CURRENT PROJECTS

OUR CURRENT PROJECTS INCLUDE:

CRANBOURNE WEST URBAN GROWTH PLAN

Cranbourne West is one of the key areas identified to provide for the growth of the Casey-Cardinia corridor—the fastest-growing and most distant of Melbourne’s growth areas. In addition to residential communities, the 795ha site is envisaged to incorporate a significant employment component to diversify and reduce the deficit of jobs in the corridor. The brief calls for best practice in sustainable urban development. The scale of the site and its abuttal to a passenger rail line present the opportunity to create a genuinely sustainable community—environmentally, socially and economically. The potential also exists for the project to play a role in addressing the lack of social infrastructure in older, adjoining communities.
DLA has been appointed as the lead consultant for the Urban Growth Plan, and has commenced a highly collaborative process involving a large team of specialist consultants and stakeholders.

ARMSTRONG CREEK URBAN GROWTH PLAN

The Armstrong Creek Urban Growth Plan aims to concentrate the majority of the growth of Geelong for the foreseeable future into a comprehensively-planned community to its south. The 4,300ha area is envisaged to accommodate more than 50,000 people. DLA was the lead consultant for the Urban Growth Plan. This involved leading a large team of specialist consultants and stakeholders through a highly collaborative process. The plan applies best practice in sustainable urban development, incorporating concepts such as walkable neighbourhoods, a jobs-homes balance, housing choice, water sensitive urban design, and renewable energy and water sources. A quarter of the site is retained as nature conservation areas.
The urban growth plan proposes two new railway stations and a local public transport network on dedicated routes. It also sets minimum densities in order to ensure the viability of neighbourhood facilities.
The Urban Growth Plan is currently on exhibition.

LAURIMAR TOWN CENTRE DEVELOPMENT PLAN

The Mernda Growth Area has long been identified as one of Melbourne’s key outlets for urban expansion. Drapac Property established the 334 hectare Laurimar development in 1995, with the goal of succeeding where traditional suburbia has failed to create a sense of community.
DLA has been retained in an ongoing role to advise on the development of the overall master plan for Laurimar and lead the master planning of the town centre. This has involved the facilitation of a number of design workshops and the coordination and synthesis of specialist environmental, transport and retail economics inputs.
DLA is currently finalising the town centre master plan and negotiating the approval of new planning provisions for the town centre.

TOWER HILL MASTER PLAN

Tower Hill represents a refreshing direction for regional planning, creating a distinct break from traditional low-density residential suburban design. Medium density housing, mixed use development and water sensitive urban design were combined to create a unique development sensitive to the need to increase urban densities in the area while responding to the demands of a country town in a dry, rural environment.
DLA led the design of this new neighbourhood centre and residential suburb. Its contribution to the project operated at a range of scales, spanning strategic urban planning through to the design of detailed landscape design elements. Tower Hill represents a significant extension of Swan Hill - incorporating 1500 dwellings, a neighbourhood centre and a town square - creating a new neighbourhood approximately one third the size of the existing town. A structure plan and subdivision layout for the suburb are complemented by built form design guidelines which aim to create a consistent, environmentally sensitive and equitable urban environment.
The town square is a key feature of the development, providing an attractive entrance into the suburb and a central focal point for community activity. It will accommodate the local neighbourhood centre, an entrance into the TAFE and potential for local offices. Careful landscaping ensure that it is well-connected to the residential streets and the park opposite. Significant vegetation within the site is also maintained to contribute a degree of maturity to the landscape.
Stage 1of the development, including the town square, is currently under construction.