Transition Workshop Update
2nd August 2018
The first three Transition Workshops have now occurred, with the topics of waste, social enterprise and energy being the focus. Below is a summary of what took place and some ideas about what you can expect to see emerge.
Waste Workshop – July 12
The first of the three Transition Apollo Bay workshops was well attended by those interested and passionate about our environment and reducing waste. Attendees came to the meeting well-prepared with ideas and projects in mind. After a range of topics were discussed, they were grouped into the following categories, with a sub-committee established to oversee the progress of each:
- Commercial organic food waste and business advice:
- Finding a solution for commercial organic food waste, including composting;
- Educating and provide resources to local business on how to reduce plastic;
- Using coffee grounds for food growing.
- Repair café and Tip Shop:
- Establishing a Repair Café;
- Looking at how the existing Tip Shop could be grown to be more effective;
- Establishing a platform to repair items currently going to landfill.
- Residents Reducing Waste:
- Encouraging and educating residents to reduce household waste;
- Creating a Book Street Library
Each subgroup has agreed to meet independently to discuss ideas and how they will move their projects forward.
If you’re interested in getting involved with Apollo Bay’s own “War-On Waste”, please send an email to
Artisan Coast and Social Enterprise Workshop – July 16
There was a great turnout to the second workshop in the series, dedicated to discussing the notion of an Artisan Coast and Social Enterprise. Attendees came from a range of backgrounds and perspectives and were happy to share their vision for the group. The ideas that were raised and discussed included:
- The need for places for artists to create and showcase their work;
- The creation of a skills-register of artists and artisans;
- How to better market and promote local artisans;
- The involvement of Arts Inc.;
- Establishment of relationships with other galleries and other locations;
- The possibility of staging an artisan event/focus on the foreshore over summer;
- Hosting an artists’ retreat during winter that ties in with Winter Wild;
- Investigating mechanisms for local artisans to make money and boost income.
It was agreed that the meeting content leant heavily towards the Artisan Coast topic, and that another meeting to specifically address Social Enterprise and establish a vision to embrace a diverse range of ideas broader than the arts should be scheduled.
The meeting closed with a number of actionable items and a date for a follow-up meeting was set for the 10th of September.
For more information on how you can share your ideas or get involved, please send us an email at
Energy Workshop – July 17
Our third and final workshop in this series saw a number of participants welcomed with the objective to establish a group to develop a community energy program in the Apollo Bay area.
It was discovered that a group called the Apollo Bay Renewable Energy Group (ABREG) already exists, with a shared vision around topics such as solar, on and off-grid, wind generation, hydro and other generating alternatives, installing PV on public buildings and community energy trading.
There was lots of healthy, productive discussion, which lead to the formulation of the group’s goal to match a minimum of 100% of Apollo Bay's energy (electricity) usage, with locally generated renewable energy.
A number of objectives were also set, as well as determining a path to move forward:
Objectives:
- Facilitate the development of a local renewable energy generation model;
- Facilitate the community's energy awareness;
- Advocate effectively for the community's energy needs;
- Identify strategic opportunities in the energy industry and attract investment;
- Facilitate the knowledge, ability and capacity of members to participate;
- Enhance the community's influence in accessing support from larger authorities.
The group has since had a follow-up meeting and will continue work on investigating funding opportunities, educating the community around options for private solar installation, formulating a strategy for establishing a community energy supply retailer and looking into power trading options.
For more information about energy, feel free to contact ABREG at
The Transition Apollo Bay Steering Committee is delighted with the progress made to date and will have an open meeting in October to advise the community of the progress of its objectives. There will be a small amount of funding that is available to projects under the Transition Town umbrella. Stay tuned for more details about the Open Meeting here on the Apollo Bay Community Website!
To keep in touch with what’s happening with Transition Apollo Bay or to find out how you can be involved, send your details to