CURRUMBIN ECOVILLAGE - Planning process & sustainable outcomes

RELATING SUSTAINABLE OUTCOMES TOPLANNING PROCESS

The description of previous sections regarding community-based planning process and sustainable outcomes achieved by Currumbin Ecovillage are used to recognise the main strategies on the implementation of this project.

Food & Farming

In Currumbin Ecovillage Food and Farming presents minimal sustainable outcomes (Table 27). Even though every dwelling has its own food garden, delays in the construction of the proposed Village Centre (see Figure 26) and the absence of urban markets and economic activities regarding food, are impacting the promotion of healthy eating.

Medicine & Health

In contrast, Medicine and Health (Table 28) shows good levels of implementation. The incorporation of sporting infrastructure (see Figure 27) in the technical project has promoted the concept of ‘healthy lifestyles’.

Education

Figure 26 - Village Centre Proposal

Figure 27 - Healthy activities

Education

Education outcomes (Table 29) are encouraged by the residents’ organisation based on interest groups that promote biodiversity conservation activities. However, not planning for long-term functioning of the Interpretative Centre beyond governmental support, impacted the promotion of education for sustainable development.

Economy

Economy (Table 30) is another planning domain impacted upon by the delay on the construction of the proposed Village Centre. This delay is stopping it from providing fairly paid work and businesses opportunities close to where people live. However, the Ecovillage does provide a fibre-optic communication network that supports the possibility of working from home. The developers also promoted residents’ organisation based on interest groups, which generates volunteer opportunities.

Transportation

Regarding Transportation (Table 31), Currumbin Ecovillage had developed a cycling network that supports active transportation behaviours, however the homogeneity of land uses and topography discourage its use.

Energy & Water

Energy (Table 32) and Water (Table 33) show high levels of implementation in this case study. The design of dwellings promoting efficiency, self-provision and constant monitoring of energy and water use with a high-tech Ecovision system has characterised houses of the Ecovillage with outstanding sustainable outcomes. This achievement is directly related to the strategy of defining a Building Code to standardise construction under sustainable principles inside the development (see Figure 28). This Code is presented as part of the technical project of Currumbin Ecovillage development, and is the result of multidisciplinary work lead by the developers and involving a wide range of professionals.

Housing

In relation to the Housing domain (Table 34), Currumbin Ecovillage has been extremely successful in the incorporation of bioclimatic design and reuse of building materials on its dwellings, as defined in the community Building Code. However, by transferring the costs of high quality sustainable design to homebuyers, sustainable outcomes related with affordability show low levels of implementation (see Figure 29).

Figure 26 - Energy and Water Efficiency in dwellings

Figure 29 - House prices

Governance

Governance (Table 35) structure promotes the involvement of residents once the project was developed. Nevertheless the implementation of a communication channel based on a communal website allows members to coordinate activities and efficiently discuss internal issues.

Natural Environment

Regarding the Natural Environment planning domain (Table 36), the specification of conservation areas and landscape features into the technical project initially designed produced outstanding sustainable outcomes in this area.

Built Environment & Sense of Community

Built Environment and Sense of Community (Table 37) sustainable outcomes are diminished by delay on the construction of the proposed Village Centre. At the same time, the project had been developed on a Greenfield site, and designed for low density and homogeneity of land uses. These features encourage car use, reducing the possibility of social interactions to occur.