Sustainable Living Space Project – A Community Learning Partnership
1 Project Partners
North Ringwood Community House , Park Orchards Community House , City of Maroondah, City of Manningham, Eastern Volunteer Resource Centre
2 Aim of Project
-To develop strong partnerships between the partners
•Identify whether the community needed an environmental education and resource centre in the Outer East
•Develop a strong and sustainable community environment network in the Outer East
3 Community Engagement Tools
•Community Survey – 384 surveys returned
•Focus groups
•Community Worker brainstorm
•Key person interviews
•Collaboration charts
4 Building relationships and networks
•Green Film Night
.Festivals – eco bus tours, garden tours
5 Survey Findings
•90% responded some degree of concern about environment
•96% feel in some way informed about how to live more sustainably
•Water conservation, greenhouse and climate change most important issues
•24% aware of local resources
•72% – local environmental education, community based activities would encourage them to be more sustainable
•56% concerned about water and climate change, 17% biodiversity, 14% waste/litter
•56% felt somewhat informed on how to live sustainably, 21% very informed
•69% were involved in environmental activities – association with increasing age, and involvement in envtal activities
•Most of this involvement was at home
6 Findings re Environmental Education
•72% indicated that they were not aware of educational opportunities in the outer east
•What would encourage people to learn to live more sustainably?
oCommunity Based Events 25%
oLocal Environmental Education Resource Centre 24%
oPractical Advice in the home 24%
oMore info on Local Environment Groups and Activities 23%
•70% would access an environmental education centre in the Outer East
7 Focus Group Findings
•Discuss benefits of sustainable living space in the Outer East
–Economic – space for emerging technologies
–Social and Cultural – sharing, cooperation, social connection, meeting space for groups, learning and fun
–Environmental – independent “one-stop-shop”, help people make informed decisions, provide catalyst for more sustainable choices •Key Person Interviews
•Process should be community driven
•Use skills that exist within the community
•Create hub for information, workshops, campaigns
•Bring key people together
•Networking, sharing, connecting is vital for success
•Reduce isolation of small groups
•Communities working together
•Options for Consideration
•Project Governance
•Community Forum for further input into project
•Transition Towns Approach – research
•Explore other initiatives – BLEEP, Yarrunga CH, Ted Ajani Reserve
•Interim Actions – website, e-news, green film night /ecotours, explore potential sites and funding options
SUSTAINABLE LIVING SPACE 2009
Implementation of Findings
1.Education
2.Establishing an Environmental Education Resource Centre
3.Business – explore relationships with green business
1 Education Program
Project aims to resource Community House network as education arm
•House Coordinator’s Forums
– identify needs and interests of houses
– agreed common fees policy
– participating houses advertise all programs
– guest speakers
•Coordinated program of courses offered across 2 municipalities – SLS resource houses with tutors and course ideas if required
•SLS developing workshops – Green Domestic God / Goddess, Ethical Shopping, DIY Retrofit your Home,
2 Environmental Education Resource Centre
•Developing relationships with community groups and key community members
•Development of monthly SLS e-newsletter
•Community Forum
•Green Film Nights
•Website
•Shopfront ERC instead of Enviro- Park model
•Explore options with Council considering proposal re office space
2010 and beyond –
Where to from here?
