Ocean Mia
on the boulevard
Ocean Mia Kalinda Drive/The Boulevard Land Development -
Update May 2009
Release of Design Guidelines
Ocean Mia is a stylish development planned to meet the needs of the most discerning property buyers in the heart of one of Perth’s most prestigious locations. Carefully drafted design guidelines will ensure that Ocean Mia is developed to suit the Western Australian lifestyle, is visually appealing and optimises property investment potential for every home owner. These guidelines were drafted with input from architects and builders challenged to ensure the development stays true to the City Beach style. The guidelines also benefitted from public comments received during late 2006. They specify requirements for elements such as building heights, setbacks, materials and energy efficiency.
To view the Final Design Guidelines, click here.
A table comparing the Kalinda Drive Residential Design Guidelines with the Town's current Residential Design Guidelines can be viewed by clicking here.
Background
The development of the land had its beginnings in 1999 when Council gave 'in principle' support to a proposal to amalgamate the City Beach Bowling Club with the existing Floreat Bowling Club. Since then, a new scout hall has been built at Alderbury Reserve as well as new bowling and croquet club facilities, while the Reabold Tennis Club and other cricket facilities were upgraded. The redevelopment of the City Beach Bowling Club and Scout Hall land for housing funded the new facilities and will provide additional money for future Council projects in the Endowment Lands.
To develop the land, Council applied to amend the Metropolitan Regional (Planning) Scheme by transferring the land to an ’urban’ zone in 2002. It then put in place a ’residential’ zone in its own Town Planning Scheme which required the approval of the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Minister for Planning.
Through the approval process, the amendment to the Town Planning Scheme was adopted by the Council at a density of R30/40 with an average density of R35. This translates to a mix of sizes in the order of a minimum 200 square metres up to just over 400 square metres, with an overall average of 260 square metres. The Town Planning Scheme amendment was finalised in August 2004 with advertising in the Government Gazette.
The Outline Development Plan
At the beginning of 2005, a project team was appointed to undertake the development of the land. A proposed Outline Development Plan for the site was prepared to address the relevant planning, design, engineering and environmental aspects of the project, and was advertised for public comment. This public comment period expired on 2 December 2005, at which point more than 160 people and organisations had submitted comments and concerns regarding the Plan.
The Town of Cambridge Mayor and Councillors, and a representative group of concerned residents then held a series of meetings with the planning team to develop a range of new options in order to find the best solution, incorporating community comment while addressing the demands of State Government policy.
A new preferred Outline Development Plan was drafted in consultation with residents and other stakeholders and, after approval by Council in May 2006, was presented to the Western Australian Planning Commission which gave its approval (with some minor conditions) in July 2006.
Key features of the Plan
To download a brochure in PDF format detailing the key features of the preferred Outlined Development Plan click here.
Key features of the Outline Development Plan include:
Maintaining the City Beach Style
- Significant public open space
- Landscaped parklands on the northwest corner
- Small intimate spaces to promote community lifestyle
- Large sections of public open space, generous setbacks and landscaping along The Boulevard and Kalinda Drive, and
- Many mature, established trees to be preserved.
Access and Parking
- Internal road and laneway layout prevent through traffic
- Visitor parking provided on internal roads
- No parking bays along Kalinda Drive and The Boulevard
- Generous road reserve widths, and
- Access to Ocean Gardens Retirement Village.
Lot Sizes and Housing Mix
- Good number of lots larger than 300 square metres and 400 square metres
- Mix of housing catered for with a range of block sizes and land being set aside for group housing, and
- Limited height for retaining walls outside and inside the development.
Home Design
- Provision for some split-level housing and terraced housing
- Larger block sizes provide for family-size homes or larger gardens, and
- Ample capacity for homes to accommodate lifts, providing greater accessibility for seniors and people with a disability.
A Sense of Community
- Lots to front all streets and open space areas promote safety through easy surveillance, and providing a pleasant streetscape
- Public parks will encourage a range of activities such as outdoor dining and neighbour interaction
- Planting of complementary indigenous and European trees and preservation of mature trees, in keeping with City Beach tradition
- Enhancing the environment by using indigenous plants to complement existing coastal flora
- All roadways lined with footpaths and rows of street trees
- Various forms of public art will recognise the site's cultural and natural heritage
- Lots to have good solar access to facilitate energy efficient development, and
- Use of the site's existing terrain to ensure efficient site works.
Pre-Ocean Mia until now
Subdivision Approval
Subdivision approval was granted by the Western Australian Planning Commission in December 2006. With this secured, Council was in a position to proceed to tender for a suitable construction company to carry out the civil works required to put the subdivision in place.
Construction Activities
The Council approved a preferred tenderer at its meeting in April 2007 and construction began in mid 2007.
Important environmental work, including an inspection of trees and other existing plants to be salvaged from the site, was completed in consultation with the Arbor Centre and Grass Trees Australia. Grass Trees Australia carefully removed 30 Zamias and five impressive Grass Trees for relocation as part of the landscaping at Ocean Mia.
Landscaping design has included a series of small, intimate spaces within Ocean Mia promote a community lifestyle. The inclusion of barbeque facilities, seating, public art and children’s play areas means that there is plenty of space for neighbours to meet and relax.
Waterwise plants have been planted throughout the subdivision, providing a natural habitat for birds and wildlife native to the area and water efficiency measures have been considered in the irrigation design and the use of water-dependant lawns have been minimised.
Ocean Mia sits where both the City Beach Bowling Club and Scout Hall were previously located. The development honours its heritage in its public spaces with art designed with the clubs in mind.
In December 2007, Ocean Mia recorded a sell-out result at the first land auction for the new sub-division. On average, lots achieved prices of $2,700 per square metre.
In March 2008, Ocean Mia attracted another large crowd of more than 120 people to its second auction. Of the 14 lots on offer, only three sold in what was then a declining property market.
By July 2008, 19 of the high-quality development lots in Ocean Mia were sold and a limited number of remaining lots were made available for sale by private treaty.
Sales
To date, 19 lots have sold in the Ocean Mia development.
The latest release of lots in Ocean Mia’s “Seaside Precinct” will offer homebuyers the opportunity to secure a homesite close to the city and some of Perth’s most pristine beaches.
The seven new lots being made available in the Seaside Precinct release will range in size from 238sqm to 414sqm with prices beginning from a low $595,000!
There's already been strong interest in the new Seaside lots, including a number of inquiries from existing residents within the Town of Cambridge!
Further Information
For information, please contact DTZ sales representative Mal Roberts on 9325 5880 or mobile 0417 488 644 or visit the sales office between 1.30pm to 3pm Sundays or by appointment or visit www.oceanmia.com.au.
Kalinda Drive/The Boulevard Land Development Brochure - March 2006 (released April 2006)
Business Plan - Kalinda Drive/The Boulevard Land Development
Kalinda Drive/The Boulevard - Design Guidelines Descriptive Brochure