Our end-of-financial-year and end-of-year functions are always ones to remember, filled with great views, better food and the best company. But we think that this year’s end-of-financial-year function might have taken the cake: getting our team on 2 buses and carted through Millar Merrigan’s best regional Gippsland projects, old and new.

Whether they’re working on the start of a project as a surveyor, closer to the end in construction supervision, or somewhere in the middle, everyone from our teams has an impact on the communities they work on.

Each site we visited highlighted the depth of expertise we can bring to a single project. Our integrated approach delivers better outcomes for clients – and richer experiences for our team.

We believe a work environment goes well beyond the desk and that the best ideas are born from a deep understanding of our projects and the disciplines involved. So, as much as this activity was a great opportunity to provide some fun for our team, it also deepens their understanding of the work we do, seeing how the files and spreadsheets turn into something with real-world impact, helping us create even better communities in our future projects.

The sites

Oaktree Rise Estate, Narre Warren

A past UDIA-award winner, this project highlighted how our dedication to environmental sustainability and livability has been a priority at Millar Merrigan for decades. This site has lots of connectivity, with wide pathways and 3 pedestrian bridges throughout the development to create a community where people feel safe and connected.

Scott McJannet, director at Millar Merrigan and safari guide for the day, shared a story of going to this site for a meeting shortly after joining the company, having never met the developer. He stood around for a while, in an area that was quiet, just watching someone work to maintain the development, sweeping footpaths and maintaining nature strips and garden areas. After the time for the meeting had come and gone, Scott asks this person if they knew where the developer was – and it turns out, he was who Scott was looking for!

This developer’s care for the community outcomes and pride in his development is apparent through the development. The incorporation of the historic avenue of heritage oak trees, the use of vegetated wetlands and waterways through the open space network and the creation of the village shops for community connections were highlights for our visit.

Copeland Estate, Warragul

Our team’s strategic work, including preparing an updated plan of subdivision, increased overall lot yield from 321 to 348 without increasing development costs.

This tour showcased the work of a considerate developer who takes great pride in his estate, making it a pleasant site to drive through.

One example of this consideration is displayed through the driveway crossovers not being installed during civil works, to give lot purchasers more flexibility in their house designs. Street trees are also planted early in developments, well before lots start going in, so the area feels more established and appealing when residents move into their new homes.

Yarragon

This stop was a reminder of the foundational, long-term work we do. Our team undertook a major rezoning of farmland to allow for residential development, while also obtaining a planning permit for a multi-stage 317-lot subdivision.

This project included a crucial heritage overlay to protect the historic Deloraine Homestead, demonstrating our commitment to balancing growth with cultural preservation.

One feature of this site was a seemingly mundane component – which elicited cheers from one of our buses as we drove over ‘Sunny’s Drain’. Sunny Ekram, design engineer at Millar Merrigan, designed a drain under the highway, ensuring the adjacent lot would drain properly. It was no simple feat, having to coordinate and appease road and drainage authorities with the design, making it quite a notable land mark for our team!

Monash Views Estate, Newborough

This estate offers a premier lifestyle with stunning views overlooking the Yallourn Golf Course and Lake Narracan. The project involved repurposing land from the adjoining golf course, creating space for homes and new holes for the club.

The drive-through also gave us a chance to share some memorable on-site stories – like the time a 20-tonne excavator almost became part of the wetland.

Lake Narracan PSP, Newborough

We began working on options for the master planning for this area back in 2010 in conjunction with the NBA Group.

The plans make the most of the existing lake foreshore, increasing community access to the water and creating new recreational opportunities, while also providing diverse housing options.

With 2 Millar Merrigan projects in this area, Turras Reach and North Quarter, we were able to see side by side how different developers approach their projects, with different goals and priorities in their developments, while both still creating a lovely new community.

The Acreage, Tyers

With large allotments, this estate has a uniquely rural character while maintaining convenience, just a short drive from Traralgon and Morwell.

It was also the site of Millar Merrigan’s first floating wetland design, an environmental milestone for the Gippsland region. This water sensitive urban design feature enhances stormwater treatment and supports local biodiversity, showcasing our commitment to innovative and sustainable solutions.

Traralgon North Development Plan

Our work here began 12 years ago, before the development plan was adopted by Latrobe City Council. We have been a key part of the area’s transformation, delivering 3 estates by separate developers: The Rise, Silverwood and Franklin North.

The tour highlighted how our work has helped create a budding community and lifestyle, with over 600 homes already developed, a local shopping precinct and various parks and reserves.

Within The Rise estate, we also saw Millar Merrigan’s second floating wetland design.

See our previous article about this estate development plan area, as we celebrate over a decade of transformation!

The Icon, Morwell

This location is something different for the Millar Merrigan team, looking at an industrial development, as opposed to the residential ones the rest of the safari primarily focused on.

Currently undergoing bulk earthworks, this will be the largest commercial development in the Latrobe Valley in 50 years. With a planned 125 lots, it is set to become Gippsland’s largest industrial estate, providing thousands of direct and indirect jobs and having a financial economic value of up to $800 million.

This development has undergone significant changes through the years in response to changing market demands and opportunities: in 2011, plans showed 44 lots, but changes in 2024 saw lot yield increase to 80. Now, in 2025, we are planning to see 125 lots in the space.

The area also has a proposed waterway with extensive landscaping and an indigenous theme proposed throughout open space areas, providing a thoughtfully designed green space for the industrial workers to enjoy.

Collaboration in action

This safari wasn’t just about the projects, but the people and the teams behind them. With members from all departments out on the journey, the day offered an opportunity to collectively review our work, share insights and build cross-disciplinary knowledge.

With a delicious buffet-style lunch at Maffco brewery to get our team socialising and ready for the drive home, it was an insightful and enjoyable day for all.

The safari was a reminder that no matter your role on a project, you’re always a part of something bigger.