Sixteen months after moving into her new abode in Castlemaine’s agenda-setting eco village, The Paddock, Deb Shand is loving her new lifestyle.
The retired library technician is an escapee from metro Melbourne and became the proud new owner of one of the first seven residences built at The Paddock after she met project co-founder Neil Barrett at a sustainability festival.
“I moved here in November 2019,” Deb says.
The move happened nicely before COVID struck.
But Deb ended up with a few unanticipated house guests when her son moved back from Japan just in time to need to go into COVID quarantine.
“It was just before hotel quarantine started so he quarantined here,” Deb says.
“My son and my daughter-in-law and little grandson all ended up staying here through lockdown as well.”
While her guests have since relocated to Melbourne, Deb is loving life at the eco village where all seven residences in stage one are now occupied.
“And all eight houses in stages two and three have pre-sold,” says Mr Barrett as he prepares to lead this Sunday’s site tours on offer.
Construction work is now under way to complete stage two by June 16, and stage three by late November.
“Stages two and three were delayed by COVID but we’re back on track now,” Mr Barrett says.
Sunday’s site tour will take in the whole eco village and especially take a good look at what’s happening with upcoming stages four and five.
Stage four will include six houses, with five more to be build in stage five, and these are scheduled for completion mid-2022.
Mr Barrett says he’s delighted with how the first stage has been received “by a diverse range of residents” – and also with how The Paddock is meeting its essential raison d’être – of living sustainably and reducing damaging emissions.
“We are producing more energy here than we are using because of the solar,” he says.
The passive energy architectural design of the houses is also reaping environmental results he says.
“The people here are using an average of two thirds less energy than the average Australian house uses.”
Since making her big move from the city, Deb says living at The Paddock is a means of living in accordance with her principles.
“I just love living here. It’s living in accordance with my values,” she says.
Site tours, particularly aimed at those who may be interested in buying into impending stages four and five – take place this Sunday, March 28 at 12 and 2pm.
