After months of anticipation, shipping delays and more than a little patience, there is finally some very exciting news for the OnNaturesEdge team: the Lodge, the project's innovative, cyclone-rated, flat-pack home, arrived in Townsville on 4 November!
For the team behind this affordable housing demonstration project, this is a major milestone and the excitement is certainly building.
The Lodge has travelled a long way to reach North Queensland. Its arrival in Townsville marks the beginning of the final leg of its journey to Atherton. Provided all goes smoothly with customs clearance, the 40-foot container, carrying all the components needed to construct the home, is expected to be loaded onto a truck on 9 November.
And while the team is eagerly awaiting its arrival, there is certainly no sitting around!
A busy building site at Rifle Range Road
Preparations at No. 10 Rifle Range Road are progressing efficiently, with the site steadily transforming in readiness for the Lodge.
Groundwork is well underway. The level pads where the container will be positioned are being prepared, the building site is being cleaned up, and preparations for the footings are moving ahead, with installation expected next week.
Every day brings the project a little closer to the moment when the first components can be unloaded and the construction can begin.
"It's incredibly exciting to finally know that the Lodge has arrived in Australia and is making its way towards us," says Jana M, valued Team member of OnNaturesEdge and building liaison person. "There have certainly been moments when we wondered whether this day would ever come! Now, seeing the preparations taking shape on site, we can really start to picture the finished home. The whole team is looking forward to what comes next."
From a flat-pack container to a real home
The Lodge is more than just an interesting building project. It is an opportunity to demonstrate a different approach to providing affordable, attractive and practical housing in regional communities.
The flat-pack concept offers the potential for a more streamlined building process, with components transported together in a single container and assembled on site. Designed with cyclone resilience in mind, the Lodge will provide a practical demonstration of how alternative building approaches might contribute to addressing housing shortages and rising building costs across the region.
For the OnNaturesEdge team, this is an important step towards turning an idea into something people can actually see, explore and experience.
The project is a collaboration between OnNaturesEdge, PeoplePurposePlace and StartUp Tablelands, bringing together people, ideas and practical experience to explore new responses to regional housing challenges, including the shortage of accommodation for essential workers.
The team is looking forward to sharing the next stages of the Lodge's journey with the community – and, before long, welcoming people to see what can be achieved.
The waiting is nearly over. The Lodge is on its way, and Rifle Range Road is getting ready!
Rethinking Housing. Rebuilding Community.
For further information, please contact the project team.
Janie (Ambassador): 0415 462 418
Jana (Ambassador): 0439 229 169
This initiative is part of ST’s Member Projects innovation for Tablelands startups or innovative small businesses working toward a better Tablelands through innovation.