Sustainability groups

There are lots of great sustainability groups and local projects happening in Yarra. Get involved and make a difference in your local community.

Compost Mates

A community based roster for collecting and composting café kitchen scraps.
Contact name: Glenda Lindsay
Contact number: 0419 375 161
Email: homeplanet@ozemail.com.au

Gordon Street Sustainability Group

A local sustainability group for residents of Gordon Street Clifton Hill
Address: Gordon Street, Clifton Hill
Contact name: Crina Virgona
Email: crina.virgona@yahoo.com.au

Friends of the Earth

A community-based organisation which works towards an ecologically sustainable and socially equitable society. A number of groups meet weekly to discuss various topics.
Address: 312 Smith St, Collingwood
Contact name: Cam Walker/ Mara Bonacci
Contact number: 9419 8700
Email: foe@foe.org.au
Website: www.melbourne.foe.org.au

Holden Street Neighbourhood House

Holden Street Neighbourhood House has been retrofitted to become an eco-demonstration house and holds occasional workshops and open days.
Address: 128 Holden Street North Fitzroy
Contact name: Jacinta McManamon
Contact number: 9489 9929
Email: holdensnh@internode.on.net
Website: http://www.users.on.net/~holdensnh/

Melbourne Girls’ College Sustainability Collective

Meets monthly on the second Wednesday from 6.00- 8.00pm at the college (enter via gate two). The group is open to all interested community members.
Address: Melbourne Girls’ College Yarra Boulevard, Richmond Vic 3121
Contact name: Mr Andrew Vance
Contact number: 94288955
Email: avance@mgc.vic.edu.au

North Fitzroy Community Gardens Group

We enjoy growing our own fruit and vegetables using sustainable organic horticultural practices and foster the sharing and development of a diversity of gardening skills.
Contact name: Tony Milton
Email: rushallgarden@gmail.com
Website: http://rushallgarden.wordpress.com

Richmond Community Learning Centre Greener Houses Group

Richmond Community Learning Centre (formerly the Burnley Neighbourhood Centre) is being retrofitted to become an eco-demonstration house.
Visit the centre to see what changes have been made, and join the group to learn more and contribute to the project.
Address: 92 - 94 Lord Street
Contact name: Debbie Firestone
Contact number: 9428 9901
Email: rclc@internode.on.net

Second Chance Cycles

Second Chance Cycles is a community bike workshop based at the Collingwood Underground at Harmsworth Street, Collingwood.
Second Chance Cycles recycles bikes for the local community keeping people mobile and reducing bike-related landfill.
It also provide hands-on practical training and can be booked for sessions.
Bikes are sourced from police (stolen and unclaimed) but donations are also welcomed.
Second Chance Cycles is supported by Council through the community grants program.
Enter via the ramp under the community garden.

Transition Town Yarra

The Transition Town movement is a worldwide response to the challenges of peak oil and climate change. It aims to assist communities in building a localised, safe and sustainable future. Residents in Yarra are together looking at solutions to growing more food locally, creating low-energy homes, reducing car use and general waste, increasing recycling, sharing skills, getting to know neighbours and lots more. While Transition Town Yarra is not active at the moment, there is a Facebook page set up and new members are welcome to join and get things moving again.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Transition-Town-Yarra/176701035674948
Email: transitiontown.yarra@gmail.com

Yarra Bicycle Users Group

Yarra Bicycle Users Group Inc. is a community voluntary organisation located in the City of Yarra.
If you want to get involved with local bicycle issues or want to know more about cycling, feel free to contact us.
YarraBUG also has a weekly radio program every Monday at 10am on 3CR Community Radio. The program is also available as a podcast via iTunes.
Contact name: Chris / Steve
Contact number: 0407 825 467 / 0439 600 350
Email: enquiries@yarrabug.org
Web: www.yarrabug.org
Radio: www.yarrabug.org/radio

Yarra Climate Action Now (YCAN)

Yarra Climate Action Now! is an independent community group based in inner-city Melbourne made up of individuals who are concerned about the climate crisis. Our general meetings are on the second Wednesday of the month in Fitzroy.
Contact name: Pablo Brait
Contact number: 0421 011 182
http://ycan.org.au/
email to info@ycan.org.au

Yarra Environmental Sustainability Network for Community Organisations

The YES Network aims to increase the capacity of community agencies working in Yarra to provide effective, collaborative and just responses to environmental issues. The Network is open to all community organisations in Yarra. It holds training for members and meets bi-monthly.
Contact name: Louise Sadler
Email: Louise.Sadler@nych.org.auu

Yarra Riverkeeper Association

The Yarra Riverkeeper Association is an effective, independent public advocate for the Yarra River and its tributaries. Membership is open to any individual or group.
Contact: Ian Penrose
Contact number: 0448 927 720
Email: info@yarrariver.org.au
Website: www.yarrariver.org.au

Yarra Urban Harvest

This local and active group meets monthly around a Garden Produce Swap Table. All are welcome to bring along any excess produce and swap it for something else on the table. Swap home-grown fruit, veg, seeds, seedlings, recipes & gardening tips, 10.00am-12.30pm, first Saturday of the month.
Address: Meets first Saturday of the month at Smith's Reserve next to the Fitzroy Pool.
Contact name: Peta Christensen or Glenda Lindsay
Contact number: 0411 899 618 or 0419 375 161
Email: peta@cultivatingcommunity.org.au or homeplanet@ozemail.com.au

www.yarraneighbourhoodorchard.org

Further information
Sally MacAdams
Community Sustainability Officer
9205 5769
Sally.Macadams@yarracity.vic.gov.au