Planning

The Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) commissioned GHD to provide a master plan for a Business Park development adjacent to its new Terminal 3. The Business Park will contain airport-related offices and a hotel, as well as other corporate offices that favour proximity to the airport. Consideration of the existing and proposed road accesses and parking areas is vital as the Business Park must not impede or hinder airport traffic flow.

The Abu Dhabi International Airport Business Park will provide an opportunity for businesses to locate close to the airport. It incorporates professional and quality based design in keeping with the stature of the adjacent international airport.

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The Government of Abu Dhabi Emirate is committed to protecting and conserving the environment, and to protecting and promoting health and safety for all inhabitants of the Abu Dhabi Emirate.

As the Consultants for the Abu Dhabi Emirate Environment, Health and Safety Management System (EHSMS) Project, GHD has been working with the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency (EAD) since early 2007, to develop the EHSMS Regulatory Framework and associated Environmental Quality Standards and Technical Guidelines associated with water, land, air, noise, waste, biodiversity and health and safety.

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The Al Ain Municipality engaged GHD, in association with Woods Bagot (architects and urban designers) and RSP/Jones Lang LaSalle (property consultants), in the planning and development of new residential communities at Shiab Al Ashkhar and Shiebat Al Watah in Al Ain City.

This project involves the master planning of two suburbs as part of a housing program for UAE nationals. One suburb (Shiab Al Ashkhar) is constrained within an existing pattern of subdivision. GHD suggested a number of mechanisms that could be applied in an effort to reduce the urban sprawl and provide a sense of community. This involved varying road carriageway alignments, re-designing community parks, integrating a community centre and encouraging pedestrian traffic.

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Launched in January 2011, the Australian National Ports Strategy provides a coordinated planning approach for Australian governments to help plan for port infrastructure and the associated road and rail linkages that connect these important gateways to all Australian cities and towns.

Through the provision of five themed background papers, several presentations and support at two stakeholder forums, one in Melbourne and the other in Adelaide, GHD assisted Infrastructure Australia and the National Transport Commission on the development of the draft strategy.

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River foreshore issues are potentially controversial and need strong community and council involvement if they are to be resolved. GHD completed a master plan for the Richmond River foreshore.

The plan, which was developed for the New South Wales Department of Lands and Ballina Shire Council, has received strong community, council and government support.

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In May 2009, the Labor Member for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly MP, announced that GHD would partner with the RTA for the Concept and Detailed Design of the HW1 Princes Highway Bega Bypass.  Since then work on the design, geotechnical investigation and review of environmental factors for the bypass has progressed significantly, with documentation for construction tender having been completed.

The project includes 3.6 km of two lane rural highway, three bridges connecting communities with the Bega township, four reinforced soil retaining walls and three intersections.  The purposes of the project are to accommodate B-Double movements and to create the potential for reduced crash rates in the area by creating better transport pathways for local communities and highway users.

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The river valley and plateau landscapes that characterise the Bellingen Shire on the New South Wales mid-north coast have made the area a desirable place to live. To help the council achieve its goal of creating a prosperous and cohesive community in an area of outstanding natural beauty, GHD was engaged to prepare the 2006-2026 Bellingen Shire Growth Management Strategy.

Bellingen is primarily a rural area with large tracts of national park, nature reserve and state forest land, interspersed with towns, villages and small settlements.

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The Australian Capital Territory Electricity and Water Corporation (ACTEW) and ActewAGL are using alliance contracting to deliver four large-scale water supply projects to secure water supply for the people of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

ACTEW Corporation and ActewAGL have partnered with GHD, Abigroup and John Holland Group to form the Bulk Water Alliance and deliver these projects over the next three years

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Craggy Ridge Estate is a proposed eco-tourism and residential development that centres on environmental and community sustainability. Located in Tasmania’s north, the development site is an elevated plateau affording 360 degree views of the Tamar Valley and surrounding area.

GHD was initially approached by the client, Craggy Ridge Estate Pty Ltd, to perform planning and investigative tasks. As the client’s vision developed, the project scope was progressively broadened and the client took advantage of GHD’s full complement of services. The desired outcome of this first stage of the project was a Development Application for presentation to the West Tamar Council.

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GHD was engaged by Great Lakes Council in New South Wales to prepare the Forster Tuncurry housing strategy. The strategy assessed the adequacy of existing housing supply in the area to meet current and future housing demand.

The strategy emphasised the need for a mix of housing types to meet future population demands, including higher density homes in appropriate locations to improve resident access to services and efficient transport systems.

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Highbrook Business Park in New Zealand is nearing completion after a twelve-year involvement by GHD.

GHD was part of a team of international designers who developed the concept for the 190ha Highbrook Business Park, adjacent to Auckland’s Southern Motorway. Highbrook Business Park has attracted tenants from a wide range of businesses and will eventually accommodate up to 12,000 employees in 550,000sq m of industrial and commercial floor space.

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GHD and Huon Valley Council have set a new standard for strategic planning, taking out two major awards for their work on the Huon Valley land use and development strategy.

The strategy was undertaken as a precursor to the development of a new single planning scheme for the Huon Valley, which covers a significant portion of the south-western part of Tasmania. Previous planning schemes pre-dated the amalgamation of three former councils. A single document containing modern policy directions for the whole area was seen as a logical and necessary approach for the future.

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Hyne's timber processing mill at Tuan, Queensland is undergoing major upgrades to increase the mill's efficiency and processing capacity. GHD has worked closely with Hyne to achieve the desired outcomes and to minimise operation disruptions for this major supplier of timber products. 

GHD has provided planning, structural and civil design, documentation and inspection services. The major components of this upgrade include a shavings shed with associated ductwork replacing an existing open conveyor system, kilns and reconditioners for drying green timber products, and large areas of heavy industrial pavements.

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The riverfront precinct in one of China’s most famous tourist cities is being transformed into a vibrant urban space.

GHD’s Beijing and Changsa offices recently won an international competition to provide the urban design that will revitalise the waterfront precinct of the city of Zhangjiajie, on the Lishui River in Hunan province, in the world heritage-listed Zhangjiajie national park.

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GHD was engaged by Sapphire Beach Properties to develop the infrastructure master planning, preliminary and final designs for a 267 lot residential subdivision at iconic North Sapphire Beach just north of Coffs Harbour.

This included road and pedestrian walkways/cycleways, stormwater drainage, water and sewerage services and coordination of the electrical and telecommunications services. The conceptual layouts were refined to accommodate flora and fauna habitats and physical constraints, including flood zones.

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The new AUD $9 million high-speed facillity, located in the Hobart Technopark, was designed by GHD, which provided the architectural detailing, structural and geotechnical engineering, all building services engineering, planning, environmental and traffic assessments. The EGO Group and Cardno Low and Hooke also contributed to the design.

Most notably, the new equipment allows the Hobart Mercury to output its own colour printing for the first time, avoiding the current need to fly in colour work overnight from Melbourne.

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GHD has developed RACV’s master plan for a 32ha site with a dramatic outlook over Andersons Inlet, along the Cape Paterson-Inverloch Road in Victoria.

The facility includes a main lodge, detached, self-contained cabins, group accommodation and a remote  'eco-lodge'.

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To date sustainable planning has largely focused on new developments, but there is also a need to revitalise land that has suffered in the industrial process. Three adjoining development sites on the outskirts of Geelong, Victoria, are being revitalised to facilitate a major residential based redevelopment comprising in excess of 1950 residential lots. The combined sites consist of the former Geelong Cement Works, a former bluestone quarry and non-viable rural land. When combined, the three sites will form a new residential community covering more than 200ha and located just 4km from the City of Geelong's CBD.

Working collaboratively, GHD has been commissioned by two clients, the Moltoni Corporation and the Riverlee Corporation, to effect the re-zoning for all three properties. This is being done on an integrated basis with sustainable development principles at the core of the decision-making process. Tasks have included undertaking specialist engineering and environmental studies, as well as the preparation of amendment and master plan documentation, which seeks to restore a degraded waterway.

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Al Barari is expected to become one of the most prestigious residential and commercial communities in Dubai, UAE. The development features strong horticultural elements and forms part of Dubailand, one of Dubai’s latest mixed land use developments.

GHD was involved in preparing a master plan and development brief that provided a framework for the planning and development of Al Barari. GHD undertook all infrastructure studies and conceptual designs for the development, including:

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