Ben Courtice moved to Maddingley for a tree-change. The Moorabool Environment Group president tells Sumeyya Ilanbey he’s never looked back…
What’s your connection to Moorabool?
I live in Maddingley – I moved four years ago. I was in Footscray for a very long time. I wanted a tree-change, and Maddingley’s also a nicer place. It’s also cheaper to live here, giving me more options for what to do with my time and money.
What’s your favourite thing about living in Maddingley?
Probably the Werribee River that goes near my house. Maddingley is a big open space; it’s got wildlife and native vegetation, and you can meet a lot of the people living around here when you go for a walk.
What would you change about the area if you could?
I’d like to have better public transport options and cycling networks to cut traffic from the roads. We don’t have any good facilities for either of those in Bacchus Marsh at the moment. I look at the suburban homes that are being developed near Bacchus Marsh and it’s quite depressing to see how houses are built – I think we need better sustainability standards, things like passive solar uses, electricity instead of gas – they’re not mandated at all and they should be.
Where’s your favourite place to hang out in Moorabool?
The Lerderderg Gorge – it’s only 10 kilometres from my place, but you can get lost from civilisation. It’s also peaceful and quiet. And I’m studying ecology, so there are all sorts of interesting things.
How did you get involved with the Moorabool Environment Group?
I used to work for an environment group in Melbourne so I was aware of MEG. Soon after I moved to Maddingley, I got involved. And the issues of coal mines were directly concerning to me because, if a new mine had been approved, it would have been less than a kilometre from my house.
What sort of a future would you like to leave to younger generations?
I think the main thing is a future that isn’t experiencing climate change. You can do some things in your own home and lifestyle, but we really need national and international action to stop burning fossil fuels as soon as possible.
Do you think people are becoming more aware of the consequences of not looking after the environment?
Yes. There was a very vocal climate change denial movement several years, but increasingly I find nobody’s paying attention to it. I think it’s because of a combination of things – people’s experience of changing weather and enough facts filtering through the media and educational institutions. But one without the other wouldn’t have worked.
MEG details: www.mooraboolmeg.org.au
