Committee Report for the 2022 MRSG Annual General Meeting 

Over the past year or so, the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group has made great strides in developing its capacity to deliver significant grant-funded projects successfully and on time, its social licence in engaging and representing broad sections of the Macedon Ranges community on a wide range of issues, and its commitment to cooperate with Council and other key stakeholders in carrying out sustainability initiatives. In the following, there are a few examples to illustrate these points. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list.  

Government-funded projects 

MRSG’s Renewable Energy group received State Government funding as part of the Neighbourhood Battery Initiative to conduct a year-long feasibility study and community engagement program with the objective of developing a business case and implementation project for a neighbourhood battery in the Macedon Ranges. The technical analysis undertaken by the consultants, ENEA, showed that a neighbourhood battery placed on a Powercor low voltage feeder to Lancefield could potentially reduce the number of unplanned, short-term outages that have plagued the township for the past 10 years. MRSG is continuing to advocate for Powercor to explore the results of this study and, if deemed viable, for MRSG and Powercor to apply for government funding for the battery installation.  MRSG sees this as a small initial step in harnessing neighbourhood-scale energy storage in the Macedon Ranges’ transition to clean energy.  

Veg Action group ran a Council funded initiative called Edgy Veg Awards which proved immensely popular with tourists and local residents voting on their favourite plant-based dish. This supported cafes and pubs in the region to lead change in our food sector, putting their sustainability principles front and centre. Veg Action also partnered with Healthy Hearts Victoria, Sunbury Cobaw Health and Council to produce the Get to Know your Grower directory at https://veg.mrsg.org.au/  

Social license 

Stakeholder and community approval and recognition of MRSG’s sustainability work in the region is testified by two personal awards – Joslin Moore, leader of the Waste action group, Loddon Mallee Waste and Resource Recovery Community Champion, and David Gormley-O'Brien, MRSG President, who was Macedon Ranges Citizen of the Year 2022. But there are other more subtle ways that this social license is evident. For example, the satellite communications system pioneered and employed by the Woodend Community Farmers’ Market is to be adopted by the Council as part of its region-wide disaster emergency response program, in response to our recommendation. At today’s meeting, we welcome Silvana Predebon who will be sharing about Council’s disaster emergency program

One project in particular shows the extent to which MRSG is able to engage with the local community was the advocacy campaign opposing the proposed Edgecomb Road Development in Kyneton by our Sustainable Development action group. The Council had rejected the permit application on the basis of planning criteria. The developers went to VCAT. The Sustainable Development group opposed this development on social, environmental and economic grounds and raised around $120,000, mostly from numerous small donations. from Kyneton residents to cover legal fees for challenging this application. Unfortunately, VCAT sided with the developer and the wishes of Council and a large section of the local community were ignored. This is obviously a disappointing result and the Sustainable Development group are feeling bruised by their treatment from VCAT but there will be other ways that MRSG can promote sustainable development in the Ranges in the future.  

Partnerships 

MRSG and Council have been partnering very closely in a wide range of sustainability initiatives including, but not restrictive to: the soft plastic recycling trial at transfer stations; the Wash against Waste trailer for events in the Macedon Ranges; the webinar on preparing homes for winter; waste and recycling sessions at libraries; Cool Changes in Malmsbury, Woodend, Lancefield, Gisborne, and Riddells Creek; the development of a Youth Environment by LEAP; etc. This collaboration will be even closer in the coming year as MRSG Committee endeavours to develop a climate change and sustainability strategy of its own to complement Council’s. 

Particularly exciting is the recent development of a partnership between MRSG and DJAARA (formerly the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation) in their renewable energy strategy. In April 2021, the MRSG Committee recognised that much more could be done to recognise and engage with local Aboriginal culture and communities in our many sustainability activities and projects. The partnership with DJAARA is an effective starting point in this process. At today’s Annual General Meeting, we welcome Tony O’Loughlin from DJAARA who will be sharing the group’s aspirations and ways that we can work together. 

The MRSG Committee now and in the future 

The structure of MRSG is an inversion of typical organisational structures. If someone was to ask what is the MRSG; it is not the Committee, rather it is the action groups. These twelve or so action groups and their project teams, comprising volunteers who are outward-focussed, devoting precious time and energy in their particular passion to make the Macedon Ranges a more sustainable place to live, not only in environmental terms but also in the social, human, and economic terms. This inversion of organisational structure is part of the reason why MRSG has been able to grow in membership and become more effective in achievements. You can read this past year’s accomplishments of the action groups and project teams below. You cannot fail to be impressed.  

In the past four yours or so, MRSG has moved away from cumbersome and unwieldy large Committee meetings to smaller, shorter, more efficient and focussed board-like sessions. The Committee; it now exists primarily to serve the action groups, to free the action groups as much as possible from the governance, financial and compliance burdens. It is imperative that the Committee continues not only to attract high quality women and men with experience and expertise in business, government, environmental and not-for-profit leadership but who are also committed to supporting the action groups and project teams. At this year’s Annual General Meeting we say goodbye to Bruce Mildenhall and Kellie Flanagan from the Committee team, and I shall be stepping down as President but staying on the Committee for one more year as a support to the incoming President. MRSG wishes to thank Bruce and Kellie for their many years of devoted service in the Committee and one wonders how their unique talents can be replaced. But looking at the extraordinarily high calibre of the new nominations at today’s AGM, we can feel confident that MRSG’s governance will be in good hands, with a bright, new vision for the future.      

Finally, I want to thank the action group and project leaders, the Committee members, Barbara Crljen, and Nikki Barker, for their terrific work throughout the year and for making the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group such an effective, vibrant and friendly community group.  

David Gormley-O'Brien, MRSG President 15/10/2022 

MRSG Action Group and Project Updates for AGM 2022 

Waste & Recycling – Joslin Moore 

The waste action group (thanks Lynn White) has organised a waste and recycling education session at the Woodend library on Saturday 12th October, 10.30-12 noon with talks by council and MRSG about “what goes where?” As well as lots of time to ask questions.  

We have had a number of walks against waste where we have collected rubbish from creeklines in Woodend, Romsey, Kyneton, Malmsbury, Riddells Creek and at the Macedon Res for clean-up Australia Day. 

We continue to act as a community collection point for hard to recycle items at the Malmsbury market (with help from Sustainable Malmsbury), Kyneton Market (with help from Kyneton transition hub) and Woodend library.  The opportunity to drop off  blister packs at Malmsbury and Kyneton (that are then taken to Woodend pharmacy) has been very popular since the program started six or so months ago.  We are also collecting lids, bread tags and batteries that we take to the waste transfer station.  

Joslin was nominated the waste community champion for the Macedon Ranges which resulted in having this short film made about her interest in waste reduction and recycling:   

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ1pnUqlr0k 

And in breaking news,  

Woodend Community Bags has joined MRSG as a project of the Waste Action Group ;) 

Regenerative Farmers - Jan Ravnholt 

The Macedon Ranges Regenerative Farmers (MRRF) Action Group kicked off its first year with enthusiasm, by: 

  • Establishing our Purpose, 

  • "MRRF is a peer-to-peer group for farmers to develop their regenerative farming Practice, Promote human, environmental and economic benefits to the community of regenerative agriculture; and Advocate for regenerative farmers in the Macedon Ranges." 

  • Hosting a Holistic Management training program over four months, at Summerleigh Farm in Monegeetta, for 18 farmers living in the Macedon Ranges and surrounds 

  • Planning a Biodynamic farm workshop, which unfortunately had to be deferred due to factors outside our control; and 

  • Running a handful of peer-to-peer experience-sharing days at member farms.  

However, as is the case with many early steps, we have also had some important baby stumbles along the way.  

The reality of time constraints in the farming community, not least amongst us newbie farmers, is probably the most significant learning we have had to undertake. 

Consequently, we look forward to 2023 with our Purpose intact, but with a much slimmed-down level of ambition and a tighter, smaller action group leadership and a decision to focus on finding our footing and building the MRRF community slowly and organically.  

This we will aim to do by prioritising the first objective of our Purpose, being that of Practice, whilst temporarily, parking the more ambitious objectives of Promoting and Advocating. 

With this new emphasis on baby steps, we also hope to be more actively engaged with and learn from, other Action Groups in the MRSG. 

Sustainable Malmsbury – Kathryn Allen 

In the past year, Sustainable Malmsbury have 

  • Continued our monthly gardening tips newsletter, produce swap, energy efficiency advice and Waste Action Group recycling station at the Malmsbury Farmers' Market. We now have an email list of over 20 dedicated volunteers to call on each month 

  • Supported the Renewable Energy Action Group to loan out the thermal imaging camera to MRSG members 

  • A successful return of our winter Crafternoons at the Malmsbury Town Hall, sharing skills in mending, sewing, knitting and more 

  • Sustainable Malmsbury were proud recipients of the Malmsbury CFA Mike Stambrey Community Spirit Award for service to the community 

Local Education Action Programs (LEAP) - Peter Lindner 

A brief run down for LEAP. 

  • In 2022 we have piloted the Cool Changes in Schools program with Gisborne Primary School and Sacred Heart College. This has seen the introduction of climate change topics into their curriculum and local projects aimed at mitigating climate change. 

  • At the end of 2022 we will be inviting a further two schools to participate in the Cool Changes in Schools program. 

  • We are working with the Youth Team form the MRSC to develop a Shire based Youth Environment Group. It is planned for this to commence at the beginning of 2023. 

  • Research is being conducted on ways to have effective climate change discussions with the hope of offering a workshop on this in 2023. 

Kyneton Transition Hub – Nea Gyorffy 

  • KTH attends Kyneton Farmers Market with produce swap and terracycle collection on 2nd Saturday of the month.  

  • weekly cuppa meeting at Duck Duck Goose & Larder Cafe Kyneton. 

  • planning a stall at Kyneton Show in November with veggie seedlings give-aways and compost demonstration. 

  • contribute to Kyneton Cool Changes with Macedon Ranges Council: 3 meetings on 10, 17 and 24 Oct 6pm at Kyneton Good Food Hub 35 High St. Light meal available. 

  • planning for Open Edible Gardens in March 2023. Looking for suitable sustainable edible gardens, home composting systems, wicking beds, water harvesting, bird/insect/frog attracting gardens etc 

More information call Nea 0419 874 735 

Gisborne Renewable Energy Group (GREG) - Stephen Pepper 

May 2022 - Gisborne Renewable Energy Group GREG was formed in May following a Macedon Ranges Shire Council Community Consultation process called Cool Changes. Its goal is to lower Gisborne’s greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging businesses and households to install solar PV systems and Heat Pumps.  

  • July 2022 - GREG became a new action group within REAG  

  • September 2022 – Preparation of Document to invite Solar PV and Heat Pump installers to quote competitive pricing for the provision of these energy saving technologies to the Gisborne Community and to MRSG members.  

  • October 2022 - MRSG approval of the project  

  • November 2022 - REAG / GREG selection of Installation companies for Solar PV and Heat Pumps  

  • January 2023 – Launch of Offer to the community. Volunteers welcome contact – greg@mrsg.org.au 

Sustainable Homes – Sue Barker 

The greatest accomplishments of the Sustainable Homes AG are: 

  • Formation of the Building Ideas Group - a group of members interested in renovating or building sustainably. This group has met monthly for most of 2022, has ideas for future meetings and has commenced planning for Sustainable House Day in March 2023. 

  • Responses to public queries about sustainable buildings, building energy rating and associated topics 

Woodend Community Farmers’ Market – Matthew Barry 

  • This year has been great for building momentum with community involvement, in the form of amazing volunteers.  Month after month, these volunteers continue to offer assistance, rain, hail or shine. – image volunteers 1  

  • Our stallholder WiFi network, after going through some teething problems, has now settled and is proving to be an invaluable addition to the market. – image WCFM WiFi  

  • We have been strengthening our relationship with the MRSC, working with various MRSC groups and providing them with a platform to present a variety of campaigns/news to the community.  We have even had our Mayor Jennifer Anderson call in and volunteer at our market. – image Mayor Jennifer Anderson  

  • We have been working closely with MRSC and their appointed Architects on the Woodend Community Centre design, to ensure that the new design accommodates for the Farmers’ Market to operate, which it does.  We have also been involved in discussions of the staging of this project, so that it minimises the impact on the Farmers’ Market and it’s need to operate every month.  – image design  

  • Our WCFM Town Crier has been so well accepted into the community, that he is being asked to other community events. – image town crier  

  • Our Market Manager Jenna Dalton resigned, after giving us 2 fantastic years. Jenna takes with her so much event management experience but not without sharing that knowledge and working with the committee to bring all of our administration up to the highest level.  – image Jenna and Nikki  

  • We are so very pleased to announce that we have found a new Market Manager Francesca Carlton.  Fran has been a long time Farmers’ Market volunteer, who brings experience with community and cultural development in both government and non-government sectors.  We are very excited to have Fran onboard and look forward to her unfolding her experience.  Here is Fran, Nikki, Lenka and myself at the contract signing. – image contract signing 

Veg Action – Claire Rowland 

  • Movie night for ‘Eating our Way to Extinction’, with special guest speaker Gerrard Wedderburn Bisshop. 

  • The inaugural Edgy Veg Awards in the Ranges, attracting 13 cafes, 19 dishes and 460+ votes, encourage people to try plant-based dishes and integrate them further into diets 

  • Development of the ‘Get to know your grower’ website - linking local producers and consumers.  This got a lot of press and online coverage.  

  • Event with Romsey Transition Streets to do a farm gate tour in Romsey - exploring 3 organic farmers in the area.  

  • Submitted a Vic Health grant application with Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health for a food systems project in Kyneton secondary school in 2023 that focuses on eating healthier food, connecting with local growers and eating more veg. 

  • Managed the ‘eat more veg’ Facebook group, encouraging people to try vegetarian and vegan dishes in their weekly mix of food. 

  • Involvement in a range of committees including the Regional Food Systems Framework Reference Group + Bendigo Health’s steering committee on climate change and health. 

Woodend Bee-Friendly Society – Samantha Rixon 

  • The WBFS brought back face to face meetings once COVID restrictions lifted.  

  • We had a change of Action Group Leader from Ross Brierty to Samantha Rixon. 

  • We delivered a Beekeeping for Beginners course in September to 23 budding beekeepers.  

  • For our July meeting, we had a field day at Waggle & Forage, our local beekeeping supplies store based in Kyneton, who are strong supporters of the club.  

  • We ordered another 30 beesuits which have been selling well. 

  • When weather permits, we have been using the Chimney Hive beehive at the back of the Woodend Neighbourhood House for practical bee handling sessions. (The Chimney Hive was donated by Matthew Croatto, the boxes and frames were donated by Waggle & Forage and a new queen bee will be donated by Chris Kowalski). 

Renewable Energy – Shannon McAllister 

  • Neighbourhood Battery Initiative 

  • $54k grant from the Victorian Government’s Neighbourhood Battery Initiative received in September 2021; 

  • Partnered with Australian Energy Foundation (AEF) to consult with the community to gauge interest in and increase the awareness of benefits and potential use-cases for neighbourhood batteries.  Findings from the community engagement were reported in February 2022; 

  • Feasibility study produced by Enea based on network data and economic analysis in July 2022; 

  • Final Report provided to DELWP in July-August 2022; 

  • Currently working on communications and lobbying Powercor and government to progress the project. 

  • Renewable Energy Fund 

  • December 2021 - Kyneton Caring Community benefitted from a grant from MRSG and MASH to install a 10kW solar PV system 

  • April 2022 - Newham CFA received funding from MRSG to install a 5kW solar PV system 

  • Thermal Imaging Camera 

  • In May 2022 REAG purchased a Thermal Imaging Camera for the broader MRSG community to loan so that members may identify hot/cold spots or leaks around the home and make targeted improvements to home efficiency; 

  • Welcome to Gisborne Renewable Energy Group (GREG) into the REAG fold 

  • see GREG's report above 

With the Community Energy Park put on hold indefinitely, the REAG team are looking forward to developing new opportunities to increase renewable energy uptake in the Ranges in 2023. 

 Sustainable Transport – Emilie Michaille 

  • Had good involvement from local schools in ride to school and walk to school events. 

  • Worked with Woodend PS to undertake survey on travel to school to understand barriers 

  • Messaging has been to remember intersections are not just for cars 

  • Map for walking/cycling in Woodend to be created 

  • Looking into greater activation of the Woodend bus 

  • Currently lobbying through WPS for school crossing improvements (now St Ambrose has been done) 

David Gormley-O'Brien