WGV, SHAC & MICROGRIDS
Planning for the next generation at WGV

WGV at White Gum Valley is one of the most unique urban infill redevelopment projects ever undertaken in Western Australia. WGV demonstrates the economic and social benefits of sustainable development and create a best practice blueprint for the planning and development of small infill sites. WGV demonstrates that sustainable medium density living doesn’t mean having to compromise on lifestyle, amenity or community.
The two hectare site is located three kilometres from the heart of Fremantle, next to the Royal Fremantle golf course and Booyeembara Park. Planning for the site has been heavily influenced by the contemporary urban design principles of integration and permeability, with a strong focus on sustainability and the provision of amenity for residents and the surrounding community.
After extensive site investigations, contextual research, team workshops and community consultation, the following vision for WGV was determined:
“To create a high quality infill development that is highly site responsive and built upon the context of the surrounding locality, seeking to leverage the site’s strong attributes to enable it to benefit future residents, as well as the existing community that surrounds it.”
WGV successfully balances the interests and objectives of the State Government, the City of Fremantle and the local community, including:
• Respecting the existing urban context, but facilitating transition to contemporary and sustainable urban form, diversity and density;
• Identifying with the community and existing sense of place, including facilitating the retention and preservation of a historic buildings (Sullivan Hall);
• Improving and enhancing the local landscape and providing high quality public space and community amenity with good pedestrian access.
A range of affordable living options through compact, climate responsive design will be offered at WGV, with 23 single lots balanced against five multi-unit sites creating homes for more than 150 people. Once completed, the community will be enlivened with shared public open space, communal facilities and public art to reflect the unique heritage of the site.
WGV meets the demands of our city’s population growth and creates a place that will complement and strengthen the surrounding community.
As Perth’s suburban sprawl continues to expand with exponential population growth, the Western Australian Government has released its draft Perth and Peel@3.5million policy, calling on industry to build 380,000 new homes through infill. But while the social, environmental and economic rationale for higher density infill developments is irrefutable, there is increasing tension with residents who fear unsightly apartment blocks in their neighbourhoods.
WGV which draws heavily upon the eclectic character of White Gum Valley to provide a contemporary development that is sensitive to the surrounding community while supporting the State Government’s vision articulated in its Directions 2031 and subsequent Perth and Peel@3.5million strategies.
White Gum Valley is an established suburb of Fremantle, defined by an active community, diverse character and unique appearance. Streets are tree-lined and houses typically smaller in scale, with close set-backs to the street; a series of laneways weave throughout the neighbourhood providing a discreet level of activation enjoyed by residents.
The site has a rich history dating back to the 1900’s, and was previously home to an informal horse racing track, orchard, community cinema, pigeon-fanciers club, and most recently the Kim Beazley School.
It was recognised early in the project through discussions I held with a group of local artists — SHAC (Sustainable Housing for Artists and Creatives), and the City of Fremantle that there was a shortage of affordable housing for many of Fremantle’s artists who were being pushed out of the area by rising house and rental prices. I introduced SHAC to Access Housing, a leading local not for profit housing provider, to explore an affordable housing option for the site. This set the early agenda for the delivery of the innovative SHAC cooperative affordable housing.

The SHAC apartments are now completed and occupied and is also home to a very exciting battery storage and solar photovoltaic research project by LandCorp. Curtin University, ARENA, CRC for Low Carbon Living, City of Fremantle and Balance Group. Residents will be able trade excess solar energy produced with each other and other apartment buildings within WGV, the technology for this microgrid trading and P2P trading is provided by Perth’s very own Power Ledger, a company at the forefront of deploying a platform and applications using block chain.
Power Ledger is conducting Australia’s first ICO (initial coin offer).
