Contributive self-governance, return of biodiversity, food production, water conservation and net energy production are core goals in this project, which is this year’s Sustainability Awards winner under the Multiple Residential Dwelling category, sponsored by Nero Tapware.

An integrated design approach was used, involving workshops with the consultant team, clients, builder, prospective occupants, service supply authorities and academics.

One workshop identified biophilic responses to the site, with discussions on water and fire as symbolic elements, aligning with the site's arc and existing dam, identifying the potential for rainwater management and wetland catchment strategies incorporating gravity fed irrigation gardens.

Another workshop focused on material specification and usage, non-toxic chemicals, local procurement, waste minimization, ease of replication and demolition, maximum use of recycled materials, durability, affordability and compatibility with local trades.

Extensive collaboration with the landscape architects proceeded through tree amenity mapping, site water shed mapping, topography zoning, solar access studies, architecture to agriculture ratio study, to maximise site utilisation.

Dr Dominique Hes of University of Melbourne’s Thrive Research Hub contributed material research and biologist Cristina Hernandez coordinated ecological studies by Bendigo TAFE's Conservation and Land Management course, to enhance post-occupation biodiversity.

The final design achieves a density of 67 persons per hectare with 11% site coverage and is a nett exporter of electricity. 35% of the total site is dedicated to food production through household wicking beds and community areas for orchards, herb gardens and chickens.
Water was the most challenging aspect of the project.

The Paddock aimed to meet the Living Building Challenge water positive imperative, but the local conditions made it difficult as it rains heavily for short periods of time and most of the time it is dry with some years only getting 430mm.

The LBC Water Imperative states that “all water demands within the carrying capacity of the site mimic natural hydrological conditions, using appropriately sized and climate-specific water management systems that treat, infiltrate or re-use all water resources on site.”

Castlemaine was established for one reason: Gold. There was no consideration of a water supply to sustain a town yet ironically much water was needed to extract gold and therefor channels and chases were run along contour to move water.

This device is taken as a generator for the site planning of The Paddock. The challenge of reaching water positive status further increased when it is also the aim of the project to increase density but decrease site coverage, use energy effectively and sparingly, use no chemicals and be affordable.

All building elements were designed to minimise waste. Any waste that was generated was tracked and diverted from landfill to recycled uses.

This was an extensive process undertaking through the requirements of the Living Building Challenge Net Positive Waste Imperative under the Materials Petal.

The completed project includes recycling sorting systems, composting bays, a grey water treatment plant.

When new residents arrive, they are provided an orientation session and circulate documents to inform them about how the system works. Included in that orientation are some suggestions about how to reduce excess packaging in purchases such as buying goods in bulk.

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