Calderwood’s growing community is set to gain a new $3 million public park, with construction now underway at Cascadia Calderwood.
Sekisui House Australia turned the first sod on the project today, joined by Shellharbour City Council Mayor Chris Homer and Federal Member for Whitlam Carol Berry MP.
The ceremony marks the start of work on one of the central public spaces within the new $520 million Cascadia community.
Scheduled to open in July 2027, the 2,000 square-metre park will include children’s play equipment, shaded picnic areas, waterways, landscaped open space, and walking and cycling paths.
It will be open to Cascadia residents and the wider Calderwood community.
The design will incorporate native plants, a picnic shelter, nature play equipment, swings and a play tower.
It is guided by Sekisui House’s Satoyama philosophy, a Japanese concept focused on creating harmony between people, homes and nature.
Across Cascadia, the philosophy will be reflected in tree-lined streets, green corridors and connected open spaces that encourage walking, recreation and community interaction.
William Messiter, Chief Operating Officer, Residential Communities and Home Building at Sekisui House, said delivering community infrastructure alongside new housing was central to the Cascadia masterplan.
“Turning the first sod is an important milestone because it moves the park from an idea on the masterplan to a public space the community will soon be able to use and enjoy,” said Messiter.
Located at 158 Bushranger Parade, Cascadia is planned to deliver 455 homes across three stages, comprising vacant land and completed SHAWOOD homes.
SHAWOOD homes are Sekisui House’s premium homes, built using a precision-engineered construction system developed in Japan.
The broader masterplan includes more than 1.2 hectares of parkland and green open space, as well as walking and cycling paths designed to connect homes with the surrounding landscape.
Mayor Homer said the park would provide an important new recreational space as Calderwood continues to grow.
He pointed to the pace of development in the region and the need for infrastructure to keep up, citing major investments such as the Tripoli Way Extension and work with developers to deliver parks, roads and community facilities.
The new park, he said, was a strong example of the partnerships helping to deliver the open spaces needed to support a growing community.
Berry said investing in community infrastructure alongside new housing was essential to building connected and livable communities.
She said parks and public spaces help support healthy and active lifestyles, and will ensure the region remains a great place to live.
“As more families choose to make Calderwood and the broader Illawarra home, it’s important that community infrastructure keeps pace with that growth.”
Cascadia was officially launched in May 2026 and is Sekisui House’s first community in the Illawarra.
