WHO ARE GCDA

Gareth is an urban designer and landscape architect. He served as director of urban design at TfNSW, RMS & RTA, significantly influencing the way these organisations planned, developed and delivered their projects. For this work Gareth has received much recognition including the Australia Award for Urban Design twice, in 2010 and 2025 and in 2026 he was recognised in the King's Birthday Honours with the Public Sector Medal, for his services to urban design.

 

Since 2001 Gareth has played a pivotal role in shaping transport infrastructure across NSW, working on the Pacific, Hume, Princes and Great Western Highways; bridges from the Sea Cliff bridge to the Anzac bridge strengthening to the Yandhai Nepean bridge; the vast Sydney Motorways program; and the commuter wharf program. Prior to that he was an experienced urban designer and landscape architect in the Government Architect Office and in the private sector in NSW and the UK.

 

He thrives on solving problems from delivering simple and refined outcomes out of complex multi purpose engineering, to urban design consistency for major highways. From resolving Design Panel impasses, to finding solutions to such things as mulch contamination. From providing clear tender guidance and solid proposal evaluation, to knowing who to consult. From integrating a connection to Country into projects to solving aesthetic and heritage problems for the public around noise walls, bridges and visual impact generally.

 

To tackle many of these issues Gareth has written, developed and published guidelines, policies, standard briefs, and developed a strong collaborative network of urban designers, engineers, artists, environmental advisors and leaders from across Government and Industry. He has chaired and sat on many Design Panels, Urban Design Committees, INSW audits and is currently a member of the NSW State Design Review Panel.