A Surf Coast beekeeper will install a second hive on the rooftop of City Hall following a “successful” honey harvest recently.
Surf Coast Honey owner Tony McNamara has so far extracted about 4kg of honey from the first City Hall hive.
Council’s sustainability portfolio holder Sarah Mansfield congratulated Mr McNamara on the harvest.
“I’m so pleased with the results of the Geelong Bee Project so far and to see that Tony’s hive has been such a success that we’re now adding another,” she said.
“There has been a dramatic decline in global bee populations over the past decade, so this is a great initiative for the City to be involved in.
“We hope the project is helping the community to understand the value of bees, and we’d love to see more buildings in the CBD hosting hives in the near future.”
The honey from the first harvest will go on sale online and at markets under the brand Geelong Bee Project (Town Hall Honey).
Using the honeycomb from the hive, Mr McNamara is also making organic hand cream and other cosmetic products.
His initiative – The Geelong Bee project – aims to help rejuvenate the city’s urban environment by installing beehives on rooftops.
City Hall became the first building to host a hive in May 2018, with Mr McNamara to install a second hive there in coming weeks.
Planning is underway for further hives at other council-owned buildings, including Geelong West Town Hall.
The colony of bees is also pollinating flowers and plants in Johnstone Park and surrounds, according to council.
