Burwood Brickworks set to become the world’s most sustainable retail development
Fraser Property Australia could be set to achieve a new global standard of sustainability as ‘Burwood Brickworks’ nears completion of what could be the world's most sustainable retail centre. Approval for the centre was granted by the Whitehorse City Council mid-2018.
“Approval for the project has taken some time and that’s because of the complexity of what we want to achieve at Burwood Brickworks. This community will set a new benchmark for what’s possible in sustainable urban design.”
- Sarah Bloom, General Manager – Residential Victoria, Frasers Property Australia
Burwood Brickworks’ masterplan aims to deliver 700 new homes, shops and entertainment (including a Woolworths, Dan Murphy’s and Reading Cinema), an urban plaza, 2.5 hectares of open space and parklands, interconnected walkways and an eco-conscious restaurant which will source its produce from a 2000 square metre urban rooftop farm.
Sustainable practices include: mulching excess organic material for compost, closed loop technology for recycling wastewater, eliminating produce transportation by growing on site, rooftop solar panels and offsite renewable energy sources, avoiding the use of worst-in-class chemicals to reduce air pollution and a 6 Star Green Star Community rating has already been obtained.
“The new Burwood Brickworks Woolworths store will draw power from the solar panels installed in the centre and be fitted out with LED lights to reduce power usage. The store’s refrigeration and air-conditioning will generate a reduced carbon footprint and use natural refrigerants, and we will also have an area in-store where customers can bring in their soft plastics to be recycled.”
- Brad Karge, Woolworths Senior Property Manager
The 12,900 square metre development aims to achieve Living Building Challenge certification which will be attainable if energy consumption is lower than energy produced, all water is recycled and 20% of the site is dedicated to food growing and meets a high standard of general sustainability practice. North Melbourne-based firm Russell & George have been tasked with ensuring that the interior design meets the elevated biophilic design requirements which are necessary to achieve Living Building Challenge compliance.
Designed by Melbourne-based firm NH Architecture, Acre Burwood Brickworks was modelled off Acre’s Camperdown Commons urban farm but aims to produce four times Camperdown's yield. As the global demand for agricultural production rises (70% by the year 2050), the need for sustainable growing practices are becoming more prevalent. The urban farm will feature beehives, a chicken coop, worm farms, composting facilities, vertical planting and hydroponic growing, and garden beds using Rooflite technology.
The details:
- All electricity will be delivered via renewable sources, including solar production onsite
- Forecast to produce nearly 3,000 new jobs
- 500 new trees planted
- The development will be completely walkable
- 6-Star Green Star rating achieved
- Woolworths, Dan Murphy's and Reading Cinemas
- Free Live Life Get Active Classes offered 5 days a week to residents and visitors
- A network of bike paths will provide quick navigation around the precinct
- A rooftop urban farm will provide all the produce for Acre cafe
What’s being built:
- Shops and entertainment
- Rooftop urban farm
- Urban Plaza
- The link
- Green place
- West garden apartments
- South garden apartments
- East garden apartments
- Plaza garden apartments
- The foundation homes
- Exclusive land
- Future apartments
- Future townhomes
What's happening on site:
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