Overview (Oct 2022)
The importance of cohousing and ecovillages in the 21st century and this urban age of climate disruption and biodiversity loss.
Research by the Global Ecovillages Network (GEN) shows that “the power of community allows us to come together to find practical solutions to regenerate our social and natural environments. Ecovillages are demonstration sites of low impact and high quality lifestyles, building resilience in times of change”. This has been recognised by the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report 2022 – Mitigation to Climate Change, where ecovillages are a form of human habitation that can effectively meet the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. “Having the right policies, infrastructure and technology in place to enable changes to our lifestyles and behaviour can result in a 40-70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This offers significant untapped potential,” said IPCC Working Group III Co-Chair Priyadarshi Shukla. “The evidence also shows that these lifestyle changes can improve our health and wellbeing.”
GEN research also shows that in 2022, of the 100 surveyed ecovillages across the world:
Why a model code for Queensland and Sunshine Coast?
Planning schemes in Queensland and Australia do not have planning definitions, land use levels of assessment and design codes for the creation of regenerative cohousing and ecovillages. As a result, planning regulations are most often the biggest obstacle for intentional communities in their journey to develop cohousing or ecovillage. Planning scheme provisions also do not reward intentional communities for their sustainable and regenerative lifestyles, compared to speculative housing development.
Now is the time with the drafting of the new Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme, for us to take the opportunity to draft a model code for consideration by Council and the wider community. This model code can be adapted by local governments across Queensland and Australia to suit their legislative planning regimes.
The Draft Model Code for Cohousing and Ecovillages is a package that includes:
Consultation to date on the Draft Planning Reforms
On 25th August a Sunshine Coast Focus group, facilitated by architect and futurist, Dr Phillip Daffara; identified key obstacles to, and the planning and design outcomes and solutions that ought to be in a model code, to ensure regenerative practices are used to heal ecological, social, cultural and economic systems. The key goals of a model code include:
During the month of October, community feedback was collected about the draft planning reforms, via direct invitation to organisations and online survey. The draft reforms were sent to:
The consultation survey asked three questions:
The submissions received are tabulated in Appendix 1, Table A.1 with the arising actions to improve the draft planning reforms.
Key strategies to be used by a model code and policy include:
Main references for the proposed planning scheme definitions, code and policy
Research by the Global Ecovillages Network (GEN) shows that “the power of community allows us to come together to find practical solutions to regenerate our social and natural environments. Ecovillages are demonstration sites of low impact and high quality lifestyles, building resilience in times of change”. This has been recognised by the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report 2022 – Mitigation to Climate Change, where ecovillages are a form of human habitation that can effectively meet the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. “Having the right policies, infrastructure and technology in place to enable changes to our lifestyles and behaviour can result in a 40-70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This offers significant untapped potential,” said IPCC Working Group III Co-Chair Priyadarshi Shukla. “The evidence also shows that these lifestyle changes can improve our health and wellbeing.”
GEN research also shows that in 2022, of the 100 surveyed ecovillages across the world:
- 97% restore damaged or degraded ecosystems;
- 90% sequester carbon in soil and biomass;
- 97% restore or replenish sources and cycles of water;
- 100% produce food in a sustainable way;
- 100% provide education in sustainable development, resilient lifestyles and climate adaptation;
- 90% recycle, reuse and repair more than 50% of the goods they consume;
- 85% compost their food waste.
- 98% offer training in participatory decision-making processes;
- 90% have more than 40% of women involved in decision-making processes; and
- 80% have agreed procedures for conflict resolution.
Why a model code for Queensland and Sunshine Coast?
Planning schemes in Queensland and Australia do not have planning definitions, land use levels of assessment and design codes for the creation of regenerative cohousing and ecovillages. As a result, planning regulations are most often the biggest obstacle for intentional communities in their journey to develop cohousing or ecovillage. Planning scheme provisions also do not reward intentional communities for their sustainable and regenerative lifestyles, compared to speculative housing development.
Now is the time with the drafting of the new Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme, for us to take the opportunity to draft a model code for consideration by Council and the wider community. This model code can be adapted by local governments across Queensland and Australia to suit their legislative planning regimes.
The Draft Model Code for Cohousing and Ecovillages is a package that includes:
- new planning definitions for co-live, cohousing and ecovillages which do not exist in the SC Planning Scheme;
- tables of assessment that shifts cohousing and ecovillages from impact assessable to code assessable to make it easier for intentional communities to self-develop;
- a planning and design code that covers high level performance outcomes and acceptable solutions for cohousing and ecovillages; and
- a planning scheme policy that provides essential guidance on preparing a place vision, context analysis report and place qualities report all within a framework of regenerative development.
Consultation to date on the Draft Planning Reforms
On 25th August a Sunshine Coast Focus group, facilitated by architect and futurist, Dr Phillip Daffara; identified key obstacles to, and the planning and design outcomes and solutions that ought to be in a model code, to ensure regenerative practices are used to heal ecological, social, cultural and economic systems. The key goals of a model code include:
- To reduce/remove planning obstacles to the development of cohousing and ecovillages and reward intentional communities for their regenerative practices;
- To have an accepted model code that allows people the freedom to choose their sustainable building and living practices; and
- To provide in the long term, housing affordability delivered through community-led deliberative design and development compared to market-led speculative housing developers.
During the month of October, community feedback was collected about the draft planning reforms, via direct invitation to organisations and online survey. The draft reforms were sent to:
- The Australian Institute of Architects, Qld Chapter and SC AIA sub-committee to the Technical Reference Group for the New Planning Scheme;
- Architects for Resilient Communities SC
- The Planning Institute of Australia (Queensland);
- Regen SC;
- New Economy Network (NENA) Brisbane Hub;
- Cohousing Australia; Australia
- Maleny Housing Working Group (Maleny Neighbourhood Centre);
- Eco Villages Australia (EVA)
- Nicholas Stevens PhD, Program Coordinator, Urban Design and Town Planning
- Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS)
The consultation survey asked three questions:
- What is working well in the draft planning reforms for co-live, cohousing and ecovillages?
- What you are concerned about in the draft planning reforms for co-live, cohousing and ecovillages? and
- What improvements would you make to the draft planning reforms based on your concerns in the previous question?
- Contact email for future updates
The submissions received are tabulated in Appendix 1, Table A.1 with the arising actions to improve the draft planning reforms.
Key strategies to be used by a model code and policy include:
- Amend the Tables of Assessment to make cohousing and ecovillage uses, Code assessable rather than Impact assessable, based on the preparation of a Place Vision, Context Analysis Report, Local Area Structure Plan or Place Qualities Report. The policy provided detailed guidance on how to prepare these reports.
- The policy defines what is an “intentional community” and allows them to access Council’s Infrastructure charges 50% subsidy
- Building height exemption to 12m above ground in rural areas where the development is not visible from adjacent roads to encourage compact form, optimising open space and farmland.
- Allow Car parking relaxations due to an intentional community’s car share scheme or green travel plans.
- Allow appropriate density in rural and rural residential areas, based on rigorous Context Analysis
- Reports nominated in the Code can be prepared by intentional community members rather than expert consultants in areas of Place Visioning, Stakeholder Mapping, Regenerative development strategies.
- Allow a 10% of cohousing or ecovillage housing types in emerging master planned communities
- Allow a 10% of mobile tiny homes as part of ecovillage development without compromising the cohesion of the intentional community.
Main references for the proposed planning scheme definitions, code and policy
- Global Ecovillages Network (GEN), Regenerative Urban Communities Manual
- Global Ecovillages Network (GEN), Design Cards
- Holmgren, D. (2002). Permaculture. Principles and Pathways beyond Sustainability. Holmgren Design Services, Hepburn, Victoria.
- PlaceSense (2022), Ecovillage Design Guide for Regenerative Futures
- Ma'ikwe Ludwig. (2017). Together Resilient: Building Community in the Age of Climate Disruption. Fellowship for Intentional Community.
- McCamant, K., & Durrett, C. (2011). Creating cohousing: Building sustainable communities. New Society Publishers.
- Mang, P., & Haggard, B. (2016). Regenerative development and design: a framework for evolving sustainability. Wiley.
- Ludwig, Y., & Gimnig, K. (2020), The Cooperative Culture Handbook: A social change manual to dismantle toxic culture and build connection. Foundation for Intentional Community.
- Qld Government QDesign Principles Manual
- Sunshine Coast Council (SCC) Yellow Book – Design Principles informing SC Design
- EVA – Eco Villages Australia
- SCC multi-unit residential code 9.3.11
- SCC Nature and rural based tourism code 9.3.12
Next Steps
Community comments have been reviewed and deliberative improvements made to the package of planning reforms, with the aim of sending the proposed reforms to Council by mid-November, prior to the formal Planning Scheme Consultation Period. The planning reforms are publicly available on this website and will be sent to peak organisations and the State Government to elicit their support.
More information
Review the planning reform (final draft)
WITH EXPLANATORY COMMENTS:
| 2022_10_29_planningreform_model_ecovillage_code_policy_final.pdf |
WITHOUT FACTSHEET, EXPLANATORY COMMENTS & COMMUNITY FEEDBACK:
| 2022_10_29_draft_model_ecovillages_code_2.pdf |