QUEENSLAND'S leading environmental developer, Gold Coast-based Heritage Pacific, has built on its reputation for combining innovation and eco-sensitive design, winning another major environmental award for its $250 million Genesis master-planned community.

Project engineers for the 76ha Genesis project, Belleng VDM, claimed the coveted Environment Award at last month's 2006 Engineering Excellence Awards.

The award follows the project's recent recognition by the Queensland Stormwater Industry Association with the Major Water Sensitive Urban Design Project award.

On completion, Genesis will incorporate more than 700 homes in a prime location on the eastern side of the M1 (Pacific Motorway).

Key eco-friendly design elements of the community include implementing Xeriscape landscaping principles, which minimise the need for irrigation while encouraging native plants and wildlife, and the provision of safe, open spaces which promote utilisation of the natural surroundings.

Natural gas and recycled water, together with rainwater tanks, vegetated swales, constructed wetlands, naturalised channels and riparian corridors combine to minimise the environmental impacts of the development.