Atamai Eco-village gets RMA consent, work starts

November 8th, 2009

Earthworks for the first section of the Atamai Eco-village began last week, as the Tasman District Council's granted a RMA consent for the first stage of the controversial development.

Six of the initial lot of 11 sections available by April 2010 are now sold or committed, said the Atamai Village Council. The initial earthworks are expected to take two weeks to complete, and contractors will be continuously operating on site until the end of February to finish all house platforms and access ways.

Located within biking distance to Motueka, on 30 hectares of land just east of the Motueka Valley Highway, the village will provide housing of mixed sizes for initially about 15 families, and at a later stage over 40 families.

The concept is for self-reliant and eco-friendly living. (Atamai is Maori for "commonsense".) All structures in the village will incorporate the latest engineering solutions for passive solar and low energy living, aimed at ensuring that continued functioning of essential services will be independent of outside technologies.

Organisers said that the village is now very close to turning from a bright vision hatched two and a half years ago into a practical reality. Legal work on the new titles is progressing. The Village Council has the option to lease or purchase a further 69 hectares.

Things have not stood still while resource consent was being sought. The first-season food crops have been harvested (and eaten J), and winter crops are being prepared and seeds collected. Various items of earthwork and horticultural equipment, water pumps, and a brick making machine are on their way, and the first solar installation is operational.

An engineering workshop is being set up to start work on some of the energy projects. House design for the first true Atamai house and site is under way, as is food production according to permaculture principles.

The plan for the settlement contains a traditional village square with a café, bakery, library, a multi-use community centre for education, communication technologies, social and cultural gatherings, etc, and some offices.

Home-based enterprises compatible with the council zoning will be part of the houses clustered around the square. Other commercial and village-owned operations will be spread over the village commons, including areas for orchards, horticulture, forestry and natural areas for recreation and private reflection. A seed bank, nursery, yoga studio, visitor accommodation and other facilities are part of the village plan. For more information, visit www.atamai.co.nz

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