Community+building

Transition plan - from suburban community to post-carbon community.

Commitment – to community building, participation and empowerment. Increasing community self-reliance in energy (compulsory solar hot water, wind turbines, firewood), food and materials (e.g. timber) production. Increasing on-site waste management. Increasing safety of communities. Investing in eco-friendly homes – make a rule that real estate agents can’t put up a for sale sign unless they have lodged a "sustainable home checklist" with council. Council then assigns star rating on sign so buyers are informed. Increase self-management of communities - from Neighborhood watch to community tenders i.e. council budgets $x for maintaining community services, and communities are involved in its spending.

Communication: within ten years everyone will have email and internet access. Build community information networks (bulletin board, email distribution list, sale swap and buy, local - business directory, recycling collection, clothing bins, worm farm, community gardens/allotments, fresh produce, food co-ops, community constable, civil defence point, schools, public transport routes and timetables, car pooling, tsunami evacuation, recreation opportunities, local sports teams, conservation activities, education, legal, budgetting and health services) on Council website. Establish SeniorNet in every community; extend to study (homework) center/ internet cafe as community center.

Continuity: governance, institutional memory, accommodating transient population Governance: What is sustainable? Set the bar high. Make it simple to create self-built sustainable communities in rural zone. Similar to papakainga. Get away from competition with "unsustainable" developments therefore land is cheaper, no developers fees and it becomes affordable to develop sustainable subdivision First principles - dominant culture, multicultural, inclusion, cultural sensitivity: develop a community culture that is based on measurable outcomes - scientific knowledge e.g. health and safety, nutrition, optimum activity, human development; action research model; learning community. Institutional memory, local experts – Need to retain experienced people. Need to pass on knowledge. Prevent empire building - community positions have limited tenure; lots of horizontal shuffling; multiple responsibilities i. e.. community maintenance, family duty, learning commitment - compulsory; community positions, community representation (outside of community); income earning Accommodating transient population – Average time spent in a house = 7 years. Need to do immediate introduction to the community. Send in firefighters (who could refuse them?) with smoke alarms, escape plans, civil defence and neighbourhood watch info. Council send community info (as per website) to house with change of ratepayer. Community constable/neighbourhood watch encourage meet your neighbours. Add email to neighbourhood list.

Cohesion – local provision of education and health services. Lifetime learning. Lifelong care. Provision for all age groups and abilities within community e.g. flexible housing for all stages of life. Regular community activities. Civil defence practice. Ensure sufficient skill base (= population base) for community - rural communities already find it difficult to get skilled tradespeople; what happens when petrol is $10/litre?

Existing farm is minimum 10ha. High density housing, have maximum 10% of farm can be subdivided, the rest is community owned =community facilities as per unit title retirement villages and working farm. Farm can be leased but the ownership remains constant and therefore long-term perspectives are favoured. Self-reliant in energy, water, food and waste disposal. Community size limited by human dynamics – Min 15 households, Max 30.



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