Sustainability

'The ARA's objective is to build on the community's existing sense of place by establishing Armadale as a centre of excellence in sustainability'.

Rainwater Tanks at Champion Drive

The Armadale Redevelopment Authority (ARA) is pleased to announce that the 55 hectare Champion Drive residential estate will be the first housing estate in WA to require the installation of rainwater tanks as a condition of planning approval.

Approximately 515 lots, a primary school site and two significant areas of open space will be subdivided in early-mid 2006. All single and multi residential dwellings will be required to install a minimum 2500L rainwater tank plumbed to toilets and cold water washing machine outlets and install a rainbank or equivalent water controller system.

The tanks must be plumbed to the home and will not be available for residents to use as drinking water given the restrictions imposed by the Department of Health. Although not mandated by the ARA, greywater systems will be encouraged. The estate will also require all dwellings to achieve a five star energy rating and demonstrate 50% use of native plants in the garden. These initiatives will set a new benchmark within the development industry and raise the profile of products such as rainwater tanks and greywater systems within the wider community.

Development and Community

The Armadale Redevelopment Authority believes that by initiating new approaches to development and community building by applying the principles of Sustainability it can establish a “point of difference” for the future Armadale. We have taken a number of steps in the right direction, some were straightforward, and others challenged the way in which we plan and undertake development. Following the release of the Implementation Strategy for Sustainability in 2003, the ARA is working to progress the actions contained in the plan.

Implementation Strategy for Sustainability

The WA Government’s Sustainability Strategy draft, released last year, is an important step in WA’s journey towards sustainability. In building on the Strategy, the ARA released the Implementation Strategy for Sustainability in August 2003. The action plan for the redevelopment areas sets specific goals that include the objectives of the State Strategy for urban renewal and revitalisation. The Authority will work with Armadale’s community networks, businesses, the City of Armadale and State Government agencies to promote sustainable development and implement the strategy.

Sustainability Audit

After many months of research and consultation, the Sustainability Audit was officially launched by the Hon. Alannah MacTiernan Minister for Planning and Infrastructure on Friday 6 May 2005. To view the Audit, please click on ‘Development Applications’ and follow the link.

The first of its kind in Western Australia, the Audit is an online assessment tool integrated with the Development Application process, and will form the basis for assessing the sustainability of proposed developments in the ARA redevelopment areas.

A range of minimum requirements have been established and will apply to all developments located in the ARA areas. The audit has been devised to minimise the information needed to complete an application for development while ensuring social, economic and environmental gains. In conjunction with the City of Armadale, a series of workshops were held for key stakeholders to explain the process and familiarise participants with the web-based self assessment tool pioneered by the ARA.

Local Area Implementation Plans for Sustainability

The plans will guide the structure planning, subdivision and development of Forrestdale Business Park, Champion Lakes, Brookdale and Champion Drive. The plans will establish a clear set of sustainable outcomes for each area and will determine the best means of project delivery to achieve these goals. Guidelines will be included to ensure high quality planning and design outcomes and to encourage the conservation of places of cultural and environmental significance. The guidelines will ensure lots achieve solar lot orientation, protect native vegetation and promote liveable neighbourhood principles.

Sustainable Demonstration Home

The ARA will explore an opportunity with a joint venture to construct a sustainable demonstration home in one of the ARA residential estates. The home will demonstrate the sustainability elements of the Audit including improvements in water and energy efficiency, solar passive design principles and native garden landscaping. The home will demonstrate how using materials and equipment efficiently can reduce the running costs of the home and have many added lifestyle benefits. The home will aim to incorporate affordable features and emphasise practical solutions to achieving sustainable outcomes.

Photo Courtesy of Allan Davies & Trevor Chudleigh Architects

Celebration of Culture
Festival of Perth comes to Armadale

The ARA continues to facilitate cultural events within Armadale as part of the Arts Festival Program. On Saturday 5th March, the ARA and the Perth International Arts Festival made possible a Brazilian Jazz performance, enjoyed by many, at the beautiful setting of Araluen Botanic Park. In the city centre, the Jull Street Mall played host to a chain of free international and local events on Saturday 19th February as part of the Armadale Fiesta.

The ARA continues in 2005 to sponsor and facilitate an annual art and craft award promoting Nyoongar culture as part of the NAIDOC week celebrations. NAIDOC week has become an important local celebration of Indigenous culture and activity, with visitors coming from far-a-field to join in the traditions.

‘Cultural heritage contributes a layer of meaning based on the familiar.
It provides links to the past that reinforce the community’s sense of identity and place’

ARA redevelopment areas include a number of sites that reflect Armadale’s heritage. A Cultural Heritage Strategy has recently been prepared to ensure places of significance within the redevelopment areas, are identified, conserved and appropriately managed.

Did you know…?
The Obelisk Memorial Park, Armadale has been recorded as the oldest in Australia by the Coastal Districts Times, May 1956.

Champion Lakes
A total area of approximately 40 hectares will be planted following the construction of the Lakes, including public open space, lake banks and fringing vegetation


In addition to the recreation and social opportunities, the development will add value to the local environment creating a 54.3ha conservation category wetland area, including 32.7ha of permanent open water. A total area of 21.07 hectares is purposely set aside for conservation including conservation islands, wading bird habitat, and revegetated bush sites. Extensive revegetation programs, weed eradication programs, extensive planting of fringing reeds in the riparian zone, and rehabilitation of the Conservation Category wetland vegetation at Southern River will be undertaken throughout the project.

Community Development Strategy

The ARA is unique among Redevelopment Authorities as its Act specifically requires it to undertake economic and social development.

The ARA is establishing a Community Development Strategy which identifies the opportunities for the ARA to contribute to the social vitalisation of the Armadale region. The Strategy will guide the Authority in the social planning and development of its Redevelopment Areas. Some of the initial projects include working with the Member for Armadale Hon Alannah MacTiernan and City of Armadale to locate a skateboard park in the City Centre precinct, facilitate the development of an Education Access Centre in a purpose built facility adjacent to the new Railway Station and projects that promote a ‘sense of place’ and cultural heritage.

Education

"The plan is for the new centre to house local year 11 and 12 students, Curtin University, TAFE and Open Learning Australia"

Through the ARA, the Government is funding a $100,000 study into developing a major educational precinct in the Armadale centre. The study will coincide with the Department of Education and Training’s Local Area Education Plan for Armadale.

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said “We are looking at the possibility of establishing a state-of-the-art educational facility right in the heart of Armadale.” The new centre will be approximately three – four storeys high and built according to best practice energy efficiency standards. It is likely to house the Armadale City Library and an internet café on the ground floor and general classroom facilities on the upper levels. The plan is for the new centre to house local year 11 and 12 students, Curtin University, TAFE and Open Learning Australia. It is anticipated the study will be complete by mid-2005.

GreenSmart

The ARA will investigate and promote new methods of urban
development that minimise the use and wastage of water and
create attractive and efficient environments.

In 2003 the ARA became a regional partner of the HIA GreenSmart Program. As an accredited regional partner, the ARA is committed to:

• Contribute to improving the environmental performance of the building industry;
• Deliver environmental improvements that are responsive to community expectations of building types and costs; and
• Work with other GreenSmart professionals to pursue good environmental management in the building industry.

GreenSmart Approach to New Development

The ARA will encourage leading edge environmental practices in all its industrial and residential developments.

Executive Director, John Ellis said "that the ARA had entered into a partnership with GreenSmart, a national initiative of the Housing Industry Association, to promote cost-effective and environmentally sensitive building."

Mr Ellis said "that GreenSmart was a package of practical environmental measures that emphasised environmental and affordability considerations at the same time by focusing on the full cost of constructing, owning and running a home."

"This approach ties in with the ARA's overall aim of establishing Armadale as a centre of excellence in sustainable development," he said. "Buildings will be designed on solar passive principles to reduce infrastructure costs, energy consumption and water use and enhance sense of place and environmental awareness".

The GreenSmart approach would also benefit business and industry by reducing the costs of development and doing business.

The GreenSmart partnership is consistent with our sustainable development strategy and when combined with best practice water-sensitive subdivision, will ensure the best social, environmental and economic outcomes for Armadale".

WA Sustainable Industry Group

The ARA became a signatory to the WA Cleaner Production Statement on 20 June 2003. The goal of Cleaner Production is to increase resource efficiency and to minimise and/or prevent wastes and emissions being generated in the production and distribution of goods and services.

The ARA is working with WA SIG to promote cleaner production and eco-efficiency in the redevelopment of Armadale-Kelmscott.

Carbon Neutral Program

The ARA became a member of the Carbon Neutral Program, an initiative of Men of the Trees, on 20 May 2004. This initiative means that 98 trees will be planted to offset the calculated annual carbon emissions of the three ARA fleet vehicles. All trees planted for the Carbon Neutral Program will be audited, grown specifically for the local environment in areas of high priority, with follow-up maintenance carried out on all sites.

‘Sustainable Armadale’ Calico Bags

The ARA is committed to the State Governments Waste 2020 Strategy. In a bid to reduce the use and number of plastic bags within the city, the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and local Member for Armadale, Alannah MacTiernan, launched The Great Armadale Calico Bag Giveaway on 11 June 2004. The joint project by the ARA, Armadale Shopping City and the City of Armadale will see 10,000 calico bags distributed to local residents. Used just twice a week, these 10,000 bags will save 1.4 million plastic bags a year!

Memoranda of Understanding

Southern River/ Forrestdale/ Brookdale/ Wungong

In recognition of the importance of the local river networks, In October 2003 the ARA signed a MoU to preserve and enhance the health of the local river system.

The agreement is with the Environmental Protection Authority, Water and Rivers Commission, WA Planning Commission, City of Armadale, City of Gosnells and the Water Corporation. It is aimed at promoting co-operation in the implementation of the Southern River, Forrestdale, Brookdale and Wungong Urban Water Management Strategy.

Water Management

In February 2004, the ARA and CSIRO signed a MoU to partner and demonstrate best practice in natural resource management, urban water management and built form integration for community development in Armadale.

CSIRO Healthy Country

The ARA is taking part in the CSIRO Healthy Country National Research Flagship, which aims to investigate and implement new initiatives for urban water cycle management in Brookdale. Brookdale is one of two pilot projects to develop new urban water management systems in this national program.

The challenge is how to drive increased water benefits from Australia's limited water resources in the face of increasing demands from industry, urban development and irrigation, and at the same time achieve healthy rivers and fisheries.

Neighbourhood Improvement Project

In conjunction with the City of Armadale and the Department of Housing and works, the ARA joined NIP in 2003. This initiative has resulted in verge improvements, home safety and security assessments; Switched on Living pilot energy audits, great garden workshops and the scheduled construction of the Bernice Hargrave Adventure Playground.

Sustainability In-House

The ARA recognises the importance of keeping staff informed on current sustainability initiatives locally, nationally and internationally. Staff regularly attend training, presentations, workshops and lectures on sustainability programs and initiatives.

In the office the ARA promotes double-sided printing, electronic editing and the use of email to reduce paper consumption. Paper and other resources are recycled, and one document copy is circulated to staff to reduce the need to make numerous copies of the same document.

With the office located within easy walking distance of the Armadale train station and bus routes, staff use public transport where possible to attend meetings and functions.