DPM Consulting Group is proud to be the lead civil engineering consultant for the Summerset Chirnside Park Retirement Village, a transformative development that reflects best practice in accessible retirement living.
In partnership with Summerset, a leading retirement living developer and operator, and Montdami Construction as the civil contractor, this exciting project is steadily progressing towards becoming a welcoming and well-connected estate for future residents.
Strategically located in the leafy outer suburbs of Melbourne, the Summerset Chirnside Park Retirement Village is being developed to offer a safe, independent lifestyle for older Australians with aged care on site. It showcases what can be achieved when strong design vision is paired with engineering precision—something DPM Consulting Group has brought to the table from the outset.
Integrated Design for a Truly Liveable Community
DPM’s approach to the Summerset Chirnside Park Retirement Village has been deeply collaborative, working hand-in-hand with Summerset’s architects, landscape consultants and construction teams to deliver integrated civil solutions.
Rather than relying solely on conventional 2D plans, our team developed a detailed, high-resolution 3D model of the site. This enabled accurate planning of all civil infrastructure, from roadways and drainage to service alignments, ensuring a seamless connection between the built form and the surrounding landscape.
The 3D model also allowed our engineers to conduct thorough clash detection. This helped verify that essential site services—such as power, water, communications and infrastructure—could be efficiently integrated into the civil design without compromising buildability or the site’s visual harmony.
As part of the village’s broader infrastructure needs, the DPM team also delivered a robust stormwater management strategy. A key feature was the design and construction of a large-diameter outfall drain, which had to be installed through an existing road network.
This complex task involved coordinating site inspections, preparing a detailed service proving brief, and working alongside micro tunnelling contractors to achieve a constructable and cost-effective outcome. Our water resources team also completed a hydraulic capacity assessment of the existing drainage networks, which received approval from the Shire of Yarra Ranges.
Addressing Site Complexity with Smarter Civil Solutions
The site’s challenging topography posed one of the project’s most complex engineering issues. With a natural fall of over 30 metres from the north-east to the south-west, designing for safety, accessibility, and functionality required both creative thinking and technical rigour.
To achieve DDA-compliant access throughout the site, DPM Consulting Group designed and implemented an extensive network of retaining walls. Some of these walls exceed 4.2 metres in height and have been strategically staggered across the site to support both aesthetic appeal and safe transitions between levels. These structural elements are crucial to enabling all residents—regardless of mobility—to navigate the village with confidence.
Walkability and connectivity were also major design priorities in line with those DDA-compliancy undertakings. To support both walkability and site connectivity, DPM collaborated closely with architects and landscape designers to create a network of walkways that make it easy for residents to move between different areas of the village. These pathways have been designed to meet AS1428 standards, ensuring compliance with national accessibility requirements.
Project Overview: Retirement Living Built for the Future
The Summerset Chirnside Park Retirement Village is more than just a construction project—it’s the creation of a thoughtfully master planned community designed to support independent, safe, and connected living for older Australians.
Backed by Summerset’s strong vision for aged care living and supported by DPM Consulting Group’s expertise in civil engineering, the development is unfolding in carefully structured stages to allow for efficient delivery and consistent quality across the board.
The staged approach not only allows for smooth construction and timely delivery but also ensures that every element of the village—from homes to community amenities—is integrated with long-term liveability, accessibility, and comfort in mind.
Stage 1:
Civil works for Stage 1 reached completion in March 2025, marking a major milestone in the development. With services now in place, building construction is well underway and progressing with strong momentum. This stage will bring the first group of homes to life and establish the core foundation of the community.
Stages 2 & 3:
Civil works across Stages 2 and 3 are now actively underway, supported by coordinated planning and construction management. Completion is on track for late-2025, allowing for the delivery of additional residential dwellings and shared community facilities that will further enhance the lifestyle offering within the village.
This staged delivery strategy not only allows for effective resource allocation and risk management but also ensures that early residents will benefit from fully functional, well-serviced infrastructure from day one.
By setting a high benchmark for design quality, accessibility, and community integration in the initial stages, the Summerset Chirnside Park Retirement Village is poised to grow into a thriving and inclusive neighbourhood that prioritises the wellbeing and independence of its residents. DPM Consulting Group is proud to play a leading role in its delivery, ensuring that every stage of civil works supports Summerset’s long-term vision for retirement living in Australia.
For more information about DPM Consulting Group’s work on the Summerset Chirnside Park Retirement Village, or to learn how we can support your next land development project click the button below.
