THEVILLAGE​

Below is an excerpt from the Planning Institute Award submission in August 2006.

Austcorp’s The Village won the Planning Minister's Award for Implementation of Melbourne 2030 Direction 7 – “A greener city”

The development contributes to environmental sustainability in a number of key ways:

 Water Sensitive Urban Design targets for the The Village are aimed at meeting the Victorian government’s objective of 15% average reduction in water use by 2010, slowing release of minor storm flows and detaining major storm flows.

 Stormwater runoff from most roof areas will be directed to storage tanks with reuse of the harvested water for landscape irrigation or toilet flushing. On the townhouse allotments 2,000-litre water tanks are provided to every dwelling. The higher density development will require different water storage sizes.

 The planning framework requires the development to achieve a minimum 5 star energy rating. The development has obtained an average 6 star rating (minimum 5 star) in its first 2 housing stages.

 Water sensitive design measures have been incorporated into the street design with bio retention swales and with parkland areas being capable of retarding large stormwater flows.

 Development promotes the opportunity for on-site infiltration in garden areas.

 Native vegetation has been preserved on the site through the creation of parkland around it.

 The site is extensively landscaped within the streets and private allotments, combining native and exotic vegetation to provide visual interest and comfortable microclimates.

 Lawn areas are minimised and species for planting have been selected for minimal irrigation needs.

 Bicycle usage is encouraged through the provision of bicycle storage facilities in the garages of dwellings.

 Public transport usage is encouraged through the close connections to Westall station.

 Residents can walk to the local school and shops and services provided within the development itself.