20 August 2007
A high-powered group of developers, consultants and local government officers yesterday learned the nuts and bolts of sustainable suburban development at a workshop held in the ground-breaking Genesis development at Coomera.
The sold-out Sustainable Subdivisions event was organised by the Australian Green Development Forum (AGDF) and featured a walking tour through the award-winning community with developer Heritage Pacific.
Genesis won the top award from the National Stormwater Industry Association (SIA) for its innovative work at Genesis, which includes use of recycled water and rainwater tanks on all houses to cut potable water demand by up to 84 per cent.
AGDF Chief Executive Officer Cherise Walmsley said the event was an important step in showcasing the kinds of initiatives that developers could take to make their communities more environmentally friendly.
“The sustainable development initiatives on display here should be implemented into every sub-division,” Ms Walmsley said.
“Initiatives such as vegetation protection and management, water sensitive urban design and pedestrian friendly planning don’t necessarily cost more but do require more thought in the planning and design stage.”
“The benefits of sustainable development include better community health, a more attractive living environment and smarter use and re-use of natural resources,” Ms Walmsley said.
Topics covered included grey water, swales, covenants, vegetation retention, clean site management and materials recycling.
Participants at the event included representatives of some of Queensland and Australia’s biggest property companies including Austcorp Group, Cardno, Petrac, Norman Properties and the Investa Property Group.
Government authorities who attended included the Caboolture Shire Council, the Caloundra City Council, Gold Coast City Council, Pine Rivers Shire Council, Redland Shire Council and the Department of Public Works.
Heritage Pacific Project Manager Steve Harrison said Genesis was an ideal model for future sustainable developments with extensive skills and resources invested to ensure it met the highest environmental hurdles.
“We brought together some of the industry’s leading environmental consultants to ensure genesis represented all the major pillars of sustainable design and to have it held up as a model for the future is a huge vote of confidence.”
Heritage Pacific was last year appointed the first Major Partner of the AGDF, with Managing Director Paul Barrett to take a seat on the group’s Board of Directors. On completion Genesis will incorporate more than 700 homes spread across 76 hectares in a prime location on the eastern side of the M1 (Pacific Motorway), 35 minutes from the Brisbane CBD and 20 minutes from Surfers Paradise.
ENDS: Media enquiries to Ben Ready on (07) 3221 7133 or 0415 743 838.