Kelvin Grove Urban Development, Australia

Kelvin Grove Urban Village is Australia's first master planned, mixed-use development, combining education, residential, business, cultural, and leisure activities within an inner-city environment. A joint venture between the Queensland Government’s Department of Housing and Queensland University of Technology, the village is an integrated community with a focus on sustainability.

An aim of the project was to balance environmental, social and economic issues in order to achieve long-term sustainability. The project required the preservation of heritage areas such as buildings, trees and open spaces on the upper parade ground area and student accommodation buildings.

As principal consultant, Aurecon worked with the Turrbal Association and the Heritage Council to develop a cultural heritage management plan. By making the plan safe and sustainable - in line with environmental and design guidelines - we were able to develop and maintain a ‘green’ village. Innovative solutions such as grassed swales and porous pavements were used to reduce nutrient loadings, while structural soil trenches were created to encourage tree root propagation.

Aurecon made use of recyclable materials from the old site where possible, including bitumen gravel pavements and reclaimed timber from demolished buildings. By adopting an inclusive approach to all aspects of civil design, the village infrastructure sets new environmental and sustainable design benchmarks.

Aurecon’s commitment to ecologically sustainable development practices on this project has been recognised through the following awards:

• RAPI (Qld) Award 2001 - Excellence in Urban Planning
• UDIA/EPA Expression of Interest for Sustainable Urban Development 2002 - Winner, Category 1 - "Special Recognition for Valued Leadership in the Advancement of Sustainable Urban Development"
• RAPI National Award 2002 - Urban Planning Achievement
• Queensland Premier's Award 2003 - Sustainable Environment
• Landscape Institute Award 2003
• PIA (Qld) Excellence in Planning 2003
• PIA National Excellence in Environmental Planning 2004
• Engineers Australia, Queensland Division, Awards of Excellence 2004 - Inaugural Sustainability Award
• Engineers Australia, National Engineering Excellence Awards 2004 - Winner, Environment Category
• ACEA 2004 - Highly Commended, Environment Category