Maria Bulmaga

Como Park Billabong

We have a responsibility to heal the river and contribute to the healing of First Nations People. As of the 2017 Wilip-gin Birrarung murron, the river legally has rights. Rights to be cared for, the right to not tolerate abuse and the right to land. The river needs it’s wetlands, it’s kidneys. Land needs to be returned back to the river, lands that can help the river heal.

This proposal, on the site of Como Park, is split into 3 stages. Firstly bringing the drain to the surface exposing the connection between the upland and the river. Next a series of cascading ponds surround the field, as the water fills it’s outskirts the river's pressure of the field becomes illuminated to the public. It is no longer just a sports field. Through a curation of Aquatic and Terrestrial habitats a parkland is formed around the Field calling new stakeholders and interests to the site. The remaining step is to flood the field. Resulting in a complete constructed wetland stormwater treatment system.