Local students help shape the future of McLeods Drysdale

BEFORE the first homes are built at McLeods Drysdale, local children have already helped shape its future.

Students from Clifton Springs Primary School have played a hands-on role in contributing ideas for both the estate’s street names and the vision for its future community park.

As the final residential land precinct to be delivered in Drysdale, McLeods has been planned with connection and long-term liveability at its heart.

The project team at Ample invited students into the early design conversation, asking them a simple question: what should this neighbourhood feel like?

The responses were imaginative and grounded in place.

For street names, students drew inspiration from the Bellarine’s coastal landscape, native flora and fauna, and the changing seasons.

Several of these names have now been shortlisted and will move through the council’s formal approval process.

Street names endure for generations, and involving young locals ensures this new neighbourhood begins with a genuine sense of belonging.

When it came to the park and playground, the ideas were equally thoughtful.

Students imagined adventure play elements, climbing structures, swings and flying foxes, along with shaded spaces for families to gather.

Many suggested incorporating natural materials and designs that reflect the nearby McLeods Waterholes and surrounding landscape.

Their feedback will help guide the detailed design of the $2 million park and playground to be delivered as part of stage one.

“When children contribute, they think about how a place will feel, not just how it will function,” an Ample representative said.

“That perspective reminds us that neighbourhoods are where friendships form, bikes are first ridden, and memories take shape.”

Located beside a 14-hectare nature reserve and within walking distance of schools and local shops, McLeods Drysdale is designed to grow naturally from the community that already exists.

Pre-release registrations have been strong, reflecting continued demand for well-planned communities on the Bellarine.

Ample is currently progressing planning and statutory approvals, with the first stage anticipated to launch in autumn 2026.

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