The land purchased for the BEND project is situated on the northern edge of Bega, with approximately 2.5 hectares available for residential development, allowing subdivision into 21 residential blocks.

This is an ideal site to collect and utilise solar energy and water and create a highly productive landscape based on permaculture principles. The blocks, ranging in size from 570 to 920 m2, are relatively small by Australian standards, with as many as possible opening to agricultural and conservation areas to the north.

This part of the site consists of gentle north-facing slopes overlooking the floodplain, Bega River and Mumbulla Mountain. The remaining area, consisting of alluvial flats and parts of the Bega River anabranch, will be managed for food-producing and conservation purposes, making a vital contribution to the conservation of the Bega River floodplain.

An archaeological survey of the site has been completed – click the link to view the report.

The anabranch that dissects the northern part of the site has in the past experienced erosion and slumping of its banks, and a large effort has already gone into stabilising it through revegetation. BEND members, local school students and groups such as Australian Conservation Volunteers have been among those planting, mulching and watering indigenous species of grasses and trees along both banks.

Non-chemical weed control, such as manual removal of African lovegrass, fireweed and Cape Ivy, appears to be yielding good results. It is intended that the site achieve biodynamic/organic certification as the Neighbourhood develops, and the site is currently officially in transition.

BEND planned to create a public accessway through to the Bega River at Bridge Street, utilising a bridge across the stormwater gully that enters the anabranch at its southwestern bend. In particular, this would grant all-weather access for class groups from Mumbulla School. Since the creation of another landcare group, BRAWL (Bega River And Wetlands Landcare), the concept has expanded to link with a pathway right through to the town alongside the Bega/Spenco Lagoon.

In March 2008 BRAWL commissioned privet and blackberry clearing using the heavy machinery onsite for the BEND development. The disturbed ground on and near Bend's western boundary was immediately stabilised by weed matting and plantings, conducted by BRAWL with Australian Conservation Volunteers groups and students of Mumbulla Rudolf Steiner school.