Past Projects

We were established in 2007. We became Incorporated in May 2008. We set up a number of Action Groups as a result of small groups of people having a desire to pick up an issue in the community to encourage others and improve sustainability within COGB.

In 2009 we set up a number of Action Groups: Sustainable Food, the Farmers Market, Education, Craft, Renewables and Beyond Carbon Bendigo.
In February we ran a Family Fun Day where over 200 attended and later in the year we ran a Sustainable Homes Tour.
In 2009 we also ran a bulk buy solar panel scheme for households in partnership with Strathfieldsaye and District Community Enterprise which resulted in over 100 houses with panels. There was also a bulk buy of solar hot water systems.
The Annual Report for the year reported 600 members.

In 2010 we were responsible for establishing the Bendigo Community Farmer’s Market. We also ran our first Sustainable Community Festival at Pepper Green Farm in partnership with Bendigo Eco Living (Bendigo Access Employment) thanks to a grant ($50,000) from Bendigo Celebrates Sustainable Living.
In 2010/11 we partnered with “Refit n’ Save” thanks to a grant ($28,000) through the Central Vic Greenhouse Alliance, to assist households to make energy smart and cost-effective choices.
Thanks to two other grants – Solar Hubs and Climate Communities we were able to fund a number of activities throughout the year.
We brought Rod Quontock to the Capital Theatre to promote Sustainability.
We used the LaTrobe Visual Arts Centre to provide sessions for the community on ‘Windows and Glazing’ and later, on ‘Low Energy Lighting.’
We ran the Bendigo Business Sustainability Program at the Capital Theatre to promote ‘Grow Me the Money’ with prizes offered for innovative actions. This was funded by a grant through VECCI($45,000), which continued through to 2012.
We also created ‘Women in Sustainability Leadership Program’ thanks to a grant ($16,000)
In 2010/11 we ran a bulk buy solar hot water scheme for households. This resulted many new systems.
Over this same time period, we ran a second bulk buy of solar panels with the “Goldfields SolarHub” which resulted in 650 Bendigo households installing solar PV systems making Bendigo households well above the State and National average. This was funded by a grant ($457,000) from Solar Vic.
The BendiGO Tap Action Group was formed to raise awareness of the problems of using bottled water. It was well supported.

In 2011 we were involved with presenting the ‘Peppergreen Farm Festival’ in March.
We partnered with other local groups to ‘Rally for Climate Change’ to coincide with Tony Abbott’s visit to Bendigo.
We ran the ‘Bendigo Community Sustainability Awards ‘with Paul Hawken as guest speaker in the Town Hall, which followed a Business-Peoples lunch where he also spoke.
We also ran Repower Bendigo late in the year.

In 2012 we ran a ’Big Solar Poll’ where 750 local people were polled about their interest and knowledge of solar power.
In 2012/13 we were involved in ‘100% Renewables’ campaigns.
We again sponsored Rod Quontock for his ‘Pardon My Carbon March’ at BRIT.
We presented the ‘Smart Energy Fair’ in July, and we also ran a successful large raffle to raise funds.

In 2013 we ran the Sustainable Living Festival in February.
In March we brought back Rod Quontock for his ‘PEAK-A-BOO & CATCH CO2′.
We manned a stall at the Bendigo Home Show to promote our group.
We ran an information session on smart meters at the Capital Theatre in October and later the ‘BIG BSG BARGAIN weekend. To this we added an ‘Energy Expo’ at Peppergreen Farm.
We ran the Bendigo Community Sustainability Awards in November as well as a ‘Climate awareness Picnic in Rosalind Park.

In 2014 we ran a ‘Rally for Renewables’ in Hargreaves Mall in September and ‘Bendigo Climate Picnic’, as part of World Action.
Sustainable House Day was run in October.

In 2015 we ran a ‘Resilient Community & Volunteering Workshop through the Bendigo Volunteer Resource Centre in May.
We were involved in a ‘Food Hub Community Expo’ in June and the ‘Bendigo Sustainable House Day’ in October.
In 2015 the BSG was one of the first community organisations in Australia to use crowd funding to raise $25,000 to enable the successful installation of a 20KW solar panel system on the Bendigo Library. This installation is owned by BSG and allows the library to receive cheaper power and BSG to generate a small income. The process took over three years to complete.
We also ran “Energy Efficiency” sessions (50) for households and also installed energy displays for those who were on low incomes or disadvantaged. As well we also set up an “Energy Efficiency Pop Up Shop” (supported by Vic Gov) so that once a month people could have their energy bills assessed.

In 2016 we ran the ‘Bendigo Community Sustainability Awards in March in the Bendigo South-East College Theatre with Phillip Johnson as guest speaker.
BSG raised $17,000 through crowd funding for an 11KW solar system on the Discovery Centre. In fact we raised quite a deal more than aimed for.

In 2017 BSG project managed the installation, funded by a local charity organisation, of a 50KW system on the Bendigo Tramways depot. We were also involved in the installation of 30KW solar system on the Bendigo Archive Centre.
At this time, we were also involved in a feasibility study for Pumped Hydro, along with COGB, to be situated in the Bendigo Central Deborah gold mine. As yet no further action has been taken.

In 2018 BSG was one of three community groups in Victoria to be awarded funding to set up a “Community Power Hub” pilot program. This was an initiative of the State Government and was delivered through DELWP and Sustainable Victoria. The budget for BSG was $255,000. In a period of three years, supported by Crowd Funding, solar power systems were installed on Community sports buildings and Social Housing, providing them with cheaper power.
Achievements of the CPH pilot program include:
• 15community energy projects financed and commissioned
• 1.35MWof renewable energy capacity installed
• 1,705MWh of renewable electricity generated each year
• Saving community project sites $364,000 in electricity bills each year
• 114 public events and meetings held
• 200 businesses and organisations engaged
• More than 20,000 connections made in the community.
• In total, the CPHs generated more than $14.5million of value from the program within the two-year pilot period, creating a 13-to-1 leverage on the government investment in the program. Over the 25-year life of the projects commissioned during the two-year pilot, this benefit will accrue to a value of $25.6 million (net present value). This equates to $22 of value for $1 of government funding.

In 2020 BSG was awarded a contract to provide a small 2MW solar farm. This project continues.
Action Groups
Since inception BSG has ‘sponsored’ a number of Action Groups. Some of these have grown and been hived off from BSG eg. Bendigo Farmers’ Market, The Ironbark Gully Friends).
Some have achieved their aim and ended. The most recent being ‘Boomerang Bags’ which produced reusable bags for shopping, from unused or recycled fabric.
Our longest running Action Group is ‘Bendigo Family Nature Club’ which provides fun in the bush for kids and their families with guided adventures and exploration of local area flora, fauna and geology.
Our most recent Action Group is the ‘Bendigo Repair Café’, where people can have their items repaired to keep them from going to landfill. In the Pipeline is a ‘Tool Sharing Action Group’.

Since early days BSG has provided a number of premier events:
Since 2011 we have run the Sustainable House Day most years, even managing to run in 2020 through the use of Zoom and YouTube. Sustainable House Day has continued to grow in numbers attending and we are very appreciative of those allowing their properties to be viewed or visited as well as those attending.

Since 2011 we have run various forms of Sustainable Living Fairs. This has not been possible each year, but many have been successful. This has developed into “The Sustainable Living Festival” which has been organised over the last five years and we have continued to grow it each year. Unfortunately, it had to be cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID19 pandemic. We had a big success running the 2021 Fair at the Bendigo Garden for the Future with a large number of stalls and attendance close to 1000 people.
Before each State and Federal Election, we have run Candidate Forums to check on their Sustainability Values.

On a number of occasions, we have run a successful Sustainable Awards Evening, but it has now been decided to terminate our involvement in running such awards.

BSG has also promoted Sustainability through the running of regular events throughout the year. These have been titled: “Docos for Difference” and “Sustainability in the Pub”. Docos for Difference has generally involved the viewing of a film followed by discussion. Sustainability in the Pub has generally involved a guest speaker and the chance for discussion. These events generally alternated throughout the year. Whilst not widely attended, topics covered have been wide ranging and numbers sufficient to keep going.