The first stage of a climate-resilient masterplan for a housing precinct in Dubbo, central New South Wales, has been granted development approval.
The first stage was approved via a fast-tracked design and approval process to meet urgent housing demand in Dubbo. The North-West Dubbo Urban Release Area, a greenfield site, has been designated as the location for the development, which is planned to accommodate up to 5,500 new dwellings over the next two decades.
The first stage of the masterplan focuses on housing. It features eight residential types, designed by Marra and Yeh Architects, including single residences, townhouses and apartments. Notably, 30 percent of the residences within the precinct have been designated as tenure-blind social and affordable housing.
The architects have confirmed that prefabrication methods will be used to build a portion of the housing, to further expedite the delivery of housing.
Marra and Yeh Architects worked in close collaboration with landscape architects Latstudios on masterplanning and urban design. The architects also liaised with Dubbo Regional Council, private landowners and a supporting design group.
The project brief called for the establishment of a walkable, green precinct that embraced the Wambuul/Macquarie River and met the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also requested a design that demonstrated resilience against possible extreme temperatures and natural disasters.
To fulfil the brief for a “walkable” precinct, Carol Marra, co-director of Marra and Yeh Architects, emphasised that the practice’s key design priorities included maintaining low ground temperatures and creating shaded areas. “Road widths are reduced to keep paving to a minimum whilst maximising tree canopy,” said Marra. “The aim is to provide a shaded and enjoyable walk or cycle to any part of the precinct.”
The layout and arrangement of the precinct have been largely dictated by the natural contours of the land and river. The design aims to take advantage of rainfall by establishing a network of green spaces to retain and filter stormwater, then redirecting the captured water to trees. According to a design statement, the planning revolves around a village green that will eventually support retail and medical tenancies, pending approval of later stages.
Consultation with the site’s First Nations community – the Tubba-gah People of the Wiradjuri Nation – led to the new precinct being named Gunyah, which translates to “home” in the Wiradjuri language. This consultation played a crucial role in shaping various design elements, including the decision to transform the land along the riverfront into open recreational space, restoring the original floodplain and protecting the river gums, which are of cultural importance to the community.
The masterplan designates space for the future development of aged care facilities intended to support Indigenous elders to stay on Country. Space for these facilities has been allocated around the village green to minimise walking distance to nearby services and shops.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
