Category: Land Sub-division
Project: Emu Point
Client: LandCorp
Location: Albany
Timeframe: July 2007 – current
Background
This project required a detailed structure plan, landscape design and identification of urban design policies for LandCorp’s 34 ha Emu Point residential development near Albany, Western Australia.
In line with sustainability principles, the Emu Point residential development has been planned to be an environmentally-friendly residential community, that complements its coastal and bushland setting. In particular, 60 per cent of the land was proposed to be retained for natural vegetation, to help preserve the natural environment.
LandCorp hopes to make the Emu Point community an example of how to respond to, rather than impact, the natural environment. However, despite the ideals of the project, there have been a number of challenges to overcome.
Harley Dykstra was appointed to co-ordinate the project team for the development of the Consultation Strategy and Local Structure Plan.
Challenges
During the process, the project team, faced a number of issues, including, but not limited to:
Community consultation and social capital for the development;
Balancing planning, engineering and environmental requirements, some of which were conflicting;
Delays caused by a lengthy environmental approval process, some of which is still ongoing and
Co-ordination of a large project team, with varied backgrounds and professions.
To address these issues, LandCorp and the project team undertook frequent community consultation at all stages of the development process, including the following stages:
Presentation of the initial concept plan and subsequent environmental studies being undertaken;
Presentation of the Opportunities and Constraints Plan, resultant from an extensive SWOT assessment process;
Presentation of the draft Concept Plan; and
Presentation of the Local Structure Plan subject to final approval by the City of Albany and WAPC.
In particular the structure plan identified alternative living options within the project to minimise the development footprint, including apartment living and medium density housing.
Outcomes
Some of the underlying issues impacting the project related to conflicts between planning, environmental and engineering consultancies and their concepts for the site as well as traditional work practices.
To address these problems, the project team maintained regular meetings in which the consultants brainstormed solutions to overcome technical problems. This also aided in keeping the process open and transparent, keeping all project team members involved and up-to-date.
Overall, there have been a number of unique challenges in the planning for the future development of the project site, however Harley Dykstra has approached these with proven methodologies to deliver quality outcomes in a timely manner.
The Emu Point residential development is currently with the City of Albany for approval, following the resolution of environmental matters and approvals.
We have also adequately achieved project budgets and timeframes for project deliverables as required by the client.