Ruth Park Playground, Coombs

Client
Suburban Land Agency

Project Partners
Redbox Design Group, RAM Constructions

State
Australian Capital Territory

Bringing ‘Bommy Knockers’ to life in Canberra’s south-west.

Coombs is a major planned community being developed in the Molonglo Valley, 10km south-west of the Canberra city centre. With 13 suburbs, 33,000 dwellings and a future population of up to 73,000 people, public amenity forms a critical part of the overall masterplan.

To help deliver it, the landscape contractor at Coombs, Redbox Design Group, contracted FORGE (formerly Fleetwood Urban) directly in mid-2020 to detail, fabricate and install 15 bushland-inspired shade shelters and a series of ambitious nature-play elements and custom artworks.

Opening to the public in Spring 2022, the creative focal points are four giant hardwood ‘Bommy Knocker’ seed pods – one cantilevered several meters above the ground – weighing more than four tonnes each!

Our involvement.

FORGE's (formerly Fleetwood Urban) first involvement came in mid-2020. Redbox Design Group had already developed concept renders for the shade shelters as well as miniature timber protypes of the Bommy Knockers and contracted Fleetwood to collaborate on the all-important design development and costing stages.

Concepts and budgets were finalised in early 2021 with shop detailing beginning shortly afterwards and fabrication commencing later in 2021.

To minimise site disruptions, the bulk of the structural elements were painted and pre-assembled off-site with the FORGE (formerly Fleetwood Urban) project team liaising closely with Redbox, local artists and the lead contractor, RAM Constructions.

The installation phase began with the 15 shade shelters, and went very smoothly, with all elements completed by mid-2022.

1 /

Design Challenge

The original design vision from Redbox was inspired by the Coombs community’s connection with local bush reserves and the native flora and fauna of the Molonglo Valley. Whilst beautiful and creative, it was also immediately clear the concepts would be difficult to realise. The Bommy Knocker play structures, in particular, were extremely challenging to detail in a way that could be certified as safe for children to use.

Our design team worked hand-in-hand with both Redbox and the play auditors, Play DMC, to refine and evolve the concepts through a series of desktop and on-site reviews.

Construction Challenge

The intricate nature of the Coombs structures required high levels of precision and craftsmanship, both in the way they were detailed and fabricated.

To ensure the best possible result, the bulk of the play and shade elements were pre-assembled and painted under controlled conditions off-site, before being transported to the Coombs community.

Thanks to the quality of the preliminary works, the install itself was very straightforward, with major craneage works completed in just three days and minimal disruption to Coombs residents and other trades working in and around the bustling site.

Innovations

Filled with so many bespoke creative elements, the project required innovative engineering and detailing at virtually every stage. It was especially important to safely realise the stunning cantilevered Bommy Knocker, no small task given it weighs more than four tonnes.

Another more modest innovation saw us pre-assemble the non-climbable Webnet – something normally completed in situ – allowing us to reduce the amount of equipment required on the busy work site.

Features

Shade shelters (x15)
‘Bommy Knocker’ play structures (x4)
Tube slides
All ability swings
Rope climbing elements
Custom artwork panels showcasing native birdlife

Materials

Stainless steel
Mild fabricated steel (painted)
Powder-coated aluminum
Class 1 Australian hardwood (Spotted Gum)
Webnet mesh
Rope

Safety & Risk Considerations

Keeping children safe was always top of mind. To ensure this, we maintained regular dialogue with Play DMC throughout the project.

From an installation perspective, the sheer weight and complexity of the Bommy Knockers required careful planning and on-site reviews to form accurate lift studies to allow crews to work safely. Hoardings were erected to keep excited local families and children at a safe distance during the site works.

Sustainability Considerations

To reflect the bushland setting, natural materials were specified wherever possible, including beautiful Australian-sourced Spotted Gum. Child-safe finishes were used on all surfaces, while durability was carefully considered to maximise the design life of the structures and reduce the need for ongoing maintenance.