$70m Halcyon Glades gets green edge

Developer Halcyon is giving its $70 million Halcyon Glades over 50s community a green edge with a suite of environmental initiatives that will reduce energy consumption and save on home running costs.The developer, which has won several awards for seniors housing and became the first Australian developer to achieve UDIA (Qld) EnviroDevelopment certification for an over 50s community at Halcyon Landing, has taken the same approach to its Caboolture North community.Halcyon joint managing director Bevan Geissmann said the benefit of an environmentally sensitive community was multi-faceted.“I use the term ‘head, heart, wallet’ because it reflects home owners’ approach to environmental sustainability,” he said.“They’re at a point in life when they have a real desire to tread more lightly on the earth for the benefit of their children and their children’s children.“Environmental consciousness is something that has evolved over their lifetimes and many see a responsibility to look after the earth future generations will inherit.“There are also the cost savings which come with having an energy efficient home.“The savings add up when you consider most home owners will live in the home for at least several years.“They are happy to outlay a little more to build the home knowing they will more than recoup this in energy savings.”The Caboolture North community will comprise 176 eight-star energy rated homes.The homes will feature Hebel panelling, water efficient fixtures, thermal insulation, light coloured roofing and gas hot waters systems.Halcyon Glades’ impressive recreation club, The Long House, is currently under construction and will feature a rammed earth wall made from sand, clay, stone and cement.“It’s fire proof, incredibly solid and provides excellent thermal mass to maintain a nice even temperature throughout the seasons,” said Valerie Oliver, co-owner of Rammed Earth Constructions.“We started looking into rammed earth as a building material when we were building our own home.“Taking into consideration how timber performs in the Queensland climate and a desire to incorporate heat and noise control within the building, rammed earth was a good fit.“It’s also a feature, like a piece of art it provides a unique dimension to the space.”Halcyon has incorporated sustainable features elsewhere in the development.“As part of masterplanning the project, we consider everything, right down to the alignment of roads and aspect of homes,” said Dr Geissmann.“At Halcyon Glades we have incorporated a water quality basin which treats storm water runoff to remove sediment prior to leaving the site.“There was also extensive landscaping with turf, seeding and hydro mulching undertaken in the early stages of development.”At Halcyon, water charges, council rates and body corporate costs are rolled into a fixed weekly fee, indexed to CPI, and buyers are also not required to pay stamp duty on their purchase.Facilities at Halcyon Glades will include a swimming pool, spa, gymnasium, cinema, pickle ball court, bowling green, tennis court, recreation centre with bar, kitchen, dining facilities, library, craft and games rooms, as well as caravan and boat storage.A limited number of homes in stage one remain for sale, priced from $365,000.Halcyon has landed a suite of acknowledgements for affordability and seniors living, including Queensland and National UDIA awards for its Halcyon Waters, Halcyon Landing and Halcyon Parks communities.