Building a sustainable community
National Lifestyle Villages builds sustainable communities
National Lifestyle Villages Green Steps Program
We are the long-term custodians of the land our Villages are located on, and as such, we want to have a positive environmental influence. As such, we are proud to provide an enjoyable and comfortable living environment that retains and attracts local flora and fauna.
What’s more, it’s a smart way to build and saves you money in heating, cooling and water usage.
With this philosophy in mind, since National Lifestyle Villages began, we have implemented a Green Steps Program that includes the following:
Enquire Now1Protecting the landscape
We aim to maintain mature trees, which provide natural shade, enrich the soil and protect the habitat of the local wildlife.
2Better water management
We are waterwise, using water economically, with AAA rated outlets. Our Villages are designed to reduce wasteful surface water run-off, making every drop count through ‘groundwater recharge’ methods that return water to the water-table.
Wherever possible, we use non-drinking water and waste-water to water gardens. We use sub-surface reticulation which cuts down on waste through evaporation and sends the water to where it’s really needed – the roots.
Our ground-staff monitor our water use carefully, check water quality and work hard to maximise the efficiency of our water usage.
3Energy management
The homes in our communities are carefully designed to make them more energy efficient, providing extra warmth from the winter sun and natural ventilation in the summer.
High levels of insulation to all roofs and walls mean less need for heaters and air-conditioners, reducing energy use in the homes while concrete flooring to all new homes helps keep hot air out in summer and warm air in during the winter.
Energy-efficient lighting saves energy, and we embrace the use of alternate energy sources such as solar, wind and other renewable natural resources.
4Waste management
In most of our communities we have invested in Asset Recovery Centres (ARC’s). These are provided as a communal place to deposit and reuse everything that is recyclable, including organic waste.
Community-scale composting using worm farms and chickens provides a valuable use for our organic waste. Where possible, non-organic waste is also recycled.
5Carbon emissions management
Greenhouse Gases (GHG) have an impact on climate change and drive global warming. NLV works hard each year to reduce our environmental footprint and minimise the production of GHGs.
What our lifestylers say
"Tuart Lakes has given us more than we anticipated"
Dave and Lynette
Tuart Lakes Lifestyle Resort Lifestyle Village
Watch Video More Testimonials"It was love at first sight...You’d have to drag us away screaming!"
Jacquie and Keith at The Outlook Lifestyle Resort
Jacquie and Keith
When new Oyster Harbour Lifestyle Village Lifestylers, Jacquie and Keith Moreton took a leisurely drive through Albany while on holiday, they cruised down Elizabeth Street, liked the sound of Oyster Harbour, followed the directions and fell in love the minute they entered the front gates.
What drew you to Albany?
Keith is from Albany originally and he always wanted to come back after living in the UK for most of his life. I am from Melbourne so there was no convincing me of moving here. We were living in a large, late 1970s five bedroom home on an 800sqm block near Rockingham at the time, and the up-keep was just getting too much for us. You don’t want to be climbing ladders and cleaning gutters in your 60s.
Did the Perth summers influence your decision?
Absolutely. We just couldn’t handle it anymore, even though we had an air-conditioner. It doesn’t rain anywhere near as much as the weather reports say down here. It’s still warm and sunny and the skies are beautiful and clear. You really notice the lack of pollution because we are near the harbour and the sea which gives a lovely ambience.
And now, how is the new lifestyle working for you?
We love it. You’d have to drag me away screaming! When we retired Keith hadn’t been well. We started to miss contact with other people and began to feel a bit socially isolated. I tell you, we have been made so welcome here. We feel like we belong. Being able to bring our aging dog was also a big deciding factor for us. Leaving him behind would have been a huge wretch.
Keith says it’s like a movie roll every time we take the dog for a walk. That’s the lovely part about Oyster Harbour.
You mentioned you like being part of a growing community
We like the fact that we are the pioneers down here. We can go through the teething stages, add our voice and watch it grow like a teenager. If people want to be a part of that they should come down!
Financial benefits?
We like how the weekly rent covers a lot of things that we’d be putting money aside for every fortnight previously. Everything is here so we don’t need to go anywhere locally or pay membership fees.
Jacquie and Keith kindly provided this testimonial in 2014. If you’d like to view this wonderful Village, call us on 08 9844 0000 or discover more about Oyster Harbour Lifestyle Village here.
"I think some of our friends thought we were mad, leaving an obviously perfect Hills lifestyle"
Anne at Helena Valley
Anne
I think some of our friends thought we were mad, leaving an obviously perfect Hills lifestyle, and downsizing to a small unit (which it is not!), until they come looking and their first words are ‘Wow! Not so small after all, and how gorgeous!’