Upper Murray Regional
Neighbourhood
House Network
5 Aug 2024
From informal discussions with volunteers and staff, a true community-led project has emerged in Mt Beauty, led by Mt Beauty Neighbourhood Centre.
Informal discussions between Mt Beauty Neighbourhood Centre staff and volunteers voicing concerns about searing summer temperatures across the world prompted the MBNC Committee and staff to undertake the Cooler Places Pilot Project for the Upper Kiewa Valley. The idea was to set up accessible and supported cool safe spaces that people could access during a heat wave to get out of the heat.
Bringing together a range of community stakeholders, including MBNC, Alpine Health, Alpine Shire, Men’s Shed and Red Cross, a working group was formed who worked with Susan Benedyka, Managing Director of The Regional Development Company, to develop the Cooler Places plan.
The group worked over several months to review heatwave models and plans, understand the complexity of national, state and local government heatwave requirements, understand local needs and expectations, and gain community understanding and support. Despite several unexpected challenges, the group has been able to achieve some real successes:
• 26 volunteers signed up and ready for action
• Venue readiness – three venues have been identified spread across the Upper Kiewa communities
• Willingness of various community organisations to participate
• Local Doctor promotes the program on Alpine FM’s The Pale Blue Dot program as part of her discussion of heat impacts on community
• MBNC Committee dedication and support
• Program leadership and advocacy
• Responsive MBNC team – project support, logistics, preparedness, publishing, etc.
• Alignment of this initiative with other community initiatives, programs, events, partnering such as TREK (Towards Renewable Energy Kiewa) Safer Place of Last Resort generator launch, Community Resilience Picnics, Alpine FM emergency preparedness, Connecting Community Talking Café