Critical Issues

As planning for this project progresses, a number of 'critical issues' have emerged. Some suggest obvious solutions, others await finding land, and several require further investigation before a solution is clear. Currently our thinking has been broken down as follows:

Money?

• Not a whole lot of savings, but significant income for a couple of our respective ages (we enjoy the benefits of Jenny having been in the right place at the right time early in her career).
• Potential from first home buyers grant (time-dependent as this is soon to be discontinued).
• Stamp duty minimal on vacant land.
• Unknown borrowing potential on such a project - checking with banks.
• Intention is that land is major cost.
• Conveniently aligns with our vision of using pre-loved materials wherever possible.
• Obviously there will be many materials that must be used new.

Land?

• Big enough - around 20-30 acres, but would consider larger in preference to smaller.
• substantial veggie garden
• pigs, maybe goats
• probably chickens at some stage
• several greenhouses
• Within 1hr commute from work for Jenny - we're considering how flexible we're willing to be with distances. We currently live in the ACT, and other wannabe-hobby-farmers are driving the market ever outwards.
• Subject to appropriate zoning for said pigs + house (Rural 1A)
• Council planning authority that is amenable to the idea - have begun investigating with the councils within our preferred region. Australia, in particular NSW, is infamous for being over-regulated, hence the title of this blog. We can only hope that consulting them in advance, coupled with the growing number of similar projects in the state, will lead to fewer road blocks.
• Dam/pond/creek is desirable, or the potential to dig a dam
• North facing slope or hill, for passive solar design.
• Internet connection (vastly preferred to satellites)
• Water and electricity connection - bonus, but non-essential
• Potential to sell solar electricity back to the grid
• Water connection great for droughts (inevitable) and during construction
• Both push cost of land up
• Solar power and rainwater collection will hopefully make this unnecessary

Where will we stay while building?

• Currently renting a house in town.
• Build a mini prototype on site.
• Probably will need a large shed for storage and/or out-of-the-weather workspace.

How will we learn how to build?

• Go to a workshop
• Ideally, build a place to stay whilst we're building! A kind of 'mini mark 1'.
• Volunteer to host a building workshop?

Who will build it?

• We will, with our hands.
• Probably will need help from others.
• Limited capacity to pay for labour.
• Potential within eco-building world to find volunteer labour with the promise of educational experience (tbh we like the feel of a community that helps each other build houses and fully intend to help a few other people first so as to learn the ropes, also it's just a nice thing to do).

When will we build it?

• Buy land within the next year or two.
• Soon enough that we maintain momentum.
• Long enough away that we can schmooze with planning authorities in advance and at least design the prototype to a point where we can begin a build very quickly upon settlement of a site (we see this bit as the challenge - we keep seeing perfect properties pop up, and we have to remind ourselves we aren't quite ready for them just yet).
• Need to take time off work - A very small prototype, planned well in advance, with the help of other people, could potentially be ready to live in within two months meaning limited time off work is necessary for that phase. Aligns with need to avoid paying for two properties for very long, however if land is very cheap (unlikely but possible given our limited requirements for power/water) build could potentially occur over several school holidays (we're both teachers).

What materials will we build it with?

• Intention is largely recycled materials, however for some aspects this will not be possible.
• Earthbags being explored as a preferred possibility. We are hesitant about the rammed-earth tyre walls of Earthships, but open minded.

Design features?

• Passive solar + Earth-bermed for minimal energy needs.
• Interior design by Kyle (ex painter/decorator) with Jenny's enthusiastic albeit inexpert suggestions.
• Greenery!

It seems like a long list, and a long timeframe for having started blogging about it already. We are encouraged in our search for land by the fact that our requirements will differ considerably from others making us more flexible. We also recognise the need to plan meticulously in advance to ensure this occurs as smoothly as possible. Having read through the projects of others, who largely document the build itself only, we hope that we can avoid some of the troubles experienced with planning authorities' attitudes towards "radical eco-builds" by starting the conversation well in advance of land purchase placing time pressure on the discussion.