Precinct BG1 Guidelines Woodridge Private Domain Components And Design Objectives Design Responses Avoid (1) Vegetation Retention And Landscaping* To maintain the indigenous vegetation including canopy trees and understorey planting and encourage the replanting of indigenous plants (where compatible with other planning requirements including bush fire safety). Retain existing high canopy trees wherever possible. Retain all indigenous understorey vegetation and replant appropriate. Removal of existing trees or development adjacent to existing indigenous canopy trees may require an arboricultural report on the effects on existing vegetation. Removal of high canopy Planting non-indigenous tree and plant species. Visually dominant exotic species. Planting of any weed species which may spread to adjacent bushland. (2) Footings / Touching The Ground To minimise site disturbance and impact on the landform and vegetation. The footings of buildings should minimise the impact of the building on the landscape setting. Buildings should be designed to sit above the ground amongst the tree canopy or to sit within the topography and understorey vegetation. Extensive excavation for footings adjacent to existing trees. (3) Building On Sloping Sites* (a) To minimise site erosion, the detrimental effects of excavation and the landscape impact of development. Buildings and other development should minimise the impact on the natural slope of the site by following the topography of the site. Retain existing vegetation and plant ground covers and plants with substantial root systems, especially on steeply sloping sites. Major excavation works to accommodate dwellings or appurtenances. Large sealed areas (eg. tennis courts) on steeply sloping sites or where vegetation removal is required.
(b) To minimise the use and visual intrusion of retaining walls and batters. Minimise the height of retaining walls. Minimise the use of retaining within the side and front setback areas. Minimise the area and angle of any batter. Use material in walls and batters that are compatible with the bushland setting. Use of masonry. Use of a mixture of materials. Batters that exceed a slope of 4 to 1. (4) Position On The Site To minimise the visibility of buildings from the road. The front and side setbacks should match the predominant setback and orientation to the street of nearby dwellings. Dwellings sited further forward than the predominant setback. High retaining along the side setback. Insufficient side setbacks that inhibit appropriate landscaping. (5) Height And Building Form To ensure that buildings and extensions do not dominate the streetscape and the landscape setting. Design new buildings and extensions so as not to exceed the predominant tree canopy height. Site buildings away from the ridge tops to avoid them being visible on the skyline. (Move to a more appropriate position on the site). Buildings near ridge tops should be positioned and designed so as not to protrude above the ridgeline, when viewed from lower areas. Use simple elevational treatments complement rather than dominate the bush setting. Buildings that penetrate the tree canopy. Buildings located on ridge tops. Building height that exceeds the dominant height within the street. (6) Design Detail And Building Materials Use earthy toned finishes or paint colours. Expanses of highly reflective colour or material.