Somerville Ecovillage - Next Phase Survey

This survey will take between 4 to 8 minutes to complete.....

Introduction

The Somerville Ecovillage project achieved a significant milestone in April 2004. The Mundaring Shire Council resolved to initiate the rezoning of the property in order to support the evolution of the ecovillage. We are now in the process of launching into the next phase of the project.

As this project is community based it is crucial for the Project Team to have the best understanding possible about the needs and requirements of the potential residents for Somerville. Somerville is unique in that we are not designing and building an ecovillage for an unknown  group of people. We hope that the many families and individuals that have been involved with the project over the last few years will eventually make Somerville their home.

In this next phase we are required to produce a detailed design for the village, establish a village wide Economic/Enterprise Strategic Plan, and develop the management statement ,which will includes the by-laws, for the ecovillage. All of these processes will be based on a significant consultative approach. The aim of this survey is to ask the potential Somerville residents about their attitudes and hopes in regard to specific issues of importance to the Project. This in turn will assist us in determining the best methods and processes to use during this next phase.

Through this survey we hope to better understand:

  • needs and preferences of potential residents

  • current level of commitment and the basis for this

  • expected level of involvement for the process ahead

  • economic sustainability requirements and enterprise plans

We would like to stress that the information you submit will be confidential. The more detailed information you provide us with, the better equipped we will be to determine the most appropriate way forward. If you do not wish to complete any questions please leave them blank.

If you could please complete the survey on a household  basis that would be very helpful. In specific sections we have allowed the option for two sets of answers.
 

1.0 Some Family/Household information:
Respondent  1 surname:      
Respondent  2 surname:
Respondent 1 first name:

    

Respondent 2 first name:

email address:

*
Are you a member of Ecocom Solutions Inc.
Country:
Suburb:

State:

Family country/region origin:

Current housing:

Household Information: Gender            Age
Respond.  1
Respond.  2
Member 3
Member 4
Member 5
Member 6
Member 7
Member 8
Member 9
Number of children:

 

 

Trade/Profession:  
Respond. 1
Respond. 2
   
Households skills that may be useful to project:
Interested in having your skills set made available to other members from a networking point of view?
 
2.0 Current Level of Commitment
   
Do you plan to live at Somerville?
Planning to move in when?

If you are uncertain about living at Somerville please select the top three items below that would influence your family's decision in making a commitment to live at Somerville.
Any comments / thoughts:     
Will you require low cost or affordable housing?  
Does any member of your family have special needs  
If yes, please provide details
Assuming all goes well and lots will be available to start construction of houses towards the end of 2005, when do you plan to start construction of your house at Somerville?     
Are you planning to owner build?
3.0 Desired Level of Involvement
 
There are a number of community consultation workshops which will take place in the next 6 months covering the items listed below. Please indicate your level of interest for each of these community workshops:
   
Lot information and layouts
Village centre design
Ecovillage infrastructure design
Body corporate by laws / governance
Interim Community Building
Economic/enterprise development
Sustainable development guidelines
Conflict and dispute resolution
   
   
A range of other activities will be taking place over the next 12 months. Please indicate your level of interest and capability for being involved in these activities:
   
On site construction of project site office
Construction of Interim Community Building
Property land care and maintenance
Establishment of vegetable gardens
   
4.0 Lot, House and Cluster Preference Information
   
In communal areas are you likely to engage in any of the following:
Vegetable growing
Fruit tree growing
Stock herding
Other activities - please provide details:
   
In your own home or on your own  yard are you likely to engage in any of the following:
   
Vegetable growing
Fruit-tree growing
Animal feeding / handling
Manufacturing
Provide visitor accommodation
Operate a home based business
   
Which type of lot which you prefer
   
Considering that you are likely to have obligations to assist in maintenance of community-owned facilities or land, but that you will be solely responsible for maintenance of your own lot , please specify your preferred lot size.
   
Lot size preferred
What price are you prepared to pay for your lot?
Please indicate home size you are hoping for in the ecovillage
All toilets at Somerville will be composting toilets. Is this acceptable to you?
What is your preferred minimum distance between your home and your nearest neighbour?
   
5.0 Economic / Enterprise Information
   
Which best matches you household income level
If you purchase a lot and build a house at Somerville what percentage of the total cost will you be required to finance?
Do you need to generate an income to sustain yourself ?
Are you planning to work for yourself from within the ecovillage?
If so, what type of business
Prime motivation for doing this?
Are you planning to employ other people?
What support services or products will you require in order for your business to succeed?
Will you require some capital/loan funds to evolve your business?
What do you see as the main obstacle for you to move forward on your business idea?
   
In order to prevent economic leakage occurring from the ecovillage it would be beneficial for us to understand likely community expenditure habits. If you could provide as much information as possible below, it would help in this process.

Please provide monthly household estimates for the items below:
Groceries (excl fresh produce)
Fruit and vegetables
Meats poultry and fish
Insurance - home, contents, car etc
Telephone - including mobiles
Internet access
Car repairs and maintenance
Petrol
Car finance
Personal grooming
Personal health - all inclusive
Entertainment
Gifts
Holidays and travel
Education and further studies
Gardening
Power and gas
Clothing
   
   
6.0 Village Design Preferences
   
Which of the following facilities would you like to see in the village centre?
 

Absolutely not  <================>  Absolutely

Business enterprise centre
Swimming hole/pool
Visitor accommodation
Cafe/Restaurant
Community building
Playground
Sport facilities
Village green
Education /learning centre
Shop
Other - please specify

Which of the following services/facilities would you like to have access to within the ecovillage?
 
Bakery
Corner shop
Mains power supply
Information centre
Market garden /fresh produce
Orchard
Reticulated water supply
Health / healing centre
Hire shop
Solar power
Storage units
Landscaping supplies
School centre
Markets
Accounting / tax services
Business planning services
Internal phone system
Car sharing / pool system
Insurance provision
Car maintenance services
Computer support services
Healthcare
Clothing
Internet access
Video / DVD Hire
Firewood
Home maintenance
Library
Bookshop
Childcare / support
Financial planning
Second hand goods
Salvage yard
Bus service
LETS

Is there anything else you would see as essential for you to move into the ecovillage?    

Any additional feedback, comments or thoughts: