Tract Consultants

Planning approval has been secured for Sandham Place – introducing 10 townhouses to the heart of Elsternwick. Thoughtfully designed by Cera Stribley Architects, the dual-aspect homes offer an abundance of natural light, adaptable floorplates and are nestled in extensive landscaping. Minutes from the Glen Huntly Road shopping precinct, Elsternwick Railway Station, tram connections, local amenities and open space – these two-storey homes will support greater housing choice and liveability in the Elsternwick Major Activity Centre. We are pleased to have secured planning approval for this project, with the assistance of Glen Eira City Council, and congratulate Coff Property Group, Monark Property Partners and the wider project team. Read more about the project in Apartments and Developments | a-d.com.au: https://lnkd.in/geytg7UE Architecture: Cera Stribley Architects Landscape: AP.D ESD: GIW Environmental Solutions Traffic & Waste: onemilegrid Heritage: John Briggs 📷 Cera Stribley

Geelong has again been the focus of housing discussion for the UDIA Victoria Annual Geelong Summit. The theme “New. Different. Geelong’s Housing Future” covered topics from regional infill feasibility, Land Lease Community models, density, and the policy landscape. Senior Principal Town Planner and Chair of the UDIA VIC Geelong Chapter, Nick Clements, moderated a discussion with Chris Wheaton, Megan Rovers and Jessica Hurse on the UDIA’s policy priorities, and a fireside chat with Colleen Peterson, Acting Deputy Secretary, Planning and Land Services, Department of Transport and Planning – sharing valuable insights into the recent planning reforms and what they might mean for regional development and growth. Senior Principal Town Planner Jess Noonan spoke alongside industry colleagues Simon Burk, Shannon Derbyshire and James Westh, exploring the ‘special ingredients’ to unlocking lifestyle, innovation and affordability for land lease communities. As passionate local advocates, we are proud to continue supporting the UDIA as Geelong Industry Partners. As the UDIA celebrates 50 years, we acknowledge its ongoing efforts as a strong voice for industry and its role in supporting the development of future leaders. Thank you to UDIA Victoria, Linda Allison, Jack Vaughan, Danielle Trudgeon, Maurice Maytuckey, Mia Jenkins and all involved in curating this important forum. 

The ‘Transforming to an Age-Friendly World: Models of Co-Design for Creating Age-Friendly Public Green Spaces in Urban Neighbourhoods’ PhD has won an Award for Excellence in the Stakeholder Engagement category at the Planning Institute of Australia SA Awards. Led by Dr Zinan Chen, Landscape Architect from our Adelaide team, the research used Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Citizen Science to explore how co-design can lead to stronger communities and smarter design outcomes. The judges noted, “With collaboration and empowerment at its core, the initiative placed community members in decision-making roles usually reserved for professionals – a fundamental innovation in participatory practice.” By embedding age-friendly principles into planning practice, the project addresses one of the most urgent strategic challenges for the planning profession: designing cities that enable healthy, active, and connected ageing populations. We congratulate Zinan, the University of South Australia, the City of Unley and project collaborators on this outstanding achievement. Read more about the project: https://lnkd.in/gMdZxk3d

The $74 million expansion of Noarlunga Hospital in Adelaide is officially open. Our landscape architectural design for the new 24-bed Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit and 24-bed General Medicine Ward delivers therapeutic outdoor environments that promote healing and patient-centred care. Announcing the opening, South Australian Premier Peter Malinausakas remarked, “This is a significant milestone in our mission to build a bigger health system…the largest ever expansion of Noarlunga Hospital – forming part of a 65 per cent increase in the hospital’s capacity.” Grounded in evidence-based design, these spaces support recovery through sensory engagement, access to nature, and opportunities for social interaction or quiet reflection. Embracing a palette of local and native plant species, the project has introduced 210 new trees and over 14,000 plants. By integrating greenery, shade, movement, and comfort, the design fosters resilience and complements care, enhancing the overall patient, staff, and visitor experience. We are proud to have worked alongside SA Health, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, Department for Infrastructure and Transport, Wiltshire Swain, Mossop Construction + Interiors, GHD, Aurecon, Adelaide Innovative Landscaping and the wider project team to support better health outcomes for Adelaide. Read the full media release: https://lnkd.in/gHp4R4Nt Videography: Dan Schultz

We are pleased to announce the appointment of David Barnard who joins as our National Urban Design Lead, based in Sydney. David brings decades of experience across a range of leading organisations in the public and private sectors – including his own practice – designing and delivering major urban renewal, transit-oriented master plans, civic spaces and strategy. David reflected, “Urban Design has been an immensely satisfying career – the simple wins are the most rewarding. Like seeing a solo 9-year-old kid cross at the traffic light you’ve spent years advocating for, so that 8 to 88-year-olds can move safely around their community.” Interdisciplinary thinking is fundamental to David’s approach, having worked internationally and in Australia, building large in-house teams of urban designers, planners, architects, and landscape architects – the same collaborative ethos that lies at the heart of Tract. We welcome David to the team, bringing his energy and vision to our national practice. 

Monark Property Partners and Tract recently hosted a Private Developer Lunch at the Botanical Hotel in Melbourne. The event brought together a select group of developers, planners and advisors for a focused discussion on the current development landscape. Facilitated by Monark CIO and Co-Founder Adam Slade-Jacobson, Tract Senior Principal Town Planners Joseph Indomenico and Elle Harrington, and Director Janis Fischer, the topics traversed planning frameworks, capital structuring and the broader market environment. We appreciate the considered contributions from those who attended and enjoyed hearing perspectives from across the development sector. Thank you to our guests for joining us, and to Monark for curating the event. 

We are proud to see Clare Cousins Architects recognised with the 2025 Australian Institute of Architects National Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing category, for Shiel Street North Melbourne. The judges noted, “This is exceptional community housing that sets a clear precedent for honest, well-designed affordable homes that provide transformational support for those who need them the most.” Community housing projects like Shiel Street exemplify the creativity, ingenuity and care with which our built environment profession can deliver high quality medium density housing in established inner-urban contexts. We are humbled to have been able to work with such a dedicated client and project team to facilitate its approval through the planning process. We celebrate this achievement alongside Clare Cousins Architects, Housing Choices Australia, GRC Buxton, and the wider project team. Read more in Architecture Au: https://lnkd.in/gyzSKp42 Image courtesy of Clare Cousins Architects, Housing Choices Australia and Buxton Construction. 📷 : Tess Kelly

We are proud to announce the Washpool Creek Master Plan has won a 2025 Planning Institute of Australia QLD Award for Excellence in the Strategic Planning Project category. The judges praised its “progressive landscape-led approach as a benchmark for sustainable community driven planning across Queensland and beyond”. Guided by the voices of community, stakeholders and Traditional Custodians, the judges noted the master plan fosters a generational shift in public perception for how waterway corridors can be valued as vibrant, multifunctional spaces, incorporating environmental and cultural benefits. We congratulate our Queensland team, Bundaberg Regional Council and the wider project team on this outstanding achievement, now alongside several AILA National and State awards, and Stormwater Queensland Awards. Read more about the project on our website: https://lnkd.in/gAT5nBwG E2Designlab Turner & Townsend

Tract is looking for an experienced Landscape Architect to join our Sydney team. If you’re a passionate landscape architect looking to be part of a multidisciplinary team, this is your opportunity to work alongside some of the industry’s best on projects shaping the future of infrastructure, residential, tourism, education, health and public realm. Explore the opportunity and apply via our website: https://lnkd.in/dwS54Ym7 📷: Guy Wilkinson

Despite being a central focus of the housing affordability challenge, planning is only one part of a complex system which – across Australia – is in a state of flux, and actively seeking new solutions. Our regions have a significant strategic role to play as discussions of affordability, supply, and population growth intensify. For these reasons, Geelong was the perfect setting for this year’s Planning Institute of Australia Victorian State Planning Conference, with the theme ‘State of Planning Change’. In their plenary presentations, Tract Senior Principal Town Planners Simon Loader and Nick Clements emphasised the need for collaboration – beyond the planning discipline – as a key enabler. Simon reflected on the importance of organisations like the Geelong Regional Commission and the G21 Alliance to bring coordinated, evidence-based rigour to strategic planning, and a united voice for the Geelong region. Nick contended that whether or not we achieve our vision of an affordable, liveable future will depend on our willingness to work together with industry, and allow feasibility to enter the planning dialogue. We are proud to have contributed to two days of thoughtful conversation. Thank you to PIA and all involved in facilitating these forums for sharing ideas and perspectives to help drive constructive change.