Moonee Valley City Council is proud to be the first Victorian council to host bee hives on council building roofs through a ground-breaking ‘Moonee Valley Bees’ program.
Moonee Valley Mayor, Andrea Surace said, with bee populations in decline around the world, Council was working to protect its local bees.
“The installation of our own bee hives builds on our commitment to rehome problem swarms found on Council land wherever possible, either in our own hives or to a local bee keeper.
“Bees are responsible for 65 per cent of the fruits and vegetables at the supermarket. And while Australia isn’t currently at risk of colony collapse, we must do all we can to support both native bees and honeybees to ensure our agriculture remains strong.”
Beehives, built by the Aberfeldie Men’s Shed, have been installed on the roof of the Kellaway Avenue Neighbourhood Centre with the Incinerator Gallery roof to follow next.
The bees will pollinate flowers in nearby Queens Park and Aberfeldie Park and produce delicious honey. Council hopes to expand the program to other buildings in the future.
The bees will be housed using innovative Flow Hive technology that allows the honey to be harvested just by turning on a tap with minimal disturbance to the bees.
Council encourages residents to get involved in the bee project by plant bee-friendly flowers in the garden, reducing or eliminating the use of herbicides or pesticides when gardening, or installing a native bee hive or insect hotel.
