Ms VAGHELA (Western Metropolitan):
My constituency question is directed to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change and Minister for Solar Homes, the Honourable Lily D’Ambrosio, MP. My question relates to the minister’s portfolio responsibilities for energy, environment and climate change.
Grant recipients under the Recycling Victoria councils and communities funds will receive more than $4 million in grants to be shared between 50 projects.
The 50 funded projects led by not-for-profit organisations and councils will see councils and communities working together to deliver tangible community benefits, actively re-use materials diverted from landfill, and strengthen local economies through the creation of more than 70 jobs.
My question to the minister is: can the minister please provide an update on the environmental benefits this grant funding will bring to the Western Metropolitan Region?
The funds are delivered under Recycling Victoria, the Labor government’s $380 million action plan which will fundamentally reduce waste, boost jobs and establish a recycling system Victorians can rely on into the future.
RESPONSE:
Hon Lily D’Ambrosio MP (Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change and Minister for Solar Homes) (16 November 2021):
The Recycling Victoria councils and communities funds support councils and communities to identify and pursue local opportunities for improving material use and management and participate in a circular economy. The funding for communities and councils will engage communities to improve recycling and reduce waste generation and support regional growth and community connectivity. The projects will improve social inclusion through local initiatives that support repair cafes, product sharing and community composting.
Five successful projects were awarded in the Western Metropolitan Region valued at $429,932 that will divert over 14,000tpa of waste from landfill and create over eight permanent jobs:
Circular Economy Victoria Inc: $58,562 to support the City of Hume community in transitioning to more circular ways of living by making changes at a local government, industry, and community level
Fixable Pty Ltd: $48,040 to establishing a website comprising of a directory of local repair businesses, repair amateurs and hobbyists; a marketplace to buy, sell, rent, lend, borrow and give away spare parts, tools and repaired items; and a community channel to make repair and reuse easier for residents, businesses and organisations
Shanghai Rebel/Assembled Threads: $58,330 to establish a community manufacturing hub to make high-visibility industrial uniforms from recycled PET plastic and deliver them in bio-degradable compostable bags
Wyndham City Council: $15,000 to establish a business case for a mobile community shed to share items such as camping gear and gardening equipment
Wyndham City Council: $250,000 to establish a new resource recovery centre to process timber, green waste, cardboard, concrete, soils and other recyclables
Tangaroa Blue Foundation: $202,890 – Covering seven LGA areas, including Wyndham, Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong, this project targets upstream sources of pollutants by installing and monitoring at-source litter traps in stormwater infrastructure, analysing what is collected and working with the community to put in place Source Reduction Plans to stop specific litter from entering the environment, and waste stream, in the first place.
Applications are currently open for Recycling Victoria Councils Fund Round 2 and close on 9 December 2021. Please visit the following website for further information: https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/grants-funding-and-investment/grants-and-funding/recycling-victoria-councils-fund-round-2-stream-1-feasibility