Key details
Location
Epping/Wollert, Victoria
Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country
Policy objective
Affordability, Sustainability, Environmental protection rejuvenation and enhancement
Project partners
City of WhittleseaYarra Valley Water
Environment Protection Authority
Aurora Community Association
Overview
Aurora is a well-established, master planned community located 25kms from Melbourne over the established suburb of Epping and thriving Wollert.
Home to over 7,000 people, Aurora is serviced by numerous schools, child care and community centres, parks and gardens.
Development Victoria delivered approximately 2,000 affordable and diverse housing opportunities between 2005 to 2016 – all located within walking distance to the Aurora Town Centre, schools, open space and public transport.
Aurora, is one of the most sustainable housing development of its kind in Australia, with many leading edge environmental design elements, including 6-Star energy designed homes and Class A recycled water delivered to every home. Aurora's 6-Star energy designed homes could save up to 5 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year.
The Habitas - Aurora residential development in Wollert is the latest accommodation offering, providing 89 new homes for the region - all at affordable price points for Victorian home buyers. All homes will incorporate sustainability initiatives such as recycled water, solar hot water, LED lighting, and minimum 6-star rating with passive solar design. For more information about Habitas, visit the Habitas Aurora website.
Aurora has an abundance of parks and green open spaces, including numerous sporting courts, ovals, playgrounds and exercise stations. The natural surrounds of Edgars Creek create the perfect backdrop for a leisurely stroll or ride along nearby trails, all of which are within walking distance from residential areas.
In 2021, we completed Edgars Creek Reserve - a 1.1 hectare park including extensive recreational and playground equipment, featuring shared paths, picnic tables, a fitness node, swings, trampolines and a flying fox. Edgars Creek was also rejuvenated as part of this project, and a pedestrian bridge connects residents to the west of the creek with the reserve, and the Aurora Town Centre.
A major transport corridor runs through the Aurora site, reserved for a future train line. A bus service also runs through the development, offering convenient public transport options for residents.
In mid 2023, we completed the final section of Edgars Road, between Rockfield Street and O’Herns Road, providing locals and surrounding communities easier access to retail, parks, schools and more. Connecting Edgars Road also provided residents with safe, quick and easy access to the newly completed Hume Freeway Interchange.
The first stage of the Aurora Northern Town Centre is complete and includes two major supermarkets, the Galada Community Centre, specialty retail shops, community and medical facilities and car parking.
Further expansion of the Aurora Northern Town Centre is planned within the next five years, and will include greater retail and commercial amenity, to ensure that residents don’t need to travel far for their daily needs.
Planning for a Business Park within Aurora is also underway, which will deliver further jobs and economic development opportunities for the local area.
630ha project area
2,000 homes
7,000 residents
25.2ha open space
Statement regarding Kangaroos on Edgars Road
Construction Update May 2023
Timeline
Development Plan one approved
Development commenced
Creeds Park precinct opens for first residents
First primary school opens
Development Plan two approved
Won ATUG (Australian Telecommunications Users Group) Award for Broadband Excellence
Won UDIA Environmental Excellence Award
Won Banksia Award for Built Environment
Won Property Council of Australia for Sustainable Development
Tennis courts open
Won AILA (Australian Institute of Landscape Architects) 2012 for Conservation Management
Developed 2,000 lots (since commencing in 2005)
Sale of 410 hectares of land at Epping North at Aurora Estate to Lendlease
Northern Town Centre opens
Galada Community Centre opens
Early: Harvest Home Primary School opens
Late: Edgars Rd North connection opens
Early: Edgars Creek Secondary College
Early: Aurora Town Centre Park opens
Mid: Habitas sales commenced
Late: Edgars Creek Reserve completed
Late: O’Herns Rd Freeway Interchange opens
Late: Edgars Rd Works commence
Late: Habitas civil works commence
Early: First Habitats settlements expected to occur
August: Edgars Rd works complete
Late: Master planning of Stage 2 of Habitas residential development begins
Early: Habitats townhouse construction expected to commence
Late: First Habitas residents move in
Early: Koukoura Drive completed, providing faster access to the Hume Highway.
Mid: Final Habitas homes to be completed
Works on a new linear park commence
Latest news
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Since the project began in 2005 we’ve helped deliver:
- 2,000 Residential Lots
- Northern Town Centre
- 20 parks and playgrounds
- 8 childcares
- 3 primary schools
- 1 Secondary school
- 2 Community Centres – Creeds Farm Living and Learning Centre
- 25.2 hectares of Open Space
- 68.5 hectares of Protected Conservation Reserves
- Over 5 kilometres of walking and Cycling Paths
- 9 Exercise Stations
- Supported delivery for two of Aurora’s three schools
- Recycled Water Infrastructure
- Two direct freeway interchanges
- Harvest Home Road Upgrade
- Edgars Road (Ongoing)
Priority Access
Approach
Development Victoria developed the master plan for Aurora over 20 years ago (when we were known as Places Victoria) which involved extensive stakeholder engagement with a strong focus on community development and securing essential community infrastructure.
Aurora was designed to raise the benchmark within the property development industry by demonstrating new and innovative ways to manage our finite resources and reduce greenhouse emissions. It was envisioned that Aurora would be a pioneer in the reuse of water and energy efficiency.
The goal of Aurora is to push continuously toward more sustainable land, community and built form outcomes. The initiatives that Aurora implements today will continue to evolve and change over time as new technology allows us to improve our practices. Development Victoria is confident that Aurora will be a model development for the future, both now and through its life.
Sustainability
Aurora was the first greenfield development of its size to mandate 6-star energy efficiency to all homes and incorporate minimum sustainability initiatives, leading the way for the implementation of these standards in Victoria. These include:
- Water sensitive urban design using swales and rain gardens in streetscapes and public reserves
- Regeneration and enhancement of Edgars Creek waterway throughout the development
- Fibre to the Home (FTTH) infrastructure to approximately 1,500 homes, providing high speed internet services
- Third (purple) pipe infrastructure, delivering recycled water to all homes and public amenities
- Habitat conservation and enhancement of endangered and protected flora and fauna
- Solar power infrastructure to parklands
- Passive solar design to maximise natural resources and reduce energy consumption in homes
- Solar hot water systems to all homes
- 4 and 5-star heating, cooling and appliances, and AAA efficient water fixtures to homes
The Aurora project was instrumental in the development of an industry-wide Sustainable Community Rating tool, which was developed in partnership with the Urban Development Institute of Australia, the Property Council of Australia and the Municipal Association of Victoria.
A key sustainable feature of Aurora is its recycled water system. Aurora is the first development of its kind to incorporate wastewater recycling and reuse as well as internal household water management. Wastewater from kitchens, bathrooms and laundries is collected from all homes and treated through a local sewerage plant to Class A standard, as defined by the EPA. From there it is directed through a third pipe back to homes for toilet flushing, garden watering and car washing.
An extensive network of public open space and passive recreational areas within the development are irrigated using the recycled water.
Awards
- AILA (Australian Institute of Landscape Architects) 2012 for Conservation Management ATUG
- Banksia Award 2008 for Built Environment
- Property Council of Australia 2008 for Sustainable Development
- (Australian Telecommunications Users Group) 2007 for Broadband Excellence
- UDIA Environmental Excellence Award 2007
Location
The Aurora development is located near Epping, north-east of Melbourne. Edgars Road runs through the estate and provides a vital link to O'Herns Road and Hume Freeway.
Development Victoria acknowledges the Wurundjeri people as the Traditional Custodians of the land now named Aurora.
Who to contact about this project
For more information, or to receive updates about this development visit the Habitas Aurora website.
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Design guidelines
- Design Standards Stages 1C and 2B PDF, 2.7 mb
- Design Standards Stage 17 PDF, 3.5 mb
- Design Standards Stage 17B PDF, 4.7 mb
- Design Standards Stages 19 to 21 PDF, 2.9 mb
- Design Standards Stages 22 and 23 PDF, 2.9 mb
- Design Standards Stages 24 to 26 PDF, 4.4 mb
- Design Standards Stage 29 PDF, 1.7 mb
- Design Standards Stage B3 - Epping Release PDF, 3.4 mb
EPBC annual monitoring reports
- Aurora EPBC Approval Compliance Report Final – July 2021 to December 2022 – Biosis PDF, 29.0 mb
- Biosis – Annual Monitoring Report – Golden Sun Moth – 2016/17 – DV PDF, 1.4 mb
- Biosis – Annual Monitoring Report – Golden Sun Moth – 2016/17 – LL PDF, 6.1 mb
- Biosis – Annual Monitoring Report – Matted Flax-lily – 2016/17 – DV PDF, 2.9 mb
- Biosis – Annual Monitoring Report – Matted Flax-lily – 2016/17 – LL PDF, 372.4 kb
- Biosis – Annual Monitoring Report – Golden Sun Moth – 2017/18 – LL PDF, 2.0 mb
- Biosis – Annual Monitoring Report – Golden Sun Moth – 2017/18 – DV PDF, 1.9 mb
- Biosis – Annual Monitoring Report – Matted Flax-lily – 2017/18 –DV PDF, 2.9 mb
- Biosis – Annual Monitoring Report – Matted Flax-lily – 2017/18 – LL PDF, 5.0 mb
- Biosis – Matted Flax-lily Photopoint Monitoring Report 2008-2017 PDF, 72.7 mb
- Biosis – Annual Monitoring Report – Matted Flax Lily – 2018/19 – LL PDF, 2.6 mb
- Biosis – Annual Monitoring Report – Matted Flax Lily – 2018/19 – DV PDF, 2.2 mb
- Biosis – Annual Monitoring Report – Golden Sun Moth – 2018/19 – LL PDF, 2.9 mb
- Biosis – Annual Monitoring Report – Golden Sun Moth – 2018/19 – DV PDF, 2.2 mb
- Aurora EPBC Approval Compliance Report – Year 10 to October 2019 – Biosis PDF, 3.3 mb
Updated on 22 September 2023