An exciting new flatting option aims to spark change in Dunedin's entire student area – the Sustainability Neighbourhood reflects students' interests and will be supported by the University of Otago's Sustainability Office and University Flats. Communications Adviser (Operations) Gail Goodger explains.
University of Otago Sustainability Office Head Ray O'Brien is excited about launching this new flatting option.
A neighbourhood of flats will not only help Otago students wanting to live their sustainability values, the students will also be involved with research into how students can make an impact.
“We expect what we learn in the neighbourhood will have an effect on the student flatting scene as a whole,” University of Otago Sustainability Office Head Ray O'Brien says.
The students will also influence the set-up of the Sustainability Neighbourhood in Dunedin because it is a new project.
Overall, the students should expect “the full Otago flatting experience that they're here for – with the added layer of making an impact”, he says.
"It's part of a shift to a new type of Dunedin flatting experience that still has the same vibe and is as much fun but reflects many of today's students more and how they would like the future to be."
Ray investigated possibilities for flatting that focus on living more sustainably after meeting some students who do not like perceptions the student area is messy and wasteful: “They want to live their sustainability values and live with people who share those values.
“It's part of a shift to a new type of Dunedin flatting experience that still has the same vibe and is as much fun but reflects many of today's students more and how they would like the future to be,” Ray says.
Students can apply now to join the Sustainability Neighbourhood pilot next year, which will be in three neighbouring Great King Street buildings that can house 20 students and share two lawns.
“We have carefully picked a group of high-quality flats which are well-suited to a small, focused community,” he says.
The Sustainability Neighbourhood buildings were a nursery, preschool and childcare centre before being converted to University Flats (Uni Flats) about five years ago, when a new centre was created in Castle Street.
The flats will be set up for the students to grow food, compost, recycle, be energy efficient, and lead active and healthy lives – but the students will also initiate other sustainability activities themselves.
They need to be willing to do the mahi, whether that is working in the garden, on an organising group, or in a host of other ways.
Ray had already approached University Flats about creating a sustainable neighbourhood before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, when those University-owned flats were still housing international students, and now the predicted drop in their numbers has made the flats available for domestic students.
The aim is to support first year students who are “getting amongst” sustainability in their colleges – through the Green Your Scene programme – to “stay amongst it” while flatting in their second year, with support from the Sustainability Office and the University Flats team.
"We want to share what works and look for answers to what doesn't, so the neighbourhood will be the subject of presentations and publications."
University Flats Head Tony Buchanan says: “If we could contribute in some way, why wouldn't we?”
He has committed to sustainability, with his office gaining a "Green Your Scene" award from the Sustainability Office last year and working towards the next award now, and Tony also tries to be as sustainable as possible at home.
“We are partnering with the Sustainability Office on this project and are looking forward to working with them,” he says.
The fully furnished flats will cost $185/room a week, which includes power, internet, community events, pastoral care and prompt maintenance and repairs. The tenancy will be from 7 January to 16 December next year.
Ray says to apply to join the neighbourhood, students are being asked if they want to:
- Live in a flat where your mates care about the environment and community?
- Learn more about how to live sustainably?
- Be part of research into how all students could have a more positive impact?
“We want to share what works and look for answers to what doesn't, so the neighbourhood will be the subject of presentations and publications. But all research spread throughout the year will be designed to respect students' privacy and will have gone through an ethics process,” Ray says.
So far, the departments interested in researching the neighbourhood include physics, geography, and the Otago Business School.
Students who want to join the neighbourhood need to create their own video about their involvement with sustainability.
Ray is anticipating demand for the flats will outstrip supply so is urging students to make sure they apply by the deadline of 31 July: www.otago.ac.nz/Uniflats
Students can also explore how Uni Flats operate here:
https://www.otago.ac.nz/uniflats/index.html
https://www.otago.ac.nz/uniflats/about/handbook/index.html
The Sustainability Office and Uni Flats are parts of the Operations Group, which has three top priorities:
Enable – the University to achieve its visions and mission
Engage – with our students, each other, our customers and externally
Experience – of our students, our customers, and externally to be outstanding