Currumbin Ecovillage

Currumbin Ecovillage is an innovative residential community that showcases best practices in residential ecologically sustainable development. The ecovillage project has been developed on degraded farmland on the exurban fringe of Gold Coast City, a major resort city on Queensland’s Pacific Ocean coast. The developer, Landmatters Currumbin Valley Property Ltd., has rehabilitated the site and is protecting its environmental integrity and biodiversity by preserving 50 percent of it as an environmental reserve. It is on a 300-acre (1.2 km2) site comprising 80% bushland, plus open spaces and 144 home sites. [1]

All homes within The Ecovillage include complete water autonomy and energy self-sufficiency. Smart design and excellent energy ratings assist the homes to be comfortable all year round with low environmental impact. The estate also has grid-connected solar power, edible landscapes, permaculture, waste minimisation and recycling.[2]

The Ecovillage is a Queensland Government EnergyWise and WaterWise Demonstration Project and involves significant partnership with community, universities, industry and government.[3] The Ecovillage has received 26 awards including the 2008 International Prix D’Excellence, and the prestigious Housing Industry Association’s 2008 Green Smart National Building of the Year Award for one of The Ecovillage’s sustainable homes.[2] In 2010, The Ecovillage was appointed by the Gold Coast City Council as its ‘Innovation Estate’, demonstrating the City’s desired future form of development.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Awards for Excellence 2007 Winner: The Ecovillage at Currumbin". Urban Land Institute.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Case Study: Ecovillage – a model for normal living". The Fifth Estate. 30 July 2009.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "The Ecovillage at Currumbin". EcoGeneration. May–June 2011.