Commerce Ballarat is Ballarat’s largest independent voice for local businesses. It works hard to represent its members, including advocating for local business interests at all levels of government, providing professional development and networking opportunities, acting as a central point for resource sharing, and giving back to the community in numerous ways.

Last year, in a move both clever and kind, Commerce Ballarat partnered with Fifteen Trees to make sure the environment wasn’t forgotten during the 2019 Ballarat Business Festival. For every survey completed during the event, Commerce Ballarat committed to plant one tree. As a result, 120 trees were recently planted, as part of a larger project, at Campbell’s Bridge near Callawadda.

The trees will contribute to the start of a biodiversity project that will see more established plantings joined by native habitat to a nearby dam. Providing a safe wildlife corridor between shelter and water is essential for most species’ survival, especially in dry climates like the Wimmera. Linking vital resources also prevents species existing in islands, where they can become more vulnerable to disease, predators, or inbreeding. This doesn’t just include animals and birds either – insects, fungi and plants use habitat corridors too. The end result of a well-planned wildlife corridor project is a complex, resilient, balanced ecosystem with the capacity to sustain itself.

Commerce Ballarat understands the importance of working together for the common good to build resilience. It also understands how a bit of a push in the right direction – a connection made over a meal, an idea that sprouts in a workshop, an issue raised in the right place at the right time – can grow into something amazing. Every single person who filled in a survey last year has done their bit toward making the next Ballarat Business Festival even better. And alongside that, they have made a real and lasting difference to the non-human residents of Campbell’s Creek.

Here at Fifteen Trees, we are always happy to have a chat about the best way to incorporate tree planting into a one-off event. It’s a lovely way to connect with the broader community, offset some of the event’s environmental impact, and show that your event is serious about sustainability. If interested, please get contact Colleen at <[email protected]>.

Writer – Sarah Hart.

Sarah is an artist whose passions include the stories and experiences of women and narrative driven creative work. Her aim is to delight, to reveal glimpses of everyday beauty, and to celebrate flights of the ordinary. Sarah works across a range of media, with an abiding interest in pen and ink, mixed media and the human form. You can find Sarah here.