Kirra Community Plan & Map

The Kirra plan is a two-part plan. Initially a short transitional plan creating the basic accommodation and services to a long-term permanent local and national community focused plan.

Phase 2, the long term plan has now commenced. See the Power and Water plan together with biodigester gas collection infrastructure with road surfacing to start the next phase of the project.

Short Transitional Plan

The essential services and accommodation requirement was immediate from day-one. However, this was just the first step. All the essential services were established in the first 14-days. The water needs were met gradually over the first 90-days. All essential services had been completed as initial projects within the first 100-days.

KIRRAutility (Ku) have completed the initial solar farm installation. The solar farm is producing ample energy for the provision of lighting, refrigeration, computing and other necessities that we as modern humans have come to take for granted. The production is around 8 kWh  - 10 kWh per day and there is existing storage for 19.44 kWh (405 Ah at 48 v) with another 13.44 kWh (280 Ah at 48 v) coming on-line before the end of summer, for a total of 32.88 kWh of storage. This cumulative storage is to allow the community to continue operations during extended inclement weather events or a string of poor solar production days.

The initial 9,600-litre water storage and rainwater capture systems are in place and functioning. As at the 2nd of December 2022, all the tanks are full to overflowing after the recent 35.4 mm of rain that poured down over a 30-hour period. This is great as it provides a degree of water security as summer approaches. The captured water is broken into 2 categories, fresh and recycled. There are 7,600 litres of fresh and 2,000 litres of recycled water storage which is used on the gardens and for the toilet.

By the end of February 2023, this had been expended by another 10,000 litres. Bringing the total water storage capacity for fresh harvested rainwater to 17,000 litres.

By the end of February 2024, the entire community space had its road accesses defined and created, together with the community spaces, gardens and special features like lake, food forest, and animal areas marked out. All the plots had been defined and marked out and the majority of roads had been built.

During this process we were fortunate to discover a seasonal creek on the property which leads directly to the lake through plot #9. We kept this feature and highlighted it as a boundary to the community space, and built bridges to span the creek. Very exciting. :-)  Check it out!

Long-Term Community Plan 

The Long-Term community plan is the creation of two hamlets one to the north, and one to the south of the main farm area which is shaped like a "Boomerang" and faces due East, at the apex of the farm is a centralised community space called the "Town Centre". The Town Centre will house the main community facilities such as toilets, bathing and laundry together with the KIRRAmaker (Km) space complex encompassing KIRRAkitchen (Kk) and other community spaces all under one 324 square metre enclosed roofed area. This Town Centre complex will demonstrate passive solar design and the various natural building techniques, such as rammed earth, earth bag, log and timber (post and beam), straw bale and other techniques.

The North and South hamlets are comprised up to 18 quarter acre living blocks (for a total of four acres) surround 2 three-quarter acre of vegetable, herb and other apothecary gardens (for a total of one and a half acres), and to the left of the living spaces is a 2-acre lake, the animal area and a 2-acre food forest and orchard. The food forest is significant for two reasons, the first is the food it provides, but it also provides a place for a community project called "The Garden of Memories". Community members will be able to celebrate the lives of people, both living and deceased, that have shaped their lives, in either positively and negatively ways to enable them to remember and deal with those traumas or issues or lost loves, family, friends or life in general. Each food forest tree is memorialized with a plaque and given the name of the person to remember.

Some of the living blocks are reserved for community visitors and guests. These are highlighted in the plan below as blue. The yellow blocks are for full-time community members.

3 years later... - updated 11/08/2025 - Day 1097 the first day of the 4th year at Kirra

As at the 3 year anniversary, there has been a flurry of ongoing activity which has seen the plan for the community space move close to fruition.

What was once just a dream, is happening. The two hamlets are now defined with roads and some plots fenced. Members are moving in. Visitors are seeing the place develop and staying for a day or two, a week or more. Visitors are camping in tents or using caravan and waking to a sunny vibrant and changing environment everyday.

North Hamlet Garden (NHG) and NHG Amenities Block

The North Hamlet Garden (NHG) is about 1/2 cleared, and the Amenities block for Plots #1, #2, #3, #3a, #4, #6 has started and is progressing along nicely. Designed with a full bathroom, and another separate toilet we have also added a pet wash station, and a veggie wash station to the amenities block on either side. The bathroom has a small bath/shower, vanity, toilet, laundry tub, washing machine and an 8-stage reverse osmosis drinking water filter system with additional UV purification. 

We are utilising our water systems biotopes fully in this project, that is our human waste is captured to produce and capture biogas and leachate. The leachate is used on the food forest trees, and the biogas will be compressed and used for cooking and heating. 100% of the waste water is captured and reused on the NHG vegetable gardens. All the water is harvested rain water from our main rain water collection system (located north of Kirra Common) and the roof space of the amenities block. 100% of the energy required for the systems such as lighting, pumps, filtration, etc. is 100% off-grid captured and stored.

There are also 2 - 3 m x 3 m sheds at the top of the NHG, we use these to store materials and tools for use in the NHG and community space. We have added temporary power to plots #1 and #6. This is distributed through a temporary trunk from the Solar shed located at Kirra Common to one of the NHG sheds and then distributed to the plots. This will continue to operate and provide power to the North Hamlet until either the new power station is established at the southern part of the NHG across the road from the Town Centre or a new cable is laid from the Kirra Common power station (this is an upgraded temporary measure).

The 20 foot shipping container has been relocated to the NHG making it more accessible and convenient. This also offers some solid infrastructure to relocate and attach our internet and Wi-Fi infrastructure to. We will create a tropical roof that extends either side of the container for additional under-cover storage.

New Homes and New Amenities Blocks

Based on the build of the NHG Amenities Block, there are some great plans coming to life to see 5 new studio style homes being built over the next 8 months. Built to incorporate the most modern building techniques with things like earthen outer walls within a rigid structure, they will provide all the things that our modern lives demand, while still been of a hybrid earthen and natural look. Additionally these homes will offer extended resistance to bush fires while providing excellent thermal qualities. These will be located on Plot #3 divided into 2 plots of 32 m x 16 m specifically for these tiny homes that we are building. Additionally Plots #7, #8 and #9 will get an exceptionally small foot print of just 4 m x 2 m bungalow style home and without designated wet areas as they will use the NHG amenities block for bathing washing and water. We are excited to welcome our first guests to use these facilities. As developments progress, the homes on plots #7, #8 and #9 will get their own amenities blocks located between #7 and #8 and #8 and #9. These can also be used by our visitors staying in caravans, either ours or BYO, tents setup on the outdoor decks or whatever other arrangement is required.

The 5th of these will be a larger and fully featured bungalow, with bathroom and kitchen located on plot #12, yet still built in the same earthen outer with all mod cons, such as self-contained solar system, heating, cooling, etc.

Solar Plant

The original solar plant has expanded to a total of 44 kW of storage in a mixed chemistry array. We have added more panels, and are generating sufficient energy to power the plots and community facilities that are fed from the original plant through over and underground cables. The second solar plant has commenced, and we have purchased enough solar panels to create around 85 kW of solar power each day, with a target of storing 100 kW. Situated at the bottom of the NHG closest to the site of the Community Town Centre, from here the power breaks out to each of the plots using buried very large and heavy 120 mm quad core cable weighing several tonnes.

After 3 years off-grid:

• We have generated a total of 9.82 Megawatts of power (9,820.4 kWh) with an average daily generation of 8.9602 kWh

• We have consumed a total of 7.03 Megawatts of power (7,023.7 kWh) with an average daily consumption of 6.4084 kWh

• Our solar batteries have provided a total of 4.93 Megawatts of power (4,934.5 kWh) when the sun isn't shining with an average daily provision of 4.5023 kWh

• Our solar panels have contributed a total of 8.92 Megawatts of power (8,917.5 kWh) with a daily contribution of 8.1364 kWh

• We have used our generator to provide a total of 1.12 Megawatts of power (1,117.8 kWh) and run it for an average daily amount of 1.020 kWh

• We have spent approximately $1,490.40 on Fuel for the Generator

• We have saved $3,722.56 in energy bills issued from local energy providers by providing all our own power.

• We have had 5 major outages in the past 3 years. The first 2 were simply running out of battery storage, prior to the upgrade to 44 kWh of storage, the other 3 were planned  outages to increase generation and storage capacity.

• Using our off-grid system we have stopped 3,572 kg 3.57 Tonnes of Carbon Dioxide emissions.

• Prevented 3.5 Tonnes of Coal from being consumed in a coal fired power plant

• Prevented 491 trees from being cut down (deforestation)

Roads

Nearly all the roads in the plan are complete, the only remaining roads are those caravan bays for plot #8, plot #9 and the lower section of "Maddie Lane" (formally Michelle Street), which is now complete to the top of plot #6. This is an adjustment on the map below joining Kirra Common Bypass to the top of Plot #18, replacing the road at the top of Plot #18. Fencing from plot #6 to the outside of the Animals and Livestock area will extend right up to apex of Kirra Common Bypass and then follow Kirra Common Bypass and Community Drive South back to plot #6. This will more than double the proposed animal enclosure space.

Community Drive North is the first 600m of road the joins Kirra Common to the top of the property and the entrance gate. This part of our road system has been made all weather with more than 300 tonnes (13 tip truck loads) of White Gravel applied and spread. This will eventually be completed on all roads to ensure than members can move around freely, even after heavy rains.

Kirra Garden Centre

The space between Kirra Common and the Recycling centre is our garden centre. We worked out very quickly buying materials in large quantities was far cheaper than small quantities and it meant that we had what we needed when we needed it. We purchased large round bales of straw for building earthen and as a soil amendment, we purchase 12 cubic metres of blue metal (gravel), 12 cubic metres of sand and 12 cubic metres of cow pooh. All of which can be used for concreting (although where possible we avoid concrete and cement) building, gardens and road works.

The veggie gardens and NHG shade house

While still located in Kirra Common, what initially started as two raised garden beds has exploded to 17. Based on the early success of the 5 trial raised garden beds the additional beds have all been built in the same way, as self-watering wicking beds. Each has a 60 litre water reservoir or gravel below a geotex fabric to separate the gravel from the soil. The soil is a combination of top quality compost garden mix, sand, and straw. After planting some asparagus crowns less than 12 months ago, we are now enjoying fresh asparagus. We have increased the number of trees that we are taking care of for the food forest. We have added plums, pears, mangoes, grapes, tomatillo, olives, nectarines and some tree based herbs and spices to the mix too. We didn't do very well with the kiwi fruit, we lost both of them. We do however have about 18 pineapple plants, so in about 3 years, we are hoping to get some home grown pineapple. We can let you know about that outcome in the 5 year update.

We have acquired the necessary materials to build our first full length shade house in the NHG. We are going to use the agricultural pipe bent over star pickets method here. This will be established in the NHG with a true North South orientation to allow us the additional East and west zones offering morning or afternoon shade for plants that need some shade, especially from the harsh western sun.

Kirra Recycling Centre

The Recycling Centre is now complete and in use. Located behind plot #5 and Kirra Common, to the right, basically at the property line, this facility allows members and visitors to dump sorted waste into bays for Cardboard and Paper, Mixed Plastics, Polystyrene, Tin and Steel, Glass, returnable 10 cent containers and usable steel and other metals. We have separate zones for each of the materials and other areas for batteries, tyres and other recyclables that we can use for various projects. This further demonstrates that Kirra is indeed a zero-waste place, as all this is reused in a number of ways to produce new materials, fuel, water proofing paints and sprays and compressed paper logs for burning.

Outdoor Kitchen

Our new outdoor kitchen located in Kirra Common is complete and in full swing. With a new 6-star energy rated Fridge (consuming about 27 watts per hour) and a new 6-star energy rated chest freezer (consuming about 22 watts per hour) together with our beautiful outdoor kitchen BBQ and two chef gas stoves and burners. All with seating for about 20 people and a new 44 gallon drum open fire place to keep the winter chill at bay. To compliment the outdoor kitchen is the 3 m X 3 m enclosed kitchen with a microwave and dishwasher, coffee machine, fridge and pantry and a diesel heater to make it much warmer and more comfortable in winter.

Food forest and Orchard

The start of the food forest and orchard now has a number of trees that are producing fruit. Recently, I enjoyed a lemon, mandarin and an orange. We have had more limes, strawberries and figs than we can eat. Our Nashi pear tree produced its first pear, which Bek and I enjoyed, we can't wait until the mangoes and other fruits start to appear.

Automated Bush Fire System

We have acquired the resources needed for the 12 automated bush fire stations (3,000 litres each and a 40 m radius, covering 80 m of fire front) that will be strategically positioned around the community living space offering a degree of bush fire protection for members and homes. Each of these systems has a sacrificial WiFi sensor located about 80 - 100 m ahead of each fire fighting station in the surrounding bush. If that sensor looses communication, while it is in active mode, the water turret station will automatically engage, starting the 50 mm pump and empty 3,000 litres of water ahead of the fire in an 80 m arc within 9 minutes. It does all of this unmanned and automatically.

Walking Trails

Plans are currently underway to put in some walking trails around the property perimeter for people and pets to enjoy the property and go for walks.

Spirituality and Culture - Significance, Symbolism and Wisdom

Within what will be the Kirra Drive-in area (left of the Town Centre) is the Wicca calendar wheel and Sharman medicine wheel. Both of these spiritually symbolic devices have the same North South Each West orientation, and therefore can be merged into a single device to suit the Southern Hemisphere for their respective beliefs. For the Wicca there will be a mayday pole located in the centre of the calendar wheel. This can be removed for the Sharman ceremonies using the same device. Kirra is not a religious organisation, however, we actively encourage the spiritual and cultural diversity of our members and visitors alike, where possible encourage and support a members belief.

We have set aside plot #13 and #13a specifically for our hermitage. While westerners consider 13 to be unlucky, Tibetian culture believes that 13 is auspicious and Holy, corresponding to the 13th layer of heaven and considered a really sacred number. Plot #13 is the farthest from the community centre, nestled on the banks of the Lake, we believe that it will make a beautiful and serene location for a religious and significant hermitage. To further this, the opposite location across the lake is plot #9, also of significant as it means "everything" to local Tibetans. You can read more about this.

Governance Rules and By-Laws

Our Governance Rules have continued to evolve specifically to deal with situations that weren't originally envisioned. This is a living document and will continue to evolve to suits the needs of the community and its members over time. We have also introduced the Kirra By-Laws to help members meet their expectations while on community property. All these documents are written in plain English. Membership applicants must ensure that they have read and understand these rules as part of the application process. The application process also has changed. Applicants must now undertake a phased approach to a membership. They need to earn their stripes, so to speak. Kirra commits a "forever home" to its members, and we want to make sure they are providing the same value to the community.

This sketch demonstrates the community layout and facilities within the community and their locations relative to each other. This image replaced the planned map, with the actual map of the community as it is today.

The Kirra road network is now 1,380 m (1.38 km) in length.