A NEW group that includes representatives from the region\u2019s food industries as well as not-for-profits and government has been formed with the aim of strengthening Ballarat\u2019s food system.<\/p>\n
A partnership between the City of Ballarat and Sustain: The Australian Food Network, the group is known as the Ballarat Local Food Coalition.<\/p>\n
Food is Free director Lou Ridsdale is part of the initiative and said it will help find solutions for food insecurity the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a collection of like-minded passionate people from Ballarat who represent different sectors of the industry in food,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll be a think-tank of people for localising our food systems and making it for future generations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has been born from the health plan from the City of Ballarat and Caroline Amirtharajah in particular who have been bolstering putting food security into policy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Ridsdale said it\u2019s important to support the region\u2019s producers in keeping food local.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really important for climate change reasons to bolster this for future generations,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pandemic has also shown us if we don\u2019t have food on our shelves from far afield we\u2019re in trouble.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to help and promote groups and individuals who want to grow their own food because there\u2019s so many factors against us in terms of supply.\u201d<\/p>\n
With about 15 core members, the long-term goal of the coalition is to roll out a three-year action plan.<\/p>\n
The group launched on Wednesday at the Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council, which included Kittelty’s owner Sara Kittelty, and Amanda Collins from Backyard Beekeeping Ballarat as guest speakers.<\/p>\n
Ms Ridsdale said the possibilities are endless for what the coalition can do.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s up to them to chart their own destiny,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s the exciting part, we don\u2019t know exactly what\u2019ll come of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know there\u2019ll be a lot of talking and a lot of discussion as well as analysis around what\u2019s missing in our local food systems and how we can get council and State and Federal Government to help.\u201d<\/p>\n
The coalition is expected to meet five times in 2023, and expressions of interest to join are open for submission by emailing hsplanning@ballarat.vic.gov.au before Monday, 3 April.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A NEW group that includes representatives from the region\u2019s food industries as well as not-for-profits and government has been formed with the aim of strengthening Ballarat\u2019s food system. A partnership between the City of Ballarat and Sustain: The Australian Food Network, the group is known as the Ballarat Local Food Coalition. Food is Free director […]<\/p>\n