Earth of Salt a step closer to sustainable excellence

In a first for a water utility in Australia, Barwon Water has recently embraced the One Planet Living framework, becoming a Bioregional Australia Member and registering in the One Planet Program.

Barwon Water’s innovative Salt Torquay residential estate is an integral element to accreditation and is set to showcase sustainable excellence in urban land use design.

One Planet Living’s vision is of a world in which people enjoy happy, healthy lives using a reasonable share of the earth’s resources, leaving space for wildlife and wilderness.

Working towards this accreditation, Barwon Water’s Salt Torquay project is being developed as an international exemplar in ecologically sustainable urban design and will be fully developed and titled before lots become available to purchase through Hockingstuart Torquay.

Located on Barwon Water’s decommissioned water basin in Grossmans Road, the former basin will now make way for the region’s newest and most sustainable residential estate.

The Salt Estate will boast the first 7.5-star residential development in Torquay, setting a new standard for innovative, sustainable urban development.

Offering a diversity of lot sizes throughout this 5.4-hectare site, purchasers will be able to chose from smart lots starting at 303sqm to larger lots up to 827sqm for those wishing to bring back the large backyard.

Selected sites have also been earmarked for townhouse projects which aim to entice local project builders to come on board.

The Salt Estate will be a connected community with public parks and open spaces linking to reserves on neighbouring developments providing easy access to schools, recreation facilities and the town precinct.

This exciting new project will support Barwon Water’s commitment to a zero-emission target and comes off the back of their innovative Solar Farm projects coming on line at water reclamation plants.

Local real estate agency Hockingstuart has been entrusted with selling Salt Torquay, and director Leigh Hall-Sullivan said that there was a real buzz of excitement around the subdivision.

“The feedback has been very positive, and we are all happy to see an estate that offers a variety of blocks, a number of which are very generously sized, in line with sustainable eco-friendly living.

“The biggest drawcard is that the blocks will be sold with title, meaning that the consumer can visit and walk onsite before they make a decision on their purchase.

“We have had over 245 registrations already, which we are very impressed with.”

The site is located just a minutes’ walk to Torquay College, St Therese Catholic Primary School, The Children’s Hub, Torquay Kindergarten and a short walk to Surf World shopping precinct and public transport stops.

Barwon Water managing director Tracey Slatter said the development will boost regional prosperity as Barwon Water targets local contractors and stimulates more than $50 million of development.

“Transforming the former basin site into a showcase of innovative urban development is a win-win for sustainability and customer prices.

“The estate has been carefully designed to deliver key outcomes for the community, including connection to quality local recreational facilities, improved wellbeing opportunities, a light environmental footprint and low living costs while delivering a high standard of living.

“The new estate incorporates a wide range of eco-features, including household solar and battery storage plus a 250kW solar array on Barwon Water’s land opposite the estate to allow renewable energy to generate most of the estate’s total energy demand.”

Other eco-features include electric car charging points and rainwater harvesting, all of which will contribute to the minimum 7.5-star energy rating on every home.

It is envisaged that lots in Salt Torquay will be build ready towards the end of 2018.

Phone Leigh Hall-Sullivan on 0413 158 175 or head to salt-torquay.com.au for more information or to register your interest.