Benalla Sustainable Future Group
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​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


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Action Groups
​Benalla Food Cooperative
​Connected, Engaged Community
Ecological Sustainable Design and Development
​Greening  and cooling our urban areas 
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​Renewable Energy Benalla
Sustainable Farming Practices
Waste Wise Benalla

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​Benalla Sustainable Future Group acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we live, work and meet, the Taungerang and Bpangerang people
​of North East Victoria, and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.