This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
MALAYSIAN property developer, Gamuda Land, is planning to build 1,000 new homes across Australia over the next five years, starting with a mixed-use project on a former Dunlop site in Melbourne’s Fishermans Bend precinct.
Gamuda Land quietly bought the 2,600 sqm property at 272 Normanby Road late last year for $24 million, where it intends to deliver 200 apartments over 20 levels. Three years ago, Spec Property – the development arm of Samma Property Group – submitted plans for the site that included 307 apartments, 8% of which would be affordable housing.
The site will now become home to Gamuda Land’s first Australian project since it completed 661 Chapel Street in the inner suburb of South Yarra in 2018.
“Since Australia’s borders reopened for business, Gamuda Land has been actively looking to expand its foothold in all capital cities, in order to bolster residential supply by an additional 1,000 residences,” said the developer’s CEO, Ngan Chee Meng. Gamuda Land is a subsidiary of Malaysia-listed infrastructure and construction group Gamuda, which currently has a $3.5 billion list of transport project works in NSW.
A mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments will be priced from $490,000 up to $1,450,000, with a sales launch planned for late 2022. Additional amenities will include an atrium retail space that will introduce 14 specialty retailers.
Ngan said Gamuda Land is “well positioned to apply our expertise in our international projects towards addressing challenges like climate change and housing affordability, which form the cornerstone of our scheme for South Melbourne”.
The project will see over 6,000 native plants and trees planted and public green space included in the project, and will incorporate native flora and “re-wilds” part of it to a pre-urbanised landscape. Gamuda Land intends to plant one million trees across its portfolio by the end of 2023.
“Working with the traditional landowners as a first step, our design brief started with an understanding of the site’s natural landscape and its indigenous heritage. We wanted to understand how we could restore part of the project to its pre-colonial state.”
In collaboration with the City of Port Phillip, DELWP and Fishermans Bend Taskforce, Gamuda Land will also deliver a new 3,000 sqm public park that will see a section of neighbouring Johnson Street permanently closed and transformed into open green space.
Designed by Hayball Architects, Oculus and Hip V. Hype, the project will feature a biophilic spine through the building’s 20 levels offers resident “hide out” areas for work and recreation amongst green spaces, and cascading green walls will be a feature throughout corridors, lobbies and terraces. A deck atop the building will feature lush green planting and resident amenities like a Japanese-inspired onsen, urban farming beds and a meditation and wellness studio.
Ngan said it was important that the project made a significant contribution to enriching air quality and reducing heat island effect.
Construction is anticipated to begin in June next year.
