Hepburn Shire Council (Council) has announced the receipt of a $93,000 grant from the Victorian Government through Sustainability Victoria for a research project on compost quality from the Creswick Transfer Station and the beneficial effects in Council-managed parks and gardens.
Council will work with Gaia Envirotech to optimise compost production to achieve the highest possible quality compost. Soil in parks and open spaces will be tested before and after compost application to determine the beneficial microbial and chemical change in soil health achieved by applying compost.
Encouraging healthier soils and trees leads to improved climate resilience. Climate-resilient soil increases plant performance and optimises canopy cover, which enables plants to tolerate changes in climate and subsequent impacts such as increased flash flooding, drought and heatwaves.
Bradley Thomas, Council’s CEO, said that Council is proud to support actions which champion Victoria’s transition to a circular economy, and implementation of Council’s Sustainable Hepburn strategy.
“The project will enable Council to carry out a scientifically rigorous study of soil and tree health after applying compost generated from our organics collection to a range of Council-managed parks and open spaces,” said Mr Thomas.
The study will inform a business case assessing different investment pathways for using the compost within Council’s operations, potential availability for residents, landcare groups and farmers in the Shire.
Part of the project will be the production of several short videos informing residents how their food and garden organics can be used to benefit the Shire and how important their collaboration is, particularly with avoiding contamination.
For more information on Circular Economy within the Hepburn Shire, visit Circular Economy Hepburn Shire Council.
This article is based on a media release from Hepburn Shire Council.
