Document Library

The Document Library will be a repository of all the important documents you’ll need to read and understand if you want to become a resident of the Witchcliffe Ecovillage. We are constantly adding new links to important documents and recommended reading to this page as they are finalised, so be sure to check back here often.

Ecovillage Sales Documents

Firstly, be sure to check out The Sales Process if you are interested in finding out more information about purchasing a lot in the Ecovillage. When you’re ready to buy, contact us at [email protected] or on (08) 9757 6688 and we’ll send you a link to your strata’s sales contract documents on a secure portal of our website. You’ll need to read through these documents thoroughly and accept them to proceed with the sales contract. 

The Witchcliffe Ecovillage is far from a standard residential subdivision. If you’re considering buying a residential lot in the Ecovillage, we want to ensure you understand you’re buying a lot more than simply a piece of dirt on which to build a house.

>> Download Lot Price Inclusions

The dwellings on Groupie lots are designed to be a very sustainable small home with low ongoing living costs, suitable for someone with a lower asset base or income. 

>> Download Groupie Lot Eligibility Criteria

This Ecovillage Structure Plan Land Use Map shows the ‘Village Centre’ zoning and can be used to ascertain which lots are included within the 50m radius of a ‘Village Centre’ zone, a condition required under the Shire’s Local Planning Policy 7 - Short Stay Accommodation. This means that homes built on lots within this area would be able to be used as short stay accommodation with Shire approval.

>> Download Ecovillage Structure Plan – Land Use Map (November 2017)

Ecovillage Information Handbooks

A great place to get to know the Witchcliffe Ecovillage, this handbook gives an overview of the project including its vision and objectives, land ownership model, development team, history, site and location, lot types and community.

>> Download Project Overview Handbook

This handbook provides information for potential purchasers about the Ecovillage’s ownership structure, land and asset management responsibilities, and ongoing fees.

>> Download Ownership Handbook (updated 1 Nov 2020)

This guideline provides advice and sets out the minimum requirements to ensure that all new dwellings in the Ecovillage are reliably provided with a potable water supply.

>> Download Water Handbook (updated October 2020)

This handbook summarises the built form vision for the project including intended architectural character, design requirements, budget considerations, procurement options and approvals.

>>Download Building Your Home Handbook (updated October 2020)

Augusta-Margaret River Shire Planning Documents

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance on the appropriate location, scale, use and management of short stay accommodation in the Shire. 

>> Download Local Planning Policy 7 – Short Stay Accommodation

“Ancillary Dwelling” (or Granny Flat) refers to the development of ancillary self-contained accommodation on the same lot as a single house.

>> Download Information Sheet – PS01 Ancillary Dwellings

This document (specifically pages 38-42) provides information relating to allowed land uses in the ‘Village Centre’ zone, e.g. what type of businesses can operate.

>> Download Local Planning Scheme No. 1

Ecovillage Design Review Process & Approvals

This document outlines the Concept Design Review and Formal Assessment process that will result in a Letter of Design Compliance, which you will need to submit to the Shire alongside your Building Permit documentation.

Stage 1 LDPs – Clusters 1A, 1B, 1C

Stage 2 LDPs – Clusters 2A, 2B

Stage 3 LDPs – Clusters 3A, 3B, 3C (Short Stay)

Stage 4 LDPs – Clusters 4A, 4B, 4D (Short Stay)

Commercial Lot LDP

DRAFT Agricultural Lot LDP

LDP and R-Code Compliance Checklists

This checklist will be used by the Shire planner to confirm your compliance with the relevant Local Development Plans and the R Code Provisions. This checklist identifies which elements of the R Codes are modified by the LDP and which still apply from the R Codes. Your building designer or builder should go through this list and confirm that you are meeting the relevant standards.

You need to undertake a lifecycle assessment of your proposed building, to ensure that it is meeting the carbon negative target we have set (you need to achieve -220kg CO2 per person pear year, see Section 9.2 in the Sustainable Building Design Guidelines). This target translates into -105% of the OECD average for a house of your size. 

Livable Housing Australia, which represents a unique partnership between community, business groups and government, is helping make homes easier to access, navigate and live in, as well more cost-effective to adapt when life’s circumstances change.

Ecovillage Site Information

Link to Dropbox – Civil Engineering folder

Please note that these drawings are ‘design only’. We are awaiting ‘as-constructed’ drawings and will make these available here as soon as we receive them.

Link to Dropbox – Site Levels and Surface Drainage folder

Please note that these drawings are ‘design only’. We are awaiting ‘as-constructed’ drawings and will make these available here as soon as we receive them.

Inter-lot drainage is the responsibility of lot owners and can be a simple, hand-dug shallow swale to channel additional stormwater run-off. This is best constructed AFTER your house is built as part of your landscaping plan.