formation/friends

community forms

With strong sales achieved and homes now being built and lived in, community is forming like never before.

For two years now members of the Ecovillage community have enjoyed monthly events called Coffee Connect where information is passed on about sustainable living and much meeting and greeting is achieved.

Management of Ecovillage processes and assets is now being carried out by residents and owners in the form of committees. An Earthcare group, Village Design Panel, Ecovillage Social Committee and other groups have been formed for moving the community now into the living phase.

Functions and events are regular occurrences in the completed Village Hall and, as other recreation facilities are completed, many other activities can be enjoyed so close to home.

ecovillage communications network

Planning for the future, Ecovillage residents will experience the best possible communication infrastructure. An advanced fibre-optic 'Ecovillage Network' provides quality communications service and offers many other features such as:-

1. television signals with no need for individual domestic aerials
2. free intra-village phone calls
3. cheaper external phone calls (both local and STD)
4. community portal website (The Village Hub) catering for a multitude of online communication needs
5. access to very high speed transmission and receiving
6. provide 'future-proofing' to the Ecovillage and homes

The Village Hub will enable Ecovillage and Currumbin Valley residents to keep up to date with community activities. Some features of the Hub will enable community members to sign up for carpooling, join community groups and view their recent accomplishments and notices, book the village hall and other village facilities.

Friends of the Ecovillage

During the course of The Ecovillage conceptualisation, design and marketing, we have met many persons who have registered their interest for "Friends of the Ecovillage". These are people who, quite happy residing in their present homes elsewhere, wish to be part of this unique and exciting project - its initiatives, objectives and activities.

This could be something like assisting community groups to form or even volunteering at a planting day! Friends of the Ecovillage sincerely and genuinely believe in the principles of ecology and sustainable living and wish to help us achive our goals.

 Register your interest in becoming a Friend of the Ecovillage by calling into the Visitors Centre located on site at 639 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin Valley or phone (07) 5598 7377.

events

The Ecovillage Community has been forming over the past couple of years with a series of events and functions including:

Slide Presentation night on Village Homes Village in California
Tropical Fruit Tasting Permaculture Talk by the creek
Clean Up Australia Day groups
Regular walks on site, tours of the concept, Highlands and home parcel layout
World Environment Day Stalls
Woodford Folk Festival Stalls
Year of the the Ecovillage Picnic
The Village Christmas Main Event
Coffee Connect (third Sunday of every month)
Australia Day Picnic and Bushdance

    


The common denominator of these events is Sustainable Living Practices - the vision of the Ecovillage, to impart awareness of these to the public at large.

Sustainable House Day

As part of the 7th annual Sustainable House Day, homes across the country will open so others can learn and experience the benefits of all aspects of sustainable living. What’s more, these houses appear normal on the outside…so it’s only when stepping inside that the learning begins!

Over the years Sustainable House Day has been showing people the benefits of energy efficiency in their homes, we have seen a dramatic increase in interest. People now realise they need to reduce their energy, water and waste needs in their home…but are confused on where to start.

That’s where Sustainable House Day can help. There is nothing better than talking to people who have already done it. You can learn the good, and the bad, from the home owner’s personal experience and talk to architects, builders and designers. Once you have experienced living in a home that is cool in summer, without air-conditioning, and warm in winter with little or no heating, it’s hard not to get excited.

There will be at least 3 homes within The Ecovillage open for inspection for Sustainable Homes Day. The aim is motivate, and provide information so people can go home and start implementing some of the fundamentals straight away.

 http://www.solarhouseday.com/

event location:

event contact: Kerry Shepherd ph 07 55987 377 mob 0438 268 248 kerry@theecovillage.com.au

precincts

the creek ecohamlets

The First Stage precinct, Creek Ecohamlets, offers only one last lot for sale (phone sales office on 55987 355 for details). Many stunning eco-homes are now occupied with many more under construction. Residents are enjoying sustainable living, the on-site waste water reclamation plant is fully operational and reticulating recycled water back to all homes.

The Old Dairy Community Recreation Facilities are under construction with the Village Hall and toilet block complete, the lap and recreational pool, day spas and gym under construction.

Download a Creek Ecohamlets Plan here.

The Valley Terraces (Stage II) with it's many ponds and mature Native Hoop Pine forest is truly a superb location. With varying topography offering sites and opportunities for flat or gently undulating home parcels, many of these blocks are tucked into natural sanctuaries of their very own.

Home parcels range between 1600sqm - 2500sqm (approx).

After much strong interest in this stage, the last of the Valley Terraces lots are now selling and excited residents are already building their eco homes.

For current availability contact the Sales Office on (07) 55987 355-

Download a Valley Terraces Key Plan here

the highlands

The final release, "The Highlands" is imminent - featuring elevated lots with ocean views, abundant open space and unique acreage and seclusion. Register your interest now here or contact us for further information by calling Martin on 07 55987355 or email us.

village well

The Village Well Newsletter

Village Well Newsletters keep the forming community updated. Download below.

• Village Well June 06
• Village Well July 06
• Village Well Jan 07
• Village Well Feb / Mar 07
• Village Well Sept/Oct 07
• Village Well May 06

sustainability

objectives

The Ecovillage incorporates a wide range of sustainability features including autonomy in water, wastewater and energy; copious open space and significant environmental reserve; negligible vegetation loss and extensive native plant regeneration; edible landscapes, permaculture and waste minimisation and recycling.

It exceeds international and Australian sustainability best practices and has been hailed by government and industry as a leading example of ESD within the housing sector.

The project sets about to achieve many objectives such as:-

Improve biodiversity: Flora and fauna impacts minimised by preserving 80% of site as open space and 50% dedicated environmental reserve with minimal native species loss. Extensive revegetation provides a network of connective corridors with cats and dogs prohibited to protect biodiversity.

Minimise landform impacts: ‘soft engineering’ and sustainable infrastructure following land contour and natural features - siting design in appropriate areas and blending with the landscape.

Minimise water impacts: voluntary total self-sufficiency through a ‘closed loop water system’. This incorporates swale drainage, wetlands and ponds, rainwater collection and storage to homes, centralised wastewater (grey and black) treatment and reticulation back to homes for laundry, toilet and garden usage.

Minimise resource impacts: strict focus in using on-site, local and sustainable materials of enduring lifecycle.

Minimise energy impacts: during/after construction targeting low embodied energy and community energy self-sufficiency.

Reduce building impacts: the highest level of sustainable home regulation achievable through a landmark Architectural and Landscaping Code.

Reduce waste: reuse and recycling during construction and ongoing goal for community waste with the innovative onsite RRR Centre. (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)

Design for food and materials production: on Lots, public spaces and dedicated productive areas.

resources

Be sure to check out the downloads section of this website for Ecovillage resources.

Check out these great websites:-

Australian Greenhouse Office
Qld Sustainable Homes Programme
Alternative Technology Association
Neco - the online Eco Superstore
Ecology Global Network
Australian Eco Media
Get Up Australia

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

If you have a query, please do not hesitate to contact our infoline on 07 5598 7355 or email us.

Check this page regularly as the content could change according to new information to hand and more questions being asked.

ecoliving

Living with nature

With approximately 80% of The Ecovillage site left as Open Space and approximately 50% of this as flora / fauna reserves with conservation status in perpetuity, a more harmonious living relationship with nature is one of the many benefits of life in the Ecovillage at Currumbin.

Ecohamlet planning allows for a social mix with a variety of home parcel sizes and prices contained within each precinct. This has resulted in neighbourhoods of varying ages, socio-economic status and family groups living life as it was meant to be. A diverse and vibrant community has already formed and are enjoying life in The Ecovillage.

Food producing streetscaping and landscaping throughout the village will provide opportunities to pick your own fruit and vegetables not only in your own backyard but throughout the entire site! This is happening right now with lucky Ecovillage residents experiencing crops of sweet potato, citrus and other foods. The Ecovillage Earthcarers Group (EVE) meet regularly to plant, weed and attend to maintenance of open space areas. Ecoliving has never been so ripe!

the future is now

Just owning your own home parcel gives you a share in the Ecovillage facilities. Ecoliving need not just mean growing, harvesting and creating resources.

Enjoy the 20kms of walking and biking network throughout the village, be close to recreation facilities such as the 3 lane lap and recreation pool, gym and Village Hall, take a walk to the nearby Village Centre for convenience items or that cup of coffee and social chat.

An intelligent monitoring system installed to each home - EcoVision - offers ‘real time’ monitoring of resource levels. Water, gas and electricity generation and consumption are monitored and reported. Know exactly how much energy your PV panels are inputting into the grid, know the levels of water in your tanks and, importantly, know what your family is consuming.

The Ecovillage Community Network: fibreoptic cabling fed throughout the community offers high speed communications including tv reception, internet connections, free internal community telephone calls, cheaper external telephone calls and the like. Operating a business from home has never been easier and the sky’s the limit with this well considered and extremely valuable resource.

An Ecovillage community portal caters for online communications ranging from intranet services to groups facilitation and other multitudes of services.

progress

comfortable healthy homes

The Ecovillage Architectural and Landscaping Code is leading the way in sustainable sub-tropical design and construction techniques. Comfortable and healthy homes are now springing up in the Ecovillage and residents are delighted with their lifestyle. Most even receive cheques back from the utility providers!!

These buildings are examples of thoughtful environmental design. Early results indicate an impressive level of resource efficiency through design, construction techniques and use of recycled materials. All homes are completely water self-sufficient, operate grid connected solar energy systems and demonstrate exemplary passive solar design.

One home was named as HIA GreenSmart’s Energy Efficient Home of the Year for 2007 / 2008 and another won the GreenSmart 2008 Building of the Year.

Drop by the Ecovillage - pick up an availability sheet to see how you too can enjoy life in The Ecovillage at Currumbin.

community facilities

The Ecovillage Community recreation facilities are well under way. The Village Hall has now been completed and is being enjoyed by community members for events of all types. The Village Hall facility includes a complete commercial-sized kitchen, community dining area and small dining / meeting room.

The lap / recreation pool has begun and will soon be enjoyed by all residents. The spa pavillions await their thatch rooves and the gym pavillion has begun.

caretaker duties

The Ecovillage Caretaker, Eric Pearson, keeps a constant watch on Ecovillage proceedings. Construction that complies with strict environmental requirements, resident needs, maintenance of the pristine site and many other duties come under Eric’s watchful eye.

Residents benefit greatly from the onsite fulltime presence and attention to detail that Eric brings.

Contact Details

639 Currumbin Creek Road
Currumbin Valley Q 4223

PO Box 521
Currumbin Q 4223

Phone: 07 5598 7377
Fax: 07 5598 7388

the village

"a world leading ecologically sustainable & conscious community where people & nature flourish in beauty, harmony & integrity"

The Vision

the implementation

Further facilities include gym, lap pool, pavilion areas for yoga / tai chi / exercise classes etc, childrens’ playgrounds, community kitchen and other useful conveniences.

These facilities enable many activities that would normally occur outside of an estate and save residents time & money from gym memberships to commuting costs.

The Village Centre, located on Village Way provides small-scale commercial facilities as services to village residents and local Currumbin Valley neighbours.

These facilities include a convenience store, café / bakery, practitioners rooms, serviced office areas and small pre / primary school.

When completed, The Village Centre will have all the charm of a traditional village and offer the ancient benefits of community and convenience.

Also part of the Village Centre, the Reduce Reuse and Recycle (RRR) Centre provides a central resource management area that will be a social centre for the community.

.

The Home Studios provide the opportunity to operate a business as part of the bustling Village Centre and live in a contemporary architecturally designed studio above.

The six Home Studios enjoy commercial space frontage to Village Way the main thoroughfare of the Ecovillage.

Full details of the Home Studios are available from Martin or Michelle at the office (07 55987355)and release is imminent.

See Live Here - Facilities in this website for more information.

Currumbin valley

Currumbin Valley’s character and integrity are special

As part of the project planning, Landmatters presented a genuine Community Consultation process inviting Currumbin Valley residents and other interested groups and parties to identify issues of relevance to the existing community, determine future needs of the Valley and address matters of concern. Around 450 residents and interested people attended public meetings and small workshops, viewed the displayed concepts and met with team members – in other words, they were involved in having a say.

The Valley

Currumbin community identifies strongly with its beautiful environs. Social interaction includes activities around resident groups, environmental groups, local schools, rural fire brigades and an assortment of clubs. So whether it’s the annual “Spring Fair’, a local kid’s sports tournament, dragon-boat racing, surf life saving regatta, the annual SWELL Sculpture Festival on the beach or the “World Environment Day” event in a nearby park, it’s likely there’ll be something in the Currumbin locale to fulfill your interest.

Some of the facilities within the valley include recreational swimming holes and waterfalls located in world heritage listed national parks, cafes and specialty shops, amazing beautiful Estuarine beaches and lagoons, Currumbin Valley State School, Camp Eden Health Retreat and National Park walking tracks. There’s virtually something for every age and budget.

Beautiful walks and places to stay abound. The Currumbin Valley truly offers a piece of wilderness with the very best of nature's special treats.

local groups

Having such a rich and beautiful place to protect and enhance, Currumbin is full of identities and awareness groups. GECKO (The Gold Coast and Hinterland Environment Council) has its headquarters at Currumbin Beach. Friends of Currumbin and SWELL Sculpture Festival are also actively working for environmental, cultural and arts representation for the area.

tours

Intellectual Property Visits Now Available

We hold many visits to The Ecovillage from industry bodies, government agencies and representatives, school and educational facilities, interest groups and the like.

Previous visitors include a Sri Lankan contingent post-tsunami to learn about sustainable design and construction techniques, landscape architects from Shanghai China to learn about productive landscaping in urban / semi-urban context, Goulburn City Councillors and staff, VicUrban CEO and executives, Victoria Water Board(s) technical officers and senior executives, ALDE Conference group delegation, Campbelltown City Councillors, Mayor and technical officers, Urban Pacific Executives, Wide Bay Water Board, students from many primary and secondary schools as well as university students, local interest groups and many many more.

These include:-

As a general rule of thumb, an itinerary for a visit to The Ecovillage combines:-

location

Australia's lush and extravagantly beautiful Currumbin Valley...

Located on Australia’s picturesque Gold Coast in the south-east corner of Queensland, The Ecovillage at Currumbin boasts an address which is only 7 kms and 7 minutes from the Pacific Ocean beaches of Currumbin Estuary.

the perfect location

The Ecovillage is in close proximity to a multitude of services and facilities - just some of these include:-

how to find us

Map 20 in the Gold Coast section of the UBD

Turn off the M1 Pacific Highway at Stewarts Road Exit to Currumbin Valley. Follow Stewarts Rd until it ends at a 'T' intersection. Turn left onto Currumbin Creek Road and drive into Currumbin Valley for approx. 4.5kms until you see The Ecovillage at Currumbin sign on the left hand side at 639 Currumbin Creek Road.

the land

"Willumbin" - the ecovillage site

history: indigenous & pastoral

The large (110ha / 269acres) and magnificent Ecovillage land parcel has a diverse array of topography and features.

“Willumbin”, as it was known in recent times, has had an interesting history. This extraordinary site forms an important part of the beautiful Currumbin Valley which, in pre-European settlement must have been an absolute paradise.

Located just a few hundred metres upstream from the tidal salt water of Currumbin Creek, Willumbin has a diversity of land forms from creek flats to hillside ridges, an elevated valley and a second water course that surely proved a magnificent home for the indigenous owners who resided in the locality for thousands of years. We have been advised by our cultural heritage consultants that the main ridgeline on Willumbin formed an important ‘foot highway’ from the coast through to lands to the west including rainforest areas of Springbrook and beyond.

Apparently, the ridges were ‘public property’ for travellers, whilst the lower lands were tribally guarded and used for hunter gatherings and camping of the local groups.

European settlement commenced with timber getting of rainforest species with the valley being a rich resource. This was followed by farming procedures which saw much of the slight sloping land cleared for beef cattle pasture.

Banana farming around the turn of the century completely cleared most of the valley hillsides including Willumbin’s slopes leaving only crerk vegetation, giant Fig trees, some mango trees and scattered hardwood along the ridge – the Ecovillage land was almost totally denuded.

After the banana ‘bunchy-top’ epidemic in the early 1920s and a moratorium on all banana production, dairy farming was resumed on the site. The land was used for dairy grazing with fodder cropping on the creek flats through to the 1980s.

There has been much vegetation regrowth since the site was simply used for agistment grazing purposes and The Ecovillage has a comprehensive revegetation plan to beautify the site and enhance biodiversity.

In the 1970s the then owner planted a 25 acre native Hoop Pine forest which is now a mature feature. This forest now requires thinning to make the most of this much loved area and timber will be used sustainably in the making of community buildings. It is envisaged that this forestry initiative will, over the years, offset the wood used in home construction by enlightened forestry practice.

land use: wise and sustainable

The diverse landscapes of “Willumbin” allowed a site led design to unfold throughout the planning stages of The Ecovillage. The precincts fall predominantly into three main types:

• The Creek Ecohamlets bordered by Currumbin Creek Road and the pools and cascades of Currumbin Creek;
• The Valley Terraces gently sloping elevated pasture overlooking Currumbin Creek; and
• The Highlands, an elevated undulating valley system with its own forested ridges, small creek and views towards the Pacific Ocean.

For an aerial view of the site with precincts marked click here.

Live amidst nature

in an award winning community

The World's Best & that's Official The Ecovillage at Currumbin was awarded the World's Best Environmental Development in the 2008 FIABCI Prix D'Excellence Awards in Amsterdam. See the Awards page herein for some of the Ecovillage's 23 Award wins.

Nestled within picturesque Currumbin Valley and with world heritage rainforests providing a lush back drop, The Ecovillage is located just 7 minutes and 7km from some of the Gold Coast’s most exceptional beaches and services.

The location makes it possible to enjoy a natural lifestyle while still being within a stone’s throw of city amenities.

With sustainability as the goal, convenience facilities are included in the Village Centre - residents can spend less time commuting and more time simply enjoying life.

Conceptually, The Ecovillage embraces the land, enhancing what is already beautiful ... a piece of paradise, where you can have the comforts of contemporary life yet harvest the many benefits of a world class ecovillage.

The first stage, “Creek Ecohamlets” is entirely sold out. The second stage, “Valley Terraces”, has only limited opportunity left for purchase. Last lots within this beautiful precinct offer gently undulating land with good proximity to all village facilities.

Visit the Interpretive Centre at 639 Currumbin Creek Road and find out about the exciting release of The Highlands - our final and most prestigious eco-living stage. Home parcels within The Highlands offer larger areas and extensive elevated views as well as quiet amenity but still only 7kms from nearby urban facilities.

© The Ecovillage 2008 | Contact Us | Site by Terence Kearns   Powered by Expression Engine 1.6.3

Disclaimer: All reasonable care has been taken in the preparation of this brochure. It is intended as a guide only. Any photographs contained in the brochure depict representative product and lifestyle. Photographs and illustrations are for presentation purposes and are indicative only and are subject to final development approval and change without notice. They should not be relied on as accurate representation of the finished product. Plans and diagrams of layouts and sizes are indicative only. All plans and areas referred to are subject to final survey. Landmatters Currumbin Valley Pty Ltd does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of any information contained in this brochure and disclaims all liability should any information or matter in this brochure differ from any contract of sale or from the development as constructed. Prospective purchasers should make their own enquiries to satisfy themselves as to all aspects of the proposed development.