Landscape Queensland is the peak industry body representing the interests of the state’s landscape designers, contractors, and suppliers.
They recently hosted a field trip and onsite workshop at Lake Gkula, Australia’s largest conservation and recreational lake.
Lake Gkula is located on the Woodford Folk Festival’s site in Queensland’s Moreton Bay hinterland.
It’s about an hour and a half drive north of Brisbane, or 40 minutes west of Caloundra, or an hour south of Noosa.
The workshop was conducted by Patrick Handley, CEO of Waterscapes Australia.
Patrick and his team were responsible for the design and construction of the lake.
The lake’s design relies on a series of pumps to keep the water constantly flowing through its wetland filtration system and to ensure the ongoing health of its biodiversity and water quality for swimmers.
Lake Gkula is abundant with fish and plant life with more than 16 species of native fish and crustaceans and over 8,000 plants, including native water lilies.
The up-flow wetland filtration system creates a habitat for beneficial bacteria and microorganisms which create healthy stable conditions and keep pathogens at bay.
Powerful pumps and nano-bubble technology maintain a constant water flow and high levels of oxygen, directing it through the wetlands which purify the water like kidneys.
The lake’s name refers to the region’s traditional owners, the Jinibara people, and specifically references spokesperson Uncle Noel Blair, whose indigenous name is Gkula, which translated, means Koala.
Amanda Jackes, General Manager and Deputy Executive Director of Woodfordia Inc, producers of the iconic Woodford Folk Festival, paid tribute to Patrick Handley from Waterscapes, saying:
“Patrick’s immaculate skills and imagination came to the fore and we loved that his devotion to the environment came through – we could not have wished for someone better to design and construct Lake Gkula.”
Discover more about the ecology of Lake Gkula.
Lake Gkula is an outstanding example of a man-made fresh-water lake.
And with Woodfordia’s renowned land stewardship credentials and a robust management plan for its ongoing wellbeing, Lake Gkula is destined to delight hundreds of thousands of festival-goers in the decades ahead.
Project Details
Completion – 2019
Construction Cost – $1,500,000
Project Team
Design and Construction Management
Waterscapes Australia
Patrick Handley is the founder and sole operator of Waterscapes Australia.
He is a horticulturist, permaculturist, and environmentalist with over twenty-five years of global experience in the natural water feature industry.
Patrick designs and builds bespoke, one-of-a-kind, natural water features for home, corporate, and municipal landscapes.
www.waterscapesaustralia.com.au
Photo Gallery
Click on a thumbnail image to enlarge.
Design © 2022 Patrick Handley. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2022 Jeff Gardner
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