Glen Iris Estate

Eastcourt Living

2020-2021

Issues Management, Stakeholder & Community Engagement

Louise Richardson and Associates was engaged by land developers Eastcourt to undertake community and stakeholder engagement to support the development of a masterplan for a parcel of land that had formerly been a golf course. Any future residential development would require rezoning of the site.

The Challenge

Glen Iris was originally developed as a golf course estate, with housing focused around a privately owned and operated golf club. When the golf club owners wanted to sell, they couldn’t find a buyer, and the City of Cockburn wasn’t interested in taking over the ownership and management of the club. As a consequence, the land was sold to Eastcourt, a private developer, which sought to have the land rezoned to enable residential development. Residents living in close proximity to the site, particularly those with views over the former golf course, opposed the rezoning.

Residents believed that because their development was named Glen Iris Golf Course Estate, the golf course would remain in perpetuity
There was a lack of understanding that the Golf Club was privately owned and operated, and that as such, the owners were free to sell the land to whomever they chose
The Glen Iris Ratepayers Association actively drove the campaign against the rezoning
Local councillors were vocal in their support of residents

The Method

Louise Richardson and Associates was engaged early in the planning stages to prepare and implement a community and stakeholder engagement plan that would seek feedback to inform bthe development of a Masterplan for the site by new owners Eastcourt.

On LRAA’s advice, Eastcourt undertook extensive consultation with the community to develop a Masterplan for the site, despite it not being required as part of any statutory process. This work was undertaken voluntarily by Eastcourt as an acknowledgment of the unusually significant impact this proposed development would have on existing residents
Significant participation was secured, with residents being advised that while the rezoning was not guaranteed, this was there chance to shape the development should it go ahead
Residents were invited to nominate to participate in Precinct Reference Groups (PRG), which reflected the different potential impacts on residents around the site perimeter
Consultants attended every PRG session to ensure there were experts available to answer questions around traffic, density, environment and other concerns

The Outcome

A number of iterations of the Master Plan were developed, directly reflecting feedback from the community (for example, soft interfaces between the new development and existing; retention of significant stands of trees; reduction in density from approx. 1,000 homes to around 600).

While a core group of residents continued (and still continue) to oppose development, the City of Cockburn acknowledged the extent to which Eastcourt had consulted with the community and developed a plan which reflected their priorities