Natural Environment Committee NEC

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The Natural Environment Committee (NEC) is responsible for planning and landscaping the areas of common land within the EcoVillage, and the environmental plantings on the Village Farm, according to the principles of Permaculture and the Community’s Vegetation Guidelines.

In these early years of Village development, the emphasis is on maintaining the vegetation established by the Aldinga Arts EcoVillage Development Company, doing additional landscaping and planting, controlling weeds, and developing longer-term management strategies such as the organisation of ‘Neighbourhood Groups’ within the Village area.

Unlike the situation in a normal suburb, there is a lot (40%) of common land around the privately owned housing lots in the Village. Within this common land, over 600 fruit and nut trees have been planted in over a dozen orchards around the Village for community use. Another features is the extensive system of mounds or "berms" planted with indigenous native species to form conservation corridors and help shelter our homes from wind, noise and vehicle lights. The Committee is also responsible for the native plantings on berms and conservation areas of the farm.

Many of our native landscape plantings have been partnership projects aided by external grants of funding, materials, or labour.

We are proud to recognise the SA Urban Forest Program as a valued partner in establishing long-term shelter belts and corridors of native vegetation on our Farm. Within the Village itself, many of the native landscape plants have been grown from seed by villagers under the National Trees for Life program, and we thank artist Maria Bray for much of the impetus to use this program. Planting has been done throughout by volunteers, with Green Corp teams joining us on occasion to allow unemployed young people gain valuable life and work skills.

Villagers can apply to develop areas of common land adjacent to their lot in ways that conform to the general design principles of the Village. Cooperative development of neighbourhood areas by adjoining home-owners is strongly encouraged. Contact your Neighbourhood Group Coordinator to learn about features and activities already planned for your area of the Village.

Development and maintenance of the Village landscapes, orchards, and natural environment through the NEC is being coordinated in 2008-09 by Cam Waters and Committee members, with the help of several part-time contractors and many community volunteers - often in organised working bees.

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If you want to submit a development proposal for Common Land:
Download the form "Application for development of Common Land" from the NEC Documents page. Both “doc” and PDF versions are provided. Follow the instructions in A or B below:

A. If you intend to submit your application electronically:
Download the “doc” version of the form to your computer, fill it in, save the changes, then and send it to the NEC Coordinator as an email attachment.

B. If you intend to submit your application in hard copy:
Open and print out the PDF version of the form and submit it by postal mail or hand delivery to:

Jill Wilson, NEC Coordinator
7 Grevillea Way (Lot 142)
Aldinga, SA 5173
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If you would like to make village friends and learn about our plantings, you are welcome to work with us on working bees or as a regular volunteer. Contact the NEC Coordinator using the Contact NEC Form and ask to be notified of suitable activities.

If you would like advice on how to develop your own garden according to Permaculture and eco-village principles, there are individuals in the Community who have the skills to advise you and will be happy to do so. As a first step, consult with the NEC on who may be available to assist using the "Contact NEC" form.

Watch this space for further information on the role and activities of our Natural Environment Committee, and also check our Village Calendar and News for NEC activities open to public participation.