ideas which evolved into the final design package included:

• climb in concrete eggs which were based on the precise shell patterns of locally found migratory birds some of which are vulnerable
• birds, nests and eggs, made of bronze, also sculpted to match those birds found locally
• climb on concrete soldier crabs, made from concrete traffic bollards and made for small children featuring custom brass eyes
• a piece of public art being a bird sculpture which rotated and moved with the wind
• sandblasts in the concrete surfaces featuring a range of local information about the animals and environment of the estuary
• small bronze estuary animals fixed in locations to invite surprise throughout the playground. Animals featured were the estuary stingray, flathead fish, starfish, mud crab and turtle
• CNC routed timbers which reflected the tidal patterns of the surrounding foreshore
• interpretative garden signs which told stories of environmental responsibility
• concrete impressions that featured rubbish shapes like plastic bottles, with information telling the story of human impact of the oceans
• a play table, designed for children with disabilities, allowing them to play in sand and emulating a fish and chip shop
• climb in pipes featuring locally found estuary water animals painted on the pipes to represent swimming/schooling patterns
• custom garbage bin panels with marine animal designs and environmental messaging
• a kids quizz game in the footpaths that posed questions and gave answers about the environment
• a glockenspiel that plays musical notes which match the notes of local estuary birds
• a hand drawn underwater game for kids that allows them to find objects underwater that don’t belong there such as rubbish

Not all design work made it through to delivery.

Project Partners

Projects of this size are delivered by large teams, this project was a successful collaboration between a number of key players at the design and delivery stages. As mentioned, POMO worked with Simone Eisler Artist and AECOM, together we conceived the playground concepts, documented by AECOM for the winning pitch. Simone Eisler Artist was involved in the evolution of the design thinking process as a close team member with us during the design development. AECOM led the overall process, incorporating POMO technical drawings and detailed design work into their larger set of drawing packages. POMO managed technical inputs including engineering and disability compliance. Many ideas that have found expression in the final playground have come to fruition through the evolution of the project and through the collective collaboration between these partners.

POMO was then contractually responsible for the delivery of a range of items for the final playground. POMO worked with a number of professionals to achieve detailed bespoke outcomes which were successfully installed. Our project delivery partners included Simone Eisler Artist, David White Artist, Boyd Built Constructions and David Houghton Artist.

Sustainability Outcomes

Social Sustainability Outcomes

• Inclusive and Accessible Play: The inclusion of a custom play table designed for children with disabilities is a cornerstone of the playground’s social sustainability. It ensures that children of all abilities can participate in imaginative play together, fostering an inclusive and equitable community environment.
• Intergenerational Engagement and Learning: The playground is designed as a multi-layered educational experience. Features like the quiz game, the glockenspiel matching bird calls, and hidden animal sculptures encourage children and their caregivers to explore, learn, and discover together, facilitating shared experiences and intergenerational connection.
• Fosters a Strong Sense of Local Identity: The entire design is a homage to the Broadwater Estuary. By basing play elements on local wildlife (migratory bird eggs, soldier crabs, fish) and natural forms (shells, tidal patterns), the playground instills a deep and specific sense of place, connecting local children and families to the unique character of their home environment.
• Promotes Physical Health and Active Lifestyles: The playground offers a diverse range of physical challenges, from the tall spiral tower to various climbing elements. This encourages active, physical play, which is crucial for children’s health and development, and establishes positive, healthy habits in a fun and engaging setting.

Environmental Sustainability Outcomes

• Cultivates Environmental Stewardship from a Young Age: This is the project’s most significant environmental outcome. By embedding educational messages directly into the play experience—such as concrete impressions of plastic rubbish, interpretive signs about environmental responsibility, and games about finding things that don’t belong in the ocean—it actively teaches children about the human impact on marine ecosystems. This fosters an early understanding and sense of responsibility for the environment.
• Deepens Connection to Local Ecology: The playground acts as an interactive field guide to the local estuary. Children learn to identify the eggs of vulnerable migratory birds, recognize local fish and crabs, and even hear the notes of local bird calls. This direct, tactile engagement with local biodiversity builds a strong, personal connection to the natural world, which is a critical foundation for future conservation values.
• Durable Materials for Longevity: The use of robust and long-lasting materials like concrete, bronze, and heavy timbers ensures the playground has a long lifespan. This reduces the need for frequent replacement, minimising the whole-of-life environmental impact associated with manufacturing, transportation, and disposal of materials.
• Integrates Environmental Messaging into Everyday Objects: Even the custom garbage bin panels feature marine animal designs and environmental messages. This small but important detail integrates the theme of environmental care into every aspect of the user’s experience, reinforcing the core message of stewardship in a subtle but constant way.