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 Market Area         

We had also got the chance to meet Max Lindegger and see his garden.Max is one of the Permaculture Pioneers,he was invited by Bill Mollison to participate at the first Permaculture Course in 1979 and he also took part in the second course the year after. Since then he has been teaching Permaculture courses from the UK to the US, from Denmark to Macau and from Argentina to New Zealand and has been consulting on the subject in over 60 countries.

In the early design stages, six basic objectives were agreed upon

These have mostly been achieved and maintained.

                                         Sustainable Housing and Architecture

Text from the crystal waters website:

Where’s the Permaculture in Crystal Waters?

• The balance of the hydrology was maintained, ensuring that the quality and quantity of the water downstream has not been negatively affected by Crystal Waters’ development.
• 17 dams were created and are multi-purpose –
  • increasing the ‘edge’,
  • providing access for traffic from ridge to ridge,
  • opportunities for aquaculture, climate moderation, recreation, beauty and habitat.
  • They provide a flood mitigation strategy; as they absorb runoff and the overflow is directed into the Mary River and Kilcoy Creek via specially placed swales.
  • They are also a source of emergency water.
• Re-use and recycle are two catchcrys of Permaculture. Evidence of this philosophy can be seen all around Crystal Waters, in the overall design and in individual lots. There has been a consciousness change towards human waste. It is not seen as someone else’s problem but as a resource.
• A long term sustainable approach is taken, particularly with regard to forestry. Trees have been planted with the intention that they provide habitat and moderate environmental extremes, as well as various timber end uses.
• Buildings make extensive use of renewable materials such as earth and wood, with particular emphasis on solar passive design.
• The multiple usage of land. Crystal Waters can now accommodate up to 300 people, 83 home gardens. The best land has been set aside for agriculture, the steeper areas for forestry, recreation and natural habitat.
• Zoning can be seen on individual lots, but also in the overall design.
• The public face of the village is placed in Zone 1, and all are Welcome here. This is The Village Green, The Deck & Kitchen, The Bakery, Gaia Healing Centre and other Businesses are also part of this zone.
• Zone 2 incorporates the Visitor’s Camping Area (VCA) and the Community House/Training Centre, where visitors come for short term stays and to take part in courses.
• Zone 3 contains the residential, agricultural and habitat areas, and visitors need to be invited here

                                          The crystal waters village area

                                          Kangaroos hanging out

                                         Private Garden and Green Roof Housing

It was an amazing and exiting experience and i am grateful that i got the chance to see the world famous and pioneering permaculture village Crystal Waters,meet its people and environment.

Afterwards on sunday we visited my friend Daniel,which i met in India at a PDC that we organized with Govinda Sharma from Nepal.Daniel is at the moment Farm manager at Bellbunya another interesting project here in the Sunshine Coast area.

Bellbunya Sustainable Community and Eco-Retreat Centre:

Here are some Pictures of the Bellbunya Gardens and surrounding environment: 

It was a real pleasure to meet Daniel again and get a informative and inspiring tour of the Bellbunya Project.

Last but not least we also turned the 18 day Compost that has been made at the last PDC Course here and connected ourselves to the importance of good soil!