Sanctuary Lakes Resort is located in the Point Cook area of Melbourne, approximately 20km from the CBD. The development is located on the former site of the Cheetham Salt Works where a large scale industrial production of salt supplied Melbourne and Victoria for nearly 100 years. This facility was closed in the late 1980’s by the Cheetham Company leaving the site significantly altered from its natural state and making redevelopment options limited. As a result, the development of Sanctuary Lakes had to address a number of environmental and engineering challenges.
The water management regimes of the salt works caused them to become an important habitat for a wide variety of birds, including rare migratory birds. As part of the development agreement for Sanctuary Lakes Resort, 405ha of wetlands was gifted to the State Government as a nature sanctuary called Cheetham Wetlands which is managed by Parks Victoria. This has ensured its long term protection.
The remaining 445ha is being developed as an integrated community resort comprising the following:
- 2,700 residential allotments ranging in size from 300m2 to 2,000m2 with island blocks up to 3,000m2 in area
- An 18 hole Greg Norman designed championship golf course
- Golf Clubhouse including Bistro, bar and function centre
- Golf driving range and training academy
- Lake for recreation and small boating
- Recreational Club with café, swimming pool and gymnasium
- Walking and cycling tracks
- Tennis Club
- Child Care Centre
To ensure the resort remains of high quality and maintains its visual integrity it was considered that residents needed certainty about the architectural style and design. As a result the resort has prepared a set of guidelines for house design. Building envelopes have been established for each lot and are included in the sales contract. These envelopes allow for views to be preserved to the golf course and lake and also provide for a more site responsive design. While no restrictions are placed on the use of specific architects or builders, all housing designs and construction must adhere to a rigorous building code administered by the Architectural Review Committee.
The built form provides both a resort feel and yet integrates with the individual’s requirements for their home. It makes good use of solar energy principles and responds to the site's intrinsic values such as the recreational attributes offered both within and nearby. As developers, Links Living Limited has created a unique feeling of community within the resort.
The development of Sanctuary Lakes Resort has raised the standard in Melbourne’s west. The public's enthusiastic response, evidenced by high sales rates and values, reveals an often ignored appreciation for innovation. The ability to offer a variety of different housing products has satisfied an increasingly strong demand for individuality in land and home prices.