BEFORE the first homes are built at McLeods Drysdale, local children have already helped shape its future.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
As the final residential land precinct to be delivered in Drysdale, McLeods has been planned with connection and long-term liveability at its heart.<\/p>\n
The project team at Ample invited students into the early design conversation, asking them a simple question: what should this neighbourhood feel like?<\/p>\n
The responses were imaginative and grounded in place.<\/p>\n
For street names, students drew inspiration from the Bellarine’s coastal landscape, native flora and fauna, and the changing seasons.<\/p>\n
Several of these names have now been shortlisted and will move through the council’s formal approval process.<\/p>\n
Street names endure for generations, and involving young locals ensures this new neighbourhood begins with a genuine sense of belonging.<\/p>\n
When it came to the park and playground, the ideas were equally thoughtful.<\/p>\n
Students imagined adventure play elements, climbing structures, swings and flying foxes, along with shaded spaces for families to gather.<\/p>\n
Many suggested incorporating natural materials and designs that reflect the nearby McLeods Waterholes and surrounding landscape.<\/p>\n
Their feedback will help guide the detailed design of the $2 million park and playground to be delivered as part of stage one.<\/p>\n
“When children contribute, they think about how a place will feel, not just how it will function,” an Ample representative said.<\/p>\n
“That perspective reminds us that neighbourhoods are where friendships form, bikes are first ridden, and memories take shape.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Pre-release registrations have been strong, reflecting continued demand for well-planned communities on the Bellarine.<\/p>\n
Ample is currently progressing planning and statutory approvals, with the first stage anticipated to launch in autumn 2026.<\/p>\n