New South Wales Sites
Murrays Beach, Wallarah Peninsula (Stages 1 to 7, Lake Sector)
introduction / overview / images / location / Projects
Landscape Architect: EDAW
Location: Murrays Beach, Wallarah Peninsula, New South Wales
Introduction
Wallarah Peninsula is a 600-hectare area of land located some 125 kilometres north of Sydney in a spectacular location of elevated coastal land, bound by the Pacific Ocean and Lake Macquarie. The $500 million primarily residential Murray Beach development takes in all components of sustainability – environmental, social and financial. Since Stockland acquired the land, 180 of the 600 hectares have been transferred to the NSW State Government to create Wallarah National Park.
Since 1995, EDAW has provided extensive ongoing master planning, management planning, concept development, development application and detailed landscape architectural documentation for Wallarah Peninsula, with a strong focus on the environmental quality of the landscape and the lifestyle of its end users.
Murrays Beach (Stages 1-7, Lake Sector), sited on the eastern shore of Lake Macquarie, is the first stage of works to be constructed at Wallarah Peninsula, providing a benchmark for the development and implementation of future stages.
Such an environment requires careful planning, design and management to ensure maintenance of the inherent quality of the landscape as a long-term community asset. The methodology and approach to design was driven by a strong environmental philosophy, supported by fundamental landscape and urban design principles.
The densely vegetated site has varied topography and magnificent scenic outlooks to Lake Macquarie. It comprises a Village Centre, Sales and Information Centre, Village Green and lakeside residential lots, which will form the focus of the Peninsula’s Lake Sector development.
The development intent and approach used at Murrays Beach, to the best of our knowledge, is a first for New South Wales. The approach involved a comprehensive analysis of the site’s flora and fauna, landform and hydrology, using this information to dictate road and landscape design and lot layout, including the siting of building envelopes within individual lots. An indication of current success is the retention of over 70% of the original trees onsite within this stage of development.
Murrays Beach is considered a best practice and pioneering exemplar of how a residential estate with outstanding ecological values and high sensitivity can be developed. To date, it has won both Sustainability and Green Smart Industry awards for the client, Stockland.
introduction / overview / images / location / Projects
2008
