Community organisations
Learn more about local community organisations
Hepburn Relocalisation Network
The Hepburn Relocalisation Network is a community group based in the Hepburn Shire. The group is dedicated to encouraging skill and knowledge sharing, and community-building events, seeking to build resilience and community in an era of climate change and resource depletion.
Hepburn Wind is the owner and operator of Australia’s first community-owned wind farm, at Leonards Hill, about 100km north-west of Melbourne, just south of Daylesford Victoria. The 4.1 MW wind farm hosts two turbines called Gale and Gusto, who produce enough clean energy for over 2000 homes. Hepburn Wind is now developing solar and looking at opportunities for battery at the Leonards Hill site.
SHARE – Sustainable Hepburn Association
Sustainable Hepburn Association – Renewing the Earth (SHARE) is a not-for-profit, community association run by volunteers. SHARE has around 500 members and is focused on the Shire of Hepburn, Victoria, Australia. SHARE was the initiating organisation of Hepburn Wind in 2006 and they continue to be active in events, festivals, education and projects promoting sustainability in the region.
Transition Creswick has worked to build a more resilient and connected local community. They run community dinners, film and presentation nights, a food swap, garden blitzes and have engaged the local council on issues of waste, recycling and home energy issues. Transition Creswick is leading the Z-NET Home Energy Assessments and Energy Savvy Upgrades program.
Trentham Sustainability Group seeks “to inspire, inform and support our local community to meet their needs without compromising the needs of future generations”. The group has grown into a broad network of people, seeking to build a more caring and resilient community able to face the challenges posed by climate change. The Trentham Sustainability Group has a focus on the following priority areas: community energy and sustainable housing, waste management and resource recovery, local food and farming (including the Trentham Food Hub) and biodiversity and conservation.