Bentley 360
Project: Bentley 360
Client: WA Department of Communities
Background: FTB, through Development Director Felicia Brady was engaged by WA’s Department of Communities as the consultant project lead on their flagship $1bn Bentley 360 infill project between the period Oct 2016 – June 2020.
Bentley 360 comprised 24ha blighted and dilapidated land, comprising extensive deactivated recreational facilities, and operational community facilities (library, aged care service provider hub and community centre).
The Project’s Structure Plan proposed a mix of 1500-2000 medium-high dwellings and small town centre, with the project expected to be delivered in partnership with the private sector over a 20-30 year period.
With the Bentley 360 project having been earmarked as the Department’s ‘Top Priority’ infill project, Felicia’s focus was on delivering a project that was recognised as Perth’s leading development; particularly with regard to its focus on social, environmental and economic sustainability.
Felicia’s role required her to work independently with a small internal team to ensure the project met (and/or exceeded) all required milestones and within budget.
Felicia was able to fulfill her role as project lead in a part-time capacity, which required her to be highly efficient and effective and provide clear directive and support to the internal Project team.
Bentley 360 has since been recognised by a number of Australia’s peak industry bodies as an exemplar residential development project with the project recently having received the ‘Infinity Award 2020 - Commercial and Industrial Waste Award’.
Deliverables: During her time consulting to the Department, Felicia successfully led the Bentley 360 project from its planning phase into its delivery phase, having achieved several significant milestones including:
Initiation and lead for the development, preparation, and negotiation of a Tripartite Agreement between two State Government and one (10) Local Government agencies. This Agreement included the development of a ‘Collaboration Agreement’ between two agencies to improve and formalise the relationship between the parties to ensure the successful delivery of the project through a collaborative partnership.
Preparation of a business case and strategic assessment of the aged 300-unit Brownlie Towers multi-storey development social housing asset which resulted in the Department’s approval to proceed with the demolition of the delipidated asset.
Facilitated and drove the development and launch of a new project name and brand, ‘Bentley 360’ (previously named ‘Bentley Regeneration Project’) through the creation of a branding working group who attended a series of workshops with a key brand strategist and creative executives.
Development and implementation of a new project vision and objectives, following the identification and acknowledgement that the previous vision was purely planning focused.
Launch of the project’s Expression of Interest to market for a private sector partner as part of WA Government’s largest infill development program; ‘The Precincts’.
Development of the project’s first financial model and various sensitivity analyses.
Support in the development of WA’s first ‘Place Management’ model.
Development and implementation of a project Place Activation Strategy to deliver high quality, temporary landscape spaces, with a focus on urban art and community engagement and activation.
Successfully overseeing and management of various tender documentation to facilitate the demolition of Brownlie Towers and its associated retail precinct, carpark and shopping complex.
Facilitated and lodged various development planning applications for major works on-site.
Involvement in complex negotiations with the Local Authority to facilitate the acquisition of a major land parcel and expedite development of the project in its entirety.
Development of a complex development and delivery strategy to provide strategic direction for the project in the absence of a private sector partner.
Procurement (including preparation of consultancy briefs) and appointment of a new consultant team including civil engineer, geo-technical engineer, urban planner).
Improved communication strategies including the introduction of the Department’s first independent social media account, community newsletters and the creation of an independently run and chaired Bentley Community Liaison Committee.
Led the preparation of three new project masterplans with varying density targets and retail/commercial locational attributes (to inform a revised future structure plan) for financial review and testing.
Procured specialist market analysts to develop innovative and market led lot and housing typologies including micro-lots and various other lot configurations for market testing and potential further delivery as part of the broader project.
Led the development of a partnership between the Department of Education and Department of Communities’ to deliver WA’s first state of the art multi-level primary school with associated allied health facilities.
Provided strategic advice acting as a ‘Specialist External Advisor’ during the evaluation of private sector proponent submissions on the project.
Provided support and advice to Communities senior management, including working directly with Corporate Operations Assistant Director General, to facilitate and lead negotiations with the unsuccessful proponent to determine Communities ongoing relationship with the Proponent.
Mentoring and support internal staff members to build capability within the immediate and wider team.