New Pathway for Sustainable Neighbourhoods
March 08, 2006
Sustainable neighbourhoods will be established in 18 areas in Melbourne's northern suburbs under a project launched by Minister for Victorian Communities and Minister for Environment John Thwaites at a sustainable house in West Brunswick today.
The Member for Brunswick Carlo Carli, and the Member for Pascoe Vale Christine Campbell, joined Mr Thwaites at Stuart McQuire's house in Murray St Brunswick West to announce a $500,000 grant to extend the Sustainability Street program.
New Sustainability Streets will be created in 18 new neighbourhoods in the municipalities of Melbourne, Darebin, Hume, Moreland and Whittlesea.
Mr Carli said the Sustainability Street model involves people in a street or neighbourhood planning how their households can reduce their use of energy and water, increase recycling and decrease waste.
"Through this project, people's knowledge of energy conservation and waste and water reduction will increase, helping make our communities healthier and better places to live," Mr Carli said.
"Sustainability Street is a community education project, which provides practical information, solutions and support to help people live more sustainably."
Ms Campbell said close to 60 communities in Victoria and New South Wales had embraced the Sustainability Street approach. There is a target of 100 sustainable neighbourhoods by the start of 2007.
"Many communities are now growing their own food, using water tanks, carpooling, composting, shopping in an environmentally friendly way, saving money on their power and water bills and reducing their impact on the environment," Ms Campbell said.
The project is supported by the Moreland Energy Foundation, Victoria University, environmental educators Vox Bandicoot, Yarra Valley Water, Northern Region Waste Management Group, the Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action and the five councils.
Mr Thwaites said the Bracks Government was pleased to provide Community Support funding of $500,000 for three years to support the expansion of the project.
"Sustainability Streets are testament to how residents, business, schools and community groups can broaden their networks, help the environment and help each other."
He said the Bracks Government had backed plans to improve the sustainability of rivers and reservoirs, forests and cities.
Media contact: Martin Curtis 0400 512 618 or www.vic.gov.au
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