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Continuing the community conversation
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BEECHWORTH CROWNED MOST SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY
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Keep Australia Beautiful has announced the Victorian finalist Beechworth as the winner of the 2020 Australian Sustainable Communities – Tidy Towns Awards, at an online event held on 14 October 2020.
Running nationally since 1990, the Australian Sustainable Communities – Tidy Towns Awards have evolved to encompass projects and initiatives with a focus on environmental sustainability and resource management to reflect a growing awareness of the importance of community-led environmental action.
What's more - TRB won the Environmental Sustainability - Energy award. We're thrilled!
Beechworth was also awarded winner of the Dame Phyllis Frost Litter Prevention by S.E.E.D. and Environmental Communication and Engagement by Festival of Change.
Congratulations to all the entrants and the Beechworth community who have so passionately embraced all things sustainability. Thanks also to Iris Mannik. Iris and her team take on the task of bringing together our applications and getting us organised to meet the judges. Without their committment and leadership we would not be celebrating today.
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Our online community forum to continue the conversation about our journey towards a totally renewable Beechworth was held on 17 September.
Over 40 people joined in to discuss TRB’s refreshed strategic plan and new Power-Full Beechworth project, and to hear from guest speakers Helen Haines, Independent Member for Indi, and Ben McGowan, Managing Director Indigo Power.
For those of you that missed the forum here is what was covered.
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TRB’s strategic plan identifies several action areas to focus our activities.
Our totally renewable target for 2030 is a big challenge, so the strategy identifies some interim targets for us to achieve over the next three years that will position us to reach our ultimate target. The plan is on our website
If you have any ideas or suggestions for progressing any of the plans action areas please email us at trbeechworth@gmail.com We recieved great feedback on the night and we're keen to be joined by anyone eager to make a difference. |
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Power-Full Beechworth is our new energy storage/battery project.
Using a $3,000 mini grant from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), TRB has developed a scope for a feasibility study. The project will explore whether a local energy generation and storage system like a single town scale battery or a system of networked batteries at households and businesses can power a community of 4,000 people, especially during times of grid failure.
We are now seeking funding of $150,000 to progress this initiative. A copy of the plan is on our website
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Helen Haines commended TRB’s approach, in particular the democratisation of energy supply through community inclusion and ownership.
Helen also outlined her Local Power Plan.
The Local Power Plan is focused on community energy – where everyday people are empowered to develop, own and benefit from their own energy projects – is a way to ensure the renewable boom happens with and for us, not to us.
The plan was co-designed with regional communities across Australia. TRB held early discussions with Helen and her team, provided a written submission and participated in an expert panel.
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Ben McGowan outlined how Indigo Power is not just an electricity retailer but a social enterprise working to develop more local renewable generation and storage and enable energy sharing, giving communities control over their energy future.
Indigo Power gives back 50% of its profits to clean energy and community projects. If you haven’t already, check out Indigo Power’s energy prices and the benefits of joining.
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TRB’s first annual general meeting (AGM) followed the forum with an open invitation for all to attend. The AGM is the time for TRB members to elect committee members for the following year. We are pleased to advise that the current committee was reinstated unopposed. There are still some general committee positions open, so if you're interested in joining please get in touch with us at trbeechworth@gmail.com.
TRB also released its first annual report outlining our achievements over the last 12 months. Let us know what you think!
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It’s now time for TRB inaugural members to renew their membership.
Not a member? Why not join – it only costs $10 per person per year. The membership application form and TRB bank account details are on our website
By joining or renewing your membership you help us demonstrate the broad community support for the totally renewable Beechworth target. This assists with obtaining project funding via government grants and/or contributions from philanthropic organisations. Your membership fee also helps out with some of our basic administrative costs, such as insurance.
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Here are some of the other things that TRB have are involved in:
- We're working with the North East Community Energy Network (NECEN) to develop a buyer’s guide to assist with the purchasing of solar panels. If you would like to share your experiences (good or not so good) please email us.
- We've provided a letter of support for the Stanley Recreation Reserve Management Committee for their application to the DELWP Solar on Public Buildings grant program. Our fingers are crossed that they'll be successful.
- We're working with Mondo to bring the Beechworth and surrounding communities a special offer for the purchase of solar panels and/or batteries. Mondo currently has a reduced price offer for battery purchase for Beechworth residents and businesses that have an Ubi energy management system. This offer is likely to be extended to non Ubi owners in the near future.
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Have you seen our videos?
Thanks to a mini grant from DELWP and very generous support from Simon Duncan, GreenEnergy videos we have launched four videos. You'll find these and more via our Facebook.
Let us know what you think and what future topics you'd like a video to cover.
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Staying in touch
We really appreciate your interest in a totally renewable Beechworth. To help you stay in touch our Website has launched (thanks Elroy) and our Facebook page continues. We'll keep you informed via email and you can contact us anytime.
Regards from the team at
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