THE TERM village green has taken on a whole new meaning for property developer Stockland, with three of its retirement villages getting an eco tick of approval.
Stockland's Mernda Retirement Village in Melbourne is the latest of its ventures to achieve a Green Star rating thanks to sustainability and wellbeing initiatives.
The village in north Melbourne comprises of 275 homes. Thirteen different sustainably-designed villa types offer customers choice, with each meeting the Green Building Council of Australia's rigorous 4 Star Green Star benchmarks.
Stockland now has three Green Star-rated retirement villages: Mernda and Selandra Rise in Victoria, and Willowdale in New South Wales which each boast a 4 Star Green Star Custom Design rating.
Stockland has also achieved a rating for its clubhouse at the Affinity Village development in West Australia.
"Right from the beginning we have incorporated a range of environmentally-sustainable features to reduce energy and water usage and minimise operating costs across the village," said Stockland's regional development manager for retirement living Daniel Milentijevic.
Among these initiatives are solar passive orientation to minimise energy use, solar powered hot water systems, energy-efficient and water saving appliances and fixtures, and energy monitors in each home to allow real-time tracking of electricity consumption.
Mernda's first resident moved in June 2014 and construction is expected to be finished by the end of next year. At the heart of the village is a spectacular clubhouse boasting a range of facilities for residents including indoor gym, swimming pool, wellbeing centre, bar, dining room and media space. Located at the highest point of the village, the clubhouse provides a spectacular outlook.
"The clubhouse is always a key part of any village design, but at Mernda it is extra special," Milentijevic adds.
Healthy living
Last year Stockland and Bowls Australia launched a new partnership at Mernda which aims to boost the health and wellbeing of more than 11,000 residents living in Stockland retirement villages across the country.
A third of residents said the biggest influence on their health and wellbeing is the social life in their village, according to Stockland's annual retirement living survey.
Milentijevic said the partnership with Bowls Australia is just one example of how retirement villages encourage happier, healthier and more active residents.
"We want to encourage our residents to get involved, keep fit, stay connected and be a part of something they can enjoy in a group," Milentijevic says.
"The vibrant community, number of activities and facilities on offer, and the fact that our residents are surrounded by like-minded neighbours in a safe and secure environment is a big part of what makes living in a Stockland village so attractive."
