Ginninderry has welcomed a special new family as its 2000th household – Amanda Dietrichson and her 11-year-old daughter Lijané.
Around 30,000 people will one day make their home in the area that extends across the ACT and NSW border.
A joint venture partnership between the ACT Government and Riverview, Ginninderry - Canberra's first 6 Star Green Star Community - is a close-knit, sustainable community, bounded by a conservation corridor and the Brindabella Ranges.
But for the single mum and her daughter, Ginninderry also represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put down permanent roots and enjoy the security of home ownership through Ginninderry's Flexi-living Series.
The low-cost, socially-responsible housing scheme works through a ballot and allows people who meet certain criteria to purchase separately titled homes that are thoughtfully designed for sustainable living.
Only a 5 per cent deposit is required up front while Ginninderry funds the construction of the Flexi-living Homes until they are ready to move into.
It has given the family, who left South Africa when Lijané was just a baby and spent more than two years living with a friend due to the rental crisis, the opportunity for the stability and happiness of a beautiful new home.
"This is what made it possible for me to purchase my first home ever... Without this feature, I don't think I would have been able to buy my house," said Amanda.
Having moved into Strathnairn at Easter, the pair have been busy putting their own stamp on the their new home.
"We absolutely love our new house. All of it. The big front windows and void in the lounge allows for so much natural light to fill our house. It gives the house such a light and fresh feel," said Amanda.
"For the first time we each have our own bathroom, which is an amazing blessing. I also love sitting in my little courtyard and having a braai – that's Afrikaans for BBQ."
Yvette Berry, Minister for Housing and Suburban Development said: "I want to extend a warm welcome to Amanda and Lijané, as well as the other 1998 residents at Ginninderry".
"Belconnen is a great place to live. As Ginninderry grows along with the rest of Canberra, it's so important to foster a strong sense of community in our newer suburbs."
Stephen Harding, Project Director of Ginninderry, welcomed Amanda and Lijané to their new home, saying he felt confident they would enjoy a happy and healthy life there.
"It is wonderful to see the community grow with 2000 residents now calling Ginninderry home. Our goal has always been to offer a mix of exciting and innovative house options to facilitate a broad range of lifestyles for individuals and families," Stephen said.
"We want to embrace people from all ages and stages of life with different budget and lifestyle aspirations, and the role that the Flexi-living Series played in enabling Amanda and Lijané to enjoy the positive experience of purchasing their first home in Strathnairn can only be labelled a success. We know they will relish finding their place in our growing and vibrant community."
Ginninderry:
Ginninderry, a Joint Venture (JV) between Riverview Developments and the ACT Government's Suburban Land Agency, is a community with a difference. Aspiring to be a sustainable community of international significance, Ginninderry will cater to Canberra's needs as a growing city, eventually home to approximately 11,500 homes and 30,000 people.
Ginninderry has been rated as a 6 Star Green Star Community by the Green Building Council of Australia – a testament to its liveability and contribution to the local economy, governance, environment, design and innovation. Planned amenities include new schools, shops, child care centres, medical centres and recreation facilities.
Beyond the urban area of Ginninderry, the JV is working with the independent Ginninderry Conservation Trust to deliver a proposed 596-ha of conservation corridor that connects Ginninderry to the surrounding Murrumbidgee River and Ginninderra Creek. This is just one example of how Ginninderry is inspiring a new way of living.
