Canberra and South East Region Environment Centre

The Canberra and South East Region Environment Centre is an Australian community environmental organisation associated with Canberra and the surrounding south-eastern region. Established in 1974, it is described as the oldest environmental organisation in the Australian Capital Territory. It was created as an umbrella body intended to represent, connect and provide services to environmental and environment-related community groups. Over time, its membership and associations have reflected the breadth of the regional environmental movement, including organisations concerned with organic gardening, bird conservation, grasslands, forests, bushwalking, national parks, zero waste and active transport. The organisation was originally known as the Canberra and South East Region Environment Centre, commonly abbreviated as CASEREC. In 2005 it adopted the trading name Canberra Environment Centre, a change intended to better describe the organisation’s community direction and the contemporary work of the environmental movement. The historical name remains important because it identifies the organisation’s regional origins and its role as a network and support centre rather than as a single-issue campaign group. CEC’s work has included community engagement, sustainability education, practical projects and support for groups, schools, businesses and individuals seeking to adopt more sustainable practices. Its activities have covered active transport, cycling, local food systems, gardening, waste reduction and sustainable living. Past initiatives included The Art of Moving, which used creative approaches to explore active transport; Go Green Get Lean, a cycle-to-work program; and Food for Life, which promoted local food production and consumption. More recent activities described in reference material include Grow Together, a kitchen-garden program delivered in three ACT childcare centres, and the Bike Recyclery, a community enterprise selling second-hand bicycles while providing employment opportunities for people with disability in collaboration with LEAD Canberra. The Centre also has a public education and information role. It operates or has operated sustainable-living workshops and community events, including the Annual Canberra Harvest Festival. Its premises contain a substantial environmental library described as the largest dedicated environmental library in the ACT, with more than 5,000 printed items and electronic resources. The collection documents environmental and sustainability issues as well as the environmental and development history of Canberra and the surrounding region. CEC has occupied community premises near the Australian National University since the late 1970s. In 2007, redevelopment undertaken jointly by the ACT Government and ANU led to its relocation to premises in Acton near the ANU campus. The organisation has also maintained an affiliation with the Conservation Council of the ACT. Its historical network has included the Canberra Organic Growers Society, Canberra Ornithologists Group, Friends of Grasslands, Nature and Society Forum, Zero Waste Australia, South East Forest Alliance, Canberra Bushwalkers, the National Parks Association of the ACT and Pedal Power. The Centre has contributed to environmental discussion through publications as well as direct projects. It published the journal Bogong from 1980 to 2001, focusing on environmental issues of local significance. It later produced Ecoview in 2002 and 2003, although that publication ended after three issues. Newsletters published under the former regional name during 1988–1992 are preserved in Australian library collections. The organisation’s overall positioning is that of a community-based environmental hub: it combines practical sustainability programs, environmental information, collaboration with local organisations and public participation rather than operating as a commercial product brand or a narrowly focused advocacy body.

The Canberra and South East Region Environment Centre was established in 1974 as an umbrella organisation for environmental and environment-related groups in Canberra and the surrounding south-east region. Its original purpose was to provide a common platform, representation and practical services for local environmental organisations. This network-based model allowed groups with different priorities—including conservation, organic gardening, forestry, waste reduction, national parks and active transport—to share information and strengthen community environmental work. In 1978, the ACT Government provided the Centre with premises in community space adjacent to the Australian National University. The location supported the organisation’s role as a public-facing environmental resource and placed it close to academic and civic networks. During its history, groups associated with the Centre included the Canberra Organic Growers Society, Canberra Ornithologists Group, Friends of Grasslands, Nature and Society Forum, Zero Waste Australia, South East Forest Alliance, Canberra Bushwalkers, the National Parks Association of the ACT and Pedal Power. The Centre also developed an affiliation with the Conservation Council of the ACT. From 1980 to 2001, the organisation published Bogong, a journal dealing with environmental matters of local significance. It subsequently launched Ecoview in 2002–03, though only three issues were produced. Newsletters issued under the Canberra and South East Region Environment Centre name between 1988 and 1992 are held by the National Library of Australia, while copies of Bogong and Ecoview are held in Australian library and heritage collections. In 2005, the organisation changed its trading name to Canberra Environment Centre. The change reflected a more locally focused public identity and the direction of its community work. The former name continued to identify its historical and regional role. Rather than concentrating solely on environmental campaigning, the Centre increasingly emphasised practical sustainability projects, education, partnerships and community participation. The Centre’s premises were affected by redevelopment of the site in 2007, when the ACT Government and ANU jointly redeveloped the area. The organisation moved to premises in Acton on the edge of the ANU campus. The new location housed a major environmental library containing more than 5,000 printed items together with electronic resources. The collection included material on sustainability, environmental issues and the environmental and development history of Canberra and the surrounding region. CEC’s projects have addressed transport, food, gardening, waste and community enterprise. The Art of Moving used creative media to encourage discussion of active transport. Go Green Get Lean supported cycling as a means of commuting, while Food for Life promoted local food production and consumption. Grow Together introduced kitchen-garden activities in three ACT childcare centres. The Bike Recyclery combined reuse and community access to bicycles with employment opportunities for people with disability through collaboration with LEAD Canberra. The Centre has also delivered sustainable-living workshops and organised recurring events such as the Annual Canberra Harvest Festival. A number of prominent environmentalists, academics and practitioners have been associated with the Centre, including Steve Dovers, Kerrie Tucker, Valerie Brown, Val Plumwood, Ian Fraser, Robin Tennant-Wood, Janis Birkeland and Gerry Gillespie. Reference material identifies Kirsten Miller as president of the Management Committee and Ryan Lungu as director. The organisation’s continuing role is that of a community environmental centre serving Canberra and its regional networks through education, practical programs, information resources and collaboration.

1. 2007Relocation to Acton

   Following redevelopment undertaken by the ACT Government and ANU, the Centre moved to premises in Acton near the ANU campus.

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2. 2005Trading name changed to Canberra Environment Centre

   The organisation adopted Canberra Environment Centre as its trading name to better represent its community direction and contemporary environmental work.

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3. 2002Ecoview introduced

   The Centre began a successor journal, Ecoview, which was discontinued after three issues.

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4. 2001Bogong publication ends

   Publication of Bogong concluded after a run that began in 1980.

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5. 1980Bogong publication begins

   The Centre began publishing Bogong, a journal covering environmental issues of local significance.

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6. 1978Community premises provided near ANU

   The ACT Government provided the Centre with premises in community space adjacent to the Australian National University.

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7. 1974Organisation established

   The Canberra and South East Region Environment Centre was formed as an umbrella body for environmental and environment-related groups in the ACT and surrounding region.

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A Canberra-based, community-oriented environmental hub focused on practical sustainability, environmental education, local ecological knowledge and collaboration among community groups, schools, businesses and individuals.

• Grow TogetherCommunity gardening and environmental education

  A kitchen-garden program delivered in three childcare centres across the ACT. The initiative uses gardening and food-growing activities to introduce children and communities to local food production, environmental care and sustainable everyday practices.

• Bike RecycleryBicycle reuse and social enterprise

  A community bicycle initiative that sells second-hand bikes and supports bicycle reuse. The program also provides employment opportunities for people with disability through collaboration with LEAD Canberra, linking environmental benefits with social inclusion.

• Environmental libraryEnvironmental information service

  A dedicated environmental library containing more than 5,000 printed items and electronic resources. Its holdings cover sustainability, environmental issues and the environmental and development history of Canberra and the surrounding region.

• BogongEnvironmental publication1980

  A journal published by the Centre from 1980 to 2001, focusing on environmental questions and developments relevant to Canberra and the surrounding region.

• EcoviewEnvironmental publication2002

  A later publication launched in 2002 as a successor to the Centre’s earlier journal activity. It ended after three issues.

• The Art of Moving

  Australian Capital Territory

  A community engagement project that used creative media to encourage discussion and participation around active transport.

  Outcome. The project broadened public engagement with active-transport issues through creative and community-based activities.

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• Go Green Get Lean

  Australian Capital Territory

  A cycle-to-work program designed to encourage commuting by bicycle and connect personal transport choices with environmental sustainability.

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• Food for Life

  Australian Capital Territory

  A local food initiative promoting local production and consumption as part of a more sustainable food system.

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• Annual Canberra Harvest Festival

  Canberra

  A recurring public event focused on local food, sustainable living and community participation.

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• 2007Relocation following site redevelopmentOther

  The ACT Government and the Australian National University jointly redeveloped the site where the Centre had occupied community premises.

  What changed. The Centre relocated to premises in Acton near the ANU campus.

  Aftermath. The Acton premises housed the organisation’s major environmental library and continued its public information and community sustainability role.

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• 2005Adoption of the Canberra Environment Centre trading nameStrategy

  The organisation considered its public identity in light of the direction of the environmental movement and the work it was undertaking with the community.

  What changed. It changed its trading name from Canberra and South East Region Environment Centre to Canberra Environment Centre.

  Aftermath. The new name placed greater emphasis on Canberra and the organisation’s community-facing sustainability work, while the former name remained its historical identity.

  Source

1. Canberra and South East Region Environment Centre
2. Bogong records, National Library of Australia
3. Newsletter of the Canberra and South East Region Environment Centre, National Library of Australia
4. CEC Strategic Plan 2013–2017