Funding for sustainable neighbourhood renewal
05 August 2008
Seven Victorian communities will benefit from around $375,000 to undertake sustainable community projects as part of the Brumby Government's Neighbourhood Renewal program.
Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings said the funding was part of round two of a $1.25 million allocation from the Brumby Government's Sustainability Fund for Neighbourhood Renewal projects.
"The Brumby Government is taking action to narrow the gap between disadvantaged communities and the rest of the State," Mr Jennings said.
"We are tapping into the Sustainability Fund to help build communities and ensure these projects encourage environmental sustainability."
One of the projects to receive funding is Cultivating Communities - Low Food Miles Community Fruit and Vegetable Hub in Collingwood.
"The project is a great example of incorporating environmental outcomes into neighbourhood building activities. By developing a market for healthy fresh fruit and vegetables grown in local community gardens, Cultivating Communities will also be promoting the benefits of eating local seasonal food to reduce carbon emissions. The importance of locally available fresh food, particularly for Victorians on low incomes, has been highlighted by Deakin University studies (Herald Sun 30/7/2008)," he said.
Darebin City Council will also receive funding for a partnership project to encourage sustainable design in community gardens.
Other recipients include Broadmeadows Disability Services to develop the Broadmeadows Environment, Enterprise and Education Project (BEEP) and Banyule City Council for the Malahang Re Cycle Workshop engaging local at-risk youth in a bicycle recycling project.
"I congratulate all the other successful applicants from around the state," Mr Jennings said.
"One of the key features of the Neighbourhood Renewal program is that each project involves input from local residents beginning with development of a proposal, the grant application and the final delivery of the project.
"Thanks to these grants we look forward to seeing positive outcomes for both the environment and community in Neighbourhood Renewal areas across the State."
There are 19 Neighbourhood Renewal areas in Victoria.
Neighbourhood Renewal Sustainability Projects are funded through the Sustainability Fund, an initiative of Our Environment Our Future, Sustainability Action Statement 2006, to help Victorians reduce their impact on the environment.
Successful applicants
| Project title | Location | Funding |
| Low Food Miles- Community Fruit and Vegetable and Education Hub Cultivating Communities will help market fresh produce from local community gardens, promoting environmental benefits of local seasonal produce and increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. |
Collingwood | $82,540 |
| Environmentally Sustainable Design for Community Gardens. The City of Darebin will create a model for environmentally sustainable design in community gardens. |
East Reservoir | $26,270 |
| Broadmeadows Environment, Enterprise and Education Project (BEEP) Broadmeadows Disability Services plan to undertake various activities around the Men's Shed, including a bicycle recycling workshop, an edible garden and the incorporation sustainable design features into the shed development. |
Broadmeadows | $93,092 |
| Students Leading Sustainable Communities Doveton Primary grade 5/6 students have devised a project to develop a sustainable living display and walking trail at Myuna Farm. Students will be trained to conduct tours for visiting school/ and or community groups. |
Doveton | $72,000 |
| Malahang Reserve Re Cycle Workshop The Re Cycle workshop will engage at-risk youth to repair and sell unwanted bicycles. |
Heidelberg West | $40,000 |
| Enterprising Communities- Water, Energy Auditing and Materials Recovery Project. The Enterprising Communities program plans to develop a waste recovery service and train seven local Delacombe residents to undertake household sustainability audits. |
Delacombe | $52,800 |
| The Bright Street Enterprise Hub Sustainable Retrofit. Bendigo Access Employment plans to install a 22,500 litre water tank, retrofit a skylight to replace halogen downlights and conduct a sustainability audit and improvement plan. |
Eaglehawk | $7,500 |
