Session 1 was a great success, thanks to everyone who attended. Come along to the Blackburn Lake visitor centre Saturday July 18th from 11am for session 2. 

The Sustainability Street Institute Inc. is pleased to announce that a three year evaluation of Sustainability Street Approach (SSA), by the Victoria University, has reported outstanding accomplishments by participants, both environmentally and socially...

• environmentally, communities achieved robust waste and water reductions and, an incredible 30 – 40 % greenhouse gas reduction, with one particular community achieving 49%.  Known as "Beacon Communities", in terms of  culture/behaviour change thinking, it is groups of people such as these SSA Villages who “demonstrate what’s possible”, which in turn is the backbone of peer on peer education and influencing.

• Socially, using Department of Victorian Communities, ‘Community Strengthening Indicators’, the evaluation suggests … “that Sustainability Street makes a significant contribution to community connectivity and resilience" ... making the environmental Beacon even more meaningful?

The evaluation (Taking Sustainability to the Streets - Final Evaluation Report for the Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (NAGA) Sustainability Street Program, 2005-2008 ) by the Victoria University demonstrated that significant average sustainable living results were achieved across participants' households ...

•    energy use: 30-40% reduction with one particular community achieving 49%,
•    water use: 25% reduction and
•    waste reduction: 15-20% from an already low base.

In addition to these reductions, which were well in excess of municipal averages, participants also made significant contributions to biodiversity, including a three-fold increase in use of local native plants in gardens. There was a 70% increase in the purchase of ‘small ticket’ items such as compost bins and worm farms and a 50% increase in the purchase of ‘big-ticket’ items such as solar hot water systems, solar electricity systems (PV Cells), and energy efficient vehicles. The uptake of House insulation – wall & roof increased an astounding 68%.

In terms of any culture/behaviour change, it is groups of people such as these SSA Villages who “demonstrate what’s possible”, which in turn is the backbone of peer on peer education and influencing. As well as significant environmental outcomes, the Evaluation shows that considerable community strengthening outcomes were also achieved. 

Using Department of Victorian Communities, ‘Community Strengthening Indicators’, the Evaluation suggests that … “all of the above evidence suggests that Sustainability Street makes a significant contribution to community connectivity and resilience. There is considerable evidence, both in the specific community strength and connectivity indicators… that Sustainability Street local communities of interest active, confident and resilient and levels considerably above the municipal and state-wide averages. The Building Better Communities program objectives of assisting communities to shape their own future, encourage participation and embrace diversity, within the context of their own streets and local communities, has been well demonstrated in this project.”

Sustainability Street participants also reported the following; more sharing of resources, knowledge and skills, feeling more secure, knowing people's names, feeling more connected, feeling better about their community,  and increased opportunities to socialise.

They were at the same time more engaged with other community and environmental events.

For more details, please download sustainability_st_evaluation_final_draft_feb_09.

Also, the City of Willoughby, Sydney Sustainability Street Report by Erika Van Schellebeck: click to download.