News & Developments: Mawson Lakes

[monotonehell]

I'm so glad that the toilet connections have those signs on. The number of times I help myself to a quick glass of toilet water on a hot day I'd get very ill in Mawson Lakes if it weren't for those helpful warning signs.

I think you'll find they are for dogs.

[bm7500]

I'm so glad that the toilet connections have those signs on. The number of times I help myself to a quick glass of toilet water on a hot day I'd get very ill in Mawson Lakes if it weren't for those helpful warning signs.

I think you'll find they are for dogs.

But how do dogs read the signs???

As a resident of ML, I can tell you that the recycled water initiative is a great idea. All homes have their outdoor taps and toilets plumbed to the recycled water system and the remainder of the house to normal mains water. As such, there are 2 water meters for each property and you receive 2 separate water bills (only 1 supply charge though). The recycled water cost is roughly 75% of mains water.

Before the system was first charged (turned on) in 2005 from memory, both pipe systems in your house carried normal mains water. When the system was charged, SA Water carried out an inspection of each property to ensure that the correct water supply was going to the correct taps etc. This is re-inspected every 5 years. Initially some residents complained that they didn’t want recycled water connected (in the time before water restrictions) and as such, SA Water gave them the option to disconnect the recycled water from their property. Although i believe many saw the merit in the system. Therefore if you are looking to buy in ML, ensure that the recycled water option is available for your property.

Whilst ML residents with recycled water are exempt from the 'stage' water restrictions we are not exempt from the permanent restrictions covering things like hosing down driveways etc. Whilst the quality of the water is clear and generally good, the only issue i have found with the system is that there is some sediment that ends up in your irrigation lines and accumulates in your toilet cistern. To avert this, i have installed taps at the lowest parts of the irrigation runs so that the lines can be flushed out. And i use bleach toilet blocks to help keep the cistern clean and the toilet bowl free from water line marks.

Overall its a great system and given the option in other suburbs, i would thoroughly recommend it.

[Omicron]

On a side note, we have a rainwater tank at home, and aside from a metal grille over the downpipe, it's not filtered or cleaned in any way. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the treated water from the Mawson Lakes purple taps is far cleaner than the water from our tank (assuming the extent of (literally) crap in the rainwater), yet not once have I fallen ill or felt even remotely off as a result of drinking it. Not that I'm advocating everyone start filling their glasses from the toilet, but a little bit of clarity in regards to treated water versus that which simply falls from the sky onto old roofs and through leaves, insects and whatnot is probably in order.

[contractor]

While i like the increased density (via height) at Mawson Lakes, i see all these buildings as near-clones, differentiated by a set of fins and/or splashes of bright colour scattered here and there. Sure you need a theme across the suburb, but there's still something missing. Maybe it's because the majority of the buidlings appear as simple cubes with windows, or maybe it's the width of the streets that cancels out the effect of increased height. Maybe it's because the renders look so cheap (as to whether they end up looking cheap in real life is another matter).

Is it just me - or do others feel the same? Sorry for not being able to exactly put my finger on it.

Sorry to get into this discussion so late - I think I know what you are getting at Wayno - take a look at Sydney's inner suburbs around Randwick. Nearly all 4 floors (due to lift expenses if higher) and almost identical. It gives slum potential seeing they are also so close. I accept also that many outer suburbs are very much like this only one floor - probably a function of big developments by one compan as well as 'affordability' seeing i am into architecture, aesthetics and variety, I baulk at this.

SA - STATE ON THE MOVE

They look similar because half of them have been designed by Vartzokas Architects.

[jk1237]

I dont have issues with the sameness. The surrounding suburbs of Pooraka, Ingle Farm and Para Hills done in the 70s and 80s, have thousands of same awful boxes with dead lawns on a qtr acre block, one after another after another, done by the same developer. Infact half of Adelaide has this sameness low density, car dependant sprawl. If you are caught walking or riding a bike in the middle to outer suburbs, you are a simply a loony. Mawson Lakes appears to be a bit different in this case

[Xaragmata]

Some recent pics:

Icon Apartments site in Light Common




Quest serviced apartments in Metro Parade




Metropolis in Metro Parade




Metro Apartments in Metro Parade




New interchange car park




Metro Parade and Euston Walk




Mawson Central West

[SRW]

Thanks very much for those photos, Xara.

I recently took the time to have a look up at Mawson Lakes for the first time in a long while (a couple years, perhaps), and was extremely impressed at the number of mid-rise apartments. Certainly, not much to praise in respect of architecture, but it's surely a step in the right direction for suburban development in Adelaide. What impressed me most was the number of commercial tenancies at ground level -- I imagine that this will make for a highly walk-able, active suburb as the development marches on. More of it, please.

[Xaragmata]

Thanks very much for those photos, Xara.

I recently took the time to have a look up at Mawson Lakes for the first time in a long while (a couple years, perhaps), and was extremely impressed at the number of mid-rise apartments. Certainly, not much to praise in respect of architecture, but it's surely a step in the right direction for suburban development in Adelaide. What impressed me most was the number of commercial tenancies at ground level -- I imagine that this will make for a highly walk-able, active suburb as the development marches on. More of it, please.

No worries, SRW. I like the commercial tenancies - shops, cafes - one minus I see is a lack of common areas apart from car parks, which are mainly under
cover. No gardens for residents to relax or potter around in (no maintenance fees for gardener either) - needs a few pocket parks to make up for lack of
gardens perhaps.

[AtD]

There's supposed to be a linear park along Dry Creek. Remember, Mawson Lakes is supposed to be a low water-usage suburb. None of the watering the bitumen like they do in Golden Grove.

I'm disappointed that they're putting in a big surface car park next to the train station. That's going to ruin the whole area. It would be better, IMO, to have a multi-level car park with ground floor retail. That wouldn't create the divide between the station and the town centre.

[bm7500]

There's supposed to be a linear park along Dry Creek. Remember, Mawson Lakes is supposed to be a low water-usage suburb. None of the watering the bitumen like they do in Golden Grove.

I'm disappointed that they're putting in a big surface car park next to the train station. That's going to ruin the whole area. It would be better, IMO, to have a multi-level car park with ground floor retail. That wouldn't create the divide between the station and the town centre.

I think that the new carpark is just a short/medium term solution as the land its on is too valuable. The intent has been to go multi story and this will likley be over the top of the creek and original carpark.

[Aidan]

There's supposed to be a linear park along Dry Creek. Remember, Mawson Lakes is supposed to be a low water-usage suburb. None of the watering the bitumen like they do in Golden Grove.

I'm disappointed that they're putting in a big surface car park next to the train station. That's going to ruin the whole area. It would be better, IMO, to have a multi-level car park with ground floor retail. That wouldn't create the divide between the station and the town centre.

I think that the new carpark is just a short/medium term solution as the land its on is too valuable. The intent has been to go multi story and this will likley be over the top of the creek and original carpark.

Bennett Creek is artificially constructed. Having gone to all that effort to make it look natural, I doubt they'd want to cover it up again with a mere car park!

[bm7500]

There's supposed to be a linear park along Dry Creek. Remember, Mawson Lakes is supposed to be a low water-usage suburb. None of the watering the bitumen like they do in Golden Grove.

I'm disappointed that they're putting in a big surface car park next to the train station. That's going to ruin the whole area. It would be better, IMO, to have a multi-level car park with ground floor retail. That wouldn't create the divide between the station and the town centre.

I think that the new carpark is just a short/medium term solution as the land its on is too valuable. The intent has been to go multi story and this will likley be over the top of the creek and original carpark.

Bennett Creek is artificially constructed. Having gone to all that effort to make it look natural, I doubt they'd want to cover it up again with a mere car park!

What difference does it make that its 'artificial'? It certainly wasnt created by Delfin as it was a left over from The Levels days. Its not pleasing to look at, especially when its surrounded by large ugly concrete walls. Building over part of a creek is hardly unusual, take Tea Tree Plaza for example, a natural creek runs right underneath it. And it was the Mawson Lakes project director himself that has indicated that the preferred option it to go multi story over the creek.

[Aidan]

I think that the new carpark is just a short/medium term solution as the land its on is too valuable. The intent has been to go multi story and this will likley be over the top of the creek and original carpark.

Bennett Creek is artificially constructed. Having gone to all that effort to make it look natural, I doubt they'd want to cover it up again with a mere car park!

What difference does it make that its 'artificial'? It certainly wasnt created by Delfin as it was a left over from The Levels days. Its not pleasing to look at, especially when its surrounded by large ugly concrete walls. Building over part of a creek is hardly unusual, take Tea Tree Plaza for example, a natural creek runs right underneath it. And it was the Mawson Lakes project director himself that has indicated that the preferred option it to go multi story over the creek.

It certainly was created by Delfin, who went to a lot of effort to make it look natural. It does not have concrete walls apart from under bridges, and it does not even take the same route as it did in The Levels days.

Are you sure the project director wanted a multi storey car park over the creek? I recall a few years ago there was a plan to put a multi storey office building there, but that's rather different.

And are you sure a natural creek runs right underneath Tea Tree Plaza? I thought it ran under the space between Tea Tree Plaza and Tea Tree Plus.

[Omicron]

In almost every instance, development covering a creek is far less desirable than development that enhances a creek.

[fishinajar]

In almost every instance, development covering a creek is far less desirable than development that enhances a creek.

Why do you say this Omicron? IYO? or reference?