In general, the Vietnamese and Chinese population of the inner western suburbs have had limited exposure to government and other community based sustainability programs. Consequently, this sector is largely unaware of many of the basic sustainability messages and various sources of information and assistance, and has relatively low levels of sustainable behaviour.
This project will allow Quang Minh Temple (QMT) to utilise a range of sustainability initiatives, those already established at the site, and an organic waste management system to engage and empower QMT patrons and visitors to the site to adopt sustainable behaviours and technologies in their domestic and business environments.
Temple management has also found that introducing sustainable practices is an effective way of utilising limited resources to run the activities of such a large centre. The Temple produces approximately 4,000 litres of green waste every week. To capture this green waste and turn it into an ongoing source of fertiliser would help the garden and show the community how sustainability is not just about saving resources but also about transforming resources into gold.
Following establishment of the organic waste management system, QMT will be able to show by example community level.
Waste management: organic treatment of significant levels of green waste to produce water and worm castings for revegetation activities and to establish community food gardens on the site and community engagement programs will be develop.
Programs at QMT will include innovative, targeted community engagement activities in Vietnamese and English to increase understanding of and improve uptake of sustainable behaviours. Specifically, training of volunteers in the management and use of the organic waste system will be a priority.
A ‘Buddhist teaching and sustainability’ sub committee with representatives from within the temple will be formed, and the QMT will act as a model to other groups, business’ and ethnic organisations by hosting forums to show how other Buddhist temples could run similar programs
Key external stakeholders to the project have been identified as City West Water (CWW) and Maribyrnong City Council (MCC).
Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 September 2009 00:49