Vision: Support a contemporary Ecovillage community at Narara that demonstrates economic, social and environmental regenerative capacity through Building  Standards that encourage the building of sustainable housing.

Mission: Update the NEV Building Standards in accordance the requirements of new legislation (BASIX, NatHERS, council LEPs), the Stage 2 sub division as it affects the Hill Thalis guidelines and other experience gained during Stage 1.

Aims:

• To review existing feedback from the BRP and to research, reflect and consult with specialist individuals, working groups and circles
• To review external standards and the experience of architects, engineers, designers, assessors and builders who have worked with the village during Stage 1.
• To maintain regular communication with the broader membership
• To prepare and present a set of proposed changes to the existing building standards by 30 June 2021 or ASAP
  

Domain:

• As a sub-circle of the Steering Circle, the Stage 2 Building Standards review circle is set up to research, consult and develop proposed changes to the existing Building Standards. 
• The Stage 2 Building Standards review circle holds no decision-making authority but is required to advise its recommendations to the Steering Circle, the Board, the cooperative members and the members of the Community Association who will approve these standards as part of the Community Management Statement (CMS).

Draft Recommendations v1.0 - Presentation

Here is the presentation made to the Community Association on 2/10/21 of the recommendations from this committee.

The text is blue where there are changes to the initial recommendations made to the Steering Committee on 5/6/21.

Written "Word" version of the Building Standards Review

The full Word version of the Stage 2 review will be posted here shortly for members, and it will identify the changes to the existing standards.

Regular Monthly Meetings on NEV Building Design

One of the popular changes to the building standards was that the current level of support in helping members should be increased, with regular meetings, and communication in various media including in SLACK, in the NELN newsletter and in Despatch emails.

Members are keen to share their designs and are rewarded in our scoresheet for doing this, so these will present opportunities for this, as well as benefits to newer members designing their homes. We are expecting these to begin in November, so please keep an eye out for notices.

There is a slide near the start of the presentation which presented these ideas in June to the CA and Steering Committee.

Circles and teams

• Sustainable Design Appraisers (SDAs) – help with your design and scorecard
• Building Review Panel (BRP) – if your design meets the standard, BRP stamps your drawings before they go the State planning portal
• Member building meetings - monthly forum for members to design home, learn, include experts and arrange speakers
  • Expert Building Group – members, SDAs, and experts (Architects, engineers, builders, assessors, designers) to help members with designs
  • Members and non-members are welcome

Questions from members and those in Stage 2

In the area below, please leave any questions for our Building Standards working group.