Planning Minister, Justin Madden said the Growth Areas Authority (GAA) the Planning Institute of Australia and developer, Stocklands will build the suburb in Cranbourne East.

“This important project will highlight how we can plan new communities that are affordable and sustainable,” Mr Madden said.

“Liveability planning in growth areas is different to planning in established suburbs, because these places are growing faster than anywhere else in Victoria and were being planning before construction.”

“The Stockland project is the first of its kind involving government, planners and commercial developers. The master plan will focus on a new community beyond individual homes to design healthy communities,” he said.

The project will be informed by the latest research into the key elements for making new communities “liveable”.

With Melbourne growing at more than 1200 new residents a week, Mr Madden said the Growth Area of the Future demonstration project would lift the benchmark for new residential developments.

“As well as fast-tracking 90,000 new homes in our growth areas to meet our growing population, we want to build communities that are less car-dependent, less power and water hungry and more liveable,” he said.

“The Government’s focus is on putting ‘liveability’ at the front and centre of new developments, by getting the strategic planning right the first time.”

Kingsley Andrew, Victorian General Manager of Stockland said the project would incorporate water sensitive urban design, pedestrian pathways and linked open spaces, a Catholic secondary college, a primary school, and a range of residential home densities to deliver a healthy community.

“We are very pleased to be involved in this project because it presents a broader perceptive of planning and development and how they work together to build communities,” Mr Andrew said.

“We look forward to working closely with these two peak bodies and the City of Casey to produce a community we can all be proud of."

The Planning Institute of Australia’s (PIA) Victorian Division President, Jason Black, said the project would help address concerns about poor health and the link between the environment and community health.

"The PIA is very keen to continue to raise the awareness of this important issue and we are taking the next step by helping demonstrate the possible solutions," Mr Black said.

"This demonstration of a healthy place to live will help drive market forces so that these characteristics become the norm for all developments, not the exception.”

Mr Madden said the demonstration project would not only improve how Victoria’s newest communities look and feel, but how well they function for new residents in terms of health and well-being.