Mountain Water Supply System Design Guidelines

Urban Initiatives and Arterial were selected from a competitive shortlist to develop Design Guidelines for the system of heritage assets comprising the Mount Wellington Water Supply System (MWSS) on the dramatic south-east face of Kunyani/Mount Wellington on behalf of the Wellington Park Trust and the City of Hobart.

These heritage assets, pipelines and infrastructure belong to one of the oldest continuously operating town water supply systems in the Southern Hemisphere and lie along a busy and well-loved recreational trail known as the Pipeline Track.

The objectives of the project included:

• the development of detailed Design Guidelines for recreational and interpretive infrastructure for the MWSS (in particular, along the Pipeline Track)
• ensuring infrastructure was in keeping with and sympathetic to the heritage values of the MWSS
• ensuring consistency and sensitivity in the establishment of new infrastructure and interpretive elements for the MWSS
• presenting the MWSS as a recognisable single-heritage entity, and
• providing a long-term guide to the development and enhancement of visitor infrastructure in a sensitive environment.

One of the great challenges to the design team, was not only to deliver comprehensive guidelines and standards respectful of the site’s heritage significance, but to do so with the input, support and ultimately endorsement of the local community, walkers and trail users.  The success of these guidelines has been followed by the adoption of the accompanying style guide by the City of Hobart Parks Division for other city spaces and recreation places.