Lots of homes

By Melissa Grant
A MASTER-PLAN for a 7000-lot residential development in the Pakenham-Beaconsfield corridor is being considered as growth in Cardinia Shire continues to boom.
State Planning Minister Justin Madden this week referred the proposal, which will eventually see 20,000 people move into the corridor, to the Priority Development Panel to make sure it complies with the broader strategy for managing growth in the municipality.
Mr Madden said the panel would be asked to consider a master plan for the Cardinia Road residential development.
If approved about 1000 hectares of land would be rezoned.
Plans would also include a shopping centre and business park to provide a mix of employment for residents.
Mr Madden said it was important to maintain the supply of affordable homes, while still ensuring liveability and sustainability.
“This area is one of strategic importance and has been a key focus of Government agency, the Growth Areas Authority’s work to maintain a supply of land for good quality, affordable housing and, importantly, housing built around healthy, strong communities,” he said.
As well as outlining housing design, the plan would provide details about how to protect and restore habitat for the growling grass frog, and include open spaces around the Toomuc and Gum Scrub creeks which border the development.
The announcement of the master-plan comes after the first residential development in the Pakenham-Beaconsfield corridor was officially launched on Tuesday.
Mr Madden turned the first sod to begin the construction on the $115 million, 685-lot AVJennings Arena housing estate in Officer.
Mr Madden said Arena would be a high quality, well-planned neighbourhood and community.
“This estate reflects the Government’s focus of putting community development at the heart of planning,” he said.
“It will be pedestrian friendly, incorporate 25 per cent open space for various recreational activities and contain sustainability features.”
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato said master-planned neighbourhoods like Arena were desirable as they encouraged a mixture of housing allotments alongside sporting fields, recreation reserves, shops, schools and transport options, such as the Officer train station located just two minutes from the estate.
Cardinia Shire mayor Bill Ronald welcomed the Arena estate but added it was important that developers didn’t lose sight of the bigger picture.
“Currently grazing land, it is sometimes hard to imagine the transformation that will soon sweep through this site,” he said.
“But I have seen it happen before and it’s critical that developers don’t lose sight of the long-term effect that an estate like this can have and leave a responsibly planned legacy, not only for the council but the existing community.”
It is expected the panel will report to Mr Madden before the middle of next year.