2024 HCA Design Guidelines

A5.01 Communal open spaces cont...

• Tree species that have been shown to cause allergies must be avoided to protect more vulnerable residents. • Selection of indigenous and native plants must be prioritised and incorporated where possible to attract local fauna and enhance biodiversity. • Develop a local communal composting system where appropriate. • Plant species should be a low maintenance variety and have low to no watering requirements wherever possible.

SDA Communal Open Space Considerations Checklist: • Refer to NDIS SDA Design Standard . • Consideration is given to accessibility, and functionality of open space areas for people with a disability. • Open spaces and associated landscaping are low maintenance • Open spaces can be accessed easily by maintenance contractors • Where individual units have backyards consider the ability to open up these spaces at times to have the ability to join spaces together and provide larger outdoor communal spaces. This can also enable ease of access for maintenance, without disturbing the resident. Trees and vegetation Trees and vegetation are to compliment the architecture and local neighbourhood. Where possible, native plant species should be used. Trees and vegetation should be located to create privacy, shade and to break up hard landscaping spaces. Trees and vegetation Considerations Checklist: • Retain as many high and medium retention value trees as possible, ensuring compliance with the requirements of any relevant authority. • New planting (including semi-mature trees) must be established to enhance the environment and provide amenity and shade. • Where possible, trees are to be used to provide natural canopy shade in places of high sun ex-posure where people gather and stay outdoors longer, such ascommunal spaces, and where there are more vulnerable users, such asplaygrounds, play spaces, and along pedestrian routes. • New trees must be appropriate to local conditions, site constraints, character and scale of build-ings and the streetscape. • When selecting species, consider tolerance of climate change, including heat, wind, and drought, as well as resistance to pests and diseases. Plant and tree species should be selected to mini-mise the likelihood of major limb shed and conflict of tree roots with adjacent buildings and infra-structure. Species must be selected to best meet the functional requirements of the project and site, for example ability to provide amenity, biodiversity, habitat and shade where needed.

A5.02

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Housing Choices Australia | Design Guidelines

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