About the Hobsons Bay Eco-Expo

We are local residents of Hobsons Bay, and we want to inspire others to live more sustainably by encouraging everyone in the community to think more carefully about transport choices, waste reduction, water and energy saving. We are past participants in the ‘Building Communities’ community leadership program - and we love where we live!

As many people in Hobsons Bay are aware, in November 2006 an Eco-Expo was held in Seaholme at the Altona Sports Club in conjunction with the Seaholme Sustainability St Group. The event was a great success that attracted around 150 local residents, with 23 local community groups and businesses showcasing their activities. It also won an award from the Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria Council in 2007, being highly commended in the Community Pride category.

A survey that we asked attendees to fill in on the day attracted 105 responses, where people told us about their management of water, energy and waste in their homes. The results of the survey were submitted to Council in early 2007 as a benchmark measure of people’s environmental awareness and sustainable practices in Seaholme in 2006.

The Hobsons Bay Eco-Expo in 2009 hopes to build on our experience in 2006, and take the approach municipality wide. In the last couple of years, many municipalities across Victoria have begun to run their own local Sustainability Festivals (eg Stonnington’s Sustainable Living Expo in April this year).

Our proposal is that the Eco-Expo 2009 will be Hobsons Bay wide, but still maintain an emphasis on community and people getting to know each other, and learning more about ways that everyone can help lessen their environmental impact on a day to day basis. The Eco-Expo will be a stimulating and informative display of local community organisations, products and services that are good for the environment, communities and local economies. It will show how individuals can make positive changes at home, what local groups are doing, and municipal-wide strategies being adopted by Hobson’s Bay City Council. It will be an opportunity to show how industry and the community can work in partnership to promote sustainable living practices and strengthen community spirit along the way.

The event will be organized by local residents in conjunction with the Seaholme Sustainability Street group, and past Building Communities Leadership Group participants, with planning already well underway. We hope to pique the interest of many of the Hobsons Bay Sustainability Ambassadors as well. It will be widely promoted throughout the community via newspapers, newsletters, flyers, promotional boards and door-knocking.

Join the throng! Come to the Eco-Expo in November! Help organise it!

And we're off and running.

Let us know if you'd like to get involved.

Love where you live!