1977: Award-winning ecovillage

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Tags: buildings, centenary-edition, environment

Chris Walton, DipBus

When UQ Gatton graduate Chris Walton and his partner Kerry Shepherd wanted to invent a way people could live sustainably in harmony with nature, The Ecovillage at Currumbin was born.

Chris Walton

The Ecovillage, an environmentally sustainable community located on the southern end of the Gold Coast at the entrance to Currumbin Valley, has attracted 26 industry awards including the 2008 FIABCI (International RealEstate Federation) Prix d’Excellence for World’s Best Environmental Development.

The site provides for 147 eco-homes with a variety of living possibilities as well as extensive community facilities.

Mr Walton said the Ecovillage achieved total water self-sufficiency through domestic potable supply and wastewater recycling.

“People’s homes produce most of their required energy and the project targets long-term food and material self-sufficiency,” he said.

“The Ecovillage philosophy aims for better biodiversity after development and it incorporates innovative social design which focuses on creating sustainable community for diverse needs.”

While the predevelopment state featured extensive Australian and overseas research, Mr Walton said most of the good ideas came from the skills and experience he acquired while at University and subsequently when he joined the Queensland Lands Department.

In 2006, Mr Walton received the inaugural Minister’s Award for Leadership in Sustainability and in 2008, as a property developer, he was awarded the city’s annual Environmental Citizen of the Year Award.

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