JMLA have undertaken water sensitive urban design projects throughout Australia. The practice has retrofitted over twenty town centres and has undertaken pioneering work in the creation of Australia's first ecovillages.

At the same time, fifty percent of John's work is in rural and country areas, and his successful set-up shop consultation process has enabled him to develop a body of research related to community preferences, which he has been implementing in environmental design guidelines and in current construction projects.

JMLA carry out site planning and design projects which have a strong focus on environmental sustainability: low energy long term solutions using renewable resources and current ecological technology.

The practise incorporates sustainable design which deals with many issues, including:

• Energy-efficient design, materials and systems
• Whole of lifecycle housing and living places
• Integrated communities which combine work, play and living within a walkable precinct
• Water sensitive urban design, including swale and wetland stormwater systems
• Implementation of permaculture and productive land principles and designs
• Reuse, recycling and use of recycled products

Examples of outstanding environmental landscape planning include:

• The Coomera Valley Ecovillage Project, Queensland
• The Landmatters Ecovillage at Currumbin, Gold Coast, Queensland
• Caral Ecovillage at Toogoom, Queensland
• Tooradin Village Structure Plan, Victoria
• Masseys Court Sustainable Subdivision, Cedar Creek, Queensland
• Kalarama Street, Tinaroo, Queensland