An innovative new partnership project being delivered by the Coorong District Council, South Australia (SA), will bring weekly deliveries of fruit, vegetables and meat back to Coonalpyn residents for the first time since the local supermarket was closed in 2010.
The Coonalpyn Fresh Food Project (CFFP) will kick off in 2020 thanks to a $17,600 grant from the State Government’s SA Healthy Towns Challenge.
In order to deliver the new program, Council will work alongside the Heart Foundation, regional producers, local businesses, Australia Post, the Coonalpyn Primary School and local community champions – each playing a significant role to help improve the wellbeing of the Coonalpyn community.
Earlier this year a report was released from the Heart Foundation, which noted that the Coorong District Council local government area had the highest rate of death from heart disease in South Australia, and second highest nationally.
Coorong District Council Mayor, Paul Simmons, said that these alarming statistics, coupled with feedback from the local Coonalpyn community about lack of access to fresh food, were the catalysts to take action on the issue.
Under the scheme there will be weekly deliveries of fresh food to Coonalpyn for people to order and then collect from a convenient and refrigerated location. The grant funding will go towards purchasing the storage and refrigeration equipment that is needed, as well as setting up easy ordering and information systems so that people know how to access it.
“The Coonalpyn Fresh Food Project is an example of our Council thinking outside the square when it comes to delivering local health programs, which will make a real difference to the lives of those living in isolated areas.”
The Coonalpyn Fresh Foods Program (CFFP) will complement a range of other wellbeing initiatives of Council, including the Conversations Matter suicide prevention programs, new and improved recreational facilities/trails (which encourage physical activity), support for sustainable sports clubs and the Coorong Healthy Highways program (to name a few).
Council will review the program after six months, and if successful may look to roll it out across the district to other small towns without a local supermarket in place.
