The Round Mountain Design Guidelines have been created to inspire high quality homes and landscaping that celebrate the mountain’s landmark setting.
They provide a clear design framework that encourages thoughtful, distinctive and enduring architecture, ensuring Round Mountain continues to stand apart as a community of exceptional character.
These Design Guidelines should be read alongside the approved Plan of Development and relevant Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) and Logan City Council (LCC) requirements. Together, they help protect and enhance the value of your most important investment, your family home, while contributing to a cohesive, vibrant neighbourhood.
Used thoughtfully, the Design Guidelines act as a blueprint for creating homes that are both unique and harmonious within their setting, ensuring every resident enjoys a community of lasting beauty and pride.
1.1 DESIGN GUIDELINE PRINCIPLES
The Round Mountain Design Guidelines celebrate a contemporary architectural style that encourages variety and individuality while maintaining visual harmony across the community.
Homes are designed with a mix of skillion, pitched, and cubic roof forms, complemented by thoughtful facade detailing that contributes to a refined and cohesive streetscape.
A palette of natural textures, materials and colours is encouraged to reflect and enhance the beauty of the surrounding landscape.
This approach helps create a strong sense of place and reinforces the distinctive character that defines the Round Mountain community.
Homes should positively engage with public areas such as streets and open spaces through the considered integration of roofs, walls, large areas of glazing, Ancillary Structures and landscaping.
Garages and Ancillary Structures are to complement the main dwelling in both design and materiality, ensuring a balanced and well-connected appearance throughout the neighbourhood.
2.0 The Design Review Panel
The Design Review Panel (DRP) has been established to guide and support the delivery of high-quality homes and landscapes throughout Round Mountain.
Its role is to ensure that every home contributes to the community’s shared vision and upholds the standards outlined in these Design Guidelines.
All homeowners are required to obtain approval from the DRP before commencing construction of a new home or undertaking any external alterations. This process ensures every design aligns with the overall vision for Round Mountain and maintains the community’s architectural integrity.
Engaging with the DRP early in your design journey can help establish clear parameters while allowing creativity and individuality to flourish. The DRP is here to collaborate with homeowners and builders, providing guidance to help achieve your design goals and bring your forever home vision to life.
Where refinements are needed, the DRP will work constructively with you to ensure the best possible outcome for both your home and the broader community.
2.1 ALTERNATIVE DESIGNS
These Design Guidelines are intended as a framework to help achieve the project vision while encouraging creativity and individuality. Design innovation that enhances quality housing and living outcomes is welcomed and the DRP encourages discussion around new ideas and approaches.
Alternative design solutions may be presented to the DRP and will be reviewed on their individual architectural merit. The DRP has the discretion to approve alternative designs where they are considered to meet or exceed the overall intent and desired outcomes of these Design Guidelines.
3.0 Builder Portal and Approval Process
The Round Mountain Builder Portal is your central hub for everything you and your builder need to plan and design your new home with confidence.
3.1 BUILDER PORTAL
It contains helpful information specific to your lot, including:
• Approved Plan of Development
• Survey Plans
• Disclosure Plans
• Civil Design Drawings
• Services Location Plan
• As Constructed Drawings
• Compaction Reports
• Acoustic Report
• Bushfire Management Plans
This information will help you and your builder make informed decisions and ensure your home design aligns with the vision and standards of Round Mountain. You can access the Builder Portal through the Round Mountain website at buildingatroundmountain.com.au or by speaking with a Round Mountain sales representative.
3.2 APPROVAL PROCESS
Before building your home an application package must be submitted to the DRP for assessment and approval, as required under your Contract of Sale.
This step helps ensure your home design aligns with the Round Mountain vision and the Design Guidelines, creating a cohesive and high-quality community for all residents.
Once your design has been approved by the DRP, you will then need to obtain a Building Approval from Logan City Council or a private Building Certifier before construction begins.
Your home cannot be occupied until final completion of your home including external painting, render and driveway.
Landscaping including fencing must be completed within 3 months of you moving into your home.
Design Guidelines Approval Procedure
The following provides a step-by-step guide of the Design Guidelines Application and Approval Process.
01 COVENANT BOND (PAYABLE WITH BALANCE DEPOSIT)
A covenant bond is payable with your balance of deposit prior to your lot going unconditional.
This amount is held in trust and is fully refundable upon completion of your home and landscaping.
The bond provides reassurance that every home will be completed and maintained to a high standard and in accordance with the Design Guidelines.
05 FINAL COVENANT APPROVAL
You can easily track progress of your application through the Builder Portal and once your design meets all requirements.
• The DRP will issue a Letter of Compliance confirming that your home is ready to move forward.
06 BUILDING APPROVAL
With your Covenant Approval in place, your builder can now lodge an application with an accredited building certifier or Council to obtain the statutory Building Approval, paving the way for construction to begin.
07 CONSTRUCTION
During construction, please ensure your lot is kept neat and well maintained so it remains clean, safe, and ready for your builder.
• Builders are also expected to maintain a tidy and orderly work site throughout the build to support a high-quality presentation across the community.
• Construction of your home should commence within 12 months of land settlement, with completion of your home and landscaping achieved within 12 months of starting construction.
02 DESIGN VISION
Working closely with your builder, this exciting stage will help you envision a home design that reflects your lifestyle, vision, and the intent of the Design Guidelines.
• Please review the Design Guidelines to understand the key design principles that will shape your home’s architecture, facade, streetscape presence and vision for Round Mountain.
• Please contact our DRP team should you or your builder have any questions.
03 CONCEPT & DESIGN REVIEW (OPTIONAL)
Meet with the DRP to explore your design vision, discuss your home site, and identify key considerations to help set a clear direction for your home design.
• You can submit preliminary design drawings for early feedback prior to your covenant application.
• This step provides early support to help you refine your direction before completing the full covenant documentation, reducing the likelihood of time consuming and costly revisions later.
04 SUBMIT APPLICATION
Once your house and landscape design are finalised, your builder will submit your covenant application through the Builder Portal at buildingatroundmountain.com.au
• The DRP will review your submission within ten working days and work with your builder to finalise the approval.
• Should further information or amendments be required, you will be notified and asked to resubmit your application.
08 INSPECTION
When your home and landscaping are complete, simply request your Final Inspection through the Builder Portal.
• The DRP will review your completed home against your approved plans to confirm everything aligns with your Covenant Approval.
• This final stage typically takes around ten business days.
09 COMPLIANCE APPROVAL & INITIAL BOND REFUND
Once your home and landscaping have been reviewed and confirmed as complete, the DRP will issue your Final Approval.
• Following Final Approval, your Covenant Bond will be partially refunded and a landscape maintenance bond will be held for a period of 12 months.
• Refunds are processed promptly, with funds generally returned within three weeks.
10 MAINTENANCE BOND REFUND
To ensure the integrity and establishment of your landscaping, your covenant bond will be held for a period of 12 months following your Final Approval.
Once your landscaping has been confirmed as compliant and well established, the remaining bond will be promptly refunded to you.
Design Standards
Positioning and Setbacks
The position and orientation of your home plays a key role in creating a comfortable, efficient, and enjoyable living environment.
4.1 POSITIONING
By carefully considering your home’s placement on the lot you can take advantage of natural sunlight, prevailing breezes and beautiful views to achieve a home that feels connected to its surroundings.
Your design should respond thoughtfully to the site’s unique characteristics including outlook, solar access, relationship to neighbouring homes, and opportunities to create welcoming north-facing outdoor spaces.
Homes are encouraged to make the most of their natural setting by considering:
• Views and vistas
• Prevailing breezes
• Sun angles
• Streetscape
• Orientation in relation to neighbouring properties
For lots with a western aspect, it is recommended to incorporate roof overhangs, screens, window hoods and deep covered terraces to help improve comfort and energy performance.
For further information on climate responsive design, please refer to the Sustainable Living section of this document.
For Green Street allotments home designs should orientate living spaces towards the green street to capture outlooks, natural light and the sense of connection to landscaped views.
4.2 SETBACKS AND BUILT TO BOUNDARY REQUIREMENTS
To ensure you are applying the correct information for your lot, your Disclosure Plan and House Siting Plan are available on the Builder Portal.
These plans outline the front, side, and rear setbacks, as well as site coverage requirements specific to your property. Dwelling setbacks are to be consistent with the approved Plan of Development setbacks which has been reflected in the Housing Siting Plans.
Setbacks are measured to the Outermost Projection of the building or structure.
4.3 BUILT TO BOUNDARY REQUIREMENTS
Built to Boundary walls can have a maximum length of 15m or 50% of the property boundary, whichever is greater, and a maximum height of 3.5m. Built to Boundary walls are to contain no windows or opening to the side boundary.
POSITION
FIGURE 1 – DWELLING
Setback (Metres)
Built Form
Your home’s design plays an important role in maintaining the high standard of quality and character of Round Mountain.
Thoughtful consideration of facade design, materials, colours, screening, service locations and roof form helps create a cohesive streetscape, ensures privacy, and contributes to a home you can be proud of.
By following these guidelines, you’ll help create a beautiful, well-designed community that you and your neighbours can enjoy for years to come.
Materials and Finishes
4.4 GENERAL EXTERNAL MATERIALS AND FINISHES
To give a sense of variety and interest a mix of materials and colours must be used for all walls of your home, particularly walls that are facing the street, open space or park frontage.
To provide texture and interest to your home the following must be incorporated:
• A minimum of two and a maximum of three variations of colour, and
• At least two different materials (excluding windows, doors and garage doors).
Colour and/or material change should comprise a minimum of 10% of the facade wall area.
The following materials are acceptable for the primary building material of your home:
• Rendered and painted brickwork
• Rendered and painted masonry blocks
• Lightweight materials including, but not limited to: stria, axon, matrix and linea weather board cladding
Face brickwork or split-face block work is not permitted on any external walls of a house except as a feature only.
Bagged and painted brickwork is only permitted when not visible from public areas.
Unpainted metalwork is not permitted however small elements of feature cladding (eg. Colorbond®) or similar may be used in appropriate circumstances, at the discretion of the DRP.
At the time of assessment if an architectural feature is considered inconsistent with the intended character of the home or the broader community, the DRP may request that the feature be revised or removed to ensure alignment with the Design Guidelines and overall design vision for Round Mountain.
Each covenant application must include an external materials schedule that clearly outlines the proposed materials and their locations, helping to demonstrate the quality and character of the home design.
PRIMARY MATERIALS EXAMPLES
Images sourced from Rockcote.
Rendered Finish
Images sourced from James Hardie.
Cladding
Axon
Stria Matrix Linea Weatherboard
Materials and Finishes cont.
4.5 FEATURE MATERIALS AND FINISHES
A minimum of one high-quality feature materials must be selected for all facades facing public areas, to complement the primary building material.
The following are accepted as feature facade materials:
• Natural timber or timber look material
• Brickwork: premium feature bricks with off-white or colour-matched mortar for a maximum 20% of the facade
• Tiles: premium tiles and stone that complement the exterior colour selections for the homes
• Premium feature natural stone
• Large glazing butted windows and large picture windows
• Powder coated screening where it forms a dominant feature of the home
Samples and reference images of selected feature bricks, stone and tiles must be submitted for approval.
Feature materials must be integrated with the primary building material by wrapping them around columns and wall returns by a minimum of 1m.
Unpainted metalwork is not permitted however small elements of Colorbond® cladding may be used in appropriate circumstances, at the discretion of the DRP.
Contemporary window hoods are also recommended to be used if appropriate to support articulating the facade.
At the time of assessment, if any architectural feature appears out of step with the overall character of the home or community, the DRP has the right to require its removal.
FEATURE MATERIALS EXAMPLES
Images sourced from australbricks.
Feature Brick
Images sourced from Modinex.
Images sourced from PGH.
Natural Timber Stone
Facades
4.6 FACADE DESIGN
These facade design requirements apply to all facades that address public areas, including the front facade, secondary frontages and includes green street lots.
4.7 FRONT FACADE AESTHETIC
The residential character of your home must be of a contemporary modern aesthetic and be representative of Queensland architecture and design.
The Primary facade area facing the street or public area is to include sufficient glazing to allow for passive surveillance.
Ground floor ceiling heights must be a minimum of 2590mm. Building Height must not exceed 9m and be no more than two (2) storeys.
Facades must include feature walls and/or large elements of glazing, supported by both horizontal and vertical features such as columns, feature blade walls and parapets, that break up the roofline and provide visual interest.
Facades must incorporate a variety of complementary materials and glazing elements. They should be selected to create a balance of light and heavy elements.
4.8 DEFINED ENTRY
A portico, porch or balcony element is required to clearly identify the main entrance to the dwelling.
The entry portico must be proportional to the facade of the building and designed as feature of the facade, must extend a minimum of 1500mm forward of the entrance door.
The portico must remain open and not exceed a maximum height of 4.5m and a width of 3m.
The entry door must be clearly visible from the primary street frontage and be:
• Nominal 1200mm wide with min 20% glazing or
• Nominal 1000mm wide door combined with a min 200mm wide sidelight
A dedicated pedestrian access path must be provided from the front boundary to the entry. Refer to the Driveways and Entry Paths section of these Guidelines for further information.
Side entries will only be considered for homesites 10 metres or less and must be defined through the use of a gatehouse or arbours. Side entries will only be approved at the discretion of the DRP.
Facades cont.
4.9 VARYING FACADES
To maintain a visually diverse and engaging streetscape, no two dwellings on adjoining lots are to have identical facades (see Figure 3).
Each home must include distinctive architectural features that differentiate it from neighbouring dwellings. Variations in roof line, entry design, colour scheme and materials are necessary.
Consult with your builder and the DRP to understand if similar house designs are proposed in proximity to your lot. Where this occurs, you may wish to consider adjustments and elements within your design and/or the colour and material selections to allow for greater individuality.
4.10 CORNER ALLOTMENT FACADE DESIGN
For corner allotments and allotments adjoining public areas including open space, attention must be paid to providing Articulation to both the front and secondary side boundaries.
The requirements for the facade materials, Articulation and aesthetic apply to the primary and secondary street facade.
The secondary frontage must incorporate at least one substantial projecting feature element such as a portico, veranda, or feature wall, along with variation in colour or materials.
A minimum 450mm perpendicular step is required in walls every 9.0m to provide Articulation. Long, featureless walls are not permitted.
Where adjoining an area of open space, housing design must facilitate passive surveillance of the public open space, which can be achieved through the incorporation of at least one (1) habitable room orientated towards the open space.
No garden sheds, air-conditioning condensers, clotheslines, or other utilities are to be located between the secondary street facade and the boundary unless they are appropriately screened from view.
FIGURE 3 – FACADE VARIATION REQUIREMENTS
Both sides of street
Both sides of street
Both sides of street
STREET
Similar or same facade 2 lot separation
Similar or same facade 2 lot separation
Similar or same facade 2 lot separation
Same side of street
Same side of street
Same side of street
Similar or same facade 2 lot separation
Similar or same facade 2 lot separation
Similar or same facade 2 lot separation
STREET STREET
Green Street Lots
4.11 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
In addition to the roof form and facade design requirements, green street allotments must comply with the following requirements:
• Designs for green street lots must capitalise on the unique position and demonstrate articulation to the facade, roof forms and materiality to the rear elevation of the home.
• Green street lots must be designed to include a habitable room at the rear of the property with substantial glazing to allow for casual surveillance of the green street frontage, in addition to the Primary street frontage requirements.
• Where a two storey dwelling is proposed, the habitable room must be located on the upper level.
• The use of a balcony or deck on the back of allotments to take advantage of the green street landscape views is highly recommended.
• Roof articulation to the front of the dwelling should be carried through to the rear of the dwelling to ensure that the roof form is well articulated to the rear elevation of the home.
Split Level Homes
4.12 SPLIT LEVEL HOMES
Split level homes provide a unique opportunity to design a home that makes the most of the site elevation, capturing views and breezes. We have introduced split level homes in some areas of Round Mountain to work with the natural contours of the land.
A split level lot features two flat building pads, which are separated by a batter in the middle of the lot.
Split level homes may be “upsplit” or “down-split”. An up-split lot has garage access on the lower side of the lot, and a down split lot has garage access from the higher side of the lot.
Diagrams of “up-split” and “downsplit” lots are shown in Figure 4.
Both options provide elevated living and offer great views from the upper level of your home, be it to the rear of your home or to the front. These home sites have been designed to capture views of the beautiful surrounding natural landscape.
There are several builders which specialize in split level homes, and we would be happy to assist you by providing a list of builders that can provide you with ready made designs or create a unique home design for your split level lot.
FIGURE 4: SPLIT LOT DIAGRAMS
Typical Diagram of Up-Split Lot
Diagram of Down-Split Lot
Typical
Garages
4.13 GARAGES
In general, garage doors must be of a modern contemporary style and either sectional slide over or tilt up finished in a complementary colour or material to the home. Roller doors are not permitted.
Feature detail on garage doors is encouraged to ensure the garage door forms part of and enhances the front facade design.
Garages cannot dominate more than 60 percent of the width of the lot frontage for lots over 10m.
Clear transparent glazing to the garage door is not permitted. A small percentage of translucent or obscure glazing within your garage door design will be at the discretion of the DRP.
A minimum of two on-site car parking spaces must be provided for each dwelling, one of which must be within a garage. There must be at least one off-road visitor car space within the driveway available at all times for vehicle accommodation.
Garages must be setback a minimum of 1m behind the main building front wall (excluding portico).
Double car garages must be provided for a dwelling on a lot of 12.5m or greater in width.
To maintain the aesthetic character of streetscape:
• Recreational vehicles must be screened behind the fence return or housed in a garage.
• Carports and shade-sails are not permitted.
4.14 SINGLE STOREY GARAGES ON VILLA ALLOTMENTS
Double car garages for any single storey dwelling on a lot between 10.0m and 12.49m in width must adhere to the following design criteria:
• The front facing building wall, which includes the garage door, must not exceed an external width of 5.8m.
The garage door:
• Width does not exceed 4.8m;
• Must have a minimum 450mm eave or overhang above it;
• Must be setback a minimum of 240mm behind the pillar of the garage door and;
• Must have a sectional, tilt or integrated door.
4.15 ELECTRIC VEHICLE READINESS
Each home is to include a separate dedicated electric circuit (conduit and wiring) into the garage to enable the installation of Electric Vehicle Supply equipment, the circuit is to be fitted with a minimum 20amp GPO.
Roofs
4.16 ROOF FORM
Roofs exert a strong impact on the look of homes, streetscapes and neighbourhoods. The scale, form, material, design and colour all contribute to the visual appeal of the home and must be considered.
4.17 GENERAL
A mixture of skillion, pitched and cubic style roofs are encouraged as they support contemporary home design.
Hip and gable and/or hip and valley roofs are also permitted but must be:
• Contemporary in nature.
• Provide variety in the height and prominence of rooflines.
• Be complemented by vertical and horizontal design features, such as columns, feature blade walls and parapets, that break up the roofline and provide visual interest.
• Be complemented by large areas of glazing on the front facade.
All roofs will be evaluated by the DRP based on the compatibility with these Design Guidelines and the visual impact on public areas.
It is encouraged to use light coloured roof materials, to keep your home cool during summer months and prevent the negative impacts of heat island effect.
4.18 ROOF ARTICULATION
Roofs must include articulation. A variance in height and projection between rooflines is required.
The front elevation must have a pronounced entry, i.e. (porch, portico or veranda) that has an elevated roofline.
4.19 ROOF PITCH
• The selected roof pitch must complement the architectural character of the home.
• Hip roofs will be a maximum of 30 degrees and a minimum of 18 degrees.
• Skillion roofs will be a maximum of 15 degrees and a minimum of 5 degrees.
• Roof pitches must be selected with consideration to their appearance from public areas.
• Roof pitches of less than 10 degrees, will be considered where they demonstrate height and scale to public areas.
4.20 ROOF MATERIALS
Roof materials are limited to:
• Corrugated prefinished and coloured metal sheeting.
• Low-profile roof tiles.
4.21 EAVES, AWNINGS AND SUN HOODS
Eaves, awnings and sun hoods are an effective way of protecting your home from natural elements and are an integral part of sustainable and energy-efficient passive solar design. It is therefore a requirement that homes at Round Mountain include eave overhangs, awnings or sun hoods as part of their design.
For dwellings with traditional roof forms, including hip and valley, hip and gable end, eave overhangs must be a minimum width of 450mm, except for on built to boundary walls.
EXAMPLE ROOF MATERIALS
Corrugated Metal Sheeting
Images sourced from Colorbond®.
Images sourced from Bristile Roofing.
Low Profile Roof Tiles
Roofs cont.
4.22 ROOF COLOUR SELECTION
Colour selection is an important part of creating a cohesive streetscape and gives your home timeless street appeal.
Colours are to reflect the architectural style and design of the home and be of natural muted tones, with crisp base colours encouraged.
Highlight colours may be used for architectural features only. Bright, primary colours are not permitted.
The colour selections for your home, particularly your roof colour can significantly reduce the urban heat island effect, improve solar performance and climatic comfort inside your home.
Further detail on this is provided in the Sustainable Living section of these guidelines.
The colours listed below are pre-approved based on their Solar Absorbance thermal value of 0.6 or less. These colours have been selected by our DRP from the Colorbond® range and include:
• Dover White
• Surfmist
• Southerly
• Shale Grey
• Evening Haze
• Dune
• Bluegum
• Windspray
Figure 5 provides indicative swatches of these Colorbond® colours.
FIGURE 5 – SUGGESTED ROOF COLOURS
*Colours are a representation only and may vary. Refer to Colorbond® website.
Windspray
Classic Cream
Evening Haze
Surfmist
Southerly
Dover White
Dune
Evening Haze
Bluegum
4.23 GLAZING
• No obscure or translucent glazing is permitted to any street frontage.
• Reflective glass is not permitted.
• Internal vertical blinds and temporary window treatments are not permitted.
4.24 BALUSTRADE
• The style of balustrade must align with the architectural style of the home.
• Frameless glass, batten and powder coated aluminium balustrades are recommended.
• Picket style balustrade, constructed in timber are only permitted where they enhance a unique architectural style.
4.25 SECURITY AND INSECT SCREENS
• All security screens visible from the street must be of a simple profile and integrated into window recesses and facade articulation.
• Barrier / Diamond Grille screens are not permitted to windows and doors facing the primary or secondary frontage and must not be visible from the street or park frontage.
• External add-on security screening is not permitted on your primary or secondary facade.
• Frames and screens must match the colour of the door or window frames or be dark in colour to reduce their visual impact.
4.26 EXTERNAL SERVICES AND UTILITIES
• One side of the home must be selected as the utility storage zone (recommended on southern side boundary if possible). Bins, clotheslines, air conditioning condensers, rainwater tanks etc. must be located in this area.
• The utility zone must not be visible from public areas of street frontages and must be adequately screened by the side fence returns and landscaping.
• Meter boxes are to be located behind the side return fence where possible.
• Where meter boxes are mounted to the house, they are to be painted to match the external wall colour they are mounted on.
• Gutters and downpipes are to be finished to match dwellings or to provide appropriate colour accents.
External cont.
4.27 PRIVACY AND CROSS VIEWING
In order to maintain privacy between your property and the neighbouring property, it is important to incorporate considered screening treatments and other privacy measures:
• Fixed obscure glazing on windows below 1.5m above floor level.
• Fixed obscure glazing to all bathrooms and toilets.
• 1.5m sill heights above floor level.
• Fixed external screens.
• In the case of screening for a ground floor level, fencing to a height of 1.5m minimum above ground level.
• Screening to a minimum of 1.8m in height to the side of balconies is required where there is an adjoining lot.
• All privacy proposals must be clearly identified on the plans and elevations submitted to the DRP. Where privacy screens are used, sufficient detail must be provided for the DRP to evaluate its colour, shape and extent.
See Figure 6.
4.28 PRIVATE OPEN SPACE REQUIREMENTS
Your home must provide a minimum of 12m2 of private open space with a minimum width of 2.4m in any direction. It must be directly accessible from a living space, provided these are on the ground level.
Part of the open space may be roofed.
FIGURE 6 – PRIVACY PROPOSALS
Retaining Walls
If your house design includes new retaining walls these must be constructed in accordance with the mandatory requirements.
4.29 MANDATORY RETAINING WALL REQUIREMENTS
• Full details of heights, materials and location of all retaining walls and embankment are to be submitted to the DRP for approval.
• The consent of the adjoining property owner should be obtained where retaining walls and embankments are closer than 0.6m from the boundary / close proximity to the boundary.
• Retaining walls may need to be certified by a registered professional engineer. You are required to meet the requirements of the local authorities.
• Retaining wall heights are not to exceed 1.2m before you are required to construct a 0.5m landscape terrace between each section of the retaining wall.
• Developer installed retaining walls are not to be altered or removed without consent. This includes altering levels behind and in front of retaining walls.
• Retaining walls must include a suitable drainage system, connected to an appropriate outlet.
Additional retaining walls may be required to be installed at the purchaser’s discretion to support the proposed house design.
These walls should be identified on your covenant submission and will be assessed by the DRP and consist of the following materials:
• Stone, interlocking block walls or rendered and painted block walls, excluding concrete sleepers, or masonry materials are to be used forward of the Building Line and for walls visible from the street or a public space.
• Commons brick, timber and concrete sleepers are not permitted forward of the Building Line.
SIDE AND REAR RETAINING WALLS – DEVELOPER INSTALLED
Split Face Designer Masonry Coloured Block (Charcoal)
Fencing
Fencing contributes to the aesthetic character of a neighbourhood, complementing architectural styles and creating a welcoming, consistent first impression.
4.30 GENERAL FENCING
Fencing erected by developer must not be altered, modified or removed without prior written approval from the developer.
4.31 INTERNAL SIDE AND REAR FENCING
Side and rear boundary fencing must be constructed by the Owner prior to Practical Completion and constructed as:
• A maximum height of 1.8m Stratco Good Neighbour Wavelok® profile metal fence panels, including bottom and top rails, in ‘Granite’ colour. A similar profile may be used from Colorbond® in ‘Basalt’. No other fence types are permitted.
• Fencing sleeves will be supplied by the Developer as part of the retaining wall construction. Fencing is to be installed in the location of the sleeves provided.
• Be installed on brackets supplied by Developer as part of the retaining wall construction.
4.32 EXTERNAL SIDE RETURN FENCES AND EXTERNAL GATE ACCESS
• Side return fences and gates must be Aluminium Batten panels at a maximum of 1.8m high with a minimum 30% transparency and match the colour of the boundary fence.
• Side fence returns are to be setback one metre behind the front wall of the dwelling.
• Ancillary items – Ground mounted equipment and services must be screened behind the side fence returns.
• Colorbond and Stratco fencing is only permitted on internal fencing. For clarity all fencing and gates adjoining public street must be Aluminium Batten.
4.33 SECONDARY FRONTAGE FENCING
Secondary frontage boundary fencing will be constructed by the Developer along the boundary to a setback of one metre behind the front wall setback of the dwelling and must be maintained in good order by the Owner.
Side fence returns and side gates must be constructed by the Owner prior to Practical Completion.
4.34
EXTERNAL FRONT FENCING
To increase street appeal and encourage passive surveillance of the street, front fencing is not preferred.
Applications for low front fencing to enclose a front courtyard will be considered by the DRP on a case by case basis. Front fencing must be a maximum of 1.2m high and have minimum 50 percent transparency and in accordance with the approved front fencing types.
Front fencing is not permitted on lots affected by a BAL29 rating or higher. These lots are identified on the Plan of Development.
Where the front of the lot necessitates a safety rail, it must be constructed by the owner as per National Construction Code (NCC) requirements and:
• It must be constructed as per Front Fence type
• In a colour to match the side boundary fence
• Be installed on brackets supplied by Developer as part of the retaining wall construction
• A maximum height of 1.2m
• Be a minimum of 50% transparent
• Must return to the side boundary and align with the side boundary fence returns
4.35 GREEN STREET FENCING
Fencing along Green Streets will be installed by the developer and is not permitted to be removed.
Pedestrian gate access is permitted on green street fences to provide pedestrian access from your home onto the green street.
FENCE COLOUR
Basalt
Good Neighbour Fencing
Colorbond®, Wavelok profile with top and bottom rails
• The driveway design must be provided as part of your covenant application. One driveway is permitted per lot.
• Driveways are to have a minimum setback of 0.5m from the side boundary.
• Driveway finish must not be plain concrete and must have a minimum standard finish of exposed aggregate.
• Driveways and crossovers must be in accordance with Council’s requirements and must be completed prior to occupation of the dwelling.
• Maximum width of a driveway at the boundary shall be, 3m for single garages and 4.8m for double garages.
AGGREGATE DRIVEWAY EXAMPLES
4.37 LETTERBOXES
• Letterboxes are to be clearly visible from the primary frontage adjacent to the driveway with the property number clearly visible.
• The letterbox should be located within the property boundary and is to be integrated into your landscaping and fencing.
• Contemporary, rendered brick, stone clad and timber letterboxes are only permitted to be used in a colour and style which complements the home design.
• Installation must occur prior to occupation.
• Letterboxes on poles, ornamental letterboxes and temporary letterboxes are not permitted.
4.38 SWIMMING POOLS
• All pools must be reviewed and approved by the DRP.
Images sourced from Boral.
Ancillary Structures
4.39 GARDEN SHEDS
• Sheds must not be visible from the street, primary or secondary frontages, or public space.
• Sheds or outbuildings must not be attached to the main dwellings and must not exceed 9sqm, with a maximum height of 1.8m.
• Colorbond® sheds are recommended with a colour to complement the dwelling design.
4.40 SOLAR PANELS
The development of smart and sustainable homes is strongly encouraged to promote a healthy and vibrant lifestyle.
Onsite solar generation and use of reclaimed energy is encouraged and will provide financial benefits for the homeowner.
• To limit the impact on neighbouring properties and ensure an efficient solar system, the installation of solar panels must be considered during the home design process.
• Solar panels must be integrated into the structure of the roof plane to limit its appearance to neighbours.
• Where possible, solar panels are to be at the same angle of the roof plane. Solar panels on frames above the roof plane and at a different angle to the roof plane should be minimised.
4.41 AIR CONDITIONING UNITS
• Air conditioning units must not be visible from public areas.
• Air conditioners are to be located within the ground floor zone and screened from public view.
• Roof-mounted or unscreened wall and window mounted air conditioning facing public areas are not permitted.
• Where the DRP deems necessary for the acoustic privacy of neighbours, air conditioners must include sound attenuation features.
4.42 SHADE SAILS
• The use of shade sails, shade cloth and tarps are not permitted.
• Shade sails may not be used to shade or screen motor vehicles or recreational vehicles.
4.43 TEMPORARY STRUCTURES
• No temporary or relocatable.
• Buildings or structures may be erected or located on any homesite for use in connection with the building of a home.
4.44 OTHER STRUCTURES
• Rooftop satellite dishes, antennas, etc. must not be visible from the street, primary or secondary frontages or public space.
• Roof mounted hot water systems must not be visible from the street, primary or secondary frontages or public space.
Landscaping
Landscaping Requirements
The intent of the landscape design at Round Mountain is to enhance the natural beauty of the local environment and increase biodiversity.
5.1
LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
By applying these landscape requirements, your home will contribute to the highquality residential landscape, which maximises the unique qualities of the Round Mountain community.
A well planned and sensitive approach to your landscaping is a critical component of the home design process. Highquality and mature landscaping adds value to your property and the community, improves your lifestyle and provides your home with shade and wind protection.
Embracing native plants has numerous benefits. Not only will it ensure your home fits well within its setting, the surrounding streetscapes and the bushland environment, but it provides habitat for native fauna, conserves water and reduces maintenance.
We have supplied a list of native species to include in your landscaping design, specific to the design typology you choose to feature at your home. Refer to the typology pages for more detail on planting choices.
In summary, the principles of the Landscape Design Guidelines are to create a landscaped front and back yard that is:
• Low maintenance with minimal turf in front yard.
• Drought tolerant.
• Contributes to biodiversity.
• Provides habitat and food for fauna such as insects, lizards and birds.
• Enhances street appeal.
To ensure all homes complete landscaping in accordance with the Design Guidelines, we require a covenant bond to be paid which will be refunded upon completion and establishment of your landscaping.
Alternative designs may be approved at the discretion of the DRP, providing they achieve the overall principles and intent of the Landscape Design Guideline.
5.2 GENERAL LANDSCAPE RECOMMENDATIONS
• For lots 10m wide and under, planted garden beds and turf must be provided with a minimum 25 percent site coverage of the available landscaping area on the primary street frontage.
• For lots over 10m wide, planted garden beds and turf must be provided with a minimum 40 percent site coverage of the available landscaping area on the primary street frontage.
• A minimum of one shade tree with a minimum 100 litre pot size or 1.8m in height, must be installed in the front garden. Mature trees provide layering to your landscape design and assists with integrating your new home into the existing environment.
• Garden beds are to be edged and finished with mulch. Suitable edging materials include concrete, aluminium, Corten or Galvanised steel, or masonry sleepers.
• Impermeable surfaces are limited to a maximum of 60 percent of the lot frontage this includes driveways, paving, and concrete paths.
• The installation of an irrigation system is highly recommended and will assist in ensuring your landscaping maintains a high level of presentation.
• Planting design should utilise plant hierarchies to optimise shade, screening, ventilation and security.
• Planting locations are to be determined with solar access and prevailing wind direction in mind.
• Planting of large trees in close proximity to retaining walls will not be permitted.
• In addition to the above, the following are the minimum planting requirements for your front yard.
5.3 PRE-APPROVED LANDSCAPE DESIGNS
To assist with landscaping your new home, we have prepared our Landscape Guidelines, which includes four Landscape Designs with material and planting palettes for you to choose from.
These designs have been prepared by a qualified Landscape Architect and are pre-approved by the DRP. You can take one of these designs to a landscape designer who will custom design one of these palettes to your home.
Refer to the Landscape Guidelines section of this document for further information.
5.4 LANDSCAPING ASSESSMENT AND BOND RETURN
All planting of trees and other vegetation within a lot must be approved by the DRP.
Landscaping including fencing must be completed within 3 months of you moving into your home.
Once your landscaping is completed, arrange for an inspection by our DRP who will assess and approve a partial refund of your covenant bond.
To ensure the integrity and establishment of your landscaping, $1000 of your covenant bond will be held for a period of 12 months following your Final Approval.
After 12 months and once your landscaping has been confirmed as compliant and well established, the remaining bond will be promptly refunded to you.
Minimum Planting Standards
Minimum planting standards per lot based on lot frontage widths
Landscape Guidelines
At Round Mountain, every front yard tells a story. It’s where your home meets the street, where private space meets community, and where first impressions are made.
5.5 PRE-APPROVED FRONT YARD LANDSCAPE DESIGNS
The front yard frames your home and becomes part of a larger picture. One that elevates our shared sense of place and makes our community feel like home.
We invite you to curate your front yard in line with one of our four pre-approved landscape typologies.
Each of our four typologies is a distinct style, designed to help you curate the colours, tones, planting, and materials that will define your home’s frontage.
• The Mountain – Strong, sculptural, and grounded in nature’s raw beauty. Think rugged stone, hardy plantings, and a sense of permanence.
• The Creek – Soft, flowing, and full of life. Curved lines, water-inspired features, and lush native plantings that invite birds and pollinators.
• The Parkland – Open, green, and welcoming. Shade trees, seasonal colour, and spaces that invite neighbours to stop and connect.
• The Urban – Sleek, modern, and confident. Clean lines, bold planting, and contemporary materials that make a statement.
When front yards go beyond turf, they do more than look good. A well designed front yard:
• Boosts biodiversity by creating habitat for wildlife.
• Cools our streets and helps combat the Urban Heat Island effect.
• Drives our vision for a green, sustainable, and future-ready community.
Your front yard is the gateway to your home, but it’s also part of something bigger. Every tree, every stone, every plant you choose adds to the collective beauty and identity of Round Mountain. Your front yard can be a source of pride and a contribution to the shared beauty of Round Mountain.
Use these guidelines to create a front yard that elevates your home’s facade, enriches the street, and welcomes you home every single day.
5.6 HOW TO USE WHAT WE’VE PROVIDED
• Material Recommendations –A curated list of surfaces, finishes, and structural elements that bring your chosen typology to life.
• Character Palette – Colours, textures, and forms that capture the essence of your style.
• Sketch Perspective and Plan –Visual examples showing how your front yard could look, both from the street and from above, so you can picture the end result.
• Minimum Planting Standards – Clear benchmarks to ensure your front yard is functional and aligned with our community’s green vision.
• Planting Matrix – A practical guide to plant selection, organised by planting guides and biodiversity value so you can choose species that support local wildlife and pollinators.
Typology 01. The Mountain
Choosing the Mountain typology for your front yard is a statement of connection to place.
By referencing the character of Round Mountain, you’re grounding your home in a story that is both local and timeless. This approach celebrates the rugged beauty and enduring strength of the mountain.
Boulders anchor the space with a sense of permanence, while native grasses bring movement, texture and seasonal change. Sandstone and earthy tones echo the colours of the surrounding landscape, creating an authentic and harmonious palette. This is a landscape that is bold in form, yet relaxed in spirit.
By embracing this typology, your front yard becomes a living tribute to the landscape that shapes your community. It invites neighbours and visitors to experience the sense of place and belonging that Round Mountain inspires, while offering a low-maintenance, climate-responsive design that will thrive for years to come.
LANDSCAPE MATERIALITY
Typology 01. The Mountain
Deco / Gravel path
Letterbox Large Sandstone Boulders
Side access gate
Screening shrubs
Minimum Planting Standards
Minimum planting standards per lot based on lot frontage widths
Medium to large natural boulders, weathered timber signs or markers
Typology 01. The Mountain Planting matrix
Grasses and Groundcovers
Bird attracting Provides food or shelter for birds
Bee attracting Provides nectar or pollen for bees
Butterfly attracting Provides nectar or habitat for butterflies
Flowering
Fruiting
Habitat Foliage Offers shelter of nesting places for wildlife
Shade Lover Grows best in the shade with little to no direct sunlight
Sun Lover Grows best with plenty of direct sunlight
Part Sun / Part Shade
Can tolerate some sun and sun shade throughout the day
Accent / Feature Plant
Not ideal for mass planting
Typology 02. The Creek
Choosing the Creek typology for your front yard is an opportunity to create a space that feels alive and refreshing.
By referencing the character of Flagstone Creek, you’re bringing the gentle flow, layered textures and sensory richness of the waterway into your everyday environment.
The Creek typology is informal yet immersive. Stone and pebbles form the foundation, echoing the creek bed’s natural patterns, while native grasses soften the edges and sway with the breeze. Cool, watery tones create a calming visual palette, complemented by dappled shade that invites you to pause and linger. The design’s layered textures offer a sensory experience that changes with the seasons and the light.
By embracing this approach, your front yard becomes a sanctuary that cools, soothes and engages. It’s a design that encourages interaction, and reflects the essence of Flagstone Creek.
LANDSCAPE MATERIALITY
Typology 02. The Creek
Textured banding on driveway
Concrete path, with textured banding
access gate
Stepping stones
Pebbles
Letterbox
Sandstone Boulders
Side
Minimum Planting Standards
Minimum planting standards per lot based on lot frontage widths
Sandstone and other natural stone organic pavers, timber sleepers
Cobblestone, flagstone paving
Pebble, river stone, organic
Driftwood or timber sculptural features, small to medium natural boulders, bird baths
Typology 02. The Creek Planting Matrix
Shrubs
Grasses and Groundcovers
Bird attracting Provides food or shelter for birds
Habitat Foliage Offers shelter of nesting places for wildlife
Bee attracting Provides nectar or pollen for bees Shade Lover Grows best in the shade with little to no direct sunlight
Butterfly attracting Provides nectar or habitat for butterflies
Sun Lover Grows best with plenty of direct sunlight
Part Sun / Part Shade Can tolerate some sun and sun shade throughout the day
Fruiting
Accent / Feature Plant Not ideal for mass planting
Typology 03. The Parkland
Choosing the Parkland typology for your front yard is about creating a space that feels welcoming, refined and connected to the identity of Round Mountain’s parks.
These parks are places where people gather, relax and enjoy the outdoors. By drawing inspiration from them, you can bring that same sense of order, beauty and year-round enjoyment right to your doorstep.
The Parkland typology is formal in its structure yet warm in its invitation. Clustered plantings create visual rhythm and balance, while manicured lawns offer open, usable space that feels fresh and cared for. Shade trees provide comfort and shelter, encouraging time spent outdoors, while evergreen planting ensures the garden remains lush and vibrant throughout the year. Seasonal pops of colour add moments of delight and variety, marking the passage of time in a subtle, uplifting way.
By embracing this approach, your front yard becomes an extension of the parkland lifestyle. It’s a design that speaks of care, community and enduring appeal, offering a space that will remain beautiful and functional in every season.
Granite or bluestone organic pavers, concrete pavers, brick pavers
Pavers, brushed concrete
Organic mulch
Ornamental sculptures or art pieces, bollard lighting
Typology 03. The Parkland Planting Matrix
Shrubs
Shrubs
Bird attracting
food or shelter for birds Habitat Foliage
Bee attracting
nectar or pollen for bees Shade
Butterfly attracting
nectar or habitat for butterflies
Flowering
Fruiting
shelter of nesting places for wildlife
in the shade with little to no direct sunlight
Sun Lover
best with plenty of direct sunlight
Part Sun / Part Shade Can tolerate some sun and sun shade throughout the day
Accent / Feature Plant Not ideal for mass planting
Typology 04. The Urban
Choosing the Urban typology for your front yard is about embracing a modern aesthetic that speaks to the character of today’s connected, forward-looking communities.
It’s a style that values precision, clarity and balance which creates a space that feels both polished and welcoming. By drawing on the principles of contemporary design, you can craft a front yard that makes a confident statement.
The Urban typology is defined by its clean lines and structured planting, where every element has purpose and place. Manicured lawns provide a crisp, green foundation, while pavers and cool-toned hardscapes create a sense of order and flow.
Soft groundcovers add texture and contrast, softening the geometry without losing the design’s clarity. Deep green planting offers a lush, sophisticated backdrop, ensuring the space feels vibrant yet composed throughout the year.
By choosing this approach, your front yard becomes a reflection of modern community life –streamlined, elegant and easy to maintain. It’s a space that complements contemporary architecture, enhances street appeal and offers a sense of calm through its order and simplicity.
The Urban typology creates a setting that feels current and considered.
LANDSCAPE MATERIALITY
Typology 04. The Urban
Lawn Side access gate Pavers
Pavers
Letterbox
Textured banding on driveway
Minimum Planting Standards
Minimum planting standards per lot based on lot frontage widths
Lot Frontage (width)
Material Guide
Suitable materials for the Urban Typology
Front Yard Elements
Driveway
Edging
Pavers
Footpath
Mulch
Feature Elements
Material Suggestions
Stamped concrete in various patterns (stone and slate, decorative border edge), cool and light toned exposed aggregate or terrazzo concrete
Concrete, steel, paver
Elongated stone pavers, concrete pavers
Bushed grey concrete, cool and light toned exposed aggregate
Polished pebble mulch, quartz gravel mulch, fine organic mulch
Feature pot plants, bird paths, garden sculptures, bollard lighting
Typology 04. The Urban Planting Matrix
Bird attracting Provides food or shelter for birds
Bee attracting Provides nectar or pollen for bees
Butterfly attracting Provides nectar or habitat for butterflies
Flowering
Fruiting
Habitat Foliage Offers shelter of nesting places for wildlife
Shade Lover Grows best in the shade with little to no direct sunlight
Sun Lover Grows best with plenty of direct sunlight
Part Sun / Part Shade Can tolerate some sun and sun shade throughout the day
Accent / Feature Plant Not ideal for mass planting
Landscape Sustainability
5.7 URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT
How Your Front Yard Can Help
When natural landscapes are replaced with hard surfaces like roads, driveways, and rooftops, those surfaces absorb and store heat during the day and release it at night. This creates what’s known as the Urban Heat Island effect – where built-up areas become noticeably hotter than surrounding natural environments.
In a new community, this effect can be amplified because much of the native vegetation has been cleared to make way for housing and infrastructure. Without trees and gardens, there’s less shade, less cooling from plant transpiration, and more heat radiating from hard surfaces.
Your front yard can be part of the solution
By planting trees, shrubs, and groundcovers, you:
• Create shade that cools your home, footpaths, and the street.
• Reduce heat absorption by replacing hard surfaces with living greenery.
• Cool the air naturally through the moisture plants release.
• Lower energy use by reducing the need for air conditioning.
Every tree and garden bed at Round Mountain contributes to a cooler, more comfortable community. Together we can make a measurable difference.
5.8 INCREASING BIODIVERSITY AND WHY IT MATTERS
Biodiversity is the variety of living things in an environment – from plants and trees to birds, insects, and other wildlife.
In a new community, the biodiversity of a place drops sharply because native habitats have been cleared to make room for housing and infrastructure. This loss can disrupt local ecosystems, reduce pollination, and make the area less resilient to environmental change.
By designing your front yard with a mix of plants that attract and support wildlife, you help rebuild that lost biodiversity.
This means:
• Food and shelter for native species – from nectar for bees to nesting spots for birds.
• Pollination support for gardens and surrounding landscapes.
• Healthier ecosystems that are more resilient to pests, disease, and climate extremes.
• A richer, more vibrant streetscape that feels alive and connected to nature.
At Round Mountain, every resident has the chance to help restore what was lost and to replace cleared landscapes with thriving, living spaces that support both people and nature.
Landscape Sustainability cont.
5.9 UNDERSTANDING
THE PLANTING GUIDES:
Shade Lover
• Thrives in areas with little to no direct sunlight
• Ideal for planting under trees, beside tall shrubs, or in spots shaded by buildings
• Helps bring greenery and texture to spaces where sunloving plants may struggle
Sun Lover
• Performs best with plenty of direct sunlight – generally 6 or more hours per day
• Perfect for open garden beds, borders, and areas with minimal shade
• Often produces more flowers or stronger growth when given full sun
Part Sun / Part Shade
• Adaptable to a mix of conditions – can handle some direct sun and some shade during the day
• Works well in gardens with dappled light or areas that change in sun exposure through the seasons
• Offers flexibility for planting in transitional spaces
Accent / Feature Plant
• Designed to stand out –often chosen for striking foliage, flowers, or form
• Best used sparingly to create focal points, rather than in large groups
• Adds personality and visual interest to your front yard design
5.10 UNDERSTANDING
THE BIODIVERSITY VALUE:
Bird Attracting
• Provides food (nectar, seeds, fruit) or shelter for birds
• Can help bring more bird life into your garden, adding movement and song to the streetscape
Bee Attracting
• Offers nectar or pollen for bees and other pollinating insects
• Supports pollination in your garden and the wider community, helping plants and crops thrive
Butterfly Attracting
• Provides nectar for adult butterflies and may offer host plants for caterpillars
• Encourages colourful butterfly activity and supports their life cycle
Flowering
• Produces seasonal or year-round blooms
• Adds colour, texture, and visual interest to your front yard, while often supporting pollinators
Fruiting
• Produces edible or ornamental fruit
• Can provide food for people, birds, and other wildlife
Habitat Foliage
• Offers shelter, nesting places, or protective cover for wildlife
• Creates safe spaces for small animals, birds, and beneficial insects
Ideas for Designing Your Corner Lot
A Corner lot offers a unique opportunity to create something truly special.
5.11 LANDSCAPE DESIGN OF THE CORNER LOT
With more space for landscaping, it becomes a canvas for greenery that frames your home and enriches the entire streetscape. The planting along the street provides a natural screen to the side fence and retaining, flowing effortlessly into your front yard landscaping.
This continuity of planting creates a seamless, green frontage that enhances both the beauty and biodiversity of the street. It’s a chance to contribute to a living streetscape – one that feels vibrant, connected and welcoming.
The generous side yard of a Corner lot is an asset that should be embraced. It offers the perfect setting for additional landscaping and extra tree coverage, bringing shade, habitat and year-round visual appeal.
The typical Corner lot plan showcases how this space can be maximised – pairing a thoughtfully designed backyard with one of the four distinctive front yard typologies, to create a home that is as inspiring from the street as it is from within.
The side yard offers unique opportunities that standard lots can’t match. We have provided some ideas for making the most of your Corner lot.
When paired with the creative ideas for your backyard – the Corner lot offers an attractive opportunity to maximise outdoor living.
Screening planting provided by the streetscape design Street tree provided by the streetscape design
Additional tree opportunity to the side yard provided by the Corner lot
Additional tree to the front yard landscaping
The Corner Lot Design Guide
Creative Ideas for the Side Yard.
5.12 FEATURE TREE AVENUE
With a sense of presence and elegance, a row of trees draws the eye, and frames the home beautifully. While also providing shade that cools the home and footpaths, improving air quality, and creating habitat for local wildlife. Trees become a defining feature of the home, enhancing street appeal and long-term value.
5.13 KITCHEN GARDEN
Transforms the space into a productive and engaging part of the home. By growing herbs, vegetables and fruit trees, you can enjoy fresh, seasonal produce, encouraging healthy living.
Beyond its aesthetic charm, a kitchen garden offers year-round value –providing nourishment, fostering biodiversity, and creating a purposeful outdoor space that blends seamlessly with the home’s lifestyle.
5.14 PERGOLA WITH CLIMBING PLANTS
Transform your side yard into a shaded, inviting outdoor room that blends structure with nature. Flowering varieties bring fragrance and visual appeal, edible climbers offer fresh produce, and native species support local biodiversity. Positioned along the side yard, this feature enhances privacy and cools the space in summer.
Ideas for Designing Your Backyard
Carrying a green, biodiverse landscape across the entire lot is a commitment to creating a healthier, more resilient community.
5.15 LANDSCAPE DESIGN OF YOUR BACKYARD
By embracing this approach, we can help counter the effects of the Urban Heat Island and slow the loss of biodiversity in our growing neighbourhoods.
Every resident has the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution. Planting along lot fences not only provides privacy and softens boundaries, it also creates vital habitat and visual continuity.
Including at least one medium-to-large shade tree will bring cooling comfort in summer, while a couple of smaller feature trees can add seasonal beauty and character.
Even with minimal space, the backyard can be designed in many creative ways to extend the living area of your home.
Clever use of space can transform the backyard into a versatile retreat. It becomes more a place for social gatherings with friends, quiet moments of relaxation, and family activities that spill seamlessly from indoors to out.
With thoughtful design, even the most modest backyard can feel generous, functional and deeply connected to the way you live.
We have provided a montage of ideas for creative ways you can elevate your outdoor living, and encourage you to invest in the landscaping of your home.
Together, these choices create a living network of greenery across the community that supports wildlife, cools our streets, and enriches the daily experience of everyone who calls Round Mountain home.
pad for washing line
/ pebble surface finish
Screening shrubs to fence
pad for utilities and bins
Gravel
Concrete
Small feature trees
Lawn Shade tree
Concrete
The Backyard Design Guide
Creative Ideas for Small Spaces
5.16 INTEGRATED SEATING
Transform your backyard into a true extension of your home.
Thoughtfully built into your garden, integrated seating creates inviting spaces to gather with friends and family, or to simply unwind in the comfort of your own private retreat.
Integrated seating maximises space and ensures your backyard is always ready for both lively conversation and the quiet moments.
5.17 VERTICAL GARDENS
Evolve unused walls and fences into vibrant, living features without taking up valuable floor space, creating a lush, layered look that makes the area feel larger and more inviting.
Vertical gardens can improve air quality, provide shade and cooling, and even grow herbs or edibles for the kitchen. They’re a smart, space-saving solution that brings life, texture and personality to compact outdoor spaces.
5.18 LAYERED PLANTING
By combining low groundcovers, mid-height shrubs and taller feature plants, you create a sense of structure and flow that draws the eye through the space, adding depth, texture and visual interest.
This approach enhances beauty year-round and supports biodiversity. Turning every view into a rich, living composition.
Sustainable Living
Sustainable Living Guideline
This Sustainable Living Guideline is intended to provide helpful tips on sustainable and climate responsive design initiatives to consider when designing your home.
Round Mountain is located in a humid subtropical climate, meaning we experience hot and humid summers, mild winters and sunshine all year round.
With this in mind, carefully designing your home to suit these conditions can make the most of natural daylight and cooling breezes. These simple measures can also reduce your overall household operating costs.
6.1 HOUSE LOCATION
Locate where north, east, south and west are on your block. The orientation of your lot will help you decide the best location for the rooms in your house based on the sun and breezes. Regardless of your lot orientation, you can design a climate responsive home.
6.2 HOUSE DESIGN
• Use the orientation of your lot to guide your house design. Living areas should be placed on the northern and eastern sides of your home with large windows for the best solar orientation. This will mean your home will have optimal natural light and temperatures all year round.
• Large windows and doors on living areas connecting to a covered outdoor area can improve light and breeze through your home, and extend your living area.
• Non-habitable rooms such as bathrooms, laundry and garage should be located on the southern and western boundaries where naturally smaller windows are placed. With this simple design consideration, the impact of the afternoon sun from the west on your home will be minimised and your home will be protected from cold south westerly winds, making your home more comfortable year round.
• The inclusion of eaves, particularly on the western and southern boundary, protects your home from sun and also heavy rain. At Round Mountain we require 450mm wide eaves, where attached to habitable rooms on your home.
• Consider your building setbacks as providing additional separation between homes can increase airflow in and around your home and can provide you with more yard space for gardens.
• Open plan homes with minimal walls allows for more natural cooling breezes through your home.
• Inclusion of ceiling fans improves air circulation inside and outside of your home.
• Installation of whirlybirds will reduce hot air in your ceiling cavity, which will help keep your home cooler in summer.
6.3 BUILDING MATERIALS
The structure of your home can incorporate physical and visual elements that can be beneficial to year round comfort.
Colour selection can make a huge difference to the temperature of your home. Lighter colours reflect the heat from the sun, where dark colours attract the heat from the sun, resulting in higher temperatures in your house.
Choosing lightweight building materials such as timber and fibre cement can also make your house cooler and more comfortable, over traditional brick and tile materials.
6.4 LANDSCAPING
Position trees with large canopies to provide shade in summer and reduce glare from surrounding environment. Ensure tree locations and species optimise summer breezes.
6.5 WATER TANKS
Installation of a rainwater tank in your home has environmental benefits like rainwater harvesting and reducing stormwater run off.
Water tanks can be used for non-potable household uses such as watering your garden, contributing to a more sustainable water future by reducing demand on water supplies. It can also reduce your household costs by reducing your water bill.
6.6 SOLAR PANELS
The inclusion of solar panels on your home offers can lower your electricity bills and reduce your carbon footprint by using clean, renewable energy. Investment in a solar battery will provide power regardless of the weather or the time of day without having to rely on backup power from the grid.
6.7 ENERGY EFFICIENT APPLIANCES
Installation of energy efficient appliances can significantly reduce your energy bills and reduce your environmental impact by lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
Construction Obligations
Construction Obligations
7.1 CONSTRUCTION OBLIGATIONS
Once you have settled on your lot it is your responsibility to keep it maintained until your builder has commenced construction, this includes keeping it mowed and free from rubbish.
Building sites must be kept clean and safe at all times. To minimise disruption to the environment and to the neighbours, builders must provide a skip bin to contain rubbish during the construction if your home.
Bins and site facilities should be clear of any neighbouring properties, roads and footpaths at all times.
All services including water meters, electrical pillars, street trees and landscaping located in the road reserve in front of your lot cannot be altered without approval from the DRP and the relevant authority.
Please ensure that your builder is aware that they will need to rectify any damage to these assets prior to your bond being refunded.
The DRP is to be notified of any external amendments to the house design plans during construction phase and where required an updated set of plans are to be submitted for the DRP approval.
Construction of the dwelling and external works must be continuous and completed within the time provided in the Contract.
7.2 TELECOMMUNICATIONS AGREEMENT
An agreement has been entered into with OptiComm Co Pty Ltd to supply the project with a broadband fiber optic cable network and TV.
To enable connection to the OptiComm network you must wire your home in accordance with Round Mountain OptiComm Cable Entry Guide.
A choice of retail service providers utilise the OptiComm network. Further details are available on the OptiComm website: www.opticomm.com.au
A connection fee may be required prior to connection which will be paid by the developer.
7.3 WATER METERS
Water meters have been installed for each property.
Definitions
Ancillary Structures
Structures that are not part of or attached to the body of the home, i.e. sheds, pergolas, pools, tanks, pool pump, retaining walls, pool shelters, etc.
Articulation
The recess and or projection of a wall.
Building Approval
Building approval, also called certification is required for development that involves carrying out building work under the Planning Act 2016 (PA), as well as under specific building legislation.
Building Line
The front wall line of the house.
Building Height
The vertical distance between the natural ground level and the peak of the roof of the dwelling (not including antennae, or other Ancillary items).
Carport
A car accommodation space that is not fully enclosed on all sides.
Corner Lots
Lots bordering two streets or a street and laneway.
DRP
Design Review Panel.
Eaves
The portion of a roof that overhangs the external wall of the home.
Eave Line
The edge of the roof or parapet.
Facade
Face of the building. The primary facade is the facade facing the primary frontage. The secondary facade is the facade facing the secondary frontage.
Frontage
The front boundary of a lot that fronts the road. On a corner lot the primary street frontage is deemed the shorter side and the secondary frontage is the longer side.
Glazing
Any fixed or opening glass panel.
Habitable Room
A room used for living activities, eg. a family room, living room, meals or bedrooms.
Home
The residential dwelling to be built on the lot.
Lot
The land that the purchaser owns in Round Mountain.
Primary Facade
The primary facade is the elevation facing the primary street.
Primary Frontage
The street fronting your lot where the lot has only one street frontage or for lots with two or more street frontages the street which your home’s front door faces.
Private Open Space
The external open areas around the dwelling that are intended exclusively for recreational purpose of the residents.
Retaining Wall
Any retaining structure higher than 200mm.
Secondary Frontage
Applies to lots with more than one street frontage and is the street(s) which is not the primary street.
Setback
The minimum distance between the Outermost Projection also referred to as OMP and the property boundary line.
Street Frontage
The front boundary of a lot that fronts the road – on a corner lot the primary street frontage is deemed the shorter side.
Site Coverage
The area of your lot that the footprint of your home covers.
Outermost Projection
Outermost projection, of a building or structure, means the outermost part of the building or structure, other than a part that is:
• A retractable blind;
• A fixed screen; a rainwater fitting;
• An ornamental attachment.
Design Guidelines Checklist
Please ensure that the following is included in your submission.
Site plan (min scale 1:200) including:
̆ Setbacks from all boundaries to face of wall of all parts of the dwelling
̆ Driveway position, width and finish / materials
̆ Site coverage of the dwelling
̆ Fence locations, types, heights and finishes / materials in accordance with the fencing requirements
̆ Ancillary Structures and external services locations (eg. air conditioning condenser, water tanks, hot water system, clothesline location, bin storage, meter box, sheds or outdoor structures etc.)
̆ Drainage of the lot including flow direction upon completion of all works, flow direction, pits, pipes, etc.
Earthworks and drainage plan (min scale 1:200) including:
̆ Area of any cut / fill across the lot with finished surface levels (100mm contours)
̆ Location, heights and materials of any retaining walls to be constructed
̆ Height, materials and engineering certification of walls to be separately shown
̆ Drainage detail including drains, pits locations, swales and/or mounds to be constructed and flow direction
Floor plans (scale 1:100) including:
̆ Floor areas in m2 including floor levels
̆ Proposed internal space use (kitchen, living, study, bedroom, bathroom, etc.)
̆ Decks and terraces adjoining the dwelling
Elevations of all sides of the proposed dwelling (drawn to 1:100 scale) including:
̆ Roof pitch with roof or eave overhang dimensions
̆ Details of any proposed window hoods or awnings proposed
̆ Exterior materials noted on drawings
̆ Dwelling height shown accurately with finished surface level
̆ External window treatments including privacy screens and security screens
Exterior colour scheme and finishes including:
̆ Wall finish materials and colours
̆ High-quality materials and colours
̆ Doors and windows / window frames materials and colours
̆ Roof, fascia, awning and gutter material, profile and colour
̆ Balustrade materials and colours
̆ Garage door profile, materials and colours
̆ Any other materials visible to the exterior of the dwelling
̆ Colours and their locations must be clearly identified on a copy of elevations
Landscape plan (drawn to 1:200 scale) including:
̆ Planted areas including a plant and tree list including species, quantity and size
̆ Front yard includes minimum planting numbers required, including:
• Minimum number of 1.8m trees
• Minimum number of shrubs
• Minimum number of ground covers
̆ Back yard includes minimum planting numbers, including:
• 1 x 1.8m shade tree
• 2 x 1m Small feature trees
̆ Corner lot landscaping includes:
• Hedge planting proposed 0.5m apart and min 300mm pot size along secondary street fence line
• Minimum 3 x 1.8m trees
̆ Location of turf areas and type
̆ Location of paved or concreted areas, including colours and materials
̆ Decks or terraces including colours and materials
̆ Ponds or other water features
̆ Any developer items, including location of existing fencing, pedestrian path, street trees, retaining walls, corner hedge planting
Fencing and retaining wall details and plan including:
̆ Style, finishes and materials in accordance with guideline requirements
̆ Heights, locations and distances to boundary
̆ Planting associated with fencing
̆ Gates and gatehouses
̆ Retaining wall locations, heights and materials
̆ Letterbox location, style, height, colour and finish
̆ Letterbox integration (only applicable for where front fences are proposed)
Swimming pool plan (min scale 1:200) including:
̆ Setbacks from all boundaries in accordance with the Pool Siting Plan
