Urban renewal follows GreenSmart path
30/06/2006A new approach is changing the face of the older suburb of Queens Park.
Peet & Company Ltd in partnership with Landstart, the development arm of the Department of Housing and Works and the City of Canning, is managing the urban renewal of Quattro - The New Queens Park to create a more liveable community with enhanced facilities and surroundings.
The emphasis is on sustainable, environmentally friendly development that will complement an active program of community development and relationship building which is changing the atmosphere of the overall area.
Plans for a demonstration home which will be a model for an affordable, solar friendly dwelling which can also be used by Peet as a sales office have been completed.
Encouraging a diversity of housing styles is a key part of the urban renewal process and Peet will create new building lots from the site of the former Homewest Maniana precinct, where housing is being demolished.
The site comprises 24ha with around 270 homes being demolished. A GreenSmart-approved display home village will be constructed on the site by Perth's leading building firms.
Planning for the new residential layout of this area has required intensive reshaping to reconfigure roads and create linkages between neighbourhoods, increase pedestrian access and enhance passive surveillance. With increased visibility of homes residents will be in a more open setting with improved streetscapes, parks and recreational facilities.
Many existing older Homeswest dwellings in the wider Queens Park area are being refurbished and some will be offered for sale. The aim of the approach to built form within the urban renewal project is to create better quality, affordable housing.
A wide range of landscaping works is now underway throughout the suburb. The emphasis is on water-wise planting and a 'tree-infill' program is now underway which aims to replace missing street trees with new, healthy varieties which will eventually add to the ambiance of the area.
"Key principles underlie this approach to the renewal of what is basically an ageing but well located suburb. These include raising the level of home ownership and creating stronger community links as well as improving the surroundings in an environmentally friendly way so that residents can take pride in their neighbourhood," said Peet Managing Director, Warwick Hemsley.
"As one of Australia's largest residential property developers responsible for a range of award-winning estates, many notable for their environmental initiatives, Peet is well placed to carry out the transformation of Queens Park on behalf of the Department of Housing & Works and in partnership with its community."
Mr Hemsley said the approach relied upon utilising the existing strengths of the established community and replacing and renewing built form in a manner that was sensitive to over-arching theme of sustainability.
"Community consultation and development through assisting groups within the area with sponsorship support is a key part of the approach."
