Gosford CBD Ecovillage Return to Suburban Bushland Living

Gosford CBD Eco-village Return to Suburban Bushland Living with Sustainable Ecological Innovations By Soo Man Heng Contact 02 -43627983 041 -3323106 E-mail: - ecoculture@optusnet. com. au Revised 28 July, 2007.

Gosford CBD Eco-village? Can it happen? A seemingly impossible return to a satisfying and secure suburban way of living has become possible without compromising environmental values. Commute to Sydney within only walking distance to Gosford rail station, own solar power and still raise your own veggies amongst a bushland setting with endless water supply. Seems almost unheard of. Sounds too good to be true, but it IS possible.

Gosford CBD Eco-village Proposed site:

City Homes – with Village Outlook Gosford CBD Eco-village is designed with urban comforts and conveniences of a modern home but at the same time creating a relaxed atmosphere for a vibrant rural community. Located in the heartland of Gosford CBD the site imparts a wonderful sense being in a place i. e. “So near yet so far” A first step towards a robust and sustainable lifestyle; a major cutback in man-made emissions.

Aerial view of proposed site showing proximity to Gosford CBD, Hospital, Rail & Bus Station etc.

Future self-sufficient live style • • Own energy – latest in solar power technology Own water pipeline– No water restrictions Recycle own degradable waste in worm farm Cultivate own permaculture food and honey Grow chickens and fish Live in passive energy homes Reduce sewage effluent with separate pipeline Help lower vehicle emission by public transport

A Retreat Home Plan • • • Living here you have many choices; A game of Golf, or a relaxing meal in the club Fishing or boating in Narara Creek or A casual bush walk with the family or Join in the series of Showground fun time or A stroll in nearby shopping centres or sample the vegies from your own permaculture-garden • Be invigorated the next day by walking to the station for a stress free ride to work • Feel safe that children can walk to/from school

Location! • Last 17 yrs the Soo family owns a pristine fish farm, behind Gosford Showgrounds & Gosford Golf-course • A 10 acre rural (1 a) site - within walking distance to: • Gosford CBD, rail/bus station, schools, recreational facilities, hospitals clubs, workplaces, shopping centres etc. • Public utilities e. g. , road access, electricity, water, gas, communication and sewage are at the doorstep, waiting for the right connection to complement a new sustainable way of living

Site Zoning History • 1968 zoned 5(a)Special Uses – Sewage Treatment Works – Operation closed in 1978 • From 1978 to 1990 the site was vacant • Soo bought it in 1990 for Aquaculture • 18/9/90 rezoned to 1(a) Rural-LEP No 259 (Aquaculture) from then • Applied only biological remediation to purified the sludge lagoons – sludge reduced >90%

Council’s Rezoning Requirements • Contamination report – the NSW Dept of Health permission to set-up Oyster Depuration Plant on site is testimony to its cleanliness. • Flood assessment meets 1 in 100 yrs flood • Flora and fauna assessment • Traffic report (Detail report anticipated to exceed Council’s requirements in the final submission. )

Objectives of proposed Gosford CBD ECO-village? • • An integrated and secured suburban settlement for People who strongly desired to live in Low eco-impact – sustainable life-style with Affordable, comfortable and fire-resistant housing. Residents united by common intention to Abide by eco. & socio-economic values to Employ permaculture, solar energy, recycled water, rain water storage and GECA Good Environmental Choice Australia) building products to • Establish an environmentally responsible housing project and a Permaculture Centre for future generations.

Design principles for proposed Gosford CBD Eco-village • • • Land use upgrade from aquaculture to bushland setting Sustainable water supply assurance with separate pipelines Reduced sewage effluent discharge by at least 80% Provide wetland storage >20 ML & rain water storage >2 ML Substantial reduction of residential organic garbage >95% Garden/food waste recycled in worm farm – for conversion to: Organic fertilisers to sustain permaculture programme Solar energy to significantly replace non-renewals Use GECA building materials with low embodied energy Encourage social cohesion & extended family life-style Develop community recreational and child-care facilities

Proposed layout for Gosford CBD Eco-village

Estimated level of self- sufficiency • • Domestic energy > 80% - pv solar & hot water Town water for drinking/ablution- 50% Washing/toilet water – 100% rain/bore water Outdoor untreated water – 200% Golf-course Organic fertilisers– 100% food waste/worm farm Organic vegies/fruits – 100% - Permaculture Honey/chicken/fish - <10% Bee-hives/wetland Reduced transport emissions/energy-walking distance to public transport, schools and CBD.

Eco-houses for future-living in Gosford CBD Eco-village • Fire resistant, sound insulated, six star energy rated Hebel AAC houses in secured bushland setting • 28 clusters of 2 x 3 -level North-facing, passive energy, flats • Built – to attain privacy, warmth & optimise land use for • Wetland, worm farm, permaculture garden, water storage, safe recreational facilities and animal corridors • Convenient pipe-in gas supply • Roof rain water collector • Each unit has separate town and rain water pipeline, grey water and sewage pipeline and • Renewable passive solar energy, active solar pv grid connected and hot water systems

Estimation of responsible land use • • Housing strata--------------- 15% Home-occupation------------- 4% Roads------(Owned in common)- 15% Wetland habitat & water storage--”-- 15% Wildlife corridors-------”------ 5% Permaculture, worm and bee farm -”--16% Gardens & open space-------”------ 15% Play grounds, community facilities--”- 15% Total Area 100%

Environmental Sustainability Targets for a “Healthy living Society” • • • Grid connected solar power & hot-water system to Sequestrate about 1000 tons of CO 2 and Produced nearly 900, 000 k. Wh renewable energy per yr Roof top rain collection and water storage supplement >7 ML of water per year for washing clothes, Grey water recovery >22 ML of water for plants & golf course irrigation 100 tons / yr food waste - produce 100 tons organic fertiliser to generate 50 -80 tons of permaculture food crops by residents Worm-farm provides feed for chickens and fish Bees help pollination and produce >1000 kgs of honey per year Private transport expense substantially reduced with co-op car pool Walking to schools and public transport will improve community health

Benefits to the community • Available affordable and durable housing • Gosford CBD Eco-village help residents generate savings in: • Transport, water, electricity, gas, food etc. • Less waste provides more for everybody • Help improve community social cohesion and ecological life-style • Power for Eco-community to initiate sustainable ecological, economic and social changes to achieve environmental balance & harmony.

Estimated Number of beneficiaries in proposed Gosford CBD Eco-village • • 56 young families 56 middle age families 112 seniors A total of 350 -400 people could be provided with ecologically sustainable homes in bushland village setting almost within the heartland of Gosford CBD.

Benefits to Council • 2 ML rainwater storage tank saves Council more than $200, 000 in water tank subsidies and connection fees. • Increase rates collection by >$118, 000/yr • Inject >$3 million into the City’s economy/yr • Residents in Gosford CBD Eco-village has the smallest ecological foot-print in the City • A genuine urbane eco-village in Gosford

Future Vision • Cohesive community - prepared to share knowledge of sustainable living with others • Establish Central Coast Permaculture Centre - a think tank for developing: • Practical permaculture designs, • Promotion of renewable domestic energy • Unique Bio-recycling system of used water • Design & construction of Eco-housing.

Please consider Previous thinking that simply selling resources brings revenue are seriously outdated. We need a better model akin to a circular economy that is built-into this project An improved housing paradigm that will lead us into a more healthy and sustainable future.

Purpose and aim • Soo Man Heng has a sole purpose in introducing time proven principles of sustainability into the local economy. Principles which have a firm scientific credentials portray his background. Soo has three university degrees to his name • He has proven his point by his successful redemption of the Gosford Sewage Treatment Plant, some 17 years earlier turning it into a lucrative fish farm. Previous sludge ponds from earlier years have become a mecca for birds, after recovering it from a previous ecological wasteland. • He proposes the planning and development of a small ecovillage community within walking distance of the Gosford CBD. • This community will be close to 100% self sustaining and carbon neutral, a positive venture to help us cope with the fragile future. Statement by Peter Adderley