NSW Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation Sandra Nori unveiled the commencement of work that will transform the Brickpit at Sydney Olympic Park into an ecological attraction.
Construction is underway on an elevated circular walkway that will allow visitors to access Brickpit from above while preserving the habitat of the endangered Green and Golden Bell frog.
“The construction of an aerial circular walkway over and into the brickpit precinct is considered the most unique means of combining the desired outcomes for public access while at the same time complying with the many ecological and public safety constraints within the Brickpit,” Minister Nori said.
“The Brickpit ring will open up the last remaining restricted section of Sydney Olympic Park to the public and is expected to be completed in time for the Christmas school holidays,” she said.
Plans to develop the Brickpit site as a tennis centre in the lead up to the 2000 Olympic Games were abandoned after the discovery of an endangered Green and Golden Bell frog on the site.
On the threatened species list, the Green and Golden Bell frog had established natural habitat in the Brickpit, and thrived.
Since then the Brickpit precinct has been the subject of extensive and exhaustive review and expert analysis regarding ways to combine its unique heritage with its new role as an ecological habitat.
Built nearly a century ago, the Brickpit employed over hundreds of skilled labourers and produced some three billion bricks during its operational years, providing the raw building materials for so much of Sydney’s suburban housing as well as many of the city’s public buildings from hospitals to schools and civic centres.
The new Ring will provide visitors with interpretive material linking the history of the Brickpit with the evolution of the Green and Golden Bell frog’s habitat along with the unique geology and the innovative water recycling initiative at Sydney Olympic Park.
Work, at a cost of $6.5 million, is being carried out by GMW Urban and was designed by award winning team of Durbach Block Architects, and Sue Barnsley Design, Landscape Architects.
“The Brickpit Ring will prove to be an iconic structure, enabling visitors to experience a unique ecological and historical part of Sydney as well as providing a genuine connection between Sydney Olympic Park’s new town centre and the parklands,” Minister Nori said.
Media contact: Alex McGregor 0404 015 556
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