Earth Co-operative Wins Top Honours
Earth Co-operative (Murundaka) co-housing community in Heidelberg Heights won the top accolade at the 2017 Planning Institute for Australia Awards for Planning Excellence on Friday 10 November 2017 in the Hard Won Victory category.
CEHL is pleased to have facilitated and developed the first urban cohousing community in Victoria and the largest rental cohousing community in Australia.
CEHL Managing Director Stephen Nash congratulates all members of Earth Co-operative on the PIA award, and their ongoing leadership as an exemplar cohousing co-operative.
"Cohousing is an important model as one of the community housing options that Australia needs to grow to meet the needs of our diverse community."
Established in 2011, Murundaka was specifically designed as a cohousing community with large shared common areas that encourage interaction among the neighbours.
Earth co-op at Murundaka provides low-income rental housing for twenty households (housing up to forty people) ranging in age from infants to 60+ years. Residents live in independent, co-located housing with shared grounds and communal spaces.
Members of the community welcome others to their home to learn more about cohousing as an option for affordable and sustainable living.
CEHL acknowledges and thanks Banyule City Council for their support in the development of Murundaka.
The Victorian Planning Institute of Australia Awards for Planning Excellence recognise quality, innovation and excellence in planning.
20 November 2017
Banyule City Council Mayor Melican acknowledged the Planning Institute Award, which was accepted by Heidi Lee, CEHL Director and Earth Co-op member at the Banyule council meeting on Monday 20 November, 2017.
Mayor Melican announced at the meeting that Banyule should have more Cohousing co-operatives. Banyule City Council have strongly reflected their support for Cohousing communities, having included a definition of Cohousing in their draft Urban Development Framework.
NOTE: The PIA Award submission was sponsored by Banyule City Council.