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Springthorpe

This unique project was recognised for its quality and innovation when it was awarded the Best Residential Development in Australia 2004 by the UDIA. Springthorpe is a redevelopment of the former Mont Park Psychiatric and Macleod Repatriation hospital sites located in Macleod, which is 15km north east of the CBD.

The site -

• 75 hectares of land, formerly owned by the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments.
• Is surrounded by LaTrobe University, the Strathallan golf course, Gresswell Forest and native grasslands. The Gresswell Hill Reserve is wholly contained within the site.
• 800 dwellings sites, including a retirement village and numerous medium density lots.
• Has natural beauty, readily apparent from the historic buildings, retention of tree lined roads that were first setout 90 years ago, and the native vegetation around Gresswell Hill.

Urban Pacific’s vision for Springthorpe was to create a vibrant living environment that offered a diverse range of lifestyle opportunities for residents and engendered a real sense of community. One part of achieving this vision has been the construction of the Springthorpe Country Club, which includes a swimming pool and tennis courts.

PGA -

• Facilitated a photogrammetric survey of the site, which was then supplemented by a ground survey to locate the trunks of more than 5,000 trees. The trees were then assessed and ranked in categories of importance and rules governing the retention of nearly all the significant trees were determined. The layout of the proposed subdivision was then designed, and Darebin City Council approved a Development Plan in 2001.
• Was responsible for all the surveying works, including the subdivision of the site. This involved an ongoing process of creating stage lots to facilitate the handover of the site from both Governments to Urban Pacific Ltd., as well as the eventual creation of the residential lots. Whilst all the roads and provision of services are in the traditional public domain, PGA created an owner corporation structure to include all Springthorpe’s residents. This approach was necessitated by the need to construct the Country Club on common property so as to restrict access to residents only. The body corporate also exercises controls on the standard of housing, and has negotiated an agreement whereby residents can have access to some of the facilities at LaTrobe University.
• Provided the engineering design and supervision for 76 lots in the later stages of the development. This has involved seeking innovative solutions to the problems associated with draining and sewering the lots around the Gresswell Hill, including installation of a sewerage pumping station.