Award Winning Communities

COMMUNITY AND PLACE CREATION
Cedar Woods projects’ aim to create communities with character, activity and opportunities for interaction. We design master plans that ensure the integration of public open space with the surrounding neighbourhood.

A recurring feature of many of our developments is an extensive central open space area which is utilised by residents to engage, facilitate friendships and foster a neighbourhood culture.  These areas are designed for the use of local residents, but to also be used as a valuable local resource which can host community events and ongoing health facilitation programs such as yoga, tai chi and badminton.

We also appreciate that it takes more than a master plan to engage members of the community. Cedar Woods is adept at implementing measures that facilitate community creation, with ‘community activisation strategies’ a principal objective of all projects.

We aim to foster cohesion among residents through resident welcoming family days and the provision of community workshops focused on the arts, community activities and sustainable living. For example, residents at The Rivergums, Baldivis, enjoy many annual community events including a twilight eco walk. This interactive event begins with a free BBQ at the central parklands of the estate before residents are led on a guided walk where they have the opportunity to see and learn about the unique flora and fauna that live at The Rivergums, including seven frog species.

IN THE COMMUNITY
As a company which has achieved significant gains from its development activities, Cedar Woods appreciates that it has an ongoing responsibility to reciprocate to the community and environment from which it was able to generate these gains.  Community investment in the local areas surrounding our developments forms part of our company sustainability objectives and produces rewards for both our residents and the local community catchment area generally.  We do so by lending support to the non-for-profit sector, sponsoring community events on an ongoing basis, and through the implementation of our own corporate social responsibility activities. 

Peel Health Campus Foundation
Cedar Woods has long been a supporter of the Peel Foundation and has provided the foundation with a $50,000 donation to facilitate healthier community development in the Peel Region of Western Australia.  We are proud to have participated in a joint venture with the foundation and industry construction partner, Pindan, by donating land at our Mariners Cove development for the design and construction of a charity home. This home was auctioned, with the proceeds going to benefit the Peel Foundation.  Cedar Woods thank our industry partners such as local tradesman and service providers who also contributed to make this project a success.

Cedar Woods Neighbourhood Grants Program
Cedar Woods appreciates that small community groups comprise an important part of the social fabric of our neighbourhoods.  We embrace the idea of assisting our local pre-school to upgrade their sandpit, or the junior netball team to purchase new shirts.  We enjoy seeing our contributions put smiles on the faces of neighbourhood children and their parents, who welcome the relief from continual fundraising. 

To ensure the ongoing support of our local communities, Cedar Woods has established a Neighbourhood Grants Program for some of its projects that involves donating monies to community based organisations. We have set aside $200,000 and plan to commence distribution to the community in 2009 as part of the Victorian division’s community benefits program. 

The company is proud to assist in fostering community development in the municipality catchments surrounding our Williams Landing and Carlingford projects.  An independent panel containing local community leaders will assess applications for funding from local non-for-profits and associations and will disburse allocations in sums of $500 and $1,000 to those who satisfy assessment requirements.

The neighbourhood grants program is a significant initiative which the company believes will make sizeable inroads in supporting local community groups and assisting to facilitate community spirit and cohesion in the cities of Wyndham and Whittlesea.