The Coledale Rainforest Retreat is nestled in a Rainforest under the escarpment  at Coledale. The site had been used historically as a coal mine pony paddock and was zoned as environmentally sensitive. The site is now used as an environmental education centre and base for rain forest walks with a Managers Residence included. The clients asked Matt to build them a high quality home that was beautiful but not pretentious, and to incorporate as many environmentally sound principles into the home as possible within a decent but not unlimited budget. Matt assisted the client in selecting the architect and interior designers, and was completely responsible for the project while the clients were overseas. A monthly phone meeting was all the contact Matt had with the clients for eighteen months. Despite the challenges, Matt enjoyed experiencing the clients’ emotional response when they returned home and saw the result for the first time. The clients were amazed by the attention to detail the team had provided and were overwhelmed by the stunning yet homely finish that had been created. The end result is not only a development that has satisfied all of the Council’s conditions of approval but is a model to others desiring to build using environmentally sound principles. Matt led his team through the many challenges during construction. The decisions for all aspects of the build need to be made with a number of considerations. Material sourcing and selection, as well as contractor engagement, had to be in line with the design intent, the sustainable goals, the budget and of course the Council’s conditions. “This project undoubtedly satisfies the client’s brief in that it is a stunning piece of architecture that achieves high-level sustainable outcomes at many levels. The standout success from my perspective is Matt Jolley’s relentless commitment to sourcing environmentally preferred materials, practices and technologies. His passion and professionalism value added my advice at every stage and ensured that few opportunities were lost. From lobbying suppliers to source certified materials, through finding recycled materials to enhance the final product, to meticulous on-site sorting of waste streams for recycling, Matt left no stone unturned. His enthusiastic leadership inspired the whole team to solve sustainable challenges rather than baulking at them. It ranged from employees’ lunch scraps to implementing world first sustainable technologies (concrete).” Dr. Chris Reardon, (Sustainability Consultant).