NSW Fernleigh Awabakal Shared Track Industry Tour

Join us for this unique opportunity to gain insights into the planning, history, and design of this important community asset. Take part in a guided industry walking tour of the Fernleigh Awabakal Shared Track (FAST), led by Daniel Walters from Lake Macquarie Council, James Brown from Glascott and Registered Landscape Architect Michelle Carroll. The tour will pause at key points along the route before concluding at the bridge.

Event Date: Thursday, 6th November 2025, 9.30am – 11.30am AEDT

Location: Fernleigh Awabakal Shared Track

Parking: Railway Parade, Belmont (near Belmont TAFE)

Throughout the walk, our speakers will explore:

The project’s purpose, community consultation, and track alignment
The site’s history — cultural significance, wartime use, mining, and environmental context — and how this shaped the design
Cross-disciplinary design collaboration with local Aboriginal land councils and community groups

The FAST is a scenic extension of the popular Fernleigh Track, offering locals and visitors a peaceful route through the stunning Belmont Wetlands State Park and Belmont Lagoon Reserve. Perfect for walking, running, and cycling, this shared path connects Belmont to Blacksmiths, improving access to nature while supporting active lifestyles.

Enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, and pastries during the event. This event is proudly supported by NSW Partner Glascott.

Please note event time zone is set to (UTC+10:00) Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney. Please check your local time to account for any daylight saving changes or regional differences.

Registration

Type	Details	Price
Members	AILA	FREE
Non-member	Non-member price. Become a member.	FREE

Speakers

Daniel Walters

Daniel has been working in local government for 11 years, joining Lake Macquarie City Council in 2017 as a landscape architect. His current position is Team Leader Landscape Design within the Public Domain Design team at Lake Macquarie City Council.

Daniel considers himself to be a generalist landscape architect but, with three young adventurous children, has a soft spot for play spaces that provide challenge and risk. He also has a special interest in circular economy, and cultural storytelling through the built environment.

Prior to local government, Daniel had a diverse career, including private practice, on the tools in his family’s landscaping business, and running his own landscape design and construction business.

Michelle Carroll

Michelle Carroll is a registered Landscape Architect with over 15 years’ experience spanning landscape architecture and urban design across the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. Her current position is Landscape Architect within the Public Domain Design team at Lake Macquarie City Council.

Michelle is passionate about creating public spaces that foster community identity and ownership. Her portfolio includes master planning and design for town centre renewals, residential estates, open-space recreation, health care and environmental restoration projects.

Michelle brings strong client relationships and a collaborative approach to delivering landscapes that are both functional and inspiring.

James Brown

James leads Glascott’s operations across the Newcastle and the Hunter Region, bringing extensive experience in delivering complex commercial landscape projects. With a strong background in project management and team leadership, James has overseen works ranging from large-scale civil landscapes to specialist urban renewal initiatives.

Known for his hands-on approach and ability to collaborate with clients and stakeholders to achieve high-quality outcomes, James’s expertise spans the full project lifecycle, from planning and construction through to delivery and handover, ensuring landscapes are not only functional and resilient but also enrich communities for the long term.