PDLP Map | Transport for NSW | Community Analytics

M12 Place, design and landscape plan

An objective of the M12 project is to create a unique and distinct piece of infrastructure that reflects its place on Darug Country in Western Sydney, and provides a memorable experience for travellers arriving at the airport.

The Place, Design and Landscape Plan (PDLP) illustrates how changes to the landscape will be designed in keeping with the cultural heritage of the area using a ‘Connection to Country’ fraemwork that will reflect the built, natural, heritage and community context of the M12 Motorway.

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Key Features

A new shared user path (for pedestrians and cyclists) link along the corridor separated from the main traffic lanes, including connections to existing and future shared user path networks
Planting and revegetation through early seed collection and propagation
Interpretation nodes that incorporate the built landscape with Aboriginal interpretation design and showcasing seasonal planting to reflect the calendar observed by many Aboriginal groups
The Great Emu sculpture: a sophisticated landmark that celebrates the Darug Community’s sacred creation stories of the Great Emu constellation
Footprints on Country - Emu footprints of varying scales used to reflect the experiences of people travelling along songlines and singing Country
Six overbridge screens for the overpass bridges to bring together the Great Emu story.
Wayfinding, signage and lighting – relating back to local heritage and culture and drawing on unique features while being intuitive responsive to the day/ night experience

Next — Cultural Heritage interpretation

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Cultural Heritage interpretation

The project has been designed in keeping with the cultural and heritage of an area that has been part of the local Darug people and subsequent non-Aboriginal settlement.

The project is located on the land of the Mulgoa, Cabrogal and Cannemegal of the Darug (Dharug, Daruk) language group. The study area has a 40,000-year history; it is a freshwater place; and the Country is on red silcrete foundations. It would pass through the Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) area and the northern boundary of Gandangara LALC. The project study area was traditionally the cornerstone of the three cultural groups from the area; Darug, Dharawal and Gandangara, and was a place where these groups would come together for ceremony. The Darug Nation are custodians of the land.

Following the outcomes of both the Aboriginal Heritage Interpretation Plan and the non-Aboriginal Heritage Interpretation plan, the project sought to ensure the traditional, historical, and contemporary values of the study area are integrated into the project in a meaningful, culturally appropriate, and practical way.

Next — Landscape and vegetation

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Landscape and vegetation

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Landscape character zones

Over 73,000 trees will be planted as part of the M12 project.

Species have been selected based on what is appropriate for the landscape and requirements of surrounding infrastructure such as wildlife strike in proximity to the Western Sydney International Airport.

Where possible, planting will by guided by the seasonal six seasons calendar followed by many Aboriginal groups.

An early seed collection and propagation program is underway to reinstate Cumberland Plain species throughout the project. Vegetation methods include planting (taken from pot and put in excavated hole) and seeding (seeds put into the ground) across the project.

The planting design across the corridor has also been designed to reinforce the existing landscape character zones from west to east of rolling hills, plains and ridgetop. The western section is characterised by undulating hills made up of a dominant pasture grass layer with some remnant vegetation including widely spaced native trees, whilst the plains has a floodplain character associated with the numerous creeks draining south-north across the alignment comprised generally of flat grasslands with a forested riparian corridor which will be key biodiversity and recreation corridors into the future. Finally, from Kemps Creek moving east the topography changes and the alignment rises along a ridgetop toward the M7 Motorway with a distinct character formed of enclosed Cumberland Plain trees with a dense understorey.

Rolling Hills planting palette

The Plains planting palette

The Ridgetops planting palette

Aboriginal Seasonal Planting

Next — Pedestrian and cyclist path

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Pedestrian and cyclist path

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Shared user path

One of the key benefits of the PDLP is to provide a shared pedestrian and cyclist path along the M12 corridor that connects to other existing active transport routes for communities.

The PDLP details the shared user path along the M12, the connection to the Western Sydney Parklands (being developed by the Parklands Trust) and create a shared path connection that will link to future areas as the region develops.

Next — Wayfinding and signage

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Wayfinding and signage

A key aspect of the project is to ensure the motorway provides an intuitive route for travellers in the area - pedestrians, cyclists, motorists - to enhance orientation and interpretation of information.

Designs, materials and locations have been chosen based on both a day and night time experience, safety, access for emergency services and where possible, relate back to local heritage and culture, drawing on unique features to celebrate Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage.

Sign types

Aboriginal cultural heritage interpretation

The project represented an opportunity to work with local Aboriginal communities, discover the cultural values associated with the area and explore how these could be used to develop an integrated art strategy that is reflective of Sydney’s Aboriginal heritage and identity.

The PDLP was founded on a ‘Connection to Country’ framework that embeds key interpretive themes into the project through the use of integrated art and approach to landscape design and plant selection.

Six key cultural interpretation elements have been incorporated into the project including the Great Emu in the Sky sculpture, eucalypt canopies, footprints on Country, Overbridge safety screens, integrated wall elements and six seasons planting.

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Non-Aboriginal heritage interpretation

Across the project, non-Aboriginal heritage themes of water harvesting, agricultural research, and technological advancements were discovered and these provided design interpretation opportunities for part of the PDLP.

These will be represented through a variety of interpretative devices that will also add to the overall user experience.

Themes and stories found along the M12 corridor include:

The Upper Canal System

The McGarvie Smith Farm

McMaster's Field Station

Fleurs Aerodrome

The Fleurs Radio Telescope Site

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Interpretation nodes

Interpretation nodes have been created along the M12 as markers that will help create a project identity and enhance user experience while responding to the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage in each specific location.

Based on the traditional community node as a place to rest, gather and share ideas, the M12 nodes will be themed with one of the six Aboriginal seasons and include signage, planting, leaf shelter artwork and Emu footprints that reflects the seasonal differences. These nodes will provide a small sanctuary for users to take much needed breaks from the hot, dry climate of Western Sydney.