Crystal Waters Permaculture Village

Crystal Waters has been designed from inception according to the principles of permaculture by Max Lindegger, Robert Tap, Barry Goodman, and Geoff Young. It is a wildlife sanctuary where dogs and cats are banned and people really do try to live in harmony with nature. Eighty percent of the 640 acres are owned in common, and these are a mix of terrains: the clear waters of the Mary River, serene lakes, open grasslands, timbered hills and gullies, and, increasingly, pockets of rain-forest trees planted as part of the community's passion for reforestation.
The idea was that people should be able to operate from home, and many businesses operate from here, e.g., foresters, mail-order businesses (books, organic gardening supplies), carpenters, builders, permaculture course providers and consultants, nurseries, caterers, craftspeople, architects, entertainers, a bakery, Village camping area with cabin and bunkhouse accommodations, commercial kitchen, spindle maker, therapists, beekeeper, and ecovillage designer. Crystal Waters won an award in the 1996 World Habitat Awards and was a finalist in the 1998 Best Practices Awards. Many innovative ideas in building, wastewater, water, agriculture, and nature conservation are evident. The model has proved attractive to the relatively mainstream as well as an alternative market. About 250 live now in the village.