New grants power PICAL's growth

Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre's (PICAL) thriving Pantry Garden at Blue Gum Reserve is now powered up with a new solar and battery system.

Funded through recent grants from VICHealth and Bass Coast Shire Council, the garden will now be able to expand its capacity and sustainability, while also further enhancing community resilience.

The Pantry Garden plays a key role in addressing local food insecurity by propagating and supplying produce directly to PICAL's Emergency Food Relief Pantry. The pantry provides essential support for more than 340 local families each month.

Managed by a team of 30 dedicated local volunteers, the Pantry Garden grows over 30 kilograms of fresh produce every week, ensuring families in need have access to fresh, healthy food.

The solar panels - installed thanks to VicHealth's Growing Healthy Communities initiative - will help the volunteer-led site move toward greater self-sufficiency.
"This funding allows us to keep growing - literally," says David Rooks, PICAL Centre Manager.

"The solar panels reduce our ongoing costs and help us focus resources where they're needed most to support locals who are doing it tough. The funding is helping us to strengthen food security and community wellbeing across the island."

The spirit of PICAL's Pantry Garden strongly aligns with both VicHealth's focus on strengthening local food systems and Bass Coast Shire Council's commitment to building resilient and sustainable communities.

The centre's environmentally sustainable approach - composting waste from its Emergency Food Relief Pantry and operating within circular economy principles - ensures that every part of the process benefits both people and the planet.
Building on the benefits of the new solar panels, a battery was also installed thanks to funding from Bass Coast Shire Council.

Now part of Bass Coast Shire Council's Energy Resilient Community Hubs Network, the Pantry Garden is better equipped to provide power during outages. These upgrades will help ensure PICAL is ready to keep its lights on, doors open and the community connected when it matters most.

In addition, PICAL received a Bass Coast Shire Council Round-2 Community Grant to support improvements to its common room which is also located at the Pantry Garden.

The improvements will include new plumbing and a kitchenette to provide a more functional space for programs, meetings and volunteer activities.

"These projects all tie together. With solar panels, batteries and improved facilities, we're building a stronger, more resilient community hub, one that can support people in good times and bad," concludes David.

PICAL offers the main emergency food relief service on Phillip Island. These new investments will help it continue to provide vital support while also fostering connection, sustainability and wellbeing for years to come.

Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre operates at two sites: 16 Warley Avenue, Cowes, and Blue Gum Reserve, 119 Settlement Road, home to its Pantry Garden, Coel's Shed, Workshop and Common Room.