Green groups, locals and council members officially opened Bellingen’s new sustainability centre last Monday.
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Named ‘The Stables’ it aims to be a hub for community groups across the shire to use as a co-working space, for meeting and networking, and as an “incubator for ideas and projects”.
Key to the centre’s fruition is Ms Lisa Seigal. She said the place would become a place for shire locals to visit and learn about innovative ideas and projects that build resilience and local/global sustainability.
“The opening of the Bellingen Sustainability Centre ‘The Stables’ is the culmination of a four year process that started with the idea of turning Bellingen into the most sustainable town in Australia,” Lisa said.
“But sustainability isn't only about environmental sustainability … it is also about personal sustainability and the economic sustainability of our community.
“That is why The Stables is the home to 15 different organisations … and this is growing. The centre will act as an admin hub, a co-working space, a workshop space, and just a general place to gather and be inspired.”
Also present at the launch was Belingen Shire Council’s general manager, Liz Jeremy.
Council supported the project, initially through the development of a feasibility study and now through the provision of the building itself in collaboration with y2A.
“In this world of constant change and the need for adaptation it is often hard enough to get outcomes within one organisation or group,” Liz said.
“So it is important to reflect and celebrate that the Bellingen Shire Learning Alliance (BSLA) is a shire-wide alliance of multiple organisations working collectively and independently to create a culture of lifelong learning for sustainability and ecological balance.
“It is fantastic that the centre will be true to its values and come to life in a building that has had a number of lives … I hope it will become an integral part of the revitalisation of our beautiful town.”
Through already dubbed a great facility for Bellingen and the community, Lisa said that the sky was the limit in the ways that it could benefit the shire and she called on all to come and join.
“We can't wait to involve more people – and make this a true centre of learning and growth for all members of our community,” she said.
