urban development
Googonians —
‘Living the good life’ Susan Farr*
A Googonian is a proud new owner of a sustainable home in the new township of Googong, conveniently located between Canberra in the ACT and Queanbeyan in Southern NSW. This premium development is centred on values of sustainability, affordability and community, and has established innovative and ambitious sustainability goals that are serving to demonstrate best practice both in Australia and internationally.
G
oogong, named after the
innovation criteria. If achieved, the five-star
nearby hills surrounding
rating will symbolise Australian best practice.
the Googong Dam, is being
hectares less than Sydney’s Centennial Park. Montgomery Creek, as the centrepiece of the Googong Common, has its attractive
developed in partnership by
Planning and design
natural features enhanced through WSUD
CIC and Mirvac, and will
“If you build it, they will come” became the
that manages flooding and treats stormwater
provide over 5500 homes
mantra in the first stages of the development,
through the ‘chain of ponds’ — a series of
for a community of 16,000 as it evolves in
which included a clubhouse, sporting oval and
natural ephemeral ponds, small channels
stages over the next 25 years to become
parks to show how future Googonians were
and marshy meadows. The water-sensitive
the largest urban development in the Sydney
going to be part of a walkable and friendly
design incorporates a series of online and
to Canberra corridor. AECOM has helped to
community where children “are practically free
offline bioretention systems that will slow
develop the master plan, water sensitive urban
range” and linked by parklands, wildlife cor-
and treat stormwater as it flows through the
design (WSUD) and landscape plan.
ridors and safe pedestrian and cycle networks.
watercourse.
was a key enabler for the initial development
Ecology and environment
Creek corridor will be regenerated using
approval and is a distinguishing feature attract-
Respect for ecological and environmental
planting propagated from local species, while
ing people who want to be part of a sustainable
values is a key component of Googong Com-
degraded areas will be revegetated with native
community. AECOM is now helping Googong
mon, a large parkland meandering through
species. Native grassland will be protected,
apply for a 5-Star Green Star – Communities
the township that will be the ‘green lungs’ of
along with habitats for other threatened spe-
rating, which measures planning, design and
Googong. 23% of Googong will be dedicated to
cies. Aprasia Park is named after the Pink
construction outcomes against governance,
parklands and open space, including Googong
Tailed Worm Lizard (a legless Googonian), a
design, liveability, economic, environment and
Common. This totals 183 hectares, just 6
vulnerable species that will be offered protec-
The township’s approach to sustainability
Native bushland within the Montgomery
This issue is sponsored by — Schneider Electric — http://www.schneider-electric.com.au/sites/australia/en/products-services/product-launch/smart-panels/smart-panels.page 23