CGD’s planners and designers have created innovative subdivision techniques to exploit environmentally-sensitive open-space corridors and nodes, including wetlands. Some examples of recent and present CGD resort planning, and residential subdivision designs include the award winning Thirteenth Beach Golf Resort at Barwon Heads and The Dunes Golf Links in the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria – both of which are ranked highly in the top golf courses in Australia.

Overseas, the CGD group has successfully planned large-scale allotments for residential communities in the USA, India and China, all with golf courses threading through the subdivisions.

Clients realize that re-zoning of land and applications for development permits are becoming increasingly difficult and time-consuming, with more and more authorities involved in the process, and legislation covering redevelopment potential ever more complex and restrictive. CGD has an enviable record in achieving such re-zonings and permits, often with very sensitive sites. Our attention to detail, and the deep knowledge of environmental factors and sound planning principles are responsible for this, in addition to being experienced in firstly identifying, and then talking constructively with those authority officers capable of recommending approvals.

No matter how seductive a site might appear for resort or residential development – views, undulations, treestands – it may be only as valuable as it susceptibility to being cost-effectively rezoned and approved for such purposes. The CGD group often determines for investment and development clients which of several sites in a region will be most easily approved. This results from quick, thorough analyses of each site’s potential for integrating golf into the development fabric, addressing issues of access, services, layout and environmental values, worked through according to sound planning principles. Reporting on such site selection issues as an early exercise often saves clients very great angst and resources later on.