Life at Ginninderry is an example of an inspiring and innovative sustainable lifestyle; with the Murrumbidgee River on one side, Ginninderra Creek on the other, and the majestic backdrop of the Brindabellas, it is currently home to 600 residents.

With billboards made from old coke bottles, a native bee sanctuary aptly called Air Bee n Bee, and a scenic dam that is home to friendly frogs, Ginninderry’s Link Community Building is a haven of sustainability. .

Located on the outskirts of the community, the Link Building is a multi-purpose community information hub that hosts a team of project and sales managers, art exhibitions, workshops, sustainability trainings, and community gatherings.

Showcasing Ginninderry’s commitment to sustainability, the building features a significant proportion of recycled materials, solar power generation and large tanks collecting rainwater on the roof.

Ginninderry Sustainability Manager Jessica Stewart enjoys working at Link and has a strong passion for sustainability which reflects her role within the organization.

“It’s such an open and airy space and it’s just such an interesting space; it’s nice to come to work in such a comfortable place, ”said Ms. Stewart.

“For me, it’s not about numbers on a page.”

The Link Building’s durable features include reused hardwood, a variety of pre-burnt eucalyptus trees, which are great for fire resistance and termite reduction, mod wood outdoor decks, exposed concrete floors and recycled wood walls, bricks and carpets.

All windows are double glazed and let in plenty of natural light, warming the space in winter.

With the 110 30 kWh solar panels, the electric vehicle charging point, the indigenous heritage area designed by local schoolchildren and the native edible plants scattered throughout the area as a community garden, it is a sustainable version of the utopia. .

“There’s also a cool cubby house there too and my favorite part of the place is all the artwork we’ve included,” Ms. Stewart said.

“Inside we have a vertical garden designed by Invertigrow where we have 200 plants – basil, parsley, spinach and lettuce for the residents of Ginninderry and also for the Springboard coffee the next door. “

The garden is one of the Link’s most notable features with its rocket shape and purple lights on each of the rotating columns, as well as an automatic sprinkler system that kicks in every 10 minutes.

The idea behind the garden is to deliver all the herbs to neighborhood cafes so that they have fresh produce for their meals. Before the Covid restrictions began, local schoolchildren grew and harvested herbs as part of their education.

“We just want to showcase sustainable building practices and be an example that people can use as a role model when building their own homes,” said Ms. Stewart.

“It was a 12 month process to build, and we officially opened in April 2017 with the best tracks yet to come. “

The growing community aims to one day house 30,000 residents and be as close as possible to 100% total sustainability.

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