Sustainability
Googong: masterplanned for environmental and social sustainability
Googong is CIC Australia's largest and most ambitious project to date and will set new benchmarks for environmental and social sustainability. A completely new township like Googong presents the ideal opportunity to incorporate a range of sustainability initiatives right from the outset of the township’s evolution. These initiatives are both innovative and ambitious but must also be practical and effective, affordable and replicable.
Water
An integrated water cycle management system with a dedicated water treatment and recycling plant for the township will reduce potable water consumption by around 62%, and recycle well over half of the waste water generated to enable key township open spaces to be irrigated.
Googong will be so water efficient, its 16,000 residents will use less water than just 6,500 residents in an average Australian community. Water sensitive urban design will passively irrigate key streetscapes and manage water quality.
Download Proposed Water Management Plan
Energy
The township’s five neighbourhoods are designed so shops, schools and recreational facilities are within walking and cycling distance of most homes, reducing car dependency and fossil energy use.
A range of employment opportunities within Googong’s town centre and neighbourhood centres as well as home based employment in Googong will also reduce car dependency and energy use.
Finally a comprehensive energy strategy is currently under development, which seeks to address a range of sustainable energy solutions at both township level and within the homes. These include the potential to source electricity through green power and for solar orientation to be optimised in both street and house layouts.
Biodiversity
Respect for ecological and environmental values is a key component of Googong Common, a large parkland meandering through the township which will be the “green lungs” of Googong, accessible from all the neighbourhoods.
It will combine recreational, environmental and cultural uses including sports grounds, adventure play space, pedestrian and cycle trails.
A key element of Googong Common will be an ecologically restored chain of ponds. Native bushland within the Montgomery Creek will be regenerated using planting propagated from local species and a significant proportion of the over 23% of the total township’s area, will be dedicated to open spaces.
CIC Australia is committed to ensuring that the final plan for Googong delivers a high quality design that respects the ecological and environmental values of the area.
The new township will be designed to enhance the immediate and surrounding regions of Googong, which includes the Googong Dam and foreshores. Immediately adjacent to the township the foreshores are a significant refuge for native plants and animals.
Social + Economic Development
A Community Plan sets out the community facilities that will support the township as well as the social networks to be initiated to ensure new residents are both welcomed and become active members of the Googong community.
A diverse range of housing and home business and other employment opportunities will facilitate a socially diverse population which will also be served by schools and child care centres.
Materials presented on this website are at concept stage and subject to change.
