A re-elected Andrews government will fund the establishment of a Foodbank hub in Ballarat, the Victorian Labor Party announced on Wednesday.
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The promise includes an investment of $10 million to establish two new Foodbank Hubs in Ballarat and Morwell.
The Courier understands $5 million of the Foodbank funding would be allocated to the Ballarat hub.
The funding promise for Foodbank Victoria follows the Ballarat Foundation’s campaign to secure $1.5 state government funding to establish the Ballarat Food Security Centre.
Ballarat Foundation chief executive Matt Jenkins said the foundation would consider what the Labor commitment meant for their proposal once further details of the funding were released.
”The Ballarat Foundation has been a strong driver along with a number of other local food agencies through the Food Access Network to create solutions for our region’s food insecurity problems,” he said.
“We believe the Food Security Centre proposal we put to the local candidates – both Labor and Liberal – will be a major driver in helping deal with the issue. The foundation will consider what the Labor commitment means for our proposal once further details become available.”
Labor candidate for Wendouree Juliana Addison said a new food hub would extend Foodbank’s fresh food supply and improve access to fresh fruit and vegetables in Ballarat.
“Local families should never have to go without fresh food. That’s why we’ll make sure Foodbank can deliver more food to more people across our community,” she said.
Access to fresh food was revealed as a priority for those experiencing food insecurity in a Ballarat Community Health report released in April.
Of the 100 people accessing emergency food relief surveyed for the Impacts of Food Insecurity in Ballarat report, more than 70 per cent believed they should be eating more fresh foods but said they were too expensive to buy.
The Victorian Liberal-National Coalition promised to contribute $1.5 million to the Ballarat Foundation for stage one of the Ballarat Food Security Centre if elected earlier this month.
The Ballarat Foundation’s plans for the Food Security Centre extend beyond a Foodbank Hub to preventative measures, including facilities for food education, training and employment for vulnerable youth and a city farm and kitchen garden.
Australian food relief organisation Foodbank announced in April it would partner with the Ballarat Foundation to run the site, which the foundation plans to be based at the Ballarat West Employment Zone.
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Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
