The Chimneys has been designed to achieve the highest levels of ecologically sustainable residential development, with a holistic approach to the basic site selection, subdivision planning and construction, through to the requirements of the built environment. The Design Guidelines will ensure that the overall vision and objectives are achieved; that all homes are energy efficient, safe and comfortable; that residents’ investment and quality of life are protected; and that a physically and socially cohesive community will result.

The Village will consist of 66 dwellings, 6 of which have been designed to facilitate the operation of “home businesses”, 8 of which are townhouse format, 1 is to accommodate an Educational Trust being set up to study and monitor the performance of the sustainable systems, and the remainder are individual homes on lots which have been arranged in clusters of between 6 and 8. Each cluster shares its own small community space, and those clusters in turn are loosely arranged around a large central common open space, with amenities and facilities, adjacent to a small lake. Extensive areas of native bushland have been set aside in two Environment Protection Zones, one along the banks of the Camden Haven River, the other forming a buffer zone between the Village and nearby development. The two historic chimneys near the Village entrance are to be preserved in their Heritage Protection Zone.

The aims and objectives of The Chimneys project are to be achieved by measures including the following:

• Self reliance with regard to water supply
  
  
• On site treatment of sewage and the recycling of treated effluent;
  
  
• The harvesting and use of stormwater;
  
  
• On-site production of some food needs;
  
  
• On-site generation of some of the requirements for energy;
  
  
• The lowering of ambient temperatures by the careful selection of building materials, landscaping the site with shade trees and preserving existing shade trees, and the construction of roadways and driveways in a manner to minimise the absorption and radiation of solar energy;
  
  
• The utilisation of infrastructure with low maintenance and operating costs;
  
  
• The creation of a car share trial;
  
  
• The creation of a cohesive and self sufficient community, and one which aims to create a high level of physical and social health, which will be facilitated by:

  - the application of the Community Schemes legislation;
  - careful site planning;
  - setting of mandatory Design Guidelines for all dwellings;
  - the provision of a community productive garden and orchard;
  - the provision of community facilities including open space, a lap pool, a tennis court, and bicycle and walking trails;
  - small craft access to the Camden Haven River