The design of Ballast Point embraces world-leading sustainability principles, with the re-use/ recycle theme leading to highly innovative designs for retaining walls and iconic structures that underline the prominence of the park on Sydney Harbour. Located on a contaminated former lubricant storage site on the Birchgrove Peninsula in the inner reaches of Sydney harbour, the design combines readings of cultural heritage with environmental innovation to restore a green headland park for the local community.

Sustainability and efficiency is key to preserving the durability of the Ballast Point site, which has a richly layered history including occupation by indigenous people, construction of the 'Menevia' marine villa in the 1860's, quarry use for ship ballast and finally petroleum distillation by Caltex from the 1920's until 2002.

Northrop services on the project incorporate civil, environmental, structural, electrical and hydraulic engineering to minimise the project's carbon footprint and ecologically rehabilitate the site. Water Sensitive Urban Design measures (such as limiting paved surfaces and infiltrating runoff) have been critical to controlling the points for site discharge.

Northrop's involvement in this multi award winning 2.5ha post-industrial waterfront park is demonstrative of our enduring commitment to delivering innovative, sustainable solutions without compromising on quality. Northrop was directly involved during the design and construction process. This included providing innovative and practical solutions to operational, engineering and aesthetic challenges on an evolving site.

Northrop was heavily involved during the evolution of the 'design on the run' process, with the complex history of the site delivering unexpected challenges during the construction phase. Efficient and effective responses to these challenges were crucial to maintaining key objectives and Northrop successfully offered innovative solutions including:

• The utilisation of natural resources available to the site to produce a renewable energy source
• The capture of stormwater runoff, which directed towards a series of wetlands placed at strategic locations around the park.
• The design of site shade structures to provide an aesthetic solution in keeping with the nature of the park. In conjunction with the architect, McGregor Coxall, the shade structures were recognised as award winning structures.

As it continues to win awards years after its completion, Ballast Point Park Birchgrove continues to be a prime example of the superior contribution we make to each and every development we're involved in.