Onkaparinga’s award winning public spaces

9 July 2025

The City of Onkaparinga has been recognised for creating places where South Australians connect, reflect, and belong, taking home two major honours at the 2024 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects South Australia Awards.

A memorial seat at Port Noarlunga and a dog park at Woodcroft stood out among the state’s best landscape projects, celebrating Onkaparinga’s approach to inclusive, culturally respectful, and community-driven design.

Honouring Buster Turner on Country

On the Port Noarlunga Esplanade, a memorial seat dedicated to Senior Kaurna Elder Buster Turner received the Landscape Architecture Award in the Cultural Heritage category.

The seat, created in partnership with the Turner family, council and local designers, pays tribute to Buster’s lifelong advocacy and her deep connection to Ngangkipari (the Onkaparinga River), drawing inspiration from her childhood on Country. It stands as a lasting reminder of her community spirit and cultural leadership.

Shady dog park in Woodcroft

A much-loved dog park in Woodcroft has also gained recognition, for its natural shading and clever, inclusive layout.

The 4,300m² park at Hurtle John Potter Reserve was officially opened late last year and is already popular with locals and their four-legged companions. Designed with community input from the ground up, the park includes agility equipment, as well as zones for different dog sizes and activities.

The emphasis on natural shading was noted by the awards jury. The design utilises the existing tree coverage, whilst also adding native trees to provide future shading.

The project was delivered in collaboration with RDB Earthmoving & Landscape Solutions, Simon Martin Building Design, Tempo Constructions, Raw SA, Onkaparinga Council and the State Government.

Both award-winning projects reflect the City of Onkaparinga’s dedication to public spaces that bring people, nature and culture together.

With a strong focus on inclusion, local identity and sustainability, these projects are now in the running for national recognition at the AILA National Landscape Architecture Awards in October.