2019-05-07 P&E Agenda - Item 3 - Attachment 1 - Noosa Sustainability Institute - Concepts and Options Report

6. Macarthur Centre for Sustainable Living
http://www.mcsl.org.au/




Institute model – Physical centre: Macarthur Centre for Sustainable Living, 1 Mount Annan Drive,
Mount Annan NSW 2567
Active organisation – NA
Background – The Macarthur Centre for Sustainable Living (MCSL, the Centre) is a not-for-profit,
community-driven organisation supported by local Macarthur Councils and the Royal Botanic
Gardens & Domain Trust. MCSL is primarily an educational facility and model for sustainable
technology. They provide an attractive community place where visitors can see sustainability in
action, have access to experts and opportunities to develop their own knowledge, interests and
understanding in sustainability.
Mission – To develop MCSL into a regional place of excellence that inspires the community to
embrace an environmental conscience.
Governance structure – The Macarthur Centre for Sustainable Living is a non-profit company
limited by guarantee. The Board of Directors meets on a monthly basis to steer the project at a
strategic level. There are six directors, three from the Royal Botanic Gardens & Botanic Gardens
Trust and three representatives from Campbelltown, Camden, and Wollondilly Councils.
Funding – Principally Government (Campbelltown, Camden, and Wollondilly Councils).
Sponsorships form the community and others are also sought.
Selection criteria – Selection was predominantly because of the very strong community focus, but
there is the opportunity for a research component. The Centre focuses on being a showcase for
sustainable homes and gardens, with the goal of promoting sustainable living. The Centre is entirely
self-sufficient - generating its own power, recycles and reuses all rain and waste water, and manages
all organic waste on site. For researchers there are opportunities to investigate, for example, aspects
of the use of renewable building materials or organic gardening methods. It is an example on how
the community can see sustainability in action, have access to experts, and have opportunities for
visitors to develop their own knowledge, interests etc.


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