- Justin Langer

 

As developers of Smiths Point, it’s in our best interests to protect the area’s unique coastal environment. Doing the right thing by the environment and the community is both an ethical and commercial imperative - and vital to the ongoing success of Smiths Point.

 

That’s why we integrated an extensive interactive community consultation program into the design and development process for Smiths Point.

 

Acknowledged as the most extensive community consultation ever undertaken for a coastal development in Western Australia, the community has played an integral role in the design and planning of Smiths Point.

 

In addition to over 100 one-on-one interviews, presentations and stakeholder meetings with local people, a series of workshops were held throughout 2003, 2004 and 2005, during which time the development’s design objectives, planning principles and building design guidelines were formulated and established.

 

However, this was more than just an opportunity for dialogue with the community. The workshops enabled the community to consider the plan as it evolved, providing local people with the opportunity to actively influence and ultimately modify the direction of the development. It’s a process that helped make the development plan as socially, economically and environmentally sound and beneficial as possible.

 

For instance, one key community concern was the visual impact the development might have in the area. With the community guiding us, the development plan is now sensitive to the surrounding landscape and the unbroken ridgeline from specific community designated viewing points.

 

Throughout the formal advertising period we continued our comprehensive community consultation process. We held individual and group workshops and meetings, hosted informative shopping centre displays and distributed information packages to local businesses which included a DVD containing survey accurate computer model images of the Smiths Point development.

 

To view a detailed account of Community Consultation activities click here.

 

If you would like to enquire about the project or show your support, please email us at info@smithspoint.com.au.