More sustainability projects underway in our Kensington community
There is no better time to focus on the health of our communities and our planet.
Unison Housing and our partners have established projects that are caring for and rejuvenating our neighbourhood, increasing food security and encouraging waste minimisation in the high-density Kensington community. There are more projects planned for 2021 that will help us be wiser with our resources.
“With the assistance of the City of Melbourne and our many long-standing community partners, it is great to see our sustainability projects really gaining momentum. The initiatives are obviously very important and are terrific for our residents to be involved in and also benefit from.” said Deb Wilson, Unison’s Community Engagement Place Manager.
The list of sustainability projects is very impressive. A number of fresh food gardens, a compost hub, an education project, a bin upgrade and a Repair hub are a few that are either in action or planned for the year.
The award-winning Kensington Community Food Forest is built on sustainability principles and grows fruit and nut trees, herbs and vegies. By picking produce in their “backyard”, residents are also saying no to plastic packaging.
The Farm Collective project will expand in 2021, and will include a seed house for cultivating and propagation. A mini orchard has been planted and seven large beds added to the Food Forest to grow staples such as potatoes, onions and leafy greens, in order to increase fresh food production and distribution in the community. The City of Melbourne have also donated two worm farms.
Boomerang Bags, made locally by a group of volunteers with donated recycled fabric, are available in the Unison place management office. Boomerang Bags is a global grass roots initiative promoting the use of reusable cloth bags instead of plastic bags.
The Unison Property Corporation’s Social Enterprise Team is adding value to their service, leading a recycling awareness project to help residents clarify what they can and can’t recycle and what goes in what bin. New posters and signage will explain the City of Melbourne’s landfill and recycling bin system to help reduce waste contamination and increase correct recycling practices.
In planning is the Repair Hub, a project that will promote repairing, reusing, recycling and repurposing items to encourage awareness and upskilling and discourage waste and replacement.
The monthly Waste Wisdoms newsletter includes news, information and tips on ways we can all help manage waste better and clean up our planet. It is a Unison Housing, Transition Town, Repair Hub and the City of Melbourne collaboration, and the first edition hit Kensington letterboxes in November.
We thank our many fabulous partners who work with us to care for our Kensington environment and community, and help make these projects come alive. They include City of Melbourne, Kensington Neighbourhood House, Living Learning Australia, Transition Town, The Venny, Kensington Community Recreation Centre and Hotham Mission.
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