David Kanaley, the Director of Byron Shire Council’s Environmental Planning Services Department, reports on his recent tour of European ecovillages and presents his views on the key elements of ecovillages and their viability.

Background and Purpose
The Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW awarded the Albert Mainerd Scholarship to me in October 1999. The purpose of the Award was to enable me to undertake a study tour in April and May 2000 of eco-villages in a number of European countries and to determine the applicability of the European experience to Byron Shire and New South Wales.

The following are the eco-villages visited:

1. Torri Superiore, Ventimiglia, Italy
2. Damanhur, Baldissero (near Turin), Italy
3. Lebensgarten, Steyerburg, near Bremen, Germany
4. HjortshØj, near Arhus, Denmark
5. Eco99, Arhus, Denmark
6. Hooipolder, near Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands
7. EVA Lanxmeer, Culemborg, the Netherlands
8. Hockerton Housing Project, near Nottingham, England, UK.
9. Findhorn, near Forres, Scotland, UK.
10. Tweed Valley Eco-village, Scottish Borders Council, South of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.

An eco-village is a sustainable community in either a rural or an urban area, which cares for its people and the earth. It may be an intentional community, a co-housing project or a rural landsharing (multiple occupancy) community. It is a way of life.

It is hoped that the application of the findings of the study tour by local councils, the planning profession and intending eco-village residents will result in the development of an alternative housing option in NSW. This housing option provides for the better application of sustainable design principles together with a clearer understanding of the relationship between humans and nature. The European experience also suggests eco-villages provide for the creation of more sustainable communities through better social interaction and the enabling of employment opportunities.

Key Findings
There are 10 key findings with implications for Local Government and for those involved in the planning and design of eco-villages. The key findings relate to the following matters:

1. Eco-villages must recognise community
2. Eco-villages all apply new technologies
3. Eco-villages vary in size
4. Eco-villages provide for employment on site
5. Eco-villages need to be planned
6. Eco-villages need to be car free
7. Eco-villages need a social contract or social management plan
8. Eco-villages provide affordable housing on site
9. Eco-villages demonstrate an understanding of nature
10. Local Government is essential to successful eco-villages.

A number of common elements were observed in all eco-villages. They are:

1. Vision
2. Recognition of community
3. Understanding of nature
4. Application of technology to minimise adverse environmental impact
5. Use of passive solar design in housing
6. Some food or other production
7. Internal decision making system
8. Internal disputes resolution system.

There was however a number of variable elements between the eco-villages visited. They are:

1. Private ownership of houses versus community ownership of houses
2. Inclusion of ‘social’ (government) housing and/or rental housing
3. Spiritual dimension
4. Population size
5. Level of government support
6. Level of participation in conception, planning, design and construction.

The key findings from the study tour are summarised as:

1. Eco-villages form because of the social needs of people. There is an understanding that people need to live in a sustainable relationship with nature.
2. The size of an eco-village should primarily be based on what is comfortable for people. This could range from say 10 to 2,000 people.
3. Intending residents, or at least a core group, should exist at the beginning of the planning process for an eco-village.
4. Eco-villages need a plan of management, which is agreed by Local Government. This should include: a concept plan; an energy plan; a design plan or guidelines for houses; a landscape plan; a pedestrian movement plan; a water cycle management plan; a social contract or social management plan
5. Local Government needs to provide guidelines, performance standards and/or identified sites for eco-villages in a strategic plan, local environmental plan or development control plan as appropriate.
6. Eco-villages are more successful and sustainable if they provide for employment on site.

Conclusions
The study tour into European eco-villages clearly indicated that such villages provide a more sustainable lifestyle than traditional rural residential or urban subdivision. Eco-villages exist in most European countries. They are particularly popular in Denmark and the Netherlands where the level of Local Government support is also the highest.

All the eco-villages visited welcome inspection by individuals, student groups and government officials. They see themselves as providing best practice demonstration models in the application of green technologies, passive solar energy design, the building of communities and the provision of employment opportunities on site.

Eco-villages are commended to Local Governments, the planning profession and people wishing to rediscover community and the sense of belonging as a form of housing, environmental management and community development, which should be supported in the Australian context. Eco-villages may best be developed through the application of the Community Land Development Act, 1989.

Further Information
A 26 page report on the results of the study tour is available for $5 by contacting Byron Shire Council’s, Environmental Planning Services Division on (02) 6626 7126. A 45 minute video of the study tour is also available through Light Source Films, Byron Bay on (02) 6685 5204 for a cost of $45. Costs are inclusive of postage, handling and GST.

David Kanaley,
Director, Environmental Planning Services,
Byron Shire Council, Byron Bay, NSW, Australia.

Email: David.Kanaley@byron.nsw.gov.au