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22nd April, 2006 - News Article - Gold Coast Bulletin  - "Storming Ahead"

A leading environmental developer, Heritage Pacific, recently took out the Queensland Stormwater Industry Association (SIA) awards for sensitive design at Genesis, its $250 million master planned community.

The 76 ha Genesis project, which has secured more than $10 million in sales since launching late last year, was recognised by the SIA during its annual awards ceremony winning the Major Water Sensitive Urban Design Project award.

Heritage Pacific's commitment to water sustainability was recently recognised by the Gold Coast City Council which chose the Innovation House 2 (IH2) project and Genesis to launch the Gold Coast Waterfuture Strategy in March.

Heritage Pacific Managing Director, Paul Barrett, said the award showed the water sensitive urban design program implemented at Genesis, by Belleng VDM, was among the top designs in Australia.

"We are thrilled with the award which recognises the level of insight and sensitive urban design that is incorporated into the project" he said.

"We have created a sustainable and cost-effective community which not only enhances the local environment but provides ongoing cost savings for residents and allows them to enjoy the visual and social benefits of living in a lush, green community."

Genesis sits on a site within the upper catchment of numerous ephemeral creeks and uses Brisbane City Council's naturalised Channel Design Guidelines to provide a 'pool and riffle' system.

By implementing dual water reticulation and rainwater tanks on site, it will contribute to reducing stormwater run-off by 17 per cent, whilst reducing average household drinking water consumption by up to 84 per cent.

Mr Barrett said the Genesis lakes had also been designed to maintain pre-development flows, minimising potential damage to downstream waterways and assisting in maintaining groundwater levels.

"Genesis has been designed to incorporate a network of grass and vegetated swales, naturalised channels and water quality improvement lakes to naturally treat stormwater, collect rubbish and other pollutants, and divert and store run-off" he said.

"The award indicates that Heritage Pacific is behind one of the most environmentally sensitive developments currently under way and we consider it important to continue setting these high standards. In fact, it's the responsibility of the industry to do so."

July, 2004 - News Article - Queensland Country Life - "Land Clearing"

Following the State Government's crack-down on land-clearing quotas, inaccuracies with existing broad scale vegetation maps have left many farmers wondering exactly what land can be cleared, and what land must remain untouched.

Facing stiff penalties for land-clearing discrepancies, farmers must tread carefully when dealing with the contentious issue of vegetation boundaries.

The department of Natural Resources, Mining and Energy (NRM&E) currently rely on aerial photographs and satellite images to define vegetation as 'regrowth' (open to unrestricted clearing) or 'remnant' (restricted clearing requiring permits).

Unfortunately, the regional aerial and satellite maps are not always watertight, and outposts of inaccuracies can exist on many properties.

Areas of vegetation that are classified from the air as 'remnant' may in fact be 'regrowth' upon closer inspection, potentially costing a land user thousands of dollars in lost earning potential.

This has given rise to the need for more accurate on-ground vegetation assessments, doing away with much of the uncertainty vague land-clearing boundaries can create.

Many land owners are turning to environmental consultants, such as Belleng VDM Pty Ltd, to provide them with the knowledge of exactly what management practices are permitted on their properties.

"A thorough survey may be able to show that some vegetation mapped as remnant is in fact quite young, and should instead be mapped as regrowth," said Phillip Bell, Director of Belleng VDM Pty Ltd.

The NRM&E recognise this issue facing land owners, and will allow for a new Property Map of Assessable Vegetation (PMAV) to be established. The NRM&E can then  reclassify any land in question, and newfound 'regrowth' land will be updated as 'Category X' land.

Category X vegetation is non-assessable, meaning that once vegetation on your land is mapped as Category X, you will never again need to apply for a permit to clear this vegetation, even if it does regrow.

A spokesperson from NRM&E said the department carries legislation that allows for the process of private vegetation assessments, and does not discourage the services at all.

Regardless of the environmental consultants or the services they may provide, NRM&E will assess all new information regarding vegetation reclassification to their standards.

Click here for more detailed information about "Clearing under the new Queensland Vegetation Management Laws"

6th June, 2003 - News Article - Gold Coast Bulletin - "Plan to protect our land"

THE growth of the urban development industry, especially with the detailed planning for about l0,000 houses in the Coomera-Pimpama area, has been helped by Gold Coast-based environmental consultants Belleng VDM Pty Ltd.

The firm offers a range of environmental assessment and planning services ranging from flooding and stormwater management to ecological assessment and noise reduction.

Belleng VDM managing director Philip Bell said the art of urban design had become a complex multi-disciplinary activity, with the need to incorporate a range of constraints and objectives into the new urban environment.

"The Gold Coast City Council's new city plan requires new developments to demonstrate the principles of water sensitive urban design and to conserve water".

He said the environmental values of the land were assessed with respect to drainage paths, significant vegetation, terrain and conservation objectives to ensure that the planned urban environment not only met the urban density objectives of the city plan, but at the same time also conserved and enhanced the environmental values of the site. For more information go to www.bellengvdm.com.au or phone(07) 5510 3655.

March 2003 - UDIA Presentation by Philip Bell

In March 2003 Belleng VDM's managing director Philip Bell was the guest presenter to the Urban Development Institute of Australia's (UDIA) Gold Coast branch. His presentation was titled "Impacts of Canal Development on Coastal Ecology" and attempted to answer the question "how do canal developments adversely impact on the estuarine ecology?"

The presentation summarised the impact of canal developments on the natural environment as gauged by various fish specie studies carried out over a number of years at various locations around the Gold Coast's canal systems. Phil concluded his presentation with an overview of "best environmental management practices in canal development".