A City of Onkaparinga Council memorial honouring a beloved Kaurna elder and a popular new dog park have been recognised at Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) South Australia Awards.
The Port Noarlunga memorial seat was donated to the Council by the Turner family to honour their mother, grandmother, sister and aunty, Senior Kaurna Elder, Buster Turner.
The seat received a Landscape Architecture Award in the Cultural Heritage Category, which was jointly presented to the Turner Family and the Council.
The Council says the memorial offers a reflective space to honour her life, and the site builds upon Buster’s deep connection to the community and her dedication to local projects – always guided by the profound belief in the power of Aboriginal storytelling as a tool for cultural education.
Drawing inspiration from Buster’s youth and her love for the Ngangkipari (the Onkaparinga River), the design embodies both meaning and humility.
The Council said Buster will be remembered for her unwavering strength, her passion for advocating on community matters, and her role as a cultural guide and leader.
“The Turner family hopes the seat and its surroundings become a place for reflection, connection, storytelling, healing and reconciliation, continuing Buster’s legacy of community spirit and cultural sharing,” it said.
The project was a collaborative effort between the Turner family, Council, Rockstar Creations, Neale Draper & Associates, RDB Earthmoving & Landscape Solutions, and Raw SA.
The Council also received a Shadesmart Award for the Woodcroft dog park (pictured) and public toilet in Hurtle John Potter Reserve, which opened late last year.
The 4,300m² recreational space was designed to provide a safe, engaging, and sustainable environment for dogs and their owners, and it complements the site’s existing skate park and playground.
The dog park includes dedicated agility equipment, shaded seating, and a multi-zoned layout for different dog activities. The project was shaped by extensive community consultation, ensuring it met local needs while promoting responsible pet ownership and social interaction.
Jury comments for the award-winning project noted, “The design emphasises natural shading by making use of existing tree canopies and the process of shade mapping and assessing usage patterns demonstrates leadership in design and commitment to community needs.
“Native trees have also been planted to enhance existing vegetation, demonstrating consideration of long-term shade planning to provide future shading and amenity for users.”
The project was made possible thanks to a $500,000 state government grant following an election commitment by Member for Hurtle Vale Nat Cook MP.
It was a collaborative effort between RDB Earthmoving & Landscape Solutions, Simon Martin Building Design, Tempo Constructions, Raw SA, the Council and the state government.
“What emerges clearly from this year’s awards is a profession that is a champion of the environment, people, culture and place,” said AILA SA Jury Chair, Warwick Keates.
“We continue to demonstrate that landscape architects are respectful, inclusive and incredibly innovative.”
All AILA SA Award winners now proceed to the National Landscape Architecture Awards, to be announced in October in Hobart/Nipaluna.
