Bendigo Foodshare has been working with the City of Greater Bendigo, Bendigo Community Farmers Market and other key stakeholders on developing a Food Hub for Central Victoria since 2015. A business case was commissioned that identified the need for a food hub to address several problems related to food insecurity, food waste and a lack of market access for local producers.
In summary, the business case found a Food Hub was important to Central Victoria to increase the supply of food relief; build the capacity of disadvantaged people to meet their food needs; increase recovery of food waste; and to link local producers and consumers.
The Golden Square site was identified as a suitable site for the Food Hub by the City of Greater Bendigo back in 2019 and a master plan of the site was developed for the project by Y2 Architecture in collaboration with key stakeholders.
The site was chosen as it is only 2km from the Bendigo CBD, which ensures the Food Hub is inclusive and accessible by car or public transport to the many volunteers, community members and organisations who will use it on a daily basis.
