Eco-village for Sydney

Truly ecologically sustainable living is on its way to Sydney.

Illabunda Village, set on a two hectare property in Winston Hills, is a new residential housing project which encourages social, environmental and economic sustainability.

Features of Illabunda will include grid-interactive solar photovoltaic electricity generation on each dwelling, solar hot water, reticulated natural gas for cooking and heating, a community garden for organic food production, onsite rainwater harvesting and waste water treatment, onsite energy production, a native forest regeneration project, and a community centre where barbeques, community meetings and education and arts events will be held.

Half of its area is dedicated as green community space.

The master-plan for the village was approved in April and the next step will be a development application to Parramatta Council.

Project director Jonathan Cook, who attends North Rocks Uniting Church with his family, said the Illabunda development was one of a kind in Sydney because most eco-villages were set up in rural areas.

“My parents have lived on the Illabunda property for 53 years. They have always wanted to do something worthwhile with the land and not just see it covered in houses with all the trees knocked down — they want to leave something for the future.

“I’ve always thought that we had a responsibility to care for the earth, for God’s creation, because God made it and we should work with that and live in harmony with that.

“Caring for people is also a very important part of the development. We’ve put a lot of effort into caring for people and involving them in the process of refining the design, so the people who end up living there become part of developing the place. I think that’s an important part of developing the community.”

An open day was held at Illabunda on June 24. For more information on Illabunda Village, phone Jonathan Cook on 0432 525 108 or visit www.illabundavillage.com.au.