Download PDF - Stockland

CASE STUDY
EnviroDevelopment at Point Lonsdale
Together with our urban designers, we have
incorporated environmental considerations
into the design of our proposed residential
development at Point Lonsdale on the
Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria. The
development will comprise residential,
recreational and community amenities.
The project has received
EnviroDevelopment accreditation, which
recognises those projects that have been
designed to protect the environment and
manage resources while offering benefits
to homeowners, industry and government.
The site, which we acquired in 2002,
has been considered by all three tiers of
government, ensuring a stringent approval
process. These included a Planning Scheme
Amendment, an Environment Effects
Statement, consideration of the Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
Act, and an environmental audit by an
EPA-appointed independent auditor.
The project also needed to comply with
state government processes such as
the Victorian Coastal Spaces Strategy,
the Victorian Coastal Strategy, the
Cultural Heritage Act, and the Victorian
Native Vegetation Framework. For more
information on the approvals process and
community consultation please see the
case study in our CR&S report 2009.
EnviroDevelopment is a voluntary rating
system. Certification requirements have
been determined by a panel of government,
industry and environmental experts.
In the EnviroDevelopment scheme, either
one or a series of categories may be
awarded to environmentally sustainable
developments if certain criteria are met in
the following categories: ecosystems, waste,
energy, materials, water and community.
EnviroDevelopment accreditation was
awarded to the Point Lonsdale project
for all six categories of sustainability.
We have learned many important lessons
in planning this development including:
• Finding the balance between
affordability, cost and effectiveness
of sustainable initiatives,
• The importance of working with
the council and other authorities,
and engaging more broadly with
stakeholders particularly in the early
phase of planning,
• Realisation that very few builders are
committed to using only non-toxic
and sustainable materials, fittings
and furnishings,
• The need for builders to document their
sustainability credentials in terms of
design, materials use and furnishings,
• Understanding the benefits that a ‘site
responsive’ masterplan design can
deliver in terms of establishment cost,
maintenance and the viability of existing
and created ecosystems.
In recent times both developers and
customers have realised that there
are significant rewards in investing
in sustainability initiatives.
As the emphasis on sustainable
development increases, so will
the competitive environment to
achieve results.
This will ultimately deliver better living
environments to residents without
any significant financial burden.
Point Lonsdale, Vic
Stockland Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Report June 2010
59