Festival Success

Over 300 people visited the 12 outstanding properties across the Namoi catchment over the 28-29 May, 2011 weekend. Visitors were highly impressed by the initiative and creativity of the buildings and were touched by the warmth displayed by the property owners in welcoming strangers into their homes to teach lessons about sustainability.

Each of the sustainable building owners shared their ideas and knowledge with members of the public. Not only were visitors able to obtain excellent tips in energy efficient housing, they were shown some old-fashioned country hospitality, with treats such toasted marshmellows, wood-fired pizzas and more. Thanks to all of the assistance by local community groups such as Premer Rotary, the Manilla Garden Group and the Oxley Vale Landcare Group who assisted with catering and crowd control and a range of other tasks over the weekend.

Here were some of the comments about the weekend by visitors to the sustainable buildings:

“Imaginative and inspiring- thanks for showing us through your magnificent home.” “Excellent day and lunch and good information and inspiration.” “Very interesting and wonderful foresight.” “Very informative. Most enjoyable day and beautiful lunch and setting.” “Owners showed great patience and were willing to share their success and failures.” “Truly amazing.” “Very informative and interesting. Very friendly.” “Enjoyed the Open House of the Trenamen family- very interesting. Thank you.” “I like toasting marsh-mellows at the open house.” “Visit to the home on Daruka Rd- Lynden and Mark were very informative and sharing their sustainable ideas. Great visit.” Right: Images from Sustainable Namoi Living

Properties open over the weekend:

Rocky Gully Road, Bendemeer Oxley Vale River Road, Nundle Monash Street, Manilla Newell Highway, Narrabri Premer New England Highway, Willow Tree Conadilly Street, Gunnedah Oxley Highway, Mullaley Daruka Road, Moore Creek         The Willow Tree Information Centre   featured at Sustainable Namoi Living

The Sustainable Namoi Living Open Houses featured a range of different sustainable properties which have been designed and retro-fitted to minimise their carbon footprint. The properties demonstrated the sustainable features which make these buildings comfortable in all seasons, economical to run and energy efficient. Some of the sustainable features on display included:

• Examples of a broad range of eco-friendly building materials and design options such as mud-brick, polystyrene, concrete, local timber, recycled building materials
• Passive heating and cooling through orientation
• Sustainable lifestyle choices such as composting, green choice food and permaculture principles
• Alternative energy sources and energy efficiency
• Innovative building materials such as straw-bale, mud-brick, polystyrene and hebel bricks for improved insulation
• Bio-dynamic grey-water systems
• Composting for bio-fuel production
• ..and much, much, MUCH MORE!!!!

Acknowledgements

This event was facilitated by Liverpool Plains Land Management with sponsorship from Namoi Catchment Management Authority. Thanks also to: Tamworth Regional Landcare Association, New England Institute of Tafe, Essential Energy, Solar and Bamboo Direct and the Tamworth Regional Council.