National recognition for Scenic Rim Farm Box

The Scenic Rim has picked up a major national award for strengthening the region's disaster resilience through popular 'farm to you' home delivery service, Scenic Rim Farm Box.

The Scenic Rim Regional Council won Highly Commended in the hotly contested 'National Local Government Award' category at the Resilient Australia Awards 2020 in Canberra on Friday, 4 December for its support of Scenic Rim Farm Box.

City of Hobart won the category for its Resilient Hobart project, Shire of Bruce Rock also won Highly Commended for its Bruce Rocks' Community Supermarket and other national finalists were Ipswich City Council for its Emergency Management Animation Series and Gunnedah Shire Council for its Success in Building Community Resilience initiative.

The national recognition for the Scenic Rim came after Council won the Local Government category in the Resilient Australia Awards (Queensland) in October.

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said it was a credit to the region.

"The Scenic Rim should be collectively proud to be recognised not just at a Queensland level, but to now also receive national recognition for the heart and soul our producers have poured into sharing the Scenic Rim's world-class produce with consumers far and wide," he said.

"Scenic Rim Farm Box was launched at a time when local producers were losing valuable income as a result of the global pandemic, and Scenic Rim Farm Box went a long way to filling the gap caused by both the cancellation of Scenic Rim Eat Local Week and loss of business as supply chains and restaurants closed due to COVID-19.

"The initiative was designed to fill the gap caused after COVID-19 forced the cancellation of Scenic Rim Eat Local Week, which pumps $2 million a year into the region's economy and attracts close to 40,000 visitors.

"At the time of winning the Queensland award, Farm Box had already seen steady growth in the number of participating suppliers, offering over 240 different product lines available for purchase, it had generated 18 direct casual jobs, equivalent to 10 full-time positions and additional indirect jobs supported by the 50 businesses which supply produce to the operation.

"What's truly exciting is that that this COVID-19 pivot has created a successful enterprise which will continue to go from strength-to-strength beyond the pandemic, and which has created a wonderful supply chain to support the Scenic Rim's producers and to delight consumers across south-east Queensland."

Scenic Rim Farm Box General Manager, Genevieve Windley, said the real winners were the farmers, foodies and suppliers to the project.

“This project has created a permanent way for consumers to connect with the talented producers who call the Scenic Rim home," she said.

"Farm Box has introduced new customers to the regional produce and has also introduced new people to the region.

"We believe the benefits are multi-faceted - from produce sales right through to increased tourism visitation due to the regional awareness created by Scenic Rim Farm Box.

“The positives have been extensive - from job creation and local investment to regional promotion. We’re thrilled this project has been recognised on a national stage."

The award was collected on behalf of Council by Brenda Walker, Manager for Regional Prosperity and Communications, with flights and accommodation covered by the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience.