New home for Foodshare on the menu

LOCAL food insecurity agency, Bendigo Foodshare, is a step closer to a new home after the City of Greater Bendigo announced it was seeking to lease a plot of municipal-owned land to the organisation.

Currently based in Long Gully, the City’s plan would see Foodshare build new and long touted warehouse on land at Breen Street and Belle Vue Road in Golden Square, the site of the current Bendigo Pony Club.

As part of the deal the City of Greater Bendigo is offering a nine-year lease at the location.

“Bendigo Foodshare’s food warehouse would be positioned nearest to the commercial precinct on Breen Street and will only utilise approximately 15 per cent of the site with the rest remaining public open space for community use,” said municipal director of healthy communities and environments, Stacy Williams.

“Since mid-2020 the site has been home to the Bendigo Community Farmers Market which takes place on the third Saturday of each month and this arrangement would continue and complement the work of Bendigo Foodshare.

“The City is currently working with the Bendigo Pony Club and the Committee of Management of the Goornong Recreation Reserve to relocate the club to Goornong.”

Foodshare has been raising money for the move for a while, and the site was already earmarked for the move.

In September 2021 the State Government gave the organisation $1 million for the project, taking the overall tally raised towards the relocation to $2.8 million.

“After almost 10 years serving the Central Victorian community we have outgrown our current location in Havilah Street, Long Gully and look forward to moving to purpose built, new facilities in Golden Square,” said Bendigo Foodshare CEO Michelle Murphy.

“Bendigo Foodshare has over 240 community volunteers who support all aspects of accessing and distributing food.

“Our volunteers are currently working in cramped, less-than-ideal conditions. The new food warehouse will provide a much-improved environment for volunteers and staff.”