Community park concept

CERES Environmental Park has been the primary model – many people involved in this project have been inspired by the potential of CERES to engender a culture of sustainability through harnessing the creative energy of the community (www.ceres.org.au). There are other established models overseas as well, such as CAT (Centre for Alternative Technology) in Wales and Auroville in India. Indeed CERES type centres are today springing up across Australia and the world.

The dream of our Community Environment Park in the Upper Yarra has finally arrived.

In September 2009 a Master Plan for the site was finalised. This plan will form the basis for the developments to come.

A SENSE OF PLACE

The 7 hectare site at 711 Old Warburton Rd, Wesburn, a chicken farm in a previous life is a lovely rural and bush landscape setting. There are some great established gardens (including bushfood gardens developed by UYCH), substantial buildings including an old farm house, and massive chicken sheds. There is huge potential and opportunity for creative development of the site. The Site Projects working group and volunteers have been tirelessly working to clean up the site and renovate the old farm house that will be used as the interim site-centre. Already many hundreds of hours of volunteer time have been put into maintenance and preparation of the old farm house and controlling weed infestations. A UYCH Horticulture course has been working to reestablish the propagation infrastructure and bush food gardens.

2009, PLANNING, CONSOLIDATION AND ENGAGEMENT

The hard work has just begun. In the year 2009 we will focus on planning and administrative infrastructure development, site maintenance, and community engagement. The development of the site Master Plan, Strategic Business Plan, the Sustainable Community Engagement Plan and Governance model will be a large part of our focus.

• The Master Plan will create the rationale for site development in the context of site constraints and the UYCEP Vision and Objectives.
• The Community Engagement Plan will see genuine engagement with the community in the exploration of the possibilities for sustainable living.
• The Business Plan and Governance model will ensure that the Park is effectively managed on behalf of the community.

We will ready the site to welcome the wider community. There is a huge task ahead of us to rid the site of environmental weeds. The completion of the renovations for the farm house offices and the arts facility space will occur through the winter of 2009. A key component to the successful development of the Park will be the employment of paid staff to begin to take over the heavy lifting from the committee of management. The development of a website and marketing will be important means of ‘getting our message out’ to the community.

Our vision for the future

By 2009 the Upper Yarra Community Environment Park will have a critical mass of support from the community, key stakeholder groups and sponsors, and will be well on its way to realising its vision of creating and supporting sustainable living solutions in the Yarra Valley. Indeed the need for CEPs that can facilitate and demonstrate sustainable living options has never been greater. There are many critical environmental issues that we will need to positively and creatively address. None are more urgent than raising awareness and action on the impacts on the world climate systems of our current lifestyles.

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS, SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS

We are especially indebted to the volunteers who have given their time to create the UYCEP Committee of Management, and to the many other volunteers who have contributed. We also make a special thank you to Shire of Yarra Ranges Council Officers Kim Swinson and Bernie Lobert for their unflagging support and energy. We must also thank those organisations who have joined us in partnership or sponsorship: Shire of Yarra Ranges, Upper Yarra Community House, Warburton Community Bank, Department of Planning and Community Development (State), CERES Environment Park and Swinburne University.