Summary of the Sustainable Nimbin Community Plan (SNCP)
History of the SNCP
The Sustainable Nimbin Community Plan (SNCP) was first developed by the community in February 2009, and was revised and updated in June 2011 and most recently revised again in November 2015.
The SNCP arose initially from a 2009 workshop around climate change and peak oil, which was held in Nimbin following the successful 2008 Solar Packaging project – a partnership between Nimbin Neighbourhood and Information Centre (NNIC) and Rainbow Power Company. (55 Nimbin households installed residential solar arrays, plus 2kW arrays on the Town Hall and NNIC).
Around 60 people attended the workshop over two days and the first Sustainable Nimbin Community Plan was born.
From that Plan came the Nimbin Solar Farm, the Nimbin Food Security project (Farmers Market, Grain Mill, Equipment Library, invigorating the Nimbin Ag Show etc), the first community baseline survey, each of the subsequent events have seen many of the aspects of the previous plan achieved.
Over 100 people attended the Sustainable Nimbin planning day in June 2011 and around 70 people attended the Nov 2015 workshop to revise and update the SNCP. The subsequent 2016-2021 SNCP was widely circulated and people who were unable to attend on the day were able to contribute to it..
The Nimbin Bio-region
The SNCP covers the Nimbin bio-region which is identified as capturing approximately a 30km radius around the Nimbin village and a population of at least 4,000 people – up to 6,000 people.
The catchment area of Nimbin is identified via statistics from NNIC, Nimbin Police, Nimbin GP Clinic and Nimbin Hospital, indicating around 6000 people utilise services in the Nimbin village. For example, although the population of the village is less than 400 people, around 3,000 people come to NNIC alone for services each year (not counting tourists).
The SNCP Overview
The overall aim of the SNCP is that Nimbin is a sustainable community.
The issue of Sustainability is broken into 9 Key Focus Areas, each with a Key Result – ie the ultimate desired outcome under each area. Each Key Result is further broken down into a number of goals for each Area, and then numerous strategies and activities are identified under each goal.
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The Key Results and the Goals for each Focus Area under the Sustainable Nimbin Community Plan are identified as follows:
Arts and Culture: The community celebrates diversity and encourages participation and involvement through arts and culture.
Goal 1: Permanent art and culture collection/s are established and
Goal 2: Arts and culture thrives – is fostered, promoted and supported.
Goal 3: Nimbin’s public art is maintained and supported.
Economic Development: A local economy that allows and enables people to achieve their employment and skills aspirations and generates environmentally sustainable and innovative jobs and industry.
Goal 1: There is a strong and appropriate tourism industry that showcases the community’s cultural diversity and sustainability achievements.
Goal 2: There are strong local training capacity and capabilities.
Goal 3: There are diverse local employment opportunities and economic activities.
Goal 4: Nimbin businesses and local culture are effectively represented in decisions relating to the economic development of the community.
Ecosystems And Biodiversity: A clean environment, with high biodiversity and
ecosystem integrity.
Goal 1: A thriving natural environment which is preserved and protected and its biodiversity fostered and rebuilt.
Goal 2: A community that is well informed and educated about environmental issues.
Energy: A community which is self-reliant in our energy needs with a minimal
ecological footprint and a model for other communities.
Goal 1: Local production, local storage and local distribution of renewable energy is optimised.
Goal 2: Energy demands of the community are minimised.
Goal 3: Community Awareness and Energy Literacy is high.
Food and Farming Security: The community actively participates in ensuring an abundant, local and resilient food and farming network for all.
Goal 1: At least 50% of food consumed locally is locally and sustainably grown/ produced.
Goal 2: We Grow Good Tucker – there is an emphasis on quality and nutritional value.
Goal 3: The Community is engaged in local groups which work together and which work cooperatively with all local farming stakeholders. No-one is left out!
Goal 4: The community is well educated about local and regional food and farming security issues.
Health and Well Being: INCLUSION – INTERACTION – INTEGRATION
Goal 1: Resident inclusion and utilisation of health and welfare facilities and resources is maximised.
Goal 2: There is a high level of interaction and participation by all in community
life.
Goal 3: There is a cutting edge local integrated and holistic health and wellbeing model/system.
Housing and the Built Environment: There are safe, affordable and environmentally sustainable and varied housing choices for all ages, linked by appropriate transport corridors and serviced by facilities and enterprises that support the ethos of Nimbin and surrounds.
Goal 1: There are a range of safe, affordable housing options available for everyone, especially our young people, the elderly and people on low incomes.
Goal 2: There is a well-connected skill base in the community to support housing and the built environment.
Goal 3: Buildings and their surrounds are sensitive to and provide a ‘liveable’ environment. Goal 4: The community has strategies in place to manage risks of disasters such
as fires, cyclones and floods.
Social and Political: A community that is autonomous, mutually inclusive and
respectful of all life.
Goal 1: Community mechanisms exist which empower the residents of Nimbin to exercise more control over community outcomes.
Goal 2: There are an agreed Community Charter of ethics and behavioural standards based on respect for each other, the environment and future generations.
Goal 3: We recognise and build on community leadership skills and strengths.
Goal 4: The culture and aspirations of the Indigenous community are integrated
into the social and political fabric of Nimbin.
Transport: A carbon neutral transport system which promotes social inclusiveness by integrating a walkable village, vehicles powered by renewable fuels, cycling and horse riding.
Goal 1: The efficiency of existing transport options is maximised.
Goal 2: The community has access to sustainable transport options.
Goal 3: The transport needs of the community are reduced and road conditions improved. Goal 4: The community has access to a range of non-vehicular transport/movement corridors between housing and services.
The Role of NNIC
NNIC has a stewardship role over the SNCP. NNIC reports on the progress against the goals of the SNCP to the Nimbin community via eg our website, face book and the Nimbin Good Times, has been collecting baseline and subsequent data to enable measurement of any progress (e.g. 20% increase in local food production since 2009).
There are many people and groups in the community who are progressing the goals of the SNCP.
In terms of NNIC’s own work, NNIC has prioritised the Sustainable Living Hub project as it has the potential to link up at least 4 Key Focus Areas of the SNCP (Energy, Food Security, Economic Development and Housing).
For more info see our website www.nnic.org.au
Click here to download the full Sustainable Nimbin Community Plan.