As the world looks for better models for human settlement, the Ecovillage combines the best of the old village atmosphere with modern sustainable design to build a living space that is socially and environmentally positive.
A genuine Ecovillage will restore and protect habitat, biodiversity and ecological values to the land, allow people to live lightly on the planet through sustainable design and sharing resources, and encourages a real sense of community by providing physical spaces and social opportunities that allow people to build friendships and social networks. Another important focus is health – encouraging good nutrition, more physical activity and active lifestyles as good preventative health care. Therefore an ecovillage should be pedestrian friendly, not car dominated, to encourage people to walk, cycle and use their bodies as they are designed to be used and to allow children to reclaim public spaces and play in safety.
Whether you are looking for low cost retirement, family friendly lifestyle, a sea change or just an inspiring work-from-home environment, the Cape Paterson Ecovillage will suit your needs.
When I walked across the land on the Western boundary of Cape Paterson I was convinced it was a great site – almost totally cleared, degraded marginal farmland, with enormous potential to restore ecological communities that are now increasingly rare. The interesting topography allowed us to plan a huge habitat restoration project with over 1.4 million indigenous plants to restore Heathland, Coast Banksia Woodland and Wetland habitat, to design highly sustainable housing into the landscape, build kilometres of walking tracks, parks and community facilities to encourage an active lifestyle, and to set up a planning and management framework that protects those ecological values for future generations. An open non-fenced theme, community gardens, a bowls and bocce facility, a community hub building and four different parks will encourage social interaction and appreciation of nature.
Our team is comprised of people with successful track records in the fields of ecological restoration and sustainable architecture. We believe this project will set a new standard for sustainability in housing and coexistence with the environment. Almost all the photos displayed have been taken by our photographer Sandy Scheltema (sandys [at] netcon.net.au) either at our nursery or revegetation sites or at Cape Paterson.
Brendan Condon
Project Director
Australian Ecosystems
Cape Paterson Ecovillage
