NEWS

Mixing Development with Conservation is a Winning Formula at Coomera Waters

31 July 2007

Combining development with conservation has given the koala colony at Coomera Waters hope for a brighter future.

Situated on the bourgeoning Gold Coast north shore, Coomera Waters is a masterplanned residential community which has won national acclaim for its eco-friendly design principles.

The Coomera Waters development is set on 376 hectares of elevated, undulating bushland with greater than 50% retained as natural, set aside as open space or as environmental reserve for conservation of koalas and other wildlife such as the Richmond Butterfly, Spotted Mangrove Mouse and Greater Egret.

National property developer Austcorp Group Limited engaged conservationists at the planning stages of the project over 10 years ago to identify areas of ecological significance and regeneration works.

Today, more than 150 hectares of vegetation has been retained through extensive weed control and the replanting of endemic plants, said Scott Biggs, Austcorp’s State Manager Land for Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Significant wetlands have been retained while degraded areas are being rehabilitated, a substantial native planting scheme implemented and measures taken to study, protect and improve native flora and fauna habitats.

“Ten years ago, when the site was acquired, it contained a golf course, large tracts of pine plantation,” Mr Biggs said.

“Fortunately an area known as Nature’s Escape had experienced minimal disturbance by European settlement, so once we carried out extensive revegetation works the area attracted more wildlife and it is now home to a healthy thriving koala population.

“Residents often spot koalas living within metres of their homes.”

Mr Biggs said Coomera Waters had set new standards in ecologically sensitive residential development and is at the forefront of a growing trend toward environmentally-friendly living.

“Since its first settlements in November 2001, Coomera Waters has sold more than 900 residential lots,” he said.

“The sales success, I believe, is a reflection of the positive results that can be achieved when environmental experts and developers work together to build a community that is in harmony with its surroundings.”

Mr Biggs said that as a sensitive coastal environment, Coomera Waters was designed around significant trees and large tracts of wetland, melaleuca stands, eucalyptus forest, and an expansive salt marsh area known to provide habitat to the Richmond Butterfly, Spotted Mangrove Mouse, Wallum Sedge Frog and Greater Egret.

“Less than half of the development site has been set aside for housing so the focus can remain on the natural Australian surroundings and the abundant natural flora and fauna,” he said. ‘Coomera Waters is a shinning example of a project that achieves triple bottom line benefits,’ said Mr Biggs.

Other eco features of Coomera Waters include:

• Extensive wildlife corridors have been created to link all retained units of vegetation to surrounding bush land to ensure wildlife diversity.
• Road designs at wildlife corridor crossings impose passive controls on traffic for the safety of wildlife.
• Body corporate covenants and onsite body corporate caretakers manage the ongoing health and sustainability of all onsite vegetation, for perpetuity.
• Body corporate covenants governing resident’s pets play a vital role in maintaining wildlife diversity. Koala’s living within metres of homes in several instances throughout the estate is testament to the success of the management structure.
• Interpretive signage located on the tens of kilometres of walking trails through the estate educate and encourage community awareness and ownership over the pristine ecological diversity within which they now live.
• A nesting box program with the local school has encouraged birdlife diversity into the estate.
• Nesting poles erected on the site adjacent the Coomera River has seen large raptor birds also make the estate their home.
• Extensive award winning Water Sensitive Urban Design treatment systems polish all storm water runoff from the roads and lots within the estate. This ensures that the water runoff from the site into the surrounding wetlands, creeks and river system is a clean and contaminant free as possible.

In recognition of its environmental sensitivity, Coomera Waters was last year awarded the prestigious ‘EnviroDevelopment’ status by the Urban Development Institute of Australia. It is one of only five developments in Australia to be given the certification based on strict scientific benchmarks for environmental sustainable developments.

Coomera Waters was awarded five EnviroDevelopment ‘leaves’ symbolising its achievements in areas of water, energy, ecosystems, community and waste management.

Read more about Austcorp's Coomera Waters.
Go to the Coomera Waters website at www.coomerawaters.com.au.