MEDIA RELEASE
MONDAY 19 AUGUST, 2024
HEALTHY LODDON CAMPASPE ANNOUNCES MULTIPLE NEW PROJECTS TO IMPROVE HEALTH IN THE REGION
Healthy Loddon Campaspe (HLC), a State Government funded initiative focused on improving health outcomes in the Loddon Campaspe region, has announced a wide range of new projects including two parkruns, two new innovative healthy eating projects, and healthy initiatives in a large number of schools.
Over 20 projects aimed at encouraging physical activity and healthy eating will be delivered across City of Greater Bendigo, Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Loddon, Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander Shires, including:
Introducing the popular parkrun to Heathcote and Pyramid Hill.
Building on the successful HLC Healthy Schools Project in five LGA’s, focused on strengthening physical activity and healthy eating within the school environment.
Expanding the Veg on the Verge project in Macedon Ranges Shire, inviting residents to grow vegetables on their nature strip.
Bringing the Edgy Veg Project to Mount Alexander Shire, showcasing healthy meals at local cafes and restaurants, and providing resources to residents to cook healthy meals at home.
Alicia O’Brien, Coordinator, Healthy Loddon Campaspe said a number of the new projects build on the success of HLC projects previously delivered in the region, whilst other projects will be trialled for the first time based on community feedback and local needs.
“Data from the Active Living Census told us that 62.5% of Loddon Campaspe residents are overweight or obese, and only 13% of adults and 14% of children meet the daily vegetable consumption guidelines,” Ms O’Brien said.
“Delivering this new round of place-based activation projects across our region will help to address these statistics by encouraging and enabling healthy eating and physical activity.”
“HLC is excited to be scaling up projects already successfully delivered in other areas, as well as piloting new, innovative projects that consider the needs of our local communities.”
“A number of the new food-focused projects have also been designed to align closely with the objectives of the Flourish Regional Food System Framework, contributing to the initial stages of the implementation of the framework.”
Detailed planning for the new round of projects is underway. For a full list of the next round of HLC activation projects, visit the Current Projects page on the Healthy Loddon Campaspe website.