Project engineer Gabe Vermeesch and Googong township project director Malcolm Leslie getting a feel for the recycled asphalt surface. Photo: Michael Weaver.
When social distancing restrictions are lifted we’ll all have a spring in our step, but not as much as the netballers at Googong who’ll have six netball courts and adjacent car park made from recycled products.
The playing surface is an asphalt mix of soft plastics, glass, toner and reclaimed road and is said to be a first for the ACT region.
The recycled road product, known as Reconophalt, will serve as a trial in the netball precinct in the hope it can be used more widely on the remaining roads at Googong.
A kilometre of two-lane road paved with Reconophalt can contain 500,000 plastic bags and packaging equivalents, 165,000 glass bottle equivalents and toner from 12,000 used printer cartridges.
The car park has recently been completed, while the netball facility is set to open later this year.
Googong township project director Malcolm Leslie said in addition to the environmental benefits from the recycled asphalt, there is a 65 per cent improvement in fatigue for longer life pavements when compared to standard asphalt.
“Sustainability is at the heart of our vision for Googong, which has delivered a range of social, environmental and ecological initiatives for the community,” Mr Leslie said.
“The trial of this recycled road surface product is a great example of this vision and we’re pleased to be the first community in the region to implement this technology.
“Googong continues to be at the forefront of sustainable design by incorporating new and innovative techniques across a range of areas to the benefit of its residents. It’s this long-term approach to building communities in an environmentally responsible way that has been a foundation for the master planning of the township.”
Mr Leslie said with Googong’s population nearing 5,000 people, further plans include a community sports centre and club, with BMX track and a town centre similar to that of Manuka.
It is hoped the town’s first public primary school will be ready for students in 2022.
He said the projected population for Googong is 18,000 people at completion of the current projects, with almost 25 per cent of the development land reserved for public open space and conservation areas.
During the next 15 years, Googong will deliver 6200 homes with all the facilities of a self-contained township.
The township also features an integrated water cycle system which will reduce potable water consumption by up to 60 per cent. This means its eventual 18,000 residents will use less water than would traditionally sustain 6500 people in an average Australian community.
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Mayor Tim Overall said he is proud the community is embracing sustainable measures.
“We’re excited to work with Googong township in trialling this sort of innovation in the region,” Cr Overall said.
“It demonstrates the value of progressive and environmentally conscious partnerships in delivering sustainable solutions in our communities for present, as well as future, generations.”
Mr Leslie said the focus of Googong is on developing a sustainable environment for the community.
“The netball courts are also a key piece of amenity for the township which already has its own netball club, the Googong Hogs. We look forward to opening the facility later this year.”
Googong has a long-standing commitment to sustainability, with the community recently awarded the Green Building Council of Australia’s first 5-Star Green Star Communities rating, and the 2019 UDIA NSW Award for Best Masterplanned Community.
Googong is a joint venture by leading Australian residential land developers Peet Limited and Mirvac.
Original Article published by Michael Weaver on The RiotACT.
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