Aura Engagement Excellence Program

We conceived the Aura Engagement Excellence Program during the initial planning stages of Aura (Qld), Australia’s largest masterplanned community under single ownership.

The program identifies and optimises opportunities for community management of natural areas within Aura. We developed a strategy following extensive consultation with local community organisations and the Sunshine Coast Council about the best way to involve the local community in the long-term delivery of Aura.

This feedback indicated that a community-led reference group should be created to work with us to guide the preservation and management of natural areas. Program implementation commenced in 2014 with the founding of the Aura Community Stewardship Group, co-ordinated by independent organisation, Healthy Land and Water. It continues to evolve and now includes more than 18 community stakeholder groups working in close collaboration with us to manage natural areas within Aura.

Representatives meet quarterly to discuss prospective research, conservation and rehabilitation opportunities.

The program has built strong relationships between our business and the community and has been instrumental in delivering industry-leading sustainability, environmental, economic and social outcomes for the masterplanned project. Program outcomes include:

• Community stewardship of Aura’s natural beauty,
• Early rehabilitation of key natural areas, well in advance of the project’s State and Federal obligations, and
• Enabling us to pilot new construction technologies including High Efficiency Sediment Basins to ensure maximum protection of downstream waterways.

This community engagement methodology and its implementation was awarded a 6 Star Green Star – Communities rating from the Green Building Council of Australia.

The program was also recognised at the 2017 Property Council of Australia Innovation and Excellence Awards, where the Aura Engagement Excellence Program took out the Project Innovation Award.