Delivering improved access to fresh and affordable food is the aim of a new project supported by the Hodgman Liberal Government.

A $100,000 election commitment is helping to establish eight new food co-operatives through Neighbourhood Houses to promote healthy eating in their local communities.

The new co-operatives will complement a range of activities funded by local, state and federal governments on food security, dirt to plate and improving nutrition at the community level.

Neighbourhood Houses Tasmania has worked with Eat Well Tasmania and the Heart Foundation to support this project and to help these eight Neighbourhood Houses to establish food co-operatives.

Today, a group workshop was held to further progress the co-operatives and to share ideas and skills.

The successful Neighbourhood House food co-operatives proposals are:

• Geeveston Community Centre and Maranoa Heights Community Centre will operate wholesaler boxes that will be dropped into their respective Neighbourhood House.
• Bucaan Community House will bulk buy produce and operate a food co-op model supplemented from Goodwood Community Centre’s garden. Consideration is being given to using learner driver mentors to assist with delivery.
• Dunalley Neighbourhood House will partner with Okines Community House’s existing wholefoods model with a move to include food and vegetables.
• Northern Suburbs Community Centre – Rocherlea is planning a food cart/trailer that will be set up in community locations, such as local schools, so community members do not need to come to the Neighbourhood House.
• Deloraine House will be adding value to an existing project by creating access to excess/waste fruit and vegetables from back yard fruit trees and vegetable gardens. They will bring together people to make preserved products such as jams and bottled fruit.
• West Moonah Community House will leverage off the success of Goodwood Community Centre and Bucaan Community House and extend the reach of their activities to the West Moonah area. The West Moonah activities will commence when their building works are completed.

We congratulate all of these Neighbourhood Houses on their success and wish them well with their food co-operatives, which will be of great benefit in their communities.
Jacquie Petrusma, Minister for Human Services