Habitat

Waste management solution for a live, work, play precinct in Byron Bay.

In early 2019, Andrew project managed, designed and installed two large commercial Subpod Grow biosystems at Habitat, a live, work and play precinct in Byron Bay's Industrial & Arts Estate, with the help of the Subpod team. Habitat is home to a restaurant cafe, a gym, a barber, many boutiques and fashion labels and many offices, and boasts swimming and recreational facilities.

In collaboration with Habitat and the on-site architects, Dominic Finlay Jones Architects, our team initially designed and built the two garden beds, to fit within the particular aesthetic of the surround facilities and space. These house five Subpods each, to process around 150kg of food waste per week each, which is more than sufficient for around 30 residents and guests (60 total) within the precinct.

As part of a stage two roll-out later in 2019, another 30 Subpods were installed in purpose-built gardens in the newest tenancies, creating an individual compost system for each tenant.

The food waste generated on site, which would otherwise be sent to landfill, is now kept and composted on site, is feeding and rebuilding soil, and is adding a constant source of nutrient to the herbs and vegetables being grown for the tenants.

The Project

LOCATION - Byron Bay Industrial Estate
DATE - 2019
CLIENT - Habitat
DESIGN - Andrew HDV
PROJECT MANAGER - Andrew HDV, Adam Taylor
CONSTRUCTION - Adam Taylor
TIMEFRAME - 4 weeks

Impact

Environmental

  • Diverting food waste from landfill and repurposing it to build soil

  • Rebuilding soil fertility and improving the life and quality of edible plants

  • Draws carbon from the atmosphere, offseting carbon footprint – potential for facility to be net carbon neutral or even carbon negative

Economic

  • A significant focus for media exposure (national and international), word of mouth, promotion of eco-tourism

  • Eliminate the cost of fertilisers and compost for growing

  • Spin off resource and potential revenue stream from bi-products (compost, worms, biochar)

Social

  • Creates an interactive learning environment for community, schools and workplaces

  • Social community strengthened with a shared goal of transforming waste and growing healthy food

  • Talking point for the precinct, local businesses and the tenants

Educational

  • Interactive learning environment for all ages

  • Can create a new learning stream or supplement existing curriculum for schools and communities

  • Hands-on, practical learning for kids