PROJECT NEWSFLASH APRIL 2010

NSW State and Regional Development / Concept Strategy
“The Chimneys” Project has been selected to be part of an initiative being proposed by NSW State and Regional Development related to encouraging and increasing the wider community awareness of environmental issues. This initiative is called ‘Community Economic Transition Strategy’, with several villages or towns forming community regions. The community region in this instance would encompass “The Chimneys” as the educative centre with its proposed Environmental Education and Stewardship Fund, which is being established by Ian Bailey and Annie Georgeson. Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has taken a keen interest in this strategy and will be adopting it throughout the local government area.

Pacific Highway
The upgrade and diversion of the Pacific Highway, which formed the eastern boundary of “The Chimneys” site, has now been completed. The new highway is located some 300 metres further to the east, separated from the Village site by a wooded hill, and any noise or visual nuisance has been eliminated. Peace and quiet has been restored!

“The Chimneys” Powerpoint Presentation
The presentations on “The Chimneys” project continue to attract attention, with Ian invited to address an audience in Brisbane late in May. Other presentations are scheduled for the Warren Centre at Sydney University, local TAFE College and Newcastle University.

House Design Commendation Award
The house designed by Ian Bailey and honoured with an Institute of Architects Commendation Award in late 2009 embodies all the design principles outlined in guidelines for the Village dwellings. Significantly, it drastically reduces energy use and running costs, and the internal temperature range has been a consistent 22-26 degrees, without air conditioning. Whilst many residents will choose to have their dwellings designed and built, following the Village Design Guidelines, other options may include selection from a range of appropriate selected designs, or best examples of current pre-fabrication.

Events in the Camden Haven
Kendall National Violin Competition
One of the most exciting events on the Australian music calendar is the annual Kendall National Violin Competition. The Competition dates from 1999 when a local resident, renowned Australian luthier Graham Caldersmith, made the generous offer to donate a concert violin each year as a prize. Young violinists (maximum age 23 on 1 January) who are citizens or residents of Australia are invited to compete for this fine instrument which is made from Australian timbers. Many of the approximately 150 young violinists who have competed have gone on to major overseas achievements including the Yehudi Menuhin Prize and the Queen Elisabeth Prize. Some perform with major international orchestras such as the Concertgebouw, the Berlin Philharmoniker, the Halle Orchestra and the Macau Orchestra. The semi-final is held as a public performance at Government House, Sydney. The final is always held in Kendall, the home of the competition, usually in September. www.kendallviolin.org.au

Watermark Literary Society
The Society was inspired by the work of Eric Rolls who lived in the Camden Haven from 1994 until his death in October 2007. He was Patron of the Society from its inception and remains Perpetual Patron, and his work continues to provide inspiration for the Society. It also honours two other notable writers, Henry Kendall who wrote some of his best poetry while living in the village that took his name in the 1870’s and Kylie Tennant who lived in Laurieton in the 1940’s. The biennial Watermark Literary Muster is not a conference to which you have to be invited, nor is it a writers’ festival of the kind held in major centres which are often publisher-driven and/or celebrity-driven. It is an intimate gathering of about 150 people, writers and readers, whose mutual interests embrace literature and the environment. It has the intellectual rigour of a conference in harmony with the informal and celebratory nature of a festival. Some people book for a day, some for two days, some for the entire four days. They come from all over Australia and from overseas. The Muster is held biennially in June. www.watermarkliterarysociety.asn.au

Camden Haven Music Festival
The Camden Haven Music Festival commenced in 1996 and has been held each year since. In 2000 and 2008 the Festival was awarded a NSW Tourism Flagship Event Award and in 2005 a Distinction Award in the NSW North Coast Awards for Business Excellence. In September 2007, the 2006 Camden Haven Music Festival was named as the National Winner of the “Most Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in a Regional Area” category at the APRA Awards in Sydney. The Festival is held in April. www.camdenavenmusicfestival.org.au

Tree Planting
“The Chimneys” site will host, on Sunday 25 April, a ‘tree planting’ ceremony. Rob Oakeshott, the Federal Member for Lyne, will be attending. The tree, Euodia elleryana (Corkwood) is to celebrate the involvement and support of the author, the late Eric Rolls AM, Hon.D.Univ.Canberra, FAHA, in this project. Eric was to be Patron of the Educational Charity being established by Annie and Ian, and 25 April is his birthday. Eric’s writing on environmental matters over more than a quarter of a century stimulated not only his readers but the notable environment and nature writers who have followed him.

The mission for “The Chimneys” to lead the way as a showcase for the future of mainstream residential development is being realised by the continuing registrations of interest to buy and build in this project. It will involve Ian and Annie on an ongoing basis, with their existing residence located in the Village, their establishment of the Educational Charity and their role as consultants for the development.