Does Sustainability Equal Liveability?
Woodend, in our very own Macedon Ranges was recently dubbed the most liveable regional town in Victoria and we couldn’t be prouder! Among the criteria for the gong, according to an article published in the Sunday Herald Sun, were great transport links, services and job opportunities along with good schools, parks and gardens and fine food.
We at Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group (MRSG) are certainly not surprised that Woodend has become the top tree-change destination and we think that our sustainability credentials are a definite factor in the liveability of Woodend, and the Macedon Ranges in general (two other of our beautiful towns, Mount Macedon and Riddells Creek also made the top 20 list).
“Woodend in particular punches above its weight in the sustainable living stakes”
“Woodend in particular punches above its weight in the sustainable living stakes” said MRSG President, Lenka Thompson. “The Woodend community has shown time and again that living in more sustainably matters to them. From the energy efficient houses they build, the low emission transport options they choose to the way that they shop to support the local farmers’ market.”
Woodend’s popular, accredited farmers’ market is set to become zero-waste by 2024 with initiatives such as the Wash Against Waste trailer. Purpose built and equipped with cups, plates and cutlery, the trailer, staffed by volunteers has shown that the waste from markets and events can be significantly reduced. MRSG action group Woodend Community Bags is also a permanent fixture at the market offering handsewn bags made from repurposed fabrics as an alternative to single-use bags and all stallholders are encouraged to consider more environmentally friendly ways to present and package their food.
Look around Woodend on a busy weekend and you’ll see a higher than proportionate number of zero-emission vehicles driven by both locals and visitors to the town. Woodend is a popular day-trip destination for visitors. Particularly, those with electric vehicles can have confidence knowing there is a sustainably powered EV charging station partly funded by the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance and Macedon Ranges Shire Council located in High Street.
This year Woodend will be home to the first E-Bike Expo, held by the MRSG on April 1st. Locals and visitors will be able to explore the possibilities of trading that second car for a more sustainable way to get around their community. “E-Bike owners have shown that they save money and are more active and healthier” said event organiser David Gormley-O’Brien. “This expo will open the door for more conversations about sustainability in transport and offer a new way of thinking for many people.”
The Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group is a not-for-profit, member-based organisation servicing the whole of the Macedon Ranges focussing on projects, events, and practical activities that promote sustainable living in our local communities. We are home to several community action groups, some of which are based in Woodend such as the Woodend Bee-Friendly Society, that are made up of dedicated individuals working together to make the Macedon Ranges a more sustainable place to live and anyone is welcome to join.
Image Credit: Nikki Barker