M6 Community Recreational Facility

Transport for NSW is delivering new recreational facilities for the Bayside Community before construction begins on Stage 1 of the M6 motorway in Rockdale, NSW. Fabritecture was contracted for 8 structures for installation at McCarthy Reserve.

The structures are a combination of mesh shade structures clad with Gale Pacific Commercial 95 Heavy shade cloth, and aluminum architectural metal structures with custom artwork perforations in the panels. 20163

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The two aluminium cladding structures have steel frames with HDG and powder coat finish. They are clad in "perforated aluminium discs," with one being 11 metres in diameter and the other 17 metres. A steel grid system supports the perforated aluminium panel cladding, which hangs beneath the grid to showcase the perforated artwork clearly from below.

The 6 mm aluminium panels are coated with a paint system similar to Colourbond Monument (RAL 7021 equivalent). The aluminium artwork includes custom perforations featuring native flora such as bottlebrush, as well as birds and frogs. These perforations project images onto the ground, creating a stunning artistic effect.

There are also six structures clad in HDPE mesh, with four having an 8-metre diameter and two measuring 11 metres. These structures have steel frames with fabric tensioned using a Fabritecture extrusion system.

The selected material is Gale Pacific Commercial 95 340 HDPE Mesh, available in four colours: Aquatic Blue, Desert Sand, Yellow, and Orange. The choice of fabric was based on client-specified colours, as well as requirements for shading (UPF factor) and a long warranty.

Installation of the structures was carried out over existing playground equipment, necessitating careful planning. Construction involved erecting all columns first and preassembling roof discs on the ground. These discs were then lifted into place using a crane, without any overhead installation required.