Your Development

Niche comprises 28 large blocks, set over 2.96 hectares and is located at Hillbank, 25km from Adelaide, on the slopes of the Adelaide foothills adjacent to the Little Para River.

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Ecosystems

• The development will introduce native flora, and will provide improved water retention to an area which was previously cleared and regularly slashed to maintain weed growth, with little ecological value.
• All plants within Niche are native to Australia including Banksia and Eucalyptus trees, with the selection of vegetation deliberately based on drought-tolerant and hardy species to suit the local climate conditions and existing soils of the site.
• The linear reserve includes an open swale to collect, slow and treat stormwater before it enters the Little Para River via the existing piped system.
• The open swale through the reserve will decrease the velocity of stormwater flows into the Little Para River, using a combination of rock lining and planting riparian species to create small wetland areas throughout the swale. These wetland planting areas also help to filter contaminants out of the stormwater before it reaches the Little Para River. 
• A GPT will help filter the stormwater from the site and also north of the site, so it is cleaner when it enters the Little Para River.
• Niche Urban Design Guidelines recommend the use of split-level homes, elevated platforms, pole-framed homes or tiered retaining walls to minimise disruption to landform and natural drainage contours.
• Planting local native plant species is likely to attract locally successful native bird species, and the linking of the reserve and landscaped verges of the new road will attract fauna from the adjacent open space reserve to the north and Little Para River to the south.
• All weed species of trees have been removed and affected areas replanted with native vegetation to attempt to return the ecosystems to their original state. 
• Low level native planting has been maximised throughout the reserve to provide fauna shelter and facilitate safer fauna movement through the site.

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Waste

• Recycling of concrete found on site - sent to a waste recycling plant.
• All civil contractors working on site must provide a dedicated waste management plan.
• Use of skip bins rather than cages.
• Use of waste recycling contractors.
• Green waste collection service for residents.

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Energy

• Building Envelope Plans (BEP’s) will be created for each allotment within Niche consisting of a maximum site coverage limits for homes of 40% is likely to increase the size of the solar access zones for each home. 
• Niche Urban Design Guideline’s requires all homes to provide at least 25m² of private open space with a northern aspect. 
• Urban design guidelines provide advice on shielding from hot summer sun and optimising ventilation.
• All homes within the development to either install a solar hot water system, an electric heat pump system (required to meet EnviroDevelopment standards) or install 1 kW of photo-voltaic cells.
• Development wide usage of efficient energy for public lighting.

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Community

• Incorporation of community feedback.
• Consultation well above regulatory requirements, including door knocked residents of the existing homes abutting Niche during the design phase, immediately prior to construction commencing, and during construction.
• Niche at Hillbank has been designed to integrate with surrounding open space trails that run north and south of the site (including the Mount Lofty Walking Trail).  The new pathway allows cyclists to access the Little Para River reserve trails and the Carisbrooke Reserve safely.
• Co-location with high frequency bus services.
• 50% of allotments will be directly overlooking public space.
• Niche at Hillbank has been designed with a main reserve adjacent to an existing street to promote good community interaction through completing the link between the existing reserves and walking trails to the north and south of the site.
• The link provides easier and safer pedestrian and cyclist access to the local playground and native nursery, and beyond to Carisbrook Reserve which includes a large playground and other community facilities.
• All homes must maintain minimum setbacks of either 4 or 5 metres from rear boundaries (all sites back onto some form of open space) and at least 1 metre from side boundaries. This guarantees all allotments within the development are able to achieve cross ventilation from all sides of each dwelling.
• Incorporation of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles.
• Development is co-located within 2km of a wide range of existing services and facilities.

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