National developer Mirvac has unveiled its plans to deliver a new, 187-hectare masterplanned community in Melbourne’s northern growth corridor, named 'Olivine', that will build on its strong track record of creating award winning communities across Australia.
Olivine in Donnybrook is planned to strengthen and exceed previous benchmarks set for education, community wellbeing, urban design, sustainability and housing diversity in greenfield communities. To be developed over 10 to 15 years, the community will be home to approximately 7000 people across 2250 homes.
It will feature a new local town centre as well as education, health, sports and community infrastructure, with a destination adventure park to draw people from across the region. Mirvac’s General Manager of Residential Victoria, Elysa Anderson, said access to early amenity and affordable quality education were some of the most important factors in residential development and Mirvac had prioritised this aspect through a landmark agreement with Hume Anglican Grammar.
The renowned local school will open a new campus at Olivine offering innovative learning models for students from Prep to Secondary school. It is anticipated to open in 2019 as the first residents move in. Mirvac is also in talks to establish a government primary school on site to service Olivine’s eventual 7000 residents.
“Olivine will be one of Melbourne’s most anticipated residential communities, promising exceptional amenity and community assets from day one,” Ms Anderson said. “Our integrated Mirvac team have aimed to reimagine urban life. The focus has been creating a walkable neighbourhood as well as a community that offers residents considered opportunities, including education, retail, commercial, employment, as well as community amenities with open green spaces never more than a 400m walk from their new home.”
Hume Anglican Grammar Principal, Bill Sweeney, said years of planning with Mirvac has resulted in what will be an exciting campus and an integral part of the community at Olivine, where more members of the Hume and Whittlesea areas can access an outstanding educational experience.
“Young families are looking for a quality education for their children and Hume Anglican Grammar at Olivine will provide this opportunity for 1,200 students on the expansive eight-hectare site,” said Mr Sweeney. “This campus will also provide a focal point where Olivine’s residents can come together with other families, building a strong sense of belonging and community.”
Mirvac’s most recent development Woodlea, developed in partnership with Victoria Investments and Properties, in Rockbank continues to be Australia’s fastest selling residential community.
Mirvac will bring the thinking behind its Smart Cities strategy launched at Woodlea to Olivine, using new technology to raise awareness of environmental sustainability among the community. Mirvac’s This Changes Everything strategy includes rolling out phase two of Mirvac’s House With No Bills pilot at Olivine, where the initiative to build a home that incurs no energy bills will progress to incorporate water and waste technology.
Further to this commitment to sustainability, Olivine’s design also aims to celebrate the history and beauty of the site’s natural surrounds, which was previously farming land. This includes the retention of established 200-year-old Red River Gum trees that provide an impressive entrance feature. Partnering with MDG Landscape Architects and Tract, this vision is realised through an integrated network of walking and cycling trails that will create a recreational spine from Donnybrook Road to the Merrijig Creek, leveraging the site’s heritage and natural environment in harmony with streetscapes and sustainable parklands.
Inspired by the stories of May Gibbs' Snugglepot & Cuddlepie, the community’s feature Gumnut Playground will be another major drawcard at Olivine, incorporating whimsical structures and three distinctive zones to cater for the young and young at heart.
The development's first stage is due for release in early 2017.
