Human Habitats led the design and planning for the Tarneit Junction project pushing for its inclusion as a mixed use zone as part of the new precinct structure plans currently being developed for Melbourne’s west.
Tarneit Junction Vision master Plan
© Human Habitats . Published on March 06, 2014.
This growth area will be home to 75,000 new residents that will be serviced by a rail line running direct to Melbourne city centre via two major suburban centres. Tarneit Junction will be the logical first step to the development of a town centre area as it is one of the last remaining opportunities for a mixed-use interface on the south side of the railway line and Tarneit Station. The proposed railway station at Tarneit delivers a real opportunity to build a true Transit Oriented Development. Not just a station where people catch a train to elsewhere, but a station in an activity centre that is in itself a destination. A destination that people can come to by rail, bus, car, bicycle and on foot, for employment and services. This opportunity is rare; a green fields blank canvas opportunity that should not be wasted by just having houses around the station. The land within a 5 minute walk of the station should be developed at a density to leverage off the rail investment and to provide employment and services for both the local population, and the wider commuter catchment.
Context Area
© Human Habitats . Published on March 06, 2014.
Context
Tarneit Junction Grapgh
© Human Habitats . Published on March 06, 2014.
Melbourne is the world’s most livable city but there are drastic health impacts to its conventional greenfield planning; 28.3 % of the Australian population is classified as obese; one of the highest obesity rates in the world. It costs Australian economy $120 billion a year – the equivalent of about 8 per cent of the economy’s annual output. Mental health has an even greater impact on its economy at $190 Billion per year.
Public Space Network
© Human Habitats . Published on March 06, 2014.
In greenfields growth areas there are few examples of truly walkable mixed-use communities.- Why can’t we develop a self sustaining neighbourhood?
- Why can’t we have locals running a business from their own small shop?
- Why can’t we have developments selling local’s products?
- Why can’t we have a development that doesn’t sell its soul to the fast food giants?
Vision
Details
© Human Habitats . Published on March 06, 2014.
The vision for Tarneit Junction is for a walkable community with jobs, shops, community infrastructure and transit within a 5 minute walk. The aim is for a project that results in an employment and services hub that is a destination for the wider region. Tarneit Junction is proposed as a benchmark project in Melbourne’s western growth corridor characterised by high density and mixed-use; the first of its kind in a growth area to be developed with an emphasis on health, jobs and transit. The vision is to commence development of Tarneit Junction in line with the delivery of train services at the new Tarneit Station; it is proposed to become a health, transport, and jobs oriented destination and act as a catalyst for delivering on government goals of higher densities, affordable housing and mixed use living in the surrounding areas. A diverse range of housing is proposed, responding to City of Wyndham’s growing population and its varying needs, incomes, and life stages. Office, commercial, medical and educational floorspace provided at the site is proposed to generate local jobs, and encourage residents of Melbourne’s west to work locally, and even reverse commute from closer to the city. Convenience shops, cafes, restaurants and associated small footprint services such as the hairdresser and dry cleaner, will provide for residents’ daily needs and become an essential element in making Tarneit Junction a truly walkable neighbourhood. This transit-oriented employment and servicing opportunity will result in greater containment of activity and spending locally, with less pressure across the wider transport and infrastructure systems, especially significantly reducing the need for locals to commute to the Melbourne CBD. A mixed-use piazza identifies Tarneit Junction as a place for people, and the iconic corner building becomes a landmark for the new suburb; the first branding of Tarneit as its own place.
Design Strategy
Responding to obesity, encouraging movement by design and desire:- Creates a place that by design naturally encourages walking
- Local destinations that don’t require car travel
- A location that is within a 5-minute walk of everything a resident needs daily. This further encourages walking by virtue of proximity; Primary and Secondary Schools, Child care, Medical Centres, Jobs, Education, Community Centre, Local Convenience Retail, and a Town Centre are proposed to be within 5- minute walk of Tarneit Junction
- Proximity to the Railway Station further encourage walking.
- Tarneit Junction aims to create a ‘5-minute community’.
- High density community living will allow for more services with more time and opportunities for socialising
- A community body corporate can help reduce costs for the services of all residents
- A community intranet at will help to connect people
- Different community interaction via community kitchens, gardens, & meeting places.
- Four Generations Family and friends from age 0-100 supporting each other would bring family close together
- The goal is to result in better mental health; people contributing and living longer
- 1015 local jobs
- Business incubators and Educations facilities
- Health jobs by virtue of the integration of Age Care, 24 Hour Medical Specialist and Allied Health Centre
- IT and Nursing jobs for teachers
- Training and employment for students in local Age care, Medical centre and IT Cluster
- Convenience retail and Food and Beverage jobs
- Tarneit Junction aims to attract asset rich elderly people to live in its 55+ community and age care moving back into a community that usually target first home buyers
- Embedding older people in the community rather than isolating in dedicated facilities; they would have the ability to socially interact with the community in the piazza, open space areas and in street life generally.
- There is a gain from living in close proximity to health facilities, transport and daily needs shopping
- The hope is to make it attractive for multiple generation to live together