The landscaping and buildings at Pinecliff are designed to marry with the local coastal ecology and aesthetic. The aim was to minimise the visual impact of any buildings and ensure that native species were planted. Previously introduced species were replaced by native plantings and where possible all buildings have been shielded behind landscape buffers.

Despite the substantial scale of building works they have minimal visual impact. You seem to stumble across buildings, unseen from a distance due to the cleverly designed landscaping. The buildings themselves are beautifully resolved architecturally and harmonise with their environment. Over 500,000 indigenous plants have been planted with more to follow. Large-scale erosion control and weed removal has been undertaken along with extensive revegetation along the coastline. In addition to the ecological benefits, the extensive indigenous revegetation will over time improve the views from Port Philip Bay by providing a green backdrop along a coastline that has been significantly disturbed over a long period of time.

The setting of buildings into the landscape also reduces wind turbulence creating a safe environment for the horses as they move from stables or paddocks to the training tracks.

Typically equine properties quickly become nutrient deficient, compacted and sour from too much of the same grazing and lack of rest. To avoid this, Pinecliff has incorporated cross-grazing using cattle and sheep.

Pasture management begins with the design and layout. Each large paddock is separated from the next with a combination of tree lanes, hedgerows and K mesh safety fencing. The hedging and shade trees in the tree lanes between each paddock not only look attractive but also provide shade from the sun and shelter from the wind for livestock in the paddocks. This also reduces moisture being lost from the ground, which of course reduces the need for watering. To ensure that none of the recycled water that is used to irrigate the pasture is lost, Pinecliff uses pop up sprinklers placed throughout the paddocks. These have replaced the former fence top sprinklers that proved less efficient in the use of water as the sea breeze forced the water off to areas outside the paddocks.

All pasture grasses are selected Endophyte free. This ensures that the fungus that causes infertility in horses is not carried in any of the pasture seed.

Horses damage often "churns up" paddocks either through digging or when running and turning. This is particularly pronounced along the fence lines and near paddock gates. The application of the Pinecliff proprietary "Armour Sand" track mixture at the boundary of the dirt area keeps the surrounding grass protected from the dryness of the dirt and also stops the dirt area turning into mud when it rains.

One third of the farm must be spelled at any one time to maintain the quality of the pasture. After cattle and pigs have cross-grazed, the paddocks are left to recuperate. Any final clean up is done by sheep before the paddocks are ready for equine use again.

While the sheep are not being used for clean up jobs inside the paddocks, they happily roam through the tree lanes and hedgerows as woolly mowers and tree pruners.

Each paddock contains an electric fence inside the elegant post and rail. This is typical of all equine establishments but Pinecliff's completely solar driven process demonstrates a full commitment to sustainability.

Pinecliff is a magnificent establishment. Sea views abound from the highpoints of the property and a walk through the landscaped surrounds brings forth visions of an extremely well maintained native garden on a very large scale - certainly not a standard farm or horse facility.

The animals on the farm are truly blessed with facilities that put their welfare as the highest priority. The environment keeps them calm, healthy, fit and very importantly, safe.