Warralily wins prestigious state ward

A LEADING local housing development in Geelong took out two major awards at the 2018 Victorian Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Awards for Excellence last week.

The masterplanned $1 billion Warralily development at Armstrong Creek won the event’s top award, the prestigious Masterplanned Development Award, and the Environmental Excellence Award, which follows last year’s Landscape Excellence Award.

The accolades cement the estate’s position as the most-awarded community in the Geelong region.

Warralily director Mark Casey said the awards celebrate the team’s vision to create Geelong’s first masterplanned development and best practice urban growth.

“The scale of Warralily, stretching from Barwon Heads Road through to the Surf Coast Highway, was enabled by discussions with nine landowners to produce the region’s largest greenfield site,” Mr Casey said.

“The project team and stakeholders then united to deliver a truly modern and liveable community where the urban environment lives in harmony with the natural environment.

“This is a proud moment for me, the development team and the many contractors and stakeholders whose passion and collaboration has brought Warralily’s vision to life.”

Warralily general manager of development Mark Whinfield said the integration of creek and wetland, cultural heritage and native vegetation considerations as key design drivers had led to a beautiful urban design outcome.

“The $28 million Armstrong Creek ‘Green Spine’ is linked to homes, community, education, sport and shopping precincts by a pathway network to create a walkable relationship across the development,” Mr Whinfield said.

Warralily is now a thriving community of more than 7,000 residents who enjoy the very best of contemporary urban design.

Civil, landscaping and infrastructure investment to date on the 380-hectare greenfield site has hit $780 million. In all, construction of 68 stages are complete, over 550 lots are under construction and the $100 million shopping Village and a fully integrated primary school are open.

Growth and development have not come at the expense of the area’s environmental significance.

There’s a commitment to sustainability evident through the estate’s wetland system, which is fundamental to the ongoing health of the local area.

A focus on remnant vegetation sees large river red gums and relocated red gum stags providing hollows and safe-haven for native animals.

More than 56 bird species have been sighted in and around the wetland systems and nature reserves; pelicans, spoonbills, many species of ducks and waterfowl, swans, parrots, goshawks, falcons, wrens, honeyeaters and many more.

Cultural heritage is celebrated also, with public art installations by renowned artists Mark Trinham and Glenn Romanis peppered throughout the 60 hectares of landscaped community open space.

“The artworks play an important role in placemaking,” Mr Casey said.

“Telling the story of the area’s ecology and history – as a place of destination for the Wathaurung people – so our community can develop respect, as well as a sense of pride and belonging.

“Through meticulous planning and attention to detail, Warralily has delivered an important and precious tailor-made environment for its residents.”

The Village Warralily retail, convenience and dining community hub, including Woolworths as anchor tenant, has been delivered with neighbouring childcare, sport and recreation and community centre facilities nearing completion.

Nearby, a new state-of-the-art P6 School with integrated special needs is open and a P12 secondary campus is due to start construction this year.

“At a time of great economic transformation and growth in the Geelong region, the Warralily development has provided strong economic benefit through employment, investment and attraction for over seven years,” Mr Casey said.

Meanwhile, Villawood Properties’ flagship Armstrong Mount Duneed development won the Community Engagement Excellence award along with the UDIA consultants excellence award for landscape architect Barry Murphy on the same night.