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.<\/p>\n
The masterplanned $1 billion Warralily development at Armstrong Creek won the event\u2019s top\u00a0award, the prestigious Masterplanned Development Award, and the Environmental Excellence Award, which follows last year\u2019s Landscape Excellence Award.<\/p>\n
The accolades cement the estate\u2019s position as the most-awarded community in the Geelong region.<\/p>\n
Warralily director Mark Casey said the awards celebrate the team\u2019s vision to create Geelong\u2019s first masterplanned development and best practice urban growth.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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\u2019s largest greenfield site,\u201d Mr Casey said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a proud moment for me, the development team and the many contractors and stakeholders whose passion and collaboration has brought Warralily\u2019s vision to life.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe $28 million Armstrong Creek \u2018Green Spine\u2019 is linked to homes, community, education, sport and shopping precincts by a pathway network to create a\u00a0walkable relationship across the development,\u201d Mr Whinfield said.<\/p>\n
Warralily is now a thriving community of more than 7,000 residents who enjoy the very best of contemporary urban design.<\/p>\n
Civil, landscaping and infrastructure investment to date on the 380-hectare greenfield site has hit $780 million. In all,\u00a0construction 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.<\/p>\n
Growth and development have not come at the expense of the area\u2019s environmental significance.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a commitment to sustainability evident through the estate\u2019s wetland system, which is fundamental to the ongoing health of the local area.<\/p>\n
A focus on remnant vegetation sees large river red gums and relocated red gum stags providing hollows and safe-haven for native animals.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe artworks play an important role in placemaking,\u201d\u00a0Mr Casey said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTelling the story of the area\u2019s ecology and history \u2013 as a place of destination for the Wathaurung people \u2013 so our community can develop respect, as well as a sense of pride and belonging.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough meticulous planning and attention to detail, Warralily has delivered an important and\u00a0precious tailor-made environment for its residents.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Village Warralily retail, convenience and dining community hub, including Woolworths as\u00a0anchor tenant, has been delivered with neighbouring childcare, sport and recreation and community centre facilities nearing completion.<\/p>\n
Nearby, a new state-of-the-art P6 School with integrated special needs is open and a P12 secondary\u00a0campus is due to start construction this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt 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,\u201d Mr Casey said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Villawood Properties\u2019 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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\u2019s top\u00a0award, the prestigious Masterplanned Development Award, and the Environmental Excellence Award, which follows last year\u2019s Landscape […]<\/p>\n