Yarrabend isn’t just a developer’s graphical excursion. Sixty homes are already built of a planned 2,500 in a suburban area 6.5km (5.3 miles) northeast of Melbourne (just off the M3 if you’re in the area). The homes range in price from 1.48 to 2.1 million Australian dollars ($1.12 to $1.59 million U.S.) and will all be architecturally designed.
Yarrabend will have the highest Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) rating from the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) and will “be one of the most environmentally sustainable developments in Australia,” said UDIA chief executive Danni Addison.
“Some areas that are a standout include water reduction of 43 percent, landfill reduced by 80 percent and the potential to reduce energy use by 34 percent,” Addison continued. ” The Powerwalls, combined with solar panels, will mean that future residents will be able to benefit in a variety of ways, including dramatically smaller power bills and knowing that the majority of their energy usage is coming from a clean and renewable source.”
The amenities in Yarrabend, some existing today and others planned, include extensive health and wellness facilities, curated food retailers within the development, designer boutiques, an arts and culture district for exhibits and workshops, and a complimentary technology concierge service to help with Wi-Fi, smart home connectivity, and even entertainment systems.
The community will also feature gardens, playgrounds, riverside trails (by the Yarra River), bike paths, rooftop terraces, and an elevated park and walking path called The Paper Trail. Close proximity to rail transportation, a full range of schools, and existing retail and commercial areas in the Melbourne suburbs differentiate Yarrabend from other planned community developments, which are often situated in less developed areas.
Solar energy and home power storage systems so far are usually single homeowner installations. As possibly the first major development designed around sustainability that includes the use of solar power with home batteries, Yarrabend could serve as a model for a later communities in other parts of the world. Perhaps this is what Elon Musk was thinking of when he proposed that Tesla buy SolarCity.
