News

Are we on the edge of a 're-localisation' revolution?

A one-day conference and forum, exploring the value, diversity and implications of a networked and localised approach to infrastructure and services. 30th November, 2009

RECORDS OF THE EVENT, INCLUDING PRESENTATIONS, SLIDES AND A SUMMARY OF ISSUES COVERED WILL BE POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE.

With large, centralised infrastructure appearing vulnerable to climate change and ‘peak oil’, alternative solutions are emerging everywhere. Many of these are delivering food, water and energy via smaller, networked systems of localised production that can also lower carbon, increase efficiency, build resilience and strengthen local economies.

This ‘distributed’ systems model is over-turning old ideas of services and is re-shaping our image of the future. With communities and business becoming active adopters of solar panels, wind generators, rainwater tanks and neighbourhood gardens, people are breaking the mould of passive consumer - redefining themselves as active producers of critical resource.

Where can I find out more about Distributed Systems?

Research related to distributed systems is on-going. Two briefing papers covering energy and water issues can be downloaded from the publications section of this website. Additional papers will also be posted there.

Proposing resilience in Melbourne's suburbs.

At the Knox Stringybark Suburban Sustainability Festival on October 17 & 18, VEIL was proud to exhibit a selection of student works which explore designs of a possible sustainable future for Rowville.

Setting The Scene: It is the year 2032 - how could Rowville become a sustainable community, able to prosper despite peak oil and the inflation of petrol prices to more than $5.00 a litre? The 2009 way-of-living with cars is no longer affordable. Our suburbs and services have all been created around the notion that we would always be able to use our cars, and have access to cheap petrol. The event of peak oil would change the ways we conducted our everyday lives. How would life continue? How would we move things around and how could we move around ourselves? Design students across Melbourne’s leading universities were asked to respond to this problem. The resulting designs propose a range of possibilities for a more localised Rowville, and explore providing more localised access to everyday life necessities.

The exhibited works were taken from VEIL City of Short Distances Studios run at the University of Melbourne, RMIT, Swinburne University and Monash University.

Among the delicious chai and the recycled tetra-pack wallets, some unexpected ideas and projects to catch the imagination...

In October 09, we were invited by Knox Council to exhibit student works at the Stringybark Suburban Sustainability Festival.  You can read about the exhibition here.  During the two-day festival, VEIL Co-ordinator Dianne Moy and Assistant Kate Archdeacon had time to explore the festival.  Below, in the gallery, are some of the interesting inclusions they spotted.

What happens when a forward-thinking council shares its expertise with design students?

Last Thursday, August 6, VEIL and the Sustainable Landscapes studio (University of Melbourne), led by Dr Sidh Sintusingha, met with staff from Hume City Council in Broadmeadows.  The Councils' urban designers, transport planners, environmental officers and development officers spent most of the day sharing their expertise with the students and outlining their hopes for the future of the area.  The Sustainable Landscapes studio is the first foray into research for an upcoming VEIL Hub, which will focus on retrofitting existing Melbourne suburbs for sustainability and resilience. The Hub, planned for later this year, will draw on the knowledge developed over the last three years of the VEIL project, in particular the EBD Eco-City exploration, which continues inform ongoing studios.

Details of the Hub will be finalised soon.