Crystal Waters Ecovillage

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Crystal Waters Ecovillage

Crystal Waters Eco Village is set in 650 acres of bushland at the headwaters of the Mary River, only 26kms from Maleny or Woodford. The Village includes privately owned residential lots and co-operatively owned commercial properties and was designed along permaculture principles.

The Village is classified ‘Land for Wildlife’ and is seen as a beautiful Australian Wildlife Sanctuary. We’re home to a wide variety of local flora and fauna including numerous kangaroos and wallabies, as well as many types of birds and reptiles – we share our land with nature. We believe that our “No Cats & Dogs” policy has created this environment, which is conducive to nature, and therefore provides us with a peaceful living experience.  

With over 200 people of all ages living in Crystal Waters, and hundreds more in the local area around Conondale, Witta and Maleny, many of us enjoy regular events on our Village Green or on ‘The Deck’. The popular monthly Village Markets are held the 1st Saturday morning of the month and provide a lovely village atmosphere. The famous sourdough bakery is open, serving coffee and pastries and selling fresh bread. Meals are also available at the markets, and a variety of market stalls pepper The Village Green with variety and verve, complementing our great Musical talent. Be sure to visit us on one of our market days, or when other events are being held. All welcome!

Crystal Waters is an environmentally and socially responsible rural subdivision, designed using permaculture principles. With a community of over 200 people living in the village, it is continually evolving, physically and socially.

The property covers 650 acres, of which 20% is made up of 83 residential and 2 lots for the Crystal Waters Community Co-operative (Co-Op) which provides facilities and services for the social and economic aspirations of the community. The remaining 80% is the best land and is owned in common. It can be licensed by residents for agriculture, forestry, recreation and habitat projects.

The Village Green is the social hub of the community, with plenty of open space for people to meet, talk and play together. Surrounding the Green are The Kitchen and The Deck, which are used regularly for markets and concerts, and a variety of privately owned businesses. They form part of the Village Centre – the area at the Entrance to Crystal Waters zoned for commerce, light industry, tourism and educational activities.

The Village Green is home to Les’ Sourdough Bakery,  and other small business enterprise (will be listed here shortly).

Crystal Waters Village Objectives.
In the early design stages, six basic objectives were agreed upon:
Clean air, water and soil (thus food)
Freedom of spiritual belief
To work towards a guarantee of meaningful activity for all
To create a place for healthy play and safe recreation
Active social interaction
Healthy shelter/accommodation

The residential Lots and Co-Op Land also comes under the management of the Crystal waters Body Corporate which is responsible for land and water management, village roads and shared land use.

By-laws ensure that residents are responsible for the provision of their needs and the disposal of waste within ecological parameters. While these by-laws provide a framework for sustainable living, perhaps more effective is the reality of living where your decisions affect ‘your own backyard’. Here you can’t just flush the problem away, our interests are toward environmental and ethical co-responisbility.

Residents and visitors can hire parts of the The Village Centre to hold Concerts, Parties, Weddings, Markets, Music Events, Courses and Festivals. This provides the opportunity for The Village to come together with the nearby community. As part of the village layout, residential lots are grouped together in a number of small clusters. This allows for small social groups to form within the community and balance out the often isolating remoteness of rural living.

Source:http://crystalwaters.org.au/home/about-us/