Community education

The Sustainability Centre will act as an education and media centre. It may serve as the public face of the Sustainable Maleny Project, collecting and distributing information, hosting courses and workshops, demonstrating sustainable systems and showcasing renewable energy technologies.

We could look into applying for a grant to employ a sustainability officer who would go to schools and other interested organisations to give them information on sustainable living and ways to prepare for climate change and peak oil.

The Centre could run demonstrations on systems and technologies such as:

• Water conservation
• Water heating
• Insulation
• Recycling
• Passive solar design
• Lighting
• Photovoltaics
• Composting toilets

The Centre could develop and run 'reskilling' workshops on subjects such as:

• Food preserving
• Food storage
• Bread baking
• Weaving
• Soap making
• Green cleansers
• Basket making
• Cheese making
• Home vegetable growing

The Centre could start from humble beginnings, such as the kiosk on Maple Street once a fortnight. Later, it could find a permanent home with the Maleny Town Farm.