Published on 28 August 2024

Sustainability win for Aldinga housing development

The City of Onkaparinga has advocated with the community to play a pivotal role in shaping a new 800-home development at Aldinga, ensuring that sustainability remains at the forefront of the project.

The state government today revealed new details about the development, which will be built on a 45-hectare site bordered by Quinliven Road, Main South Road, Aldinga Beach Road, and How Road.

Villawood Properties has been appointed as the developer, and the plans include a range of sustainability initiatives directly reflecting the council and community’s vision.

City of Onkaparinga Acting CEO Renee Mitchell underscored the importance of the council’s involvement in driving the project towards higher development standards.

“From the outset, we have been on the front foot to ensure Aldinga develops in a sustainable, climate-resilient, and coordinated way,” she said.

“We took an ambitious step in 2019 by preparing an Aldinga Framework Plan to guide and influence significant state government projects in the area.

“We also ensured the community’s views were included in a Renewal SA-led Structure Plan in 2020 and rezoning in 2021, with council advocating strongly for better sustainability, connectivity, and character preservation.

“Finally, our 2021 advocacy vision called for a highly sustainable development, and today’s announcement validates that vision.

It proves that high-quality sustainable development can be embedded as the minimum acceptable standard, rather than merely a nice-to-have. This is a significant achievement for both the council and the community.”

The state government’s announcement highlights several key sustainability initiatives for the all-electric net-zero development, including a tree canopy target of at least 25 per cent, light-coloured roofing to reduce urban heat, recycled water for irrigation of reserves, and an ambitious target of a 6-Star Green Star Communities rating.

These initiatives were all key elements of the council’s advocacy vision, which also championed a walkable suburb with convenient access to public transport, connections to Aldinga’s township and local schools, and functional open green spaces that enhance community wellbeing and recreation.

In addition to these sustainability measures, the development will include:

• several energy-saving initiatives, such as gas-free solar, heat pumps, batteries, microgrids, and specially designed lot orientation, as well as mandated sustainable building materials that respect the local character.
• at least 25 per cent affordable homes, featuring a mix of townhouses, detached, and semi-detached homes.
• a residents’ club with a pool, gym, and café.
• an over-55s Lifestyle Village on the site’s western parcel, featuring two- and three-bedroom homes surrounded by “world-class recreational and wellbeing amenities,” including a clubhouse with a pool, spa, sauna, gymnasium, cinema, co-working space, and bar.
• ·necessary water and sewer infrastructure.

The state government has also preserved a 60-metre-wide rail corridor through the site to provide long-term options for extending the Seaford rail line to Aldinga. Villawood has committed to delivering a north-south shared-use path along the site’s eastern edge, with the corridor being landscaped and made available to the community as additional open space until the rail line extension takes place.

Public engagement on Villawood’s draft masterplan is expected later this year, with construction scheduled to begin next year.