INFO

Quote from Elizabeth Watson Brown - Architect and Chief Judge for the Awards.

“This is an award for innovation, bravery, inspiration..and setting the highest benchmark - about signalling and guiding the future.

This project acknowledges innovation in urban design, a place that is an exemplar for others, something that lifts the urban design in this city and sets an example for the future. I class this award as one of the most prestigious available in this industry.

This project, above all projects we saw, is the one with the very real potential to deliver future sustainable outcomes for the city and set a benchmark for Australia. To the project which I believe embodies all the principles we as a jury agreed were most important: community, sustainability, responsibility, exemplar design, art, community engagement, ecology, connectivity, adaptability and safety etc etc etc. this trophy is awarded to The Highlands and The Old Dairy at The Ecovillage at Currumbin.”     Elizabeth Watson Brown - EWB Architects

This unique award is given to outstanding projects that show excellence at every stage of their creation.

The prestigious Prix d’Excellence trophy embodies the FIABCI ideal of providing society with the optimum solution to its property needs. The Ecovillage has achieved it's goal of "creating the WORLD'S BEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT" which assists with the Landmatters vision of inspiring the development industry to take up the task of sustainability that is so within its grasp.

Whilst the award was based on design and planning parameters, now that the village is home to many residents, they believe they are living in The World's Best Environmental Development - see "Testimonials" page for their stories.

The UN Assoc of Aust recognised The Ecovillage at Currumbin in the Sustainable Residential Development category for the World Environment Day Awards for 2008. Water self sufficiency, energy autonomy and social infrastructure were greatly praised as initiatives of The Ecovillage.

This is the third year of the ULI Awards for Excellence program in the Asia Pacific region. The Ecovillage received top honours in a field of five projects from three countries: one from Australia; two from China; and two from Japan. The five winners were chosen from a field of 11 finalists. The Ecovillage now moves into the 2007 Global ULI awards programme with winners announced later this year.

The Living Laboratory located on Lot 105 in The Ecovillage has been awarded the Greensmart Building of the Year. Recognised as "capturing the absolute essence of what GreenSmart is about by addressing the full suite of sustainability criteria for a building responsive to the environment" the Living Laboratory Home has utilised recycled materials (about 70%) and other sustainability features to ensure carbon neutral living and self-sufficiency. The  home is also part of the Qld Sustainable Homes project.

The UDIA National Awards recognises excellence in a particular category. The Ecovillage at Currumbin was recognised for it’s contribution to Environmental Excellence

This award is especially significant in that peer recognition as well as industry achievement is acknowledged.

HIA’s Greensmart Awards are a National programme showcasing sustainable outcomes in the built form.

Development of the Year was awarded to The Ecovillage for its innovation in sustainable components such as complete water autonomy, power self-sufficiency aims, social design, flora and fauna conservation.

Awarded for two consecutive years, the Ecovillage cuts through the two categories of Sustainability and Small Residential with this award.

Recognised for innovation in design and environmental features, the Small Residential category also focuses on quality of life and amenity for residents.

The Ecovillage was recognised for getting ‘sustainability out there’ in the general market and achievement for sales of a specialised non-mainstream product with budget constraints.