WestSeed: How sustainable is our city?
Do you feel like our communities are getting busier and busier? That’s because there are more and more people. Due to population growth in urban areas and urbanisation, the movement of people from rural areas to urban areas, there are more and more people in cities.
So, what is causing this historic movement of people?
More employment opportunities
Higher individual wealth
Better education and health facilities
While urban life offers opportunities, the World Health Organisation states it can also pose health problems caused by environmental and social factors, such as access to housing, social cohesion and physical activity.
According to the United Nations, 55% of the global population live in urban areas. This is projected to rise to 68% by 2040.
Melbourne’s population is projected to reach 8 million by 2050.
With these population increases we are going to see pressure put on green spaces, housing, public transport, and other infrastructure. You can read more about Sustainable Development Goal no.11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities here.
Fortunately, community organisations in the West are helping to address some of these issues.
They are protecting and improving urban rivers, parks and gardens, promoting sustainable consumption through a library of things and repair spaces, and by building strong social cohesion in communities in the West.
Through the WestSeed project, we met with some amazing community organisations making Melbourne a greener and more sustainable city.
Read about them below…
Friends of the H.V. McKay Gardens
The Friends of H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens group (the Friends) was formed in 2007. They are interested in the restoration and maintenance of the historic H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens in Sunshine as well as encouraging their fellow community members and everyone in Victoria to enjoy these beautiful gardens which are of historical significance. Their activities vary from researching the history of the gardens, historical walking tours, community festivals, planting and weeding days, to making submissions to the local council.
Currently members meet once every two months at various locations. People interested in attending meetings should contact them via their Facebook page and anyone interested in gardens can join the Friends.
Brimbank is very culturally diverse, which the Friends love to celebrate by holding the Annual McKay Gardens Festival in March. The Friends of H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens organise this free family friendly event to bring the community together to have fun, play games and enjoy the entertainment in Sunshine's beautiful heritage-listed gardens. Performers interested in participating at the festival are encouraged to contact the Friends.
The Friends would like those who share their passion to maintain these gardens and/or would like to get involved in community events to join them.
Phone: 0419 628 613
Email: friendsofhvmckaygardens@gmail.com
Friends of the Maribyrnong Valley
Since 1986, the Friends of the Maribyrnong Valley have worked to improve the amenity of the Maribyrnong River Valley in Western Melbourne.
As the name implies, the organisation strongly endeavours to not only maintain the amenity of the Maribyrnong River Valley, but to seek constant improvement to the river and its immediate surroundings. They follow sound environmental methods on all projects which are achieved by thousands of volunteer hours.
Significant progress has been made by close liaison with Melbourne Water, PPWCMA, Parks Victoria, and the Councils officers from the Cities of Moonee Valley, Maribyrnong and Brimbank, resulting in numerous projects which have had successful outcomes.
They work with numerous community groups and local schools’ children and these joint ventures have improved the habitat of the area by adhering to sustainable environmental activities.
FMV meetings are held at 7:30pm on the first Wednesday of each month. Friends of Maribyrnong Valley are happy to welcome new members interested in getting involved with regular revegetation and conservation activities.
Phone: 9367 2562
Email: info@fmvonline.com
Friends of Organ Pipes National Park
Organ Pipes National Park covers an area of 85 ha, 32 km north-west of Melbourne. Not that long ago, areas of the park were patches of weeds, rabbits and farm rubbish. Its transformation into a showpiece of restoration has been achieved by a remarkably dedicated bunch of people and it is truly amazing that it should have reached such a stage, in a comparatively short time. This is a tribute to the pioneers and to those who have followed them in maintaining the effort to repair the damage and preserve some fragment of what the Keilor Plains and its valleys used to be until 170 years ago.
Becoming involved in the group is a real benefit for anyone interested in our natural environment. Anyone can come along and gain a greater appreciation of the area's natural environment by getting to know the local plants and animals. Being a member of Friends of Organ Pipes gives you the satisfaction of contribution towards a better environment and working towards the protection of our embattled ecosystems. Working days also offer a great opportunity to escape suburbia and immerse yourself in a fulfilling day, experiencing nature in a National Park without having to drive three hours from home.
Monthly working bees are schedule throughout the year, on the 4th Saturday morning of every month.
Phone: 0401 493 176
Email: info@friendsoforganpipes.org.au
The Yarraville Community Centre is a vibrant community hub that provides education, training and support to more than 2000 people each week.
As a community-managed adult education provider in western metropolitan Melbourne, they offer a wide range of courses. But there’s much more.
They provide community services such as free public access to computers, occasional childcare and service referrals. They can develop curriculum and manage projects. Their facilities are available for support groups that benefit the local community, and their multipurpose rooms can be hired for meetings and functions.
Phone: 9687 1560
Email: info@ycc.net.au
The Moonee Valley Repair Cafe offers a free meeting place where you can bring broken items to their skilled volunteers to repair together. It's all about repairing things together! You’ll find tools and materials as well as the expert volunteers to help you make any repairs you need; on clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, bicycles, crockery, appliances, toys, etc.
Visitors bring their broken items from home. Together with the specialists they start making their repairs in the Repair Café. It’s an ongoing learning process. If you have nothing to repair, you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. Or you can lend a hand with someone else’s repair job.
Repairs are done via donation by volunteer wizards. The donations cover basic consumables and some basic parts only. Other parts may need to be purchased from other suppliers and brought along to be fitted.
Monthly themed events are organised in conjunction with The Moonee Valley Repair Cafe, making this a fun and social destination while getting your broken appliance back up and running again.
The Moonee Valley Repair Cafe is driven by an enthusiastic group of volunteers who welcome all types of "fixers" to join and help the community repair mendable items saving them from landfill and helping the environment. Open every third Saturday of the month, from 10:30am to 2:30pm.
Phone: 0413 627 194
Email: mooneevalleyrepaircafe@gmail.com
Sharing Shed
Sharing Shed Melbourne is a not-for-profit, community run library of things. Members pay an annual membership fee to borrow a range of donated goods; from lawnmowers to camping gear.
They seek to promote a more engaged, active, and resourceful community by empowering community users and partner organisations with low-cost access to a wide range of useful goods, skills and related knowledge.
Email: sharingshedmelbourne@gmail.com
The Migrant Hub Inc - WynTREE Nursery Co-operative
WynTREE is a social enterprise and tree farm that will create employment opportunities to grow trees and plants to supply local councils, VicRoads and landscaping and housing businesses. It also aims to promotes active citizenship and social cohesion by providing opportunities for asylum seekers and migrants to participate in local community activities.
Phone: 0422452019
Email: wv@tpg.com.au
Point Cook Action Group (PCAG) has been established to advocate on behalf of residents of Point Cook, with the objective of gaining quality facilities and infrastructure required to maintain and improve the standard and quality of living in the Point Cook area. They believe a strong sense of community to be important and they will endeavour to create bonds of social cohesion between residents, local businesses and service providers. They have many affiliations with other local community groups.
Phone: 0409 252 872
Email: info@pcag.org.au
Werribee Community Garden Project
Communal Gardens provide a great opportunity to grow fresh fruit and vegetables at a low cost, to provide a forum for discussions on good sustainability practices, and to meet and socialise with other members of our wonderful garden community. The WECP garden is located in the heart of Werribee adjacent to the Mambourin Sensory gardens in Walls Street, Werribee.
The garden is a place for individuals and groups to grow their own organic vegetables, herbs, fruits and flowers. Our VISION is that people in the West will live sustainably, be immersed in multicultural experiences and that the community will draw together and deliver related programs and services to the broader Wyndham community through participation in the environment park initiatives to create their own pathway to a positive future.
The committee meet once every two months and organise working bees and BBQs once a month.
Phone: 0409 252 872
Email: info@wecpark.com
Wyndham Wildlife Gardens began in 2018 stemming from the Habitat Heroes program run at Wyndham Council. They are auspiced by Nature West which is a not-for-profit association for individuals, groups and organisations that share an environmental vision for the wider Werribee catchment.
The Wildlife Gardens are a group of Wyndham residents using locally native (Australian) plants in their gardens to create a garden for wildlife in order to help protect local plants and animals.
Many local plants are great choices for landscaping and can be used in any style of garden. In addition, your garden can provide a steppingstone for native birds and animals to move safely across our highly urbanised landscape.
The group host events such as Mini-Frog Bog sessions, ABC Walk (getting to know your local wildlife in your neighbourhood) and they enthusiastically share their experiences and knowledge with the local community. They collaborate with other community groups to protect, manage and enhance the natural heritage of Wyndham's flora and fauna.
The group meet monthly on Wednesday nights from 7:00pm to 9:00pm.
Phone: 0408 057 330
Email: wyndhamwg@gmail.com
The organisations listed above are part of WestSeed 1.0.
See all the WestSeed blogs to get inspired by the wonderful organisations in Melbourne’s west.