Why Gloucester? - Click Here
Is The Gloucester Project incorporated?
Yes,we are incorporated as a non-profit association under the NSW Associations Act of 1976. Our Constitution is largely based on the Model Rules as provided under the Act, but with some modifications to reflect our particular situation. Copies of the Constitution, as well as other information about The Gloucester Project, can be downloaded from this site.
Our title "The Gloucester Project" is a legally registered name.
Is Gloucester first off the mark?
There are already examples worldwide of similar initiatives operating at the local community scale. For further information you could visit some of the websites listed below. We believe, however, that we are one of the early starters in Australia, if not the first.
The Transition Network: "The transition model emboldens communities to look peak oil and climate change squarely in the eye and unleash the collective genius of their own people to find the answers to this big question" ......visit their website Transition Towns Program
Who will manage The Gloucester Project
Initially, the Gloucester Project Association will take the lead role in getting early research and development initiatives under way. As the programme gathers momentum, we envisage that the association will be supported by one or more sub-committees, consisting of local representatives and experts from outside the area. This will depend on the scope and scale of Research and Development (R & D) funding. The association will invite membership from residents and supporters.
Members of the present management committee are listed in the contact section of this website.
Is Gloucester Shire Council involved?
Yes! Council has resolved to support the Gloucester Project. This will involve assistance in securing support of Government funding for R & D programmes, and oversight of grants where this is a requirement of the funding body
Will outside agencies be interested in The Gloucester Project?
A research and development project in a community which has a balanced mix of rural, industrial, commercial, and service enterprises, together with comprehensive recreational, social and environmental characteristics, is well placed to investigate ways for each of these elements to adjust to change. The community becomes a living laboratory, and the results of the program will offer proven examples of adjustments which will be widely applicable.
Agencies offering research capacity, technical expertise and funding support will be sought and their involvement co-ordinated by the co-ordinating unit.
Will the local community be involved?
Certainly. That is the only way it can work. We aim to combine local knowledge, experience and skills with the technical expertise and resources which outside agencies can bring to bear on problems identified by the community.
For more information and a handout please download The Gloucester Project Brochure.
Co-ordinating Unit
The Gloucester Shire Council has agreed to support us to seek government recognition and to assist in obtaining grants from government and private sources. Other community organisations will be invited to support the program.
A co-ordinating body is to be established to identify needs in all apsects of our community and to bring together local expertise, research capacity and funding.
An information unit will gather data and will disseminate information to similar communities.
Funding
Changes can be expensive, especially if new ideas and methods have to be trialled.
Foodgrowers and graziers are at the heart of our 21st Century needs. Whole nations can benefit from new procedures which maintain and increase their productivity and economic viability.
It is only reasonable that the nation and other businesses that stand to benefit share the risks and costs. The burden cannot be carried by the property owner. Governments have anticipated this and have setup grant systems. Private businesses see it is a good investment which will bring returns.
The Gloucester Project will develop a grant identification and application system in consultation with all participants. Gloucester Shire Council has agreed to assist in this process.
We will seek grants and other finance from any appropriate source to address climate change, food supply, energy, water, fuel issues in any part of the community.
Research
There are places where knowledge is brought together and research skills are developed. These places may be businesses which SPECIALISE around their particular commercial interest, or universities and other such agencies which divide their organisations into SPECIALIST faculties and departments.
There is a serious gap between these specialising groups and the real-life situation in a community where on a particular farrn or business, up to 6-8 different specialist bodies of knowledge have to be brought together to create a whole, working, economically viable system.
To date it has been up to individual owners and managers to work out their own needs and to get whatever information is available.
We can no longer afford this slow and haphazard approach.
The Gloucester Project acts as the co-ordinator between the community and its various parts on one hand, and the range of separate services of knowledge and research skill on the other. The Co-ordinating Unit will help bring the specialists together with the property owner and will work out a procedure for getting all the specialist inputs to work together. The aim is to produce an economically satisfactory outcome for the changes which the owner requires.
