A consortium consisting of MAB Corporation, Macquarie Goodman Group and Folkestone Limited have been working with the City of Port Phillip towards achieving sustainable outcomes in their industrial estate in Port Melbourne known as toyotagreen Business Park.

The recently completed Precinct D, comprising of a purpose built office and warehouse facility for Fuji-Xerox Australia and four office / showroom and warehouse buildings, was the first major project in Port Phillip to exceed the environmental targets in the Sustainable Design Scorecard Non-residential (SDS).

Throughout the planning and design process of this project, MAB and Folkestone worked closely with the City of Port Phillip providing valuable input into the initial version of the SDS.  This collaboration was also critical in achieving the Ecological Sustainable Development (ESD) initiatives in the project. A case study of this project has been prepared:

ToyotaGreen Business Park Sustainable Design Scorecard Non-residential Case Study

The City of Port Phillip is leading the community in sustainable design and has initiated a range of building projects which incorporate sustainable design elements into both private and public building stock. These include:

• Inkerman Oasis Residential Development
•  Inkerman Oasis Residential Project - Collection and Management of Stormwater Resources 
•  Ormond Rd Stormwater Retention Project
•  College of Anaesthetists Headquarters
• EcoHouse at the EcoCentre

Inkerman Oasis no longer a mirage

Stage 1 of the 236-apartment Inkerman Oasis residential development is now complete and the council has taken ownership of 15 community housing units.

Located on the former St Kilda municipal depot site, Inkerman Oasis is the result of the council's 1996 decision to develop the site for a mixed private and social housing project under the City of Port Phillip's housing program. Another 13 units will come into council hands at the completion of stage two, a return on the 1.223 ha site provided to Inkerman Developments Pty Ltd as part of the joint venture between the developers and the council.

Assisting residents to find affordable, suitable and accessible housing, the City of Port Phillip is a direct provider of community housing by purchasing properties, rehabilitating old buildings and constructing well designed new housing for people unable to afford rising rent levels, let alone afford home ownership.

What distinguishes community housing from public housing is that council-owned accommodation is managed by a community organisation on the council's behalf. The community housing units at Inkerman Oasis are managed by the Port Phillip Housing Association.

National firsts

Incorporating a range of passive and active sustainable design principles, Inkerman Oasis sets the benchmark for private developers on sustainable development in Australia and demonstrates how a relatively high density of housing can be achieved without tower buildings and with lots of open space.

The mix of community and private housing provided by a developer is the first of its kind in Australia. It's also the first time in Australia that grey and storm water in a high density development will be recycled for irrigation and toilet flushing. The waste water recycling system has been made possible by a $267,214 Commonwealth grant (Living Cities, Urban Stormwater Initiative) - a sum matched by Inkerman Developments - and a South East Water contribution of $120,000.

The Inkerman Oasis development has received great recognition, being awarded the UN Association of Australia World Environment Day Award 2000; the Stockholm Partnership for Sustainable Cities Award 2002; and the Greenhouse Building Nomination 2002.

Sustainable design features

The Inkerman Oasis masterplan provides for a 236-unit residential development and two retail convenience stores in six 3-5 level buildings. Sustainable design features include:

• Optimum solar access for living areas
• Energy star rating of between 3.5 and 4.5 stars
• Energy/resource efficient appliances and fixtures
• Solar hot water for 16 of the community housing units
• Solar communal lighting
• Roof gardens and native plant landscaping
• Use of low embodied energy arterials where suitable and construction waste minimisation
• Bicycle storage areas
• Non-mechanical ventilation of a majority of the sub-basement car park and cross flow
• ventilation shafts in buildings to increase natural ventilation, minimise mechanical ventilation
• Recycling of water for use on garden irrigation and toilet flushing

Use eServices to ask us a question, request information or give us feedback online. If you prefer call ASSIST on (03) 9209 6777 or TTy (03) 9209 6713 and ask for Sustainable Design Architect.