#Home Builders Rockbank

[varnihomes]

Build Your Perfect Home with a Custom Builder in Rockbank

Whether you have a clear vision or need expert help designing your dream home, our custom home builders in Rockbank provide personalized guidance, superior craftsmanship, and a seamless process from concept to completion. We focus on turning your ideas into reality while ensuring the highest standards of quality, functionality, and style.

[atbespokehomes]

Custom Home Builders Rockbank | Home Builders Rockbank

Best Custom Home Builders in Rockbank, Contact the Team at Atbespokehomes. Our Experts Will Guide You Through the Process for Single Storey, Double Storey and Custom Home Plans in Rockbank. Enquire Today!

read more :-  Custom Home Builders Rockbank

[house98ghewre]

why invest in property

House and Land Australia

Are you searching for the right home builders in Australia? Today, many real estates across the country provide different innovative homes, home styles, and designs. Exploring the properties across the globe it’s a bit challenging. Some factors that many consider when investing in the property are first to find the best real estate agent value, locations, house and land packages. 

House and Land World (https://www.houseandlandworld.com/) is one of the top real estate builders in Melbourne Australia of Mahercop Company. Building your dream home come to life, affordable, offers a high-quality standard of craftsmanship, and offer the best design. You can now check the best location and home design perfect for your new home https://www.houseandlandworld.com/packages/1404-claremont-avenue-rockbank/. They know that understanding your needs and house and land is their top priority. The hassle-free online call is one step away from owning the best home that you dream of. 

[homeshelfau]

'I'm looking for a 4 bed single storey home with a theatre room and master at the front, for a 14x28m land size" (An enquiry over the weekend in Bridgefield, Rockbank. Introducing the Belmont 241 by @omniahomes.⁣ #dreamhome #houseplan #homeshelf⁣⁣⁣⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ ⁣#designinspiration #mydreamhome ⁣ #findyourdreamhome ⁣#interiorlovers #openfloorplan #buildingahouse #builders #newhomes⁣⁣ #househunting #dreamhouse #uniquedesign⁣ #designinspo⁣ #melbournehome #buildersmelbourne #houseplans #floorplan #builder #melbournebuilders #newhomedesign https://www.instagram.com/p/B1s3xxonMCz/?igshid=1izt6n89xfjqv

[toughmodel-blog]

Journey to our first home #1

Thought I'd start a blog to chronicle our journey to our first home. This will sort of serve as a diary so we can look back and reminisce the process of obtaining our first home. We started going to display homes at the start of this year. We decided to set our goal which is to buy a house at the end of year. I worked out our finances and told Ralph to save half of our salary to reach that certain amount for the deposit. We first went to Point Cook just to survey the market. For me, point cook is a nice, posh area among all south west suburbs. This place was our first target. I saw an ad on facebook regarding an open house in Featherbrook estate, so we went there clueless of what to expect. Upon talking to a sales rep, we realized how expensive this area is. 400 sqm of land which is our target size, cost $300k plus already in that estate. Since we were told that they are already in their last stages, we decided to move to Upper Point Cook. There we realized that there is no way we can afford that area. In a sense that we won't be able to do what we want to do (travel, eating out) and earn just enough to pay mortgage and daily necessities. We decided to look into Weribee. We still had nothing to pay for a deposit especially that we were scheduled to go to Philippines for vacation. First estate we went to is Alwood. We just gave it a try to be familiar with the process of buying a house. We saw a house and land package under JG King which was offering thr cheapest in that area. We spoke to the sales rep and he referred us to thr builder. We went to see the builder and ended up doing a quote. It was a total of 467k with 20k discount due to the 'promo'. It has all the things we want in the house and moat importantly within our budget. It's just that we didn't have the funds at the time. They tried convincing us in all sorts of ways but failed. We didn't close the deal but atleast we have an idea of the process now. We went for a nice 3 week vacation in the Philippines and came back. We were sort of sad that we found a house that fits the budget but we didn't have the means to buy it. I started browsing thru real estate website looking for cheaper established homes in the area only to find out they get sold easily which was disappointing especially when u find a house that you like. Went to a point that we stopped looking since it's useless because we can't do anything if we find something due to lack of funds. Fast forward to today, and we finally put in a deposit on the land and our chosen builder. How did we end up here? Alot of f push pull, come and go. Since we cannot afford Point Cook anymore, we decided to look for an established house in Geelong which is where we both work. But shit happened and we went looking again in Melbourne. Thinking we can't afford Weribee anymore, we decided to look into Rockbank. Turns out prices are the same as Weribee. We went as further as South Melton where land is cheap and whole package is well within our budget. Though we knew the reputation of this burb is not good, we still put in a security deposit on the land. We were persuaded by the reps saying that it's a nice new estate which is buing develop by the same company who developed Caroline Springs. We had 7 days to pull out or our many will go to waste. Did our research regarding the area and overall concensus wasn't good. We cancelled our purchase and went back to Weribee. We even returned to the previous estate and builder reps to check if this area is still within the budget. Turns out, land in Weribee is actually selling out fast. To the point that they need to use a ballot system. You need to be drawn for you to buy the land. We knew there's a land release 2 Saturdays ago. We weren't keen because we knew it's a ballot system and we weren't in a hurry. But then our previous builder called informing us the they got a land available that will fit our budget. And that the previous client pulled out. We ask if he can put a hold on the land and that we will drop by at the land office before 5. Knowing that this estate has the same developer as our previous ones, i ask if they can transfer the security deposit to this estate. They agreed and gave us a week to pay the 5% deposit. Spent the whole week looking for builder and weighing out which offer the best deal which fallls within our price range. It was a tie between Orion who has good reviews based on the estates FB group, JG King who secured our current land and Mimosa home. We considered Metricon as well but overall reviews both online and from friends aren't good. On the other hand Carlisle had the best floor plan but comes with a steep price. As well as Fairhaven whose not willing to do a price match. In the end, it's between JG king who agreed on making some changes to accomodate the floor plan that I like and still within our budget but had negative feedback online or Mimosa with smaller floor plan but comes with good reviews. After weighing pros and cons, we decided to pursue Mimosa homes due to good feedback and standard inclusions that's just within pur budget. Contract signing day came and we encountered another problem. We didn't have 10% deposit. Meaning we had to secure a builder first within the estate inborder for us to pay just 5%. We we're given ultimatum til 4:30 to find a builder or pAy the 10%. We went to Mimosa, did another quote, this time with the upgrades that we want. Was more than satisfied with the outcome plus we got a discount for being nice customers. He agreed on the floor plan that i like without extra cost, upgraded kitchen island to waterfalls (1500) and undermount sink (450), high ceiling 2900mm (2500) and door upgrades (managers discount). The reason why we chose Mimosa as well is because of their inclusions which are fly screen, concrete drive way, alfresco, remote control for garage, and still end up within our desired price range. Whereas if you check with other builder, those are considered upgrades. There's alot of good feedback as well that you can find online. We paid 2k for builders deposit and finally got a receipt from them to show to land sales rep so we can pay 5% for the land and sign the contract. It took about 40 minutes of signing and explaining the agreement. Then finally, putting a sold sticker on our lot to make it official. It was an exciting day for us to finally found our future house. We felt blessed and decided to go straight to church for an anticipated mass to give thanks for this wonderful chapter in out adult life. Now we just have to wait til our land titles. For the mean time, we need to book an appointmet to the builder for a tour in their display gallery and choose our preferences for the house and to the broker as well to look into our finances. Thank you Lord for letting us reach our goal.

[homeimprovementsau]

Which Points Should You Know Before Purchasing Your Dream Homes?

Buying a home is a fascinating thing for every people, but it is also a daunting task if you don’t know how to start and what to buy. We all have one home imagination for home, but finding it from the Rockbank Display Homes is no simple task. To search for your desire home, you contact contractors or builders for various home ranges. But before you visit any display home, you should be aware of the process and a few things which you should know about buying a home as per requirements. If you do not feel regrate after purchasing home, then you should learn below things and enjoy your dream come true feeling. 1. Know Your Capacity Whenever you visit any home or meet New Home Builders you should clear about your buying capacity. In your mind fixed some budget limit and only visited that home which comes in your budget limits. Whenever this limit gives you indication and alerts you to balance between your needs and desire. Don’t convince from the lander to buy their property in their budget, stand for yourself and be clear about your borrowing capacity. 2. Learn About the Property Market Cycles If you focus on the property market cycles, then you know what the correct time to purchase a home is. When you notice some hike in the market then doesn’t invest in the property, you can buy a home when the market is stable or goes down. Market research is significant for the very first buyer. 3. Take Your Time for Arriving on Decision Buying a home is not a one-night decision-taking task so that you should spend your time with the real estate agent, loan office, and most importantly, lander. When you spend time with the lender, then you can negotiate some mortgage and possibly gets the best deal. If this situation not come then you also take some more time to arrange money for home purchasing. 4. Keep Above Requirement on Finishing In your Rockbank Display Homes visiting, some home looks great, but it does not fulfill your regular need then it is worth buying it. So, keep your mind in control while you are on the visit to display homes. Your decision only comes after deep thinking and considering every small measurement and advice from experts. 5. Get Information About Hidden Costs Home buying process not completed without hidden costs. In the property transaction, there are so many common values are related to each other, which you should before any documentation coming. Want to know which? The answer is given below: Loan establishment fees Building insurance Rate adjustment Stump duty Inspection cost Legal fees Utility connection 6. Imperfection Is Reality If you think, your desire home is easily available in the market then you should clear that this not possible. Even though you don’t get an exact match of your home, the preface home concept is not present in reality. That’s why the home check just like, is it filling your needs appropriately or not? If yes then go on the second stage and not then go to visit the next home. On a Final Note If you know the above points before you visiting Rockbank Display Homes, then you never regrate on your decision and get the desire home in your budget limits. Wish you to get a desire home. Read the full article

[porchenclose10019]

The eco-friendly estates that are leaving a lighter footprint

The eco-friendly estates that are leaving a lighter footprint Victoria 26/03/2017, 11:00 am 26/03/2017, 11:00 am Johanna Leggatt Johanna Leggatt is a Melbourne-based freelance journalist, who covers property, arts, lifestyle, travel and interiors. A contributor to the Herald Sun's Realestate liftout, she is also a former section editor for NewsCorp, and spent two years as a freelance online editor with The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian in London. Previously she worked as a court journalist for Australian Associated Press and as a general news and features journalist for The Sun-Herald in Sydney. She is a devotee of period homes and owns an art deco cottage in Melbourne's north. She is also currently writing a novel in her (non-existent) spare time.

The Cutlers display home at The Cape estate at Cape Paterson.

IT’S rare to find an estate these days that does not incorporate some form of “green” living.

From open spaces and rehabilitated natural environments to energy-efficient homes, eco fundamentals are being put front and centre by developers. But it wasn’t always this way.

According to Matthew Dean, project director of Woodlea estate, in Rockbank, by Victoria Investments & Properties and Mirvac, the development of estates was a different industry two decades ago.

Chilling out at Woodlea, in Rockbank, where open space makes up 30 per cent of the estate.

“It used to be about clearing the land, building the estate and getting out,” Mr Dean said. “Now it’s about looking after the environment and creating a sense of community, and that was something that started to shift about 15 years ago and has really come along in the last five or 10 years.”

Dacland general manager of design Jonathon Fetterplace said green initiatives at estates were “almost a given”.

“These days, you have to demonstrate your credentials to buyers; you have to demonstrate the way you’re going to work with the land,” Mr Fetterplace said. “It’s not about simply cutting up the land and constructing houses.”

Nature nurture

Mr Fetterplace said one of the first considerations when designing a new estate was to “understand the context of the land”.

“We look at the eco system that was there previously,” he said.

At Dacland’s Mitchell’s Run estate in Doreen, for example, the community was built around the old river red gums, which formed a critical part of the flora and fauna. Conversely, at Dacland’s Rothwell estate in Tarneit, there are no river red gums and the watercourses had run dry.

“So we now collect stormwater run-off, which is funnelled into a rain garden that filters the water to then flow through the watercourse,” Mr Fetterplace said. “It’s about a transition from an environmental ecosystem to an urban ecosystem.”

High and mighty: a preserved river red gum at Mitchell’s Run estate in Doreen.

Mr Dean said the natural environment had become fundamental to new developments. “Developers now see the established environment as an asset, whereas in the past it was a liability because there was land there that they couldn’t transfer into residential,” he said.

“We look at the established environments as assets that residents can enjoy from day one.”

At Woodlea, 30 per cent of the estate is dedicated to open space and every home is about two minutes’ walk to a park. It has also been certified as an EnviroDevelopment by the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA).

EnviroDevelopment is the UDIA’s independent assessment scheme that awards certification to communities that meet green standards across the areas of waste management, energy, water, community wellbeing and eco systems.

Mr Dean said many developers were regenerating woodlands and waterways in the early phases of the project, rather than waiting for the authorities to do so at a later date. “It means that you can regenerate the environment straight away, so it’s there to enjoy when residents move in,” he said.

Star player

The Cape, at Cape Paterson, 132km southeast of Melbourne, is billed as Australia’s most energy-efficient housing estate.

The estate’s director, Brendan Condon, wanted to build a community that set a new benchmark for comfort, sustainability and ultra-low running costs.

“Compared to other countries, Australia seems to lag behind in terms of energy efficiency,” said Mr Condon, who has overseen a range of biodiversity, stormwater, wetlands and urban food production projects in his role as managing director for Australian Ecosystems.

The requirement for all new homes built in Victoria is a six-star energy rating, but each home at The Cape, a 220-lot development, is at least 7.5 stars, with the average coming in at above eight stars.

The Oaks display home at The Cape, which is one of two display homes at the estate.

“We start, first and foremost, with passive solar design, making sure that the home is orientated correctly on the block to make the most of summer and winter,” Mr Condon said.

The entire community, by development company Cape Paterson Ecovillage, is solar-powered and built with carbon-neutral materials. Each home has rainwater storage, energy-efficient LED lighting, double glazing and an Eco hot water heat-pump system by Sanden.

“The energy bills will come out at about $500 a year, as opposed to the thousands that people usually pay,” Mr Condon said. “The homes are beautifully comfortable in all weather conditions, including hot spells.”

Stage one of The Cape is complete and the first residents have moved in. Buyers can choose from one of 10 home designs or work with a builder to customise their home. There are two display homes to inspect.

Homes start at less than $300,000 for a two-bedroom home with study and ensuite, and from $400,000 for a double-storey, four-bedroom home.

“The premium on such an energy-efficient home is quite low, at less than 3 per cent,” Mr Condon said.

The living area of the Cutlers display home at The Cape estate.

The community will feature high-speed broadband to all homes, a cafe, conference centre, gardens, wetlands, fitness stations, restored habitat areas, electric-vehicle charge stations and kilometres of walking paths overlooking the beach.

“With direct beach access and more than 50 per cent of the land dedicated to open space, it’s just a beautiful place to live,” Mr Condon said.

Cream of the crop

One of the big selling points of The Cape is its water-efficient community garden by Biofilta.

The garden is watered via a rainwater-harvesting system that collects surplus rainwater from homes.

And it features raised “wicking” garden beds that water plants from below, rather than above — each garden bed holds a reservoir of water in its base, and moisture is drawn up through the soil via a process called wicking.

Mr Condon said the watering method was ultra-efficient and had reduced watering and weeding requirements to a fraction of conventional food gardens.

“The garden is set to produce around $140,000 of produce per annum for residents who are interested in gardening, and we will be developing a food-box scheme for those who don’t have time but are keen on the produce,” Mr Condon said. “We produced half a tonne of organic tomatoes this summer for our residents.”

The Cape’s water-efficient community garden, which features raised “wicking” beds.

Water works

Other developers are also looking to reduce household water and energy use. At Villawood’s Aquarevo estate, in Lyndhurst, household demand for mains drinking water will be cut by up to 70 per cent.

As part of a collaboration between Villawood Properties and the Victorian Government’s water utility South East Water, each home in the 460-lot community will have a clever water system that will draw on three water sources: Class A recycled water; mains drinking water; and rainwater.

The Class A recycled water will be used for toilets, washing-machine cold taps and outdoor taps. It will be supplied by a water-recycling plant within the estate, which will receive wastewater from homes via an intelligent pressure sewer.

Drinking water will be used for kitchen taps and, if residents choose, for laundry cold taps. Rainwater, stored in each home’s rainwater tank connected to a hot-water system, will deliver hot water for showers, baths and laundry hot taps.

Another enviro-friendly feature will be Tank Talk. The innovation will use weather-forecast data to ensure rainwater tanks are topped up with the freshest rainfall and release older water to feed local wetlands and parks, reducing the risk of stormwater flooding.

Homes will also be fitted with the OneBox system, which tracks water and energy use and displays the details to homeowners via an app. Homes will also feature 2.5kW solar panels and be ready for battery storage and electric-vehicle recharging.

Villawood Properties executive director Rory Costelloe said Aquarevo was one of the company’s most successful developments so far. “We had 70 groups lining up recently to camp out for 44 lots,” he said. “We expected camping out, but not that many people.”

An artist’s impression of Aquarevo estate, in Lyndhurst, where reliance on mains water has been dramatically reduced.

Follow us on Twitter for more news, tips and inspiration. Like us on Facebook or explore our Pinterest boards.

from DIYS http://ift.tt/2nApEyT

[repwinpril9y0a1]

The eco-friendly estates that are leaving a lighter footprint

The eco-friendly estates that are leaving a lighter footprint Victoria 26/03/2017, 11:00 am 26/03/2017, 11:00 am Johanna Leggatt Johanna Leggatt is a Melbourne-based freelance journalist, who covers property, arts, lifestyle, travel and interiors. A contributor to the Herald Sun's Realestate liftout, she is also a former section editor for NewsCorp, and spent two years as a freelance online editor with The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian in London. Previously she worked as a court journalist for Australian Associated Press and as a general news and features journalist for The Sun-Herald in Sydney. She is a devotee of period homes and owns an art deco cottage in Melbourne's north. She is also currently writing a novel in her (non-existent) spare time.

The Cutlers display home at The Cape estate at Cape Paterson.

IT’S rare to find an estate these days that does not incorporate some form of “green” living.

From open spaces and rehabilitated natural environments to energy-efficient homes, eco fundamentals are being put front and centre by developers. But it wasn’t always this way.

According to Matthew Dean, project director of Woodlea estate, in Rockbank, by Victoria Investments & Properties and Mirvac, the development of estates was a different industry two decades ago.

Chilling out at Woodlea, in Rockbank, where open space makes up 30 per cent of the estate.

“It used to be about clearing the land, building the estate and getting out,” Mr Dean said. “Now it’s about looking after the environment and creating a sense of community, and that was something that started to shift about 15 years ago and has really come along in the last five or 10 years.”

Dacland general manager of design Jonathon Fetterplace said green initiatives at estates were “almost a given”.

“These days, you have to demonstrate your credentials to buyers; you have to demonstrate the way you’re going to work with the land,” Mr Fetterplace said. “It’s not about simply cutting up the land and constructing houses.”

Nature nurture

Mr Fetterplace said one of the first considerations when designing a new estate was to “understand the context of the land”.

“We look at the eco system that was there previously,” he said.

At Dacland’s Mitchell’s Run estate in Doreen, for example, the community was built around the old river red gums, which formed a critical part of the flora and fauna. Conversely, at Dacland’s Rothwell estate in Tarneit, there are no river red gums and the watercourses had run dry.

“So we now collect stormwater run-off, which is funnelled into a rain garden that filters the water to then flow through the watercourse,” Mr Fetterplace said. “It’s about a transition from an environmental ecosystem to an urban ecosystem.”

High and mighty: a preserved river red gum at Mitchell’s Run estate in Doreen.

Mr Dean said the natural environment had become fundamental to new developments. “Developers now see the established environment as an asset, whereas in the past it was a liability because there was land there that they couldn’t transfer into residential,” he said.

“We look at the established environments as assets that residents can enjoy from day one.”

At Woodlea, 30 per cent of the estate is dedicated to open space and every home is about two minutes’ walk to a park. It has also been certified as an EnviroDevelopment by the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA).

EnviroDevelopment is the UDIA’s independent assessment scheme that awards certification to communities that meet green standards across the areas of waste management, energy, water, community wellbeing and eco systems.

Mr Dean said many developers were regenerating woodlands and waterways in the early phases of the project, rather than waiting for the authorities to do so at a later date. “It means that you can regenerate the environment straight away, so it’s there to enjoy when residents move in,” he said.

Star player

The Cape, at Cape Paterson, 132km southeast of Melbourne, is billed as Australia’s most energy-efficient housing estate.

The estate’s director, Brendan Condon, wanted to build a community that set a new benchmark for comfort, sustainability and ultra-low running costs.

“Compared to other countries, Australia seems to lag behind in terms of energy efficiency,” said Mr Condon, who has overseen a range of biodiversity, stormwater, wetlands and urban food production projects in his role as managing director for Australian Ecosystems.

The requirement for all new homes built in Victoria is a six-star energy rating, but each home at The Cape, a 220-lot development, is at least 7.5 stars, with the average coming in at above eight stars.

The Oaks display home at The Cape, which is one of two display homes at the estate.

“We start, first and foremost, with passive solar design, making sure that the home is orientated correctly on the block to make the most of summer and winter,” Mr Condon said.

The entire community, by development company Cape Paterson Ecovillage, is solar-powered and built with carbon-neutral materials. Each home has rainwater storage, energy-efficient LED lighting, double glazing and an Eco hot water heat-pump system by Sanden.

“The energy bills will come out at about $500 a year, as opposed to the thousands that people usually pay,” Mr Condon said. “The homes are beautifully comfortable in all weather conditions, including hot spells.”

Stage one of The Cape is complete and the first residents have moved in. Buyers can choose from one of 10 home designs or work with a builder to customise their home. There are two display homes to inspect.

Homes start at less than $300,000 for a two-bedroom home with study and ensuite, and from $400,000 for a double-storey, four-bedroom home.

“The premium on such an energy-efficient home is quite low, at less than 3 per cent,” Mr Condon said.

The living area of the Cutlers display home at The Cape estate.

The community will feature high-speed broadband to all homes, a cafe, conference centre, gardens, wetlands, fitness stations, restored habitat areas, electric-vehicle charge stations and kilometres of walking paths overlooking the beach.

“With direct beach access and more than 50 per cent of the land dedicated to open space, it’s just a beautiful place to live,” Mr Condon said.

Cream of the crop

One of the big selling points of The Cape is its water-efficient community garden by Biofilta.

The garden is watered via a rainwater-harvesting system that collects surplus rainwater from homes.

And it features raised “wicking” garden beds that water plants from below, rather than above — each garden bed holds a reservoir of water in its base, and moisture is drawn up through the soil via a process called wicking.

Mr Condon said the watering method was ultra-efficient and had reduced watering and weeding requirements to a fraction of conventional food gardens.

“The garden is set to produce around $140,000 of produce per annum for residents who are interested in gardening, and we will be developing a food-box scheme for those who don’t have time but are keen on the produce,” Mr Condon said. “We produced half a tonne of organic tomatoes this summer for our residents.”

The Cape’s water-efficient community garden, which features raised “wicking” beds.

Water works

Other developers are also looking to reduce household water and energy use. At Villawood’s Aquarevo estate, in Lyndhurst, household demand for mains drinking water will be cut by up to 70 per cent.

As part of a collaboration between Villawood Properties and the Victorian Government’s water utility South East Water, each home in the 460-lot community will have a clever water system that will draw on three water sources: Class A recycled water; mains drinking water; and rainwater.

The Class A recycled water will be used for toilets, washing-machine cold taps and outdoor taps. It will be supplied by a water-recycling plant within the estate, which will receive wastewater from homes via an intelligent pressure sewer.

Drinking water will be used for kitchen taps and, if residents choose, for laundry cold taps. Rainwater, stored in each home’s rainwater tank connected to a hot-water system, will deliver hot water for showers, baths and laundry hot taps.

Another enviro-friendly feature will be Tank Talk. The innovation will use weather-forecast data to ensure rainwater tanks are topped up with the freshest rainfall and release older water to feed local wetlands and parks, reducing the risk of stormwater flooding.

Homes will also be fitted with the OneBox system, which tracks water and energy use and displays the details to homeowners via an app. Homes will also feature 2.5kW solar panels and be ready for battery storage and electric-vehicle recharging.

Villawood Properties executive director Rory Costelloe said Aquarevo was one of the company’s most successful developments so far. “We had 70 groups lining up recently to camp out for 44 lots,” he said. “We expected camping out, but not that many people.”

An artist’s impression of Aquarevo estate, in Lyndhurst, where reliance on mains water has been dramatically reduced.

Follow us on Twitter for more news, tips and inspiration. Like us on Facebook or explore our Pinterest boards.

from DIYS http://ift.tt/2nApEyT

[grgedoors02142]

The eco-friendly estates that are leaving a lighter footprint

The eco-friendly estates that are leaving a lighter footprint Victoria 26/03/2017, 11:00 am 26/03/2017, 11:00 am Johanna Leggatt Johanna Leggatt is a Melbourne-based freelance journalist, who covers property, arts, lifestyle, travel and interiors. A contributor to the Herald Sun's Realestate liftout, she is also a former section editor for NewsCorp, and spent two years as a freelance online editor with The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian in London. Previously she worked as a court journalist for Australian Associated Press and as a general news and features journalist for The Sun-Herald in Sydney. She is a devotee of period homes and owns an art deco cottage in Melbourne's north. She is also currently writing a novel in her (non-existent) spare time.

The Cutlers display home at The Cape estate at Cape Paterson.

IT’S rare to find an estate these days that does not incorporate some form of “green” living.

From open spaces and rehabilitated natural environments to energy-efficient homes, eco fundamentals are being put front and centre by developers. But it wasn’t always this way.

According to Matthew Dean, project director of Woodlea estate, in Rockbank, by Victoria Investments & Properties and Mirvac, the development of estates was a different industry two decades ago.

Chilling out at Woodlea, in Rockbank, where open space makes up 30 per cent of the estate.

“It used to be about clearing the land, building the estate and getting out,” Mr Dean said. “Now it’s about looking after the environment and creating a sense of community, and that was something that started to shift about 15 years ago and has really come along in the last five or 10 years.”

Dacland general manager of design Jonathon Fetterplace said green initiatives at estates were “almost a given”.

“These days, you have to demonstrate your credentials to buyers; you have to demonstrate the way you’re going to work with the land,” Mr Fetterplace said. “It’s not about simply cutting up the land and constructing houses.”

Nature nurture

Mr Fetterplace said one of the first considerations when designing a new estate was to “understand the context of the land”.

“We look at the eco system that was there previously,” he said.

At Dacland’s Mitchell’s Run estate in Doreen, for example, the community was built around the old river red gums, which formed a critical part of the flora and fauna. Conversely, at Dacland’s Rothwell estate in Tarneit, there are no river red gums and the watercourses had run dry.

“So we now collect stormwater run-off, which is funnelled into a rain garden that filters the water to then flow through the watercourse,” Mr Fetterplace said. “It’s about a transition from an environmental ecosystem to an urban ecosystem.”

High and mighty: a preserved river red gum at Mitchell’s Run estate in Doreen.

Mr Dean said the natural environment had become fundamental to new developments. “Developers now see the established environment as an asset, whereas in the past it was a liability because there was land there that they couldn’t transfer into residential,” he said.

“We look at the established environments as assets that residents can enjoy from day one.”

At Woodlea, 30 per cent of the estate is dedicated to open space and every home is about two minutes’ walk to a park. It has also been certified as an EnviroDevelopment by the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA).

EnviroDevelopment is the UDIA’s independent assessment scheme that awards certification to communities that meet green standards across the areas of waste management, energy, water, community wellbeing and eco systems.

Mr Dean said many developers were regenerating woodlands and waterways in the early phases of the project, rather than waiting for the authorities to do so at a later date. “It means that you can regenerate the environment straight away, so it’s there to enjoy when residents move in,” he said.

Star player

The Cape, at Cape Paterson, 132km southeast of Melbourne, is billed as Australia’s most energy-efficient housing estate.

The estate’s director, Brendan Condon, wanted to build a community that set a new benchmark for comfort, sustainability and ultra-low running costs.

“Compared to other countries, Australia seems to lag behind in terms of energy efficiency,” said Mr Condon, who has overseen a range of biodiversity, stormwater, wetlands and urban food production projects in his role as managing director for Australian Ecosystems.

The requirement for all new homes built in Victoria is a six-star energy rating, but each home at The Cape, a 220-lot development, is at least 7.5 stars, with the average coming in at above eight stars.

The Oaks display home at The Cape, which is one of two display homes at the estate.

“We start, first and foremost, with passive solar design, making sure that the home is orientated correctly on the block to make the most of summer and winter,” Mr Condon said.

The entire community, by development company Cape Paterson Ecovillage, is solar-powered and built with carbon-neutral materials. Each home has rainwater storage, energy-efficient LED lighting, double glazing and an Eco hot water heat-pump system by Sanden.

“The energy bills will come out at about $500 a year, as opposed to the thousands that people usually pay,” Mr Condon said. “The homes are beautifully comfortable in all weather conditions, including hot spells.”

Stage one of The Cape is complete and the first residents have moved in. Buyers can choose from one of 10 home designs or work with a builder to customise their home. There are two display homes to inspect.

Homes start at less than $300,000 for a two-bedroom home with study and ensuite, and from $400,000 for a double-storey, four-bedroom home.

“The premium on such an energy-efficient home is quite low, at less than 3 per cent,” Mr Condon said.

The living area of the Cutlers display home at The Cape estate.

The community will feature high-speed broadband to all homes, a cafe, conference centre, gardens, wetlands, fitness stations, restored habitat areas, electric-vehicle charge stations and kilometres of walking paths overlooking the beach.

“With direct beach access and more than 50 per cent of the land dedicated to open space, it’s just a beautiful place to live,” Mr Condon said.

Cream of the crop

One of the big selling points of The Cape is its water-efficient community garden by Biofilta.

The garden is watered via a rainwater-harvesting system that collects surplus rainwater from homes.

And it features raised “wicking” garden beds that water plants from below, rather than above — each garden bed holds a reservoir of water in its base, and moisture is drawn up through the soil via a process called wicking.

Mr Condon said the watering method was ultra-efficient and had reduced watering and weeding requirements to a fraction of conventional food gardens.

“The garden is set to produce around $140,000 of produce per annum for residents who are interested in gardening, and we will be developing a food-box scheme for those who don’t have time but are keen on the produce,” Mr Condon said. “We produced half a tonne of organic tomatoes this summer for our residents.”

The Cape’s water-efficient community garden, which features raised “wicking” beds.

Water works

Other developers are also looking to reduce household water and energy use. At Villawood’s Aquarevo estate, in Lyndhurst, household demand for mains drinking water will be cut by up to 70 per cent.

As part of a collaboration between Villawood Properties and the Victorian Government’s water utility South East Water, each home in the 460-lot community will have a clever water system that will draw on three water sources: Class A recycled water; mains drinking water; and rainwater.

The Class A recycled water will be used for toilets, washing-machine cold taps and outdoor taps. It will be supplied by a water-recycling plant within the estate, which will receive wastewater from homes via an intelligent pressure sewer.

Drinking water will be used for kitchen taps and, if residents choose, for laundry cold taps. Rainwater, stored in each home’s rainwater tank connected to a hot-water system, will deliver hot water for showers, baths and laundry hot taps.

Another enviro-friendly feature will be Tank Talk. The innovation will use weather-forecast data to ensure rainwater tanks are topped up with the freshest rainfall and release older water to feed local wetlands and parks, reducing the risk of stormwater flooding.

Homes will also be fitted with the OneBox system, which tracks water and energy use and displays the details to homeowners via an app. Homes will also feature 2.5kW solar panels and be ready for battery storage and electric-vehicle recharging.

Villawood Properties executive director Rory Costelloe said Aquarevo was one of the company’s most successful developments so far. “We had 70 groups lining up recently to camp out for 44 lots,” he said. “We expected camping out, but not that many people.”

An artist’s impression of Aquarevo estate, in Lyndhurst, where reliance on mains water has been dramatically reduced.

Follow us on Twitter for more news, tips and inspiration. Like us on Facebook or explore our Pinterest boards.

from DIYS http://ift.tt/2nApEyT

[pat78701]

The eco-friendly estates that are leaving a lighter footprint

The eco-friendly estates that are leaving a lighter footprint Victoria 26/03/2017, 11:00 am 26/03/2017, 11:00 am Johanna Leggatt Johanna Leggatt is a Melbourne-based freelance journalist, who covers property, arts, lifestyle, travel and interiors. A contributor to the Herald Sun's Realestate liftout, she is also a former section editor for NewsCorp, and spent two years as a freelance online editor with The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian in London. Previously she worked as a court journalist for Australian Associated Press and as a general news and features journalist for The Sun-Herald in Sydney. She is a devotee of period homes and owns an art deco cottage in Melbourne's north. She is also currently writing a novel in her (non-existent) spare time.

The Cutlers display home at The Cape estate at Cape Paterson.

IT’S rare to find an estate these days that does not incorporate some form of “green” living.

From open spaces and rehabilitated natural environments to energy-efficient homes, eco fundamentals are being put front and centre by developers. But it wasn’t always this way.

According to Matthew Dean, project director of Woodlea estate, in Rockbank, by Victoria Investments & Properties and Mirvac, the development of estates was a different industry two decades ago.

Chilling out at Woodlea, in Rockbank, where open space makes up 30 per cent of the estate.

“It used to be about clearing the land, building the estate and getting out,” Mr Dean said. “Now it’s about looking after the environment and creating a sense of community, and that was something that started to shift about 15 years ago and has really come along in the last five or 10 years.”

Dacland general manager of design Jonathon Fetterplace said green initiatives at estates were “almost a given”.

“These days, you have to demonstrate your credentials to buyers; you have to demonstrate the way you’re going to work with the land,” Mr Fetterplace said. “It’s not about simply cutting up the land and constructing houses.”

Nature nurture

Mr Fetterplace said one of the first considerations when designing a new estate was to “understand the context of the land”.

“We look at the eco system that was there previously,” he said.

At Dacland’s Mitchell’s Run estate in Doreen, for example, the community was built around the old river red gums, which formed a critical part of the flora and fauna. Conversely, at Dacland’s Rothwell estate in Tarneit, there are no river red gums and the watercourses had run dry.

“So we now collect stormwater run-off, which is funnelled into a rain garden that filters the water to then flow through the watercourse,” Mr Fetterplace said. “It’s about a transition from an environmental ecosystem to an urban ecosystem.”

High and mighty: a preserved river red gum at Mitchell’s Run estate in Doreen.

Mr Dean said the natural environment had become fundamental to new developments. “Developers now see the established environment as an asset, whereas in the past it was a liability because there was land there that they couldn’t transfer into residential,” he said.

“We look at the established environments as assets that residents can enjoy from day one.”

At Woodlea, 30 per cent of the estate is dedicated to open space and every home is about two minutes’ walk to a park. It has also been certified as an EnviroDevelopment by the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA).

EnviroDevelopment is the UDIA’s independent assessment scheme that awards certification to communities that meet green standards across the areas of waste management, energy, water, community wellbeing and eco systems.

Mr Dean said many developers were regenerating woodlands and waterways in the early phases of the project, rather than waiting for the authorities to do so at a later date. “It means that you can regenerate the environment straight away, so it’s there to enjoy when residents move in,” he said.

Star player

The Cape, at Cape Paterson, 132km southeast of Melbourne, is billed as Australia’s most energy-efficient housing estate.

The estate’s director, Brendan Condon, wanted to build a community that set a new benchmark for comfort, sustainability and ultra-low running costs.

“Compared to other countries, Australia seems to lag behind in terms of energy efficiency,” said Mr Condon, who has overseen a range of biodiversity, stormwater, wetlands and urban food production projects in his role as managing director for Australian Ecosystems.

The requirement for all new homes built in Victoria is a six-star energy rating, but each home at The Cape, a 220-lot development, is at least 7.5 stars, with the average coming in at above eight stars.

The Oaks display home at The Cape, which is one of two display homes at the estate.

“We start, first and foremost, with passive solar design, making sure that the home is orientated correctly on the block to make the most of summer and winter,” Mr Condon said.

The entire community, by development company Cape Paterson Ecovillage, is solar-powered and built with carbon-neutral materials. Each home has rainwater storage, energy-efficient LED lighting, double glazing and an Eco hot water heat-pump system by Sanden.

“The energy bills will come out at about $500 a year, as opposed to the thousands that people usually pay,” Mr Condon said. “The homes are beautifully comfortable in all weather conditions, including hot spells.”

Stage one of The Cape is complete and the first residents have moved in. Buyers can choose from one of 10 home designs or work with a builder to customise their home. There are two display homes to inspect.

Homes start at less than $300,000 for a two-bedroom home with study and ensuite, and from $400,000 for a double-storey, four-bedroom home.

“The premium on such an energy-efficient home is quite low, at less than 3 per cent,” Mr Condon said.

The living area of the Cutlers display home at The Cape estate.

The community will feature high-speed broadband to all homes, a cafe, conference centre, gardens, wetlands, fitness stations, restored habitat areas, electric-vehicle charge stations and kilometres of walking paths overlooking the beach.

“With direct beach access and more than 50 per cent of the land dedicated to open space, it’s just a beautiful place to live,” Mr Condon said.

Cream of the crop

One of the big selling points of The Cape is its water-efficient community garden by Biofilta.

The garden is watered via a rainwater-harvesting system that collects surplus rainwater from homes.

And it features raised “wicking” garden beds that water plants from below, rather than above — each garden bed holds a reservoir of water in its base, and moisture is drawn up through the soil via a process called wicking.

Mr Condon said the watering method was ultra-efficient and had reduced watering and weeding requirements to a fraction of conventional food gardens.

“The garden is set to produce around $140,000 of produce per annum for residents who are interested in gardening, and we will be developing a food-box scheme for those who don’t have time but are keen on the produce,” Mr Condon said. “We produced half a tonne of organic tomatoes this summer for our residents.”

The Cape’s water-efficient community garden, which features raised “wicking” beds.

Water works

Other developers are also looking to reduce household water and energy use. At Villawood’s Aquarevo estate, in Lyndhurst, household demand for mains drinking water will be cut by up to 70 per cent.

As part of a collaboration between Villawood Properties and the Victorian Government’s water utility South East Water, each home in the 460-lot community will have a clever water system that will draw on three water sources: Class A recycled water; mains drinking water; and rainwater.

The Class A recycled water will be used for toilets, washing-machine cold taps and outdoor taps. It will be supplied by a water-recycling plant within the estate, which will receive wastewater from homes via an intelligent pressure sewer.

Drinking water will be used for kitchen taps and, if residents choose, for laundry cold taps. Rainwater, stored in each home’s rainwater tank connected to a hot-water system, will deliver hot water for showers, baths and laundry hot taps.

Another enviro-friendly feature will be Tank Talk. The innovation will use weather-forecast data to ensure rainwater tanks are topped up with the freshest rainfall and release older water to feed local wetlands and parks, reducing the risk of stormwater flooding.

Homes will also be fitted with the OneBox system, which tracks water and energy use and displays the details to homeowners via an app. Homes will also feature 2.5kW solar panels and be ready for battery storage and electric-vehicle recharging.

Villawood Properties executive director Rory Costelloe said Aquarevo was one of the company’s most successful developments so far. “We had 70 groups lining up recently to camp out for 44 lots,” he said. “We expected camping out, but not that many people.”

An artist’s impression of Aquarevo estate, in Lyndhurst, where reliance on mains water has been dramatically reduced.

Follow us on Twitter for more news, tips and inspiration. Like us on Facebook or explore our Pinterest boards.

from DIYS http://ift.tt/2nApEyT

[varnihomes]

Tips For Customizing The Home With Custom Home Builder Rockbank

The professionals from Custom Home Builder in Rockbank will suggest their clients incorporate these custom Built-ins cabins for their residential and commercial buildings.

[chpatdoorsl3z0a1]

The eco-friendly estates that are leaving a lighter footprint

The eco-friendly estates that are leaving a lighter footprint Victoria 26/03/2017, 11:00 am 26/03/2017, 11:00 am Johanna Leggatt Johanna Leggatt is a Melbourne-based freelance journalist, who covers property, arts, lifestyle, travel and interiors. A contributor to the Herald Sun's Realestate liftout, she is also a former section editor for NewsCorp, and spent two years as a freelance online editor with The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian in London. Previously she worked as a court journalist for Australian Associated Press and as a general news and features journalist for The Sun-Herald in Sydney. She is a devotee of period homes and owns an art deco cottage in Melbourne's north. She is also currently writing a novel in her (non-existent) spare time.

The Cutlers display home at The Cape estate at Cape Paterson.

IT’S rare to find an estate these days that does not incorporate some form of “green” living.

From open spaces and rehabilitated natural environments to energy-efficient homes, eco fundamentals are being put front and centre by developers. But it wasn’t always this way.

According to Matthew Dean, project director of Woodlea estate, in Rockbank, by Victoria Investments & Properties and Mirvac, the development of estates was a different industry two decades ago.

Chilling out at Woodlea, in Rockbank, where open space makes up 30 per cent of the estate.

“It used to be about clearing the land, building the estate and getting out,” Mr Dean said. “Now it’s about looking after the environment and creating a sense of community, and that was something that started to shift about 15 years ago and has really come along in the last five or 10 years.”

Dacland general manager of design Jonathon Fetterplace said green initiatives at estates were “almost a given”.

“These days, you have to demonstrate your credentials to buyers; you have to demonstrate the way you’re going to work with the land,” Mr Fetterplace said. “It’s not about simply cutting up the land and constructing houses.”

Nature nurture

Mr Fetterplace said one of the first considerations when designing a new estate was to “understand the context of the land”.

“We look at the eco system that was there previously,” he said.

At Dacland’s Mitchell’s Run estate in Doreen, for example, the community was built around the old river red gums, which formed a critical part of the flora and fauna. Conversely, at Dacland’s Rothwell estate in Tarneit, there are no river red gums and the watercourses had run dry.

“So we now collect stormwater run-off, which is funnelled into a rain garden that filters the water to then flow through the watercourse,” Mr Fetterplace said. “It’s about a transition from an environmental ecosystem to an urban ecosystem.”

High and mighty: a preserved river red gum at Mitchell’s Run estate in Doreen.

Mr Dean said the natural environment had become fundamental to new developments. “Developers now see the established environment as an asset, whereas in the past it was a liability because there was land there that they couldn’t transfer into residential,” he said.

“We look at the established environments as assets that residents can enjoy from day one.”

At Woodlea, 30 per cent of the estate is dedicated to open space and every home is about two minutes’ walk to a park. It has also been certified as an EnviroDevelopment by the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA).

EnviroDevelopment is the UDIA’s independent assessment scheme that awards certification to communities that meet green standards across the areas of waste management, energy, water, community wellbeing and eco systems.

Mr Dean said many developers were regenerating woodlands and waterways in the early phases of the project, rather than waiting for the authorities to do so at a later date. “It means that you can regenerate the environment straight away, so it’s there to enjoy when residents move in,” he said.

Star player

The Cape, at Cape Paterson, 132km southeast of Melbourne, is billed as Australia’s most energy-efficient housing estate.

The estate’s director, Brendan Condon, wanted to build a community that set a new benchmark for comfort, sustainability and ultra-low running costs.

“Compared to other countries, Australia seems to lag behind in terms of energy efficiency,” said Mr Condon, who has overseen a range of biodiversity, stormwater, wetlands and urban food production projects in his role as managing director for Australian Ecosystems.

The requirement for all new homes built in Victoria is a six-star energy rating, but each home at The Cape, a 220-lot development, is at least 7.5 stars, with the average coming in at above eight stars.

The Oaks display home at The Cape, which is one of two display homes at the estate.

“We start, first and foremost, with passive solar design, making sure that the home is orientated correctly on the block to make the most of summer and winter,” Mr Condon said.

The entire community, by development company Cape Paterson Ecovillage, is solar-powered and built with carbon-neutral materials. Each home has rainwater storage, energy-efficient LED lighting, double glazing and an Eco hot water heat-pump system by Sanden.

“The energy bills will come out at about $500 a year, as opposed to the thousands that people usually pay,” Mr Condon said. “The homes are beautifully comfortable in all weather conditions, including hot spells.”

Stage one of The Cape is complete and the first residents have moved in. Buyers can choose from one of 10 home designs or work with a builder to customise their home. There are two display homes to inspect.

Homes start at less than $300,000 for a two-bedroom home with study and ensuite, and from $400,000 for a double-storey, four-bedroom home.

“The premium on such an energy-efficient home is quite low, at less than 3 per cent,” Mr Condon said.

The living area of the Cutlers display home at The Cape estate.

The community will feature high-speed broadband to all homes, a cafe, conference centre, gardens, wetlands, fitness stations, restored habitat areas, electric-vehicle charge stations and kilometres of walking paths overlooking the beach.

“With direct beach access and more than 50 per cent of the land dedicated to open space, it’s just a beautiful place to live,” Mr Condon said.

Cream of the crop

One of the big selling points of The Cape is its water-efficient community garden by Biofilta.

The garden is watered via a rainwater-harvesting system that collects surplus rainwater from homes.

And it features raised “wicking” garden beds that water plants from below, rather than above — each garden bed holds a reservoir of water in its base, and moisture is drawn up through the soil via a process called wicking.

Mr Condon said the watering method was ultra-efficient and had reduced watering and weeding requirements to a fraction of conventional food gardens.

“The garden is set to produce around $140,000 of produce per annum for residents who are interested in gardening, and we will be developing a food-box scheme for those who don’t have time but are keen on the produce,” Mr Condon said. “We produced half a tonne of organic tomatoes this summer for our residents.”

The Cape’s water-efficient community garden, which features raised “wicking” beds.

Water works

Other developers are also looking to reduce household water and energy use. At Villawood’s Aquarevo estate, in Lyndhurst, household demand for mains drinking water will be cut by up to 70 per cent.

As part of a collaboration between Villawood Properties and the Victorian Government’s water utility South East Water, each home in the 460-lot community will have a clever water system that will draw on three water sources: Class A recycled water; mains drinking water; and rainwater.

The Class A recycled water will be used for toilets, washing-machine cold taps and outdoor taps. It will be supplied by a water-recycling plant within the estate, which will receive wastewater from homes via an intelligent pressure sewer.

Drinking water will be used for kitchen taps and, if residents choose, for laundry cold taps. Rainwater, stored in each home’s rainwater tank connected to a hot-water system, will deliver hot water for showers, baths and laundry hot taps.

Another enviro-friendly feature will be Tank Talk. The innovation will use weather-forecast data to ensure rainwater tanks are topped up with the freshest rainfall and release older water to feed local wetlands and parks, reducing the risk of stormwater flooding.

Homes will also be fitted with the OneBox system, which tracks water and energy use and displays the details to homeowners via an app. Homes will also feature 2.5kW solar panels and be ready for battery storage and electric-vehicle recharging.

Villawood Properties executive director Rory Costelloe said Aquarevo was one of the company’s most successful developments so far. “We had 70 groups lining up recently to camp out for 44 lots,” he said. “We expected camping out, but not that many people.”

An artist’s impression of Aquarevo estate, in Lyndhurst, where reliance on mains water has been dramatically reduced.

Follow us on Twitter for more news, tips and inspiration. Like us on Facebook or explore our Pinterest boards.

from DIYS http://ift.tt/2nApEyT

[exfrenchdorsl4p0a1]

The eco-friendly estates that are leaving a lighter footprint

The eco-friendly estates that are leaving a lighter footprint Victoria 26/03/2017, 11:00 am 26/03/2017, 11:00 am Johanna Leggatt Johanna Leggatt is a Melbourne-based freelance journalist, who covers property, arts, lifestyle, travel and interiors. A contributor to the Herald Sun's Realestate liftout, she is also a former section editor for NewsCorp, and spent two years as a freelance online editor with The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian in London. Previously she worked as a court journalist for Australian Associated Press and as a general news and features journalist for The Sun-Herald in Sydney. She is a devotee of period homes and owns an art deco cottage in Melbourne's north. She is also currently writing a novel in her (non-existent) spare time.

The Cutlers display home at The Cape estate at Cape Paterson.

IT’S rare to find an estate these days that does not incorporate some form of “green” living.

From open spaces and rehabilitated natural environments to energy-efficient homes, eco fundamentals are being put front and centre by developers. But it wasn’t always this way.

According to Matthew Dean, project director of Woodlea estate, in Rockbank, by Victoria Investments & Properties and Mirvac, the development of estates was a different industry two decades ago.

Chilling out at Woodlea, in Rockbank, where open space makes up 30 per cent of the estate.

“It used to be about clearing the land, building the estate and getting out,” Mr Dean said. “Now it’s about looking after the environment and creating a sense of community, and that was something that started to shift about 15 years ago and has really come along in the last five or 10 years.”

Dacland general manager of design Jonathon Fetterplace said green initiatives at estates were “almost a given”.

“These days, you have to demonstrate your credentials to buyers; you have to demonstrate the way you’re going to work with the land,” Mr Fetterplace said. “It’s not about simply cutting up the land and constructing houses.”

Nature nurture

Mr Fetterplace said one of the first considerations when designing a new estate was to “understand the context of the land”.

“We look at the eco system that was there previously,” he said.

At Dacland’s Mitchell’s Run estate in Doreen, for example, the community was built around the old river red gums, which formed a critical part of the flora and fauna. Conversely, at Dacland’s Rothwell estate in Tarneit, there are no river red gums and the watercourses had run dry.

“So we now collect stormwater run-off, which is funnelled into a rain garden that filters the water to then flow through the watercourse,” Mr Fetterplace said. “It’s about a transition from an environmental ecosystem to an urban ecosystem.”

High and mighty: a preserved river red gum at Mitchell’s Run estate in Doreen.

Mr Dean said the natural environment had become fundamental to new developments. “Developers now see the established environment as an asset, whereas in the past it was a liability because there was land there that they couldn’t transfer into residential,” he said.

“We look at the established environments as assets that residents can enjoy from day one.”

At Woodlea, 30 per cent of the estate is dedicated to open space and every home is about two minutes’ walk to a park. It has also been certified as an EnviroDevelopment by the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA).

EnviroDevelopment is the UDIA’s independent assessment scheme that awards certification to communities that meet green standards across the areas of waste management, energy, water, community wellbeing and eco systems.

Mr Dean said many developers were regenerating woodlands and waterways in the early phases of the project, rather than waiting for the authorities to do so at a later date. “It means that you can regenerate the environment straight away, so it’s there to enjoy when residents move in,” he said.

Star player

The Cape, at Cape Paterson, 132km southeast of Melbourne, is billed as Australia’s most energy-efficient housing estate.

The estate’s director, Brendan Condon, wanted to build a community that set a new benchmark for comfort, sustainability and ultra-low running costs.

“Compared to other countries, Australia seems to lag behind in terms of energy efficiency,” said Mr Condon, who has overseen a range of biodiversity, stormwater, wetlands and urban food production projects in his role as managing director for Australian Ecosystems.

The requirement for all new homes built in Victoria is a six-star energy rating, but each home at The Cape, a 220-lot development, is at least 7.5 stars, with the average coming in at above eight stars.

The Oaks display home at The Cape, which is one of two display homes at the estate.

“We start, first and foremost, with passive solar design, making sure that the home is orientated correctly on the block to make the most of summer and winter,” Mr Condon said.

The entire community, by development company Cape Paterson Ecovillage, is solar-powered and built with carbon-neutral materials. Each home has rainwater storage, energy-efficient LED lighting, double glazing and an Eco hot water heat-pump system by Sanden.

“The energy bills will come out at about $500 a year, as opposed to the thousands that people usually pay,” Mr Condon said. “The homes are beautifully comfortable in all weather conditions, including hot spells.”

Stage one of The Cape is complete and the first residents have moved in. Buyers can choose from one of 10 home designs or work with a builder to customise their home. There are two display homes to inspect.

Homes start at less than $300,000 for a two-bedroom home with study and ensuite, and from $400,000 for a double-storey, four-bedroom home.

“The premium on such an energy-efficient home is quite low, at less than 3 per cent,” Mr Condon said.

The living area of the Cutlers display home at The Cape estate.

The community will feature high-speed broadband to all homes, a cafe, conference centre, gardens, wetlands, fitness stations, restored habitat areas, electric-vehicle charge stations and kilometres of walking paths overlooking the beach.

“With direct beach access and more than 50 per cent of the land dedicated to open space, it’s just a beautiful place to live,” Mr Condon said.

Cream of the crop

One of the big selling points of The Cape is its water-efficient community garden by Biofilta.

The garden is watered via a rainwater-harvesting system that collects surplus rainwater from homes.

And it features raised “wicking” garden beds that water plants from below, rather than above — each garden bed holds a reservoir of water in its base, and moisture is drawn up through the soil via a process called wicking.

Mr Condon said the watering method was ultra-efficient and had reduced watering and weeding requirements to a fraction of conventional food gardens.

“The garden is set to produce around $140,000 of produce per annum for residents who are interested in gardening, and we will be developing a food-box scheme for those who don’t have time but are keen on the produce,” Mr Condon said. “We produced half a tonne of organic tomatoes this summer for our residents.”

The Cape’s water-efficient community garden, which features raised “wicking” beds.

Water works

Other developers are also looking to reduce household water and energy use. At Villawood’s Aquarevo estate, in Lyndhurst, household demand for mains drinking water will be cut by up to 70 per cent.

As part of a collaboration between Villawood Properties and the Victorian Government’s water utility South East Water, each home in the 460-lot community will have a clever water system that will draw on three water sources: Class A recycled water; mains drinking water; and rainwater.

The Class A recycled water will be used for toilets, washing-machine cold taps and outdoor taps. It will be supplied by a water-recycling plant within the estate, which will receive wastewater from homes via an intelligent pressure sewer.

Drinking water will be used for kitchen taps and, if residents choose, for laundry cold taps. Rainwater, stored in each home’s rainwater tank connected to a hot-water system, will deliver hot water for showers, baths and laundry hot taps.

Another enviro-friendly feature will be Tank Talk. The innovation will use weather-forecast data to ensure rainwater tanks are topped up with the freshest rainfall and release older water to feed local wetlands and parks, reducing the risk of stormwater flooding.

Homes will also be fitted with the OneBox system, which tracks water and energy use and displays the details to homeowners via an app. Homes will also feature 2.5kW solar panels and be ready for battery storage and electric-vehicle recharging.

Villawood Properties executive director Rory Costelloe said Aquarevo was one of the company’s most successful developments so far. “We had 70 groups lining up recently to camp out for 44 lots,” he said. “We expected camping out, but not that many people.”

An artist’s impression of Aquarevo estate, in Lyndhurst, where reliance on mains water has been dramatically reduced.

Follow us on Twitter for more news, tips and inspiration. Like us on Facebook or explore our Pinterest boards.

from DIYS http://ift.tt/2nApEyT

[rtscrndr53704]

The eco-friendly estates that are leaving a lighter footprint

The eco-friendly estates that are leaving a lighter footprint Victoria 26/03/2017, 11:00 am 26/03/2017, 11:00 am Johanna Leggatt Johanna Leggatt is a Melbourne-based freelance journalist, who covers property, arts, lifestyle, travel and interiors. A contributor to the Herald Sun's Realestate liftout, she is also a former section editor for NewsCorp, and spent two years as a freelance online editor with The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian in London. Previously she worked as a court journalist for Australian Associated Press and as a general news and features journalist for The Sun-Herald in Sydney. She is a devotee of period homes and owns an art deco cottage in Melbourne's north. She is also currently writing a novel in her (non-existent) spare time.

The Cutlers display home at The Cape estate at Cape Paterson.

IT’S rare to find an estate these days that does not incorporate some form of “green” living.

From open spaces and rehabilitated natural environments to energy-efficient homes, eco fundamentals are being put front and centre by developers. But it wasn’t always this way.

According to Matthew Dean, project director of Woodlea estate, in Rockbank, by Victoria Investments & Properties and Mirvac, the development of estates was a different industry two decades ago.

Chilling out at Woodlea, in Rockbank, where open space makes up 30 per cent of the estate.

“It used to be about clearing the land, building the estate and getting out,” Mr Dean said. “Now it’s about looking after the environment and creating a sense of community, and that was something that started to shift about 15 years ago and has really come along in the last five or 10 years.”

Dacland general manager of design Jonathon Fetterplace said green initiatives at estates were “almost a given”.

“These days, you have to demonstrate your credentials to buyers; you have to demonstrate the way you’re going to work with the land,” Mr Fetterplace said. “It’s not about simply cutting up the land and constructing houses.”

Nature nurture

Mr Fetterplace said one of the first considerations when designing a new estate was to “understand the context of the land”.

“We look at the eco system that was there previously,” he said.

At Dacland’s Mitchell’s Run estate in Doreen, for example, the community was built around the old river red gums, which formed a critical part of the flora and fauna. Conversely, at Dacland’s Rothwell estate in Tarneit, there are no river red gums and the watercourses had run dry.

“So we now collect stormwater run-off, which is funnelled into a rain garden that filters the water to then flow through the watercourse,” Mr Fetterplace said. “It’s about a transition from an environmental ecosystem to an urban ecosystem.”

High and mighty: a preserved river red gum at Mitchell’s Run estate in Doreen.

Mr Dean said the natural environment had become fundamental to new developments. “Developers now see the established environment as an asset, whereas in the past it was a liability because there was land there that they couldn’t transfer into residential,” he said.

“We look at the established environments as assets that residents can enjoy from day one.”

At Woodlea, 30 per cent of the estate is dedicated to open space and every home is about two minutes’ walk to a park. It has also been certified as an EnviroDevelopment by the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA).

EnviroDevelopment is the UDIA’s independent assessment scheme that awards certification to communities that meet green standards across the areas of waste management, energy, water, community wellbeing and eco systems.

Mr Dean said many developers were regenerating woodlands and waterways in the early phases of the project, rather than waiting for the authorities to do so at a later date. “It means that you can regenerate the environment straight away, so it’s there to enjoy when residents move in,” he said.

Star player

The Cape, at Cape Paterson, 132km southeast of Melbourne, is billed as Australia’s most energy-efficient housing estate.

The estate’s director, Brendan Condon, wanted to build a community that set a new benchmark for comfort, sustainability and ultra-low running costs.

“Compared to other countries, Australia seems to lag behind in terms of energy efficiency,” said Mr Condon, who has overseen a range of biodiversity, stormwater, wetlands and urban food production projects in his role as managing director for Australian Ecosystems.

The requirement for all new homes built in Victoria is a six-star energy rating, but each home at The Cape, a 220-lot development, is at least 7.5 stars, with the average coming in at above eight stars.

The Oaks display home at The Cape, which is one of two display homes at the estate.

“We start, first and foremost, with passive solar design, making sure that the home is orientated correctly on the block to make the most of summer and winter,” Mr Condon said.

The entire community, by development company Cape Paterson Ecovillage, is solar-powered and built with carbon-neutral materials. Each home has rainwater storage, energy-efficient LED lighting, double glazing and an Eco hot water heat-pump system by Sanden.

“The energy bills will come out at about $500 a year, as opposed to the thousands that people usually pay,” Mr Condon said. “The homes are beautifully comfortable in all weather conditions, including hot spells.”

Stage one of The Cape is complete and the first residents have moved in. Buyers can choose from one of 10 home designs or work with a builder to customise their home. There are two display homes to inspect.

Homes start at less than $300,000 for a two-bedroom home with study and ensuite, and from $400,000 for a double-storey, four-bedroom home.

“The premium on such an energy-efficient home is quite low, at less than 3 per cent,” Mr Condon said.

The living area of the Cutlers display home at The Cape estate.

The community will feature high-speed broadband to all homes, a cafe, conference centre, gardens, wetlands, fitness stations, restored habitat areas, electric-vehicle charge stations and kilometres of walking paths overlooking the beach.

“With direct beach access and more than 50 per cent of the land dedicated to open space, it’s just a beautiful place to live,” Mr Condon said.

Cream of the crop

One of the big selling points of The Cape is its water-efficient community garden by Biofilta.

The garden is watered via a rainwater-harvesting system that collects surplus rainwater from homes.

And it features raised “wicking” garden beds that water plants from below, rather than above — each garden bed holds a reservoir of water in its base, and moisture is drawn up through the soil via a process called wicking.

Mr Condon said the watering method was ultra-efficient and had reduced watering and weeding requirements to a fraction of conventional food gardens.

“The garden is set to produce around $140,000 of produce per annum for residents who are interested in gardening, and we will be developing a food-box scheme for those who don’t have time but are keen on the produce,” Mr Condon said. “We produced half a tonne of organic tomatoes this summer for our residents.”

The Cape’s water-efficient community garden, which features raised “wicking” beds.

Water works

Other developers are also looking to reduce household water and energy use. At Villawood’s Aquarevo estate, in Lyndhurst, household demand for mains drinking water will be cut by up to 70 per cent.

As part of a collaboration between Villawood Properties and the Victorian Government’s water utility South East Water, each home in the 460-lot community will have a clever water system that will draw on three water sources: Class A recycled water; mains drinking water; and rainwater.

The Class A recycled water will be used for toilets, washing-machine cold taps and outdoor taps. It will be supplied by a water-recycling plant within the estate, which will receive wastewater from homes via an intelligent pressure sewer.

Drinking water will be used for kitchen taps and, if residents choose, for laundry cold taps. Rainwater, stored in each home’s rainwater tank connected to a hot-water system, will deliver hot water for showers, baths and laundry hot taps.

Another enviro-friendly feature will be Tank Talk. The innovation will use weather-forecast data to ensure rainwater tanks are topped up with the freshest rainfall and release older water to feed local wetlands and parks, reducing the risk of stormwater flooding.

Homes will also be fitted with the OneBox system, which tracks water and energy use and displays the details to homeowners via an app. Homes will also feature 2.5kW solar panels and be ready for battery storage and electric-vehicle recharging.

Villawood Properties executive director Rory Costelloe said Aquarevo was one of the company’s most successful developments so far. “We had 70 groups lining up recently to camp out for 44 lots,” he said. “We expected camping out, but not that many people.”

An artist’s impression of Aquarevo estate, in Lyndhurst, where reliance on mains water has been dramatically reduced.

Follow us on Twitter for more news, tips and inspiration. Like us on Facebook or explore our Pinterest boards.

from DIYS http://ift.tt/2nApEyT