Once a wastewater treatment plant, Brisbane’s Archerfield Wetlands District Park is now Queensland’s Park of the Year, taking top gong just 12 months after opening.
The park was awarded the top spot at this month’s Parks and Leisure Australia (PLA) regional Awards of Excellence, which celebrate the state’s most outstanding examples of innovative parkland design, management and long-term community value.
Archerfield Wetlands District Park was opened in September 2024 and delivered in partnership with Brisbane Sustainability Agency, transforming a former wastewater treatment site into an exciting adventure and recreation hub in the suburbs.
The four-hectare park is located at 455 Bowhill Road, Durack and has rapidly become one of Brisbane’s most popular southside destinations, attracting tens of thousands of visitors in its first year alone.
The park offers something for everyone, including:
- A huge adventure playground with water-play features
- A youth hub with a full-sized basketball court
- Picnic and barbecue areas
- A community lawn for markets, cinema nights and events
- A bookable event and meeting room
- A Bushfood Garden Trail
- The Oxley Creek Catchment Association headquarters and native plant nursery
- Direct access to the 2.9km Archerfield Wetlands Discovery Trail, connecting into the wider 150-hectare wetlands
- More than 67,000 native plants and trees planted to provide shade and habitat
The win highlights the success of the broader Oxley Creek Transformation – a 20-year initiative to reimagine 20 kilometres of urban waterway into a world-class lifestyle and leisure corridor.
The ceremony also recognised two other new Brisbane facilities, with Brisbane International Cycle Park at Murarrie receiving the award for Community Facility of the Year and the Urban Pump Track at Herston receiving a commendation in its category.
Archerfield Wetlands District Park and Brisbane International Cycle Park will now both progress to the PLA National Awards of Excellence, to be announced in mid-November.
Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner:
“Brisbane is Australia’s lifestyle capital and continues to capture global attention as one of the best places in the world to live, work and play.
“With more than 2100 parks across Brisbane, we’re committed to creating more for families to see and do in Brisbane suburbs for free.
“If you haven’t yet visited, I encourage everyone to visit Archerfield Wetlands District Park and reconnect with nature in our own backyard”
Quotes attributable to Brisbane Sustainability Agency CEO Tracy Melenewycz:
“Brisbane Sustainability Agency is incredibly proud to receive this recognition and we’re looking forward to representing Queensland at the National Awards of Excellence in November.
“This award is a testament to the collaborative effort that brought the vision to life, transforming the site into a vibrant, much-loved destination where community, recreation and nature thrive together.”
