​BSFG Review April 2022 - Strategic Objectives/Goals - Raw Data from Workshops

Widespread adoption of Sustainable farming systems
Contributing ideas
Agricultural community
​100% regenerative practices – local food, local workers
Initiatives/Actions

• Develop a series of forums and on-farm demonstrations
• Engage Charles Massey to talk to local farmers
• A series of on farm demonstrations to explain the changes necessary for carbon capture and storage on farm

Connect and work with other like-minded groups on common goals

• Meet with other like minded groups to determine common goals
• Create a list of groups already formed and what they are doing in this space.

Peer Support Program for Regen farmers

• Regen farmer peer support group with field days and guest speakers
• DIY ecological monitoring on farms
• Find Local farmers who want this and enable them.

Explore links with Bulk Food Co-Op and local producers eg the Strathbogie Local in Euroa

Ecosystem Restoration
Contributing ideas
Initiatives/Actions

• Create a network with all the restoration demonstration sites and community working groups
• Inventory of all the big things that are already happening – Winton Wetlands, Hospital, Arboretum
• Community involved in growing plants
• Support landcare tree planting days 
• Support the Winton Wetlands Friends group

Connected and Engaged Community
Contributing ideas
Intergenerational engagement – kids, families, grandparents – contributing to a thriving community gardens and local learning hubs
Localisation - Broad community buy in and action Improving and enabling connectivity – social and physical
BSFG has a new name and new committee
Initiatives/Actions
Establish a Community Hub Space

• Community hub space – produce swaps, workshop on skills, meeting space and kitchen
• Identify inclusive, supportive, Community hub as education, demo hub
• Venue to engage with the community · Bookclub/library eg Joanna Macy Active Hope

Develop a program of Community Events and Workshops

• Quarterly pot luck dinners
• Local nature connection events for children and families
• Growing food workshop
• Seed saving, composting, worm farm workshop
• Pop up free events – dance, yoga, music, art

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

• Hold a forum of key stakeholders and groups – who is growing food/interest in food
• Invite student leaders to be engaged in climate action
• Communication strategy
• Gratitude wall
• Confute actions eg recycle your batteries
• Declare a climate emergency and call community to action
• Create safe space for discussion about how we are feeling about the world – deep listening and support

100% Renewable and community owned energy
Contributing ideas
100% renewable energy for Benalla – Community/business owned
10 microgrids
Solar charged city with charging stations
Net zero achieved by 2032
Initiatives/Actions

• Develop a micro-grid project
• Work with RMIT Masters Student on developing a micro-grid pilot project
• Organise Indigo Power to talk about how to create a micro-grid
• Build and connect micro-grids for a bunch of houses

Engaging and working with BRC

• Work with BRCC to increase Solar – on roof tops and a solar farm
• Invite BZE to address BRC on reaching net zero
• Seek out funding for installation of EV charging stations

Seek new Convenor for REB

Ecological, sustainable planning and development and Retro fits
Contributing ideas

• A sustainable subdivision – for multinational refugees that is affordable, mixed and mentoring
• A plan for development of Benalla with bike paths, controlled subdivision design, with a sustainable housing policy
• Sustainable housing and land development
• There is no homelessness because of new housing model
• Every person/family in Benalla has access to food growing gardens

Initiatives/Actions
Engage and work with council on Sustainable planning and development options

• Draft climate action plan with council – focus on community transition
• Planning that supports bike transport
• Options for renters and older housing for energy upgrades and retro fits
• Sustainable Housing design as part of Climate adaption plan · Creating a pilot of an “ecological” subdivision; a tiny house hub with community gardens; improved waste management
• Improving subdivision standards via local variations to the Planning scheme

Retro fit Advice

• Open house for retrofits
• Retrofit advisory sessions

Sustainable Living as Art

• Retrofit the art gallery and old school · Work on a sustainability short film
• Start with a film on how it might work

Greening and Cooling for our urban spaces
Contributing ideas 
Known as a tree city
Food forests revegetation of verges and crown land
Greening Benalla
Initiatives/Actions

• Develop alternative watering solutions
• Assessment and improvement of water quality in Benalla Lake
• Cut the curbs to direct storm water runoff to street trees
• Develop an Urban Tree Planting program
• Free trees to plant
• Raise seed – free seeds
• Donation/allocation of a number of plants per urban property
• Urban forest plan for city of Benalla
• Planting stands of native trees and shrubs on empty land eg Goodwin and Mackellar street
• A tree planting month with free trees and Costa
• Plant trees at schools and sporting clubs
• Nature Strip project
• Edible nature strips

Expand Food Coop
Contributing ideas Initiatives/Actions

• Add fruit and veg trade to the food Coop
• Expand the range of activities