To address the food insecurity crisis in Central Victoria the City of Greater Bendigo will lease land currently occupied by the Bendigo Pony Club to Bendigo Foodshare to build a Food Warehouse, with the possibility of a Community Food Hub to be built in the future.
Bendigo Foodshare rescued over 740,000kgs of food in 2021 that would have once ended up in landfill, and through its 240 volunteers and over 260 partner organisations, distributes food to around 13,000 vulnerable people in Central Victoria each week.
In addition to individuals and families, food is also provided to schools, kindergartens/child care centres, neighbourhood houses and both large and small charities.
The food collected by Foodshare is primarily surplus food from a wide range of food businesses, such as supermarkets and food retailers, hospitality businesses, food manufacturers and agricultural businesses and growers.
The lease is in regards to land currently occupied by the Bendigo Pony Club, located on the corner of Breen Street and Belle Vue Road.
The plans for the Food Warehouse would not fill the entire location, allowing for the remainder to be a community use space.
City of Greater Bendigo Healthy Communities and Environments Director, Stacy Williams, said the City is proposing to enter into a nine-year lease with Bendigo Foodshare for the site and for the construction of a new Food Warehouse.
“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,” Ms Williams said.
“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.”
Bendigo Foodshare, CEO, Michelle Murphy, said Bendigo Foodshare’s vision is to create a place where people can come together to consider issues of food insecurity, share ideas, access locally grown produce, and learn to cook, grow and share food.
“After almost ten years serving the Central Victorian community we have outgrown our current location in Havilah Road, Long Gully and look forward to moving to purpose built, new facilities in Golden Square,” Ms Murphy said.
“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.
“Many thanks to the Greater Bendigo community for their ongoing support and contributions, be that food, funds and partnerships. Together we all make a difference to individuals and families who are doing it tough.”
The warehouse has the potential to grow into a Community Food Hub at a later date.
