Housing development in Victoria receives environmental certification

Donvale’s environmentally inspired estate, Mullum Creek, has received the highest possible level of certification under the Urban Development Institute of Australia’s (UDIA’s) national EnviroDevelopment program.

Located approximately 20 km from Melbourne CBD in the City of Manningham, all homes being built in the 20-hectare estate must achieve a 7.5 star energy-efficiency rating and incorporate rainwater harvesting. Sustainable building practices and materials will be required, and each lot will have a 3D building and vegetation envelope, ensuring that homes do not encroach on their neighbours’ access to sunlight for solar power and passive design purposes. Also, almost 45% of the site has been set aside as council-owned recreation reserve, allowing retention of remnant bushland and habitat for indigenous wildlife.

The UDIA EnviroDevelopment certification program encourages developers to achieve best practice in sustainability initiatives raising the bar at least 20% over and above the minimum standards on a national platform. Performance based and applicable to a diverse range of developments, the certification covers the broad spectrum of environment and sustainability issues. The elements are: ecosystems, water, energy, waste, materials and community.

Mullum Creek is only the third - and the smallest - development in Victoria to achieve all six elements. Steve Mathews, part owner of the Mullum Creek estate, said: “We are delighted to be honoured with EnviroDevelopment certification across all six elements.”  He said the certification had reinforced the project’s vision to create a sustainable haven where residents could get closer to nature.

“This development in particular highlights the innovation and sustainability credentials of the Victorian development industry and the Mathews’ family are to be congratulated on achieving this,” said Tony De Domenico, executive officer of the UDIA.

“One of our aims when creating this project was to ensure we preserved much of the local ecosystem, so we have worked hard to incorporate sustainable planning and design initiatives into every step of the development process,” said Mathews.

For further information, visit www.mullumcreek.com.au.