Best of health for new suburb

AUSTRALIA’S most environmentally friendly suburb will be built in Cranbourne East.
The 1000-home estate is a joint initiative between the Growth Areas Authority and the Planning Institute of Australia, and will be built by developer Stockland.
The new suburb will feature water-saving designs, pedestrian pathways, a Catholic secondary college and a primary school.
Victorian general manager of Stockland, Kingsley Andrew, said the two industry bodies looked forward to working closely with the City of Casey to produce a community “we can all be proud of”.
Planning Minister Justin Madden said the project was a first for Victoria.
“The Stockland project is the first of its kind involving government, planners and commercial developers,” he said.
“The master plan will focus on a new community beyond individual homes to design healthy communities,” he said.
Wide open spaces would be a key component of the new development and are designed to encourage exercise and fitness amongst residents.
With Melbourne growing at more than 1200 new residents a week, Mr Madden said the project would lift the benchmark for new residential developments.
“As well as fast-tracking 90,000 new homes in our growth areas to meet our growing population, we want to build communities that are less car-dependent, less power and water hungry and more liveable,” he said.
“The Government’s focus is on putting ‘liveability’ at the front and centre of new developments, by getting the strategic planning right the first time.”
Casey councillor Steve Beardon welcomed the development, but said new public transport infrastructure needed to complement the estate.
“It sounds great, people love living near walking trails and paths, but they don’t solve the traffic jams on the roads or the squeeze on public transport in the area,” he said.
“If 1000 new homes are going to be built, then the Cranbourne East railway project becomes a priority, as well as additional bus services.”