Kim's original Proposal

Eco village proposal for 1 Braemar Place 

We live beside each other but our lives are our own. Community does not mean we must inhabit each other's pockets. Community means we are there to create pockets of humanity that journey alongside aside each other. 

The plan 

Form a company. 

Company law is more robust than trust law. Shares can be bought and sold. We can move on if it is not to our liking. Founder's syndrome cannot wreak havoc. 

Sustainable Village Company 

This company will encourage sustainable living options within its land holdings and model sustainable living to the region beyond. 

This company has an initial share issue of $1 million made up of 3-6 shareholders. The shareholders decide the tender price for 1 Braemar place 

Any money left is held to begin the development plan 

The initial shareholders (IS) decide how and when the expansion of the development takes place. 

The initial shareholders have first preference of building sites once they are surveyed off. 

The preferences being 1st to largest shareholding and 2nd to second largest and so on. Should equal share holdings occur then a coin would be flipped to decide who takes the first choice of section. 

All building costs will be allocated as further shares issued once the building has been completed. Cost estimates must be approved by 75% of the initial shareholders. It will not be possible to build a structure unless approved by the majority of the shareholders. Any sections left available after the initial shareholders have chosen shall be available to other investors at a cost set by the initial investors. 

Promotion 

Nelson Mail devoted a whole page to an article on plugging in to zero energy.

Saturday April 13 

The media will promote this project without further outlay from shareholders as the world looks for good news stories on environmental issues. 

Development Plan 

Land will be developed on organic and permaculture principals. Engage a landscape architect to develop the site plan 

Employ a sympathetic surveyor to divide the land area in cluster sections to provide sufficient land for development of sections. 

All existing buildings to be occupied as residences need immediate retrofitting for insulation and solar hot water systems. 

Ask for quotes from alternative power companies explore an independent power system for the site. 

All existing buildings to made available for immediate rental to create income to pay For management costs and dividends to initial share holders all rental to be decided by IS management committee and manager. 

Spaces available - Estimated weekly return (minimum) 

Big Classroom block 3 classes  $150 

Stable building $180 

Stable classrooms 2 classes $140 

Small stable studio $20 

Small class room studio $20 

Pumphouse studio $30

Small house 2 beds - $190 

Large accommadation block - $350 

Garage - $20 

Total weekly return - $1100 

I have purposely kept these estimates low and with development the return can and will be a lot higher.For example the big classroom block could be converted to two large apartments without a lot of structural change. I have not included the potential returns from land leases in the form of garden allotments and paddock or piggery lease. 

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All sections developed shall have enough area apportioned for a garden to service the house that is built on the section. 

The sections will be clustered where possible to provide the maximum use of resources. There will be provision for combined clothes washing facilities between sections. As the nelson clean air plan prohibits the installation of new woodburning fires in the catchments areas this development needs to explore a combined heating system of pellet fuel boiler system to feed heat through pipes underground to all houses or separate heat pumps for each dwelling 

All new or relocated buildings must have 

- solar hot water 

- Maximum orientation to sun to maximize passive solar potential

- Composting toilet systems 

Who does the work? 

There will need to be a management committee of the IS shareholders. 

This committee will appoint the manager. 

The committee will decide the rate and manner of payment to people working on the land. 

The workload of the village is designated by an IS appointed manager. This manager will allocate workload to a combination of IS shareholders, volunteers, woofers and rent for work lessees. 

The Manager will report monthly to the IS management committee. 

Work over and above the general maintenance of personal allotted land will be paid from surplus income or a maintenance levy imposed upon each separate section allocation. living on the land. 

Sweat equity will be acknowledged with a return set by the manager and IS commitee and equally to live on the land without working on it will be an acceptable option. All garden areas assigned to living spaces will not qualify for sweat equity. 

Other possibilities 

- We look to create an area where cars are clustered and create covered walkways to all new developments 

- We explore the use of teaching areas to engage local schools in sustainable education 

- We investigate the best use of the land before planting cropping trees 

- We look to explore the use of solar voltaic panels to create either a separate 12 volt electric system or a supplementary system that feeds into the main grid To sublease garden areas to other growers of plants or animals to diminish the workload of land management 

- To invite specialist cheese makers to the site to create cheeses from animals milked onsite 

- To develop a free range egg producing area to provide enough for inhabitants and the surplus to be sold onwards 

- To develop community woodlots for harvest on a sustainable basis 

- To investigate the refurbishment of the water storage facility on the site to provide future irrigation possibilities