ecoSAVVY is supporting the Renew Townsville initiative by providing probono assistance with grants and fundraising applications.

• To find out more about Renew Townsville visit www.renewtownsville.com
• Or contact Renew Townsville Project Coordinator:
  Donna Sutherland
  Mob: 0404 430 467
  Ph: (07) 4721-2488
  Email: donna@urbanitedesign.com.au

Overview

The Renew Townsville project is designed to facilitate low cost, community driven, urban renewal. It works by connecting the energy of community and creative groups, the property industry and local stakeholders such as councils, traders’ associations and NGOs. Using those networks, Renew Townsville places those running creative and socially beneficial initiatives in otherwise empty buildings and shop fronts, simultaneously providing them with the space to deliver services to their community whilst reactivating street fronts and encouraging inclusive, vibrant public spaces.

How it works

Renew Townsville is modeled on the nationally and internationally acclaimed Renew Newcastle model. The model is characterised by three things:

1. Agreement is reached with commercial building owners to allow new creative and social enterprises to be incubated in empty buildings and shop fronts on a rolling, thirty day License to Access agreement. The “custodians” pay no rent or lease, but cover utilities, undertake an agreed caretaker role and cover their own running costs. The agreement protects landlord tax concessions, avoids the legal complications of a lease and ensures Renew tenants can vacate the premises quickly should a commercial tenancy arise.
   
2. The tenants implement their enterprises and, in doing so, provide services to their community and activate otherwise empty buildings and street fronts. The goal is to incubate new projects, encourage local creativity and foster non or low profit, socially beneficial initiatives by giving them space without the complexities and financial burden of a formal lease. Prospective tenants are chosen based on their capacity to work within the Renew parameters and share our goal of encouraging safe, inclusive hubs of public life.
   
3. The management of this process is undertaken by ‘Renew Townsville, a not for profit company limited by guarantee, that has a part time paid coordinator, a board and involvement from a range of individuals and stakeholders from the wider community on a consultative, voluntary and/or probono basis. Renew Townsville Limited provides a legal entity capable of managing the license agreements, insurance and compliance with relevant safety regulations. The group also facilitates and supports relationships between the stakeholders, including the property industry, community groups, creative entrepreneurs, local council and traders associations to identify high quality potential tenants.