Collie Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia

Armstrong Creek East Precinct Structure Plan for Warralily

Armstrong Creek East forms part of the Geelong urban growth area which straddles the Surf Coast Highway and extends to the outskirts of Torquay. Located 8 kilometres to the south of Geelong, the Armstrong Creek Urban Growth Area (ACUGA) is the largest continuous growth area in Victoria comprising 2,500 hectares. It will become home to about 55,000 people as the key urban extension of Greater Geelong. It will accommodate the major expansion pressures of Greater Geelong for the next 20 years. The ACUGA area consists of seven precincts to be masterplanned on a precinct by precinct basis via the precinct structure planning process. The Armstrong Creek East Precinct (ACEP) which comprises approximately 800 hectares, is the first precinct structure plan to be implemented in the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme via Amendment C206. The ACEP will become a highly sought-after location for living, working and recreation, forming an attractive addition to Geelong.

The Project

Collie was appointed by the Armstrong Creek Development Corporation (the Corporation), as one of the key members of the team to work closely with the Department for Planning and Community Development (DPCD), the Corporation and the City of Greater Geelong (CoGG). Collie provided strategic planning input, prepared the Armstrong Creek East Precinct Structure Plan (ACEPSP) and assisted the passage from exhibition to gazettal as a proactive project team member. As part of this project eight core ingredients of the ACEPSP have been identified

image and character;
subdivision and housing;
community facilities;
public open space and natural systems;
employment and activity centres;
transport and movement;
utilities and energy;
drainage and floodplain management.

Integral to the overall vision for this ACEPSP is the creation of Warralily, the attractive and liveable new community which will be drawn together by an association with Armstrong Creek. Warralily is to comprise

about 7000 housing lots;
a neighbourhood activity centre of about 10,000 square metres floor space;
a local activity centre - 1000 square metres;
200 hectares of public open space;
73 hectares of community facility land;
16 hectares of habitat conservation area;
a retained and enhanced Armstrong Creek public open space corridor;
a recycled water reticulation system.

An Approval First

This ACEPSP is not only one of the first to be approved outside Melbourne; it is also one of the quickest to be approved in terms of time taken from exhibition to gazettal; and it is recognized as having experienced a very smooth flow through its panel hearing, in direct contrast to what is the general practice.

Setting New Benchmarks in Best Practice and Urban Development

Natural and cultural features will be protected and enhanced to create a distinct urban character including creating 'green' cycling and walking links, conserving the indigenous tree communities which will be protected and regenerated and new landscaping and tree planting consistent with the existing landscape while protecting and enhancing areas of environmental significance and areas with recognised heritage value. Each resident will be within close proximity to public open space; there will be 'walkable' neighbourhoods with access to public transport and mixed use activity centres.

Genuine, Open and Constructive Team Work

A significant contribution to the success of the project has been the genuine, open and constructive teamwork between the key participants, especially CoGG, DPCD, the Corporation and the project team.