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June 2017
Welcome Winter is here and it is a great time to harvest some of your winter vegetables and make a warming soup or stew. The cold weather is not slowing down everyone down though – as per usual there is heaps going on in the Sustainability world! What’s happening at City Sustainability? We are always busy here at City Sustainability – here’s a snap shot of what we have been working on.
Community Development Fund 2017 Applications for the CDF are now open until the 30th June. This is a great opportunity for incorporated community groups to be granted up to $3000 for their sustainability program. Do you have club rooms that need solar, window tinting or sensor lighting? Does your group have a project they would like to get up and running that demonstrates sustainability principles? Do you want to get the sustainability message out there but need some funding to do so? All of this and much more could be eligible for the CDF. Applying is easy, just go to;
https://www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au/community-funding-programs
New Mural at Lake Pertobe This year the Sustainable Living Festival featured a schools day. On this day students worked with local artist Ella Webb to create this water themed mural which is featured on the Wannon Water sewer station at Lake Pertobe. Pop down and check it out and while you are there take a look at the beautiful Sandpiper mural Ella painted on the other side. Special thanks to Ella Webb, Wannon Water and all the schools who worked with us to make this happen.
New Landcare Facilitator City Sustainability recently welcomed a new member to its team. Matt King is the new Landcare Facilitator who will be working closely with MAD for the Merri and the Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Network. Matt will be based at Warrnambool City Council and will be in the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Welcome Matt!
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Camp out with Conservation Volunteers Australia CVA are looking for volunteers for a project on the Queens Birthday Long Weekend:
South West Bio links Tree planting Long Weekend 10th to 12th June 2017
Come & visit South West Bio links project this June long weekend & lend a hand to this major tree planting. The Glenelg Bioregion in South West Victoria is one of only 15 nationally recognised ‘Biodiversity Hotpots’ and is within Zone 1 of the Habitat 141 corridor. While there are large sections of high conservation value native vegetation secured through numerous parks and reserves, the vegetation is often fragmented, especially across private land.
Participants will stay at the Wannon Scout Camp with transport to and from the site provided by CVA.
For more Information contact Nick Graesser at [email protected] or on 0427 507 551
Garden Planting Winter is a great time to get out and get the vegetable patch restocked and ready for a bumper spring crop. The conditions are ideal to plant the following: Artichoke Asparagus Broad Beans Broccoli Cabbage Cauliflower Garlic Leek Spring Onions Peas Lettuce Onions Radish Rhubarb Snow Peas Spinach
FOGO collection trial coming our way! A trial for the collection of food organics and garden organics (FOGO) will be underway next Autumn if council’s draft budget is adopted.
Almost half (by weight) of Warrnambool’s landfill (garbage) bins consist of FOGO according to our most recent kerbside bin audit conducted in 2014. This figure is also consistent with other council’s kerbside waste bins where a FOGO collection is not provided. Greenhouse gases produced by food waste in Australian landfill each year are equivalent to the emissions of Australia’s steel and iron ore industries combined. Around 76% of waste sector emissions come from methane released from food and green waste breaking down in landfills.
Diversion of FOGO from landfill will equate to significant greenhouse gas reductions for the City. Based on current kerbside waste generation figures and taking into account collection, processing and landfill emissions, there could be a potential reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of more than 4,000tCO2-e annually.
Other benefits of a FOGO collection include composting of material to be used on farms to assist with soil improvement and carbon storage. The trial area is likely to cover an area that represents Warrnambool’s diverse demographics, such as new and established areas, larger and smaller properties.
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South West Healthcare – World Environment Day Public Forum
Environmental sustainability in healthcare involves addressing health system performance in terms of energy and water use and working toward best practice recycling options. Also involved is the need to foster built environments that protect and promote health.
South West Healthcare is currently constructing a therapeutic garden for rehabilitation patients at our Warrnambool Base Hospital and has other sensory gardens within our Extended Care Inpatient Unit at Warrnambool and Merindah Lodge in Camperdown. To coincide with these exciting initiatives, the SWH Environmental Sustainability Committee has invited STEVEN WELLS to speak about the role of therapeutic
landscapes in sustainability & healthcare.
Date; Tuesday, 6th June 2017 Time; 2.30 – 3.30pm Venue; Ace Radio Lecture Theatre, Warrnambool Base Hospital Price; This is a free event RSVP; Environmental Sustainability Project Officer on 5563 4068 or [email protected]
Invitation to join South West Community Energy Inc. South West Community Energy Inc. is a non-profit community association dedicated to taking practical action towards community energy in the South West of Victoria. The group has existed for approximately two years and has slowly built momentum and supporters in the region.
The group is now ready to take the next step and we would like you to join us on this exciting stage of the journey! In June we will find out the result of a grant application we made to the Victorian Government's New Energy Jobs Fund, which if successful, will start a project to build the business case for a community energy project in our region.
The group is a Victorian incorporated association, and has set a membership fee of $25 per member per year. We would love for you to join the group, and have made this as easy as possible by setting up an online payment system.
On Monday 5th of June, our first annual general meeting will be held at 1800 Princes Highway, Rosebrook (near Port Fairy), and paid members will be able to vote on our first official committee and be eligible for election. An agenda will be called for and distributed to members prior to the meeting. For more details please contact Murray Dancey on the South West Community Energy - Group on Facebook or via email at [email protected], or via phone on 0418 725 912.
Connecting People to Nature is the theme for the 2017 World Environment Day
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Gorse: One year seeding = Decades of weeding. Apply now to the Community Gorse Control Program 2017-18. The Victorian Gorse Taskforce has funded local Landcare to assist landholders with property in Moyne Shire and Warrnambool City effected by the regionally controlled weed known as Gorse.
To access details of this incentive scheme contact the Landcare Gorse officer Lisette Mill (based in Koroit at the old Railway Station) on: Mobile number 04 08 712 713 or Email [email protected]
This incentive will expire on 30 October 2017 or until spent - whichever comes first. If the funding amount is used prior to this data the incentive will be unavailable SO Register your interest NOW.
What would you like Warrnambool to look like?
Over the next year Council will, in consultation with the community, develop a 30- year Community Plan. In 2018 the Council Plan will be reviewed to ensure alignment with the community’s long term vision for Warrnambool. Would you like to have your say in Warrnambool’s future? This is a great opportunity and its easy. Just visit www.yoursaywarrnambool.com.au Simples!
National Tree Day Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Network will once again be coordinating a National Tree Day planting event. This much loved annual event will be held on National Tree Day from 10-12pm on Sunday 30th July and is followed by a BBQ. Preparations are underway so keep an eye on Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare's Facebook page over winter for more information.
www.facebook.com/Warrnambool-Coastcare-Landcare-Network
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Kurri Kurri
The Kurri Kurri Co-Op Society is a privately owned and funded organization formed to purchase a block of natural bushland near Naringal with the intention of preserving it for conservation purposes. This was achieved in 1985 and today still boasts a shareholding of approximately 120 members. Members of the society share ownership of the block and can visit the property whenever they wish. The Society is managed by an elected Board of Directors and meets at least 4 times a year and has working bees to maintain the block. Regular newsletters are produced to keep members informed and give reports of activities undertaken.
Our 32 ha bush block was burnt out in the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires, and has since regenerated naturally. It is located about 30 km East of Warrnambool, and is surrounded by farm-land. The block is almost completely ‘unimproved’ apart from a picnic area with BBQ fireplace, water tank and wooden shelter with a shower (cold) and toilet connected to a septic tank. There are two walking trails which transect the block in both directions, and a vehicle access track. The block is linked to the Ralph Illidge Sanctuary by roadside vegetation corridors; thus Kurri Kurri contributes significantly to both the floral and faunal habitat of this region. A number of bird and animal boxes have been erected on trees to provide valuable nesting sites.
To become a member, all you have to do is agree with the purposes of the Society and to purchase a minimum lot of 250, $1.00 shares. Members are obliged to abide by the rules of the Society—but since all are already conservation minded, that isn’t difficult. There is an annual levy (currently $15 p/a per shareholder or $60 for 5 years). Members are welcome to join in and get to know fellow members.
The Society is a non-profit, non-trading organisation. The accumulated levies, donations and residual share capital is held by the Society in term deposits. A small cheque account is used for operating expenses. The Board has a policy of keeping sufficient funds in reserve to enable the Society to replace all of the fencing and all of the picnic area amenities in the event of another total loss by bushfire. The regular rates, insurance, equipment hire and occasional road-making material purchases are met by the annual levy, as are secretarial and other operating costs.
The regular working bees have the aim of maintaining the boundary to ensure that the fences are clear of undergrowth and fallen branches, digging out weeds and set baits for foxes and maintaining our walking trails and the picnic area to make stays at the block more enjoyable. As well as the season to season on-site maintenance, the Board has placed a covenant on the block with the Victorian Trust for Nature to ensure that it can never be used for other than conservation purposes. Want more information? www.apswarrnambool.org.au/kurrikurri or contact; John Sherwood: [email protected] Kevin Sparrow: [email protected]
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Aquaponics – Energy Efficient Intensive Home Food Production Aquaponics is the growing of fish in tanks with plants growing hydroponically to filter the water. The fish are fed each day, meaning they also poop each day (producing ammonia which is toxic to fish). If the water is not filtered the rising ammonia level will soon kill the fish. However, if water from the fish tank is pumped through a garden bed of plants growing hydroponically, the bacteria in the garden bed convert the ammonia into non-toxic nitrates and nitrites that are utilised by the plants and clean the water for the fish.
Just about anything that will grow in the local environment will grow in an aquaponics system. Lettuce, onions, garlic, leeks, spring onions, chives, basil, beans, Asian greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs, celery, peas, passionfruit, strawberries and many more.
Ben Pohlner has a 8500L system with a biomass of around 100kg of rainbow trout at any one time. Trout love the cooler weather, they grow fast, and are big enough to eat in just six months. He restocks annually with fingerlings and puts them in with the fish left over from the previous year. His system produces up to 150kg of fish and copious amounts of veggies year round. Ben’s system runs on two 35 watt pumps which use around 17 cents in electricity per day each. The system mostly just looks after itself, with very little maintenance required other than harvesting veggies and feeding fish. No weeding. No watering. Planting is usually just emptying a packet of seeds into the grow beds or transplanting some seedlings.
The materials to build a similar system cost around $2500 but could cost much less by using second hand materials. When all the running costs are
added up, the rainbow trout cost around $6.50/kg to produce compared to $20/kg in the supermarkets. The fish produced have no muddy or off taints, they are clean and cook up very well. Smoked trout is magnificent as is the pan fried version.
The secret to bringing out the taste in the veggies is to add a worm farm onto the system. The liquid from the worms is drained into the fish tank and contains all the micronutrients required for fantastic tasting fruit and veggies. The Sustainability benefits of Aquaponics include low food miles, energy efficiency, and low waste.
Ben has been working with aquaponics for over 20 years. He has helped many others set up similar systems and realise the benefits of growing your own fish and veggies. Ben holds one day aquaponics workshops in his own backyard. The next workshops are on July 1 and 15, 2017. Cost is $100 per person. He also runs an aquaponics bulk buying group which enable members to get feed and other infrastructure up to half price of retail – making it cheaper for everyone! You can find out more at fishbusiness.net or email Ben at [email protected]
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Sustainability Events Calendar. The Place of Wonder Workshops Kylie Treble from the Place of Wonder is going to be holding a number of upcoming workshops with a difference:
Sustainable Grocery Shopping Tour A tour of a supermarket will take place to learn about some commonly purchased products to help consumers make more sustainable shopping choices. Date; Friday 9th June 2017 Time; 5.30 – 6.30 Cost; $40pp includes notes. Location: TBC – a supermarket will be chosen close to the location of the majority of attendees Contact: Kylie Treble
Pantry Audits Kylie is also available to come to your home to undertake a pantry audit. Together you will go through your pantry with the idea of making it healthier, more sustainable and saving the pantry owner money. The cost depends on what the pantry owner would like help with, it could be recipes, food prep ideas etc., and Kylie will work to your budget, time and come to you – how convenient!
Warrnambool Community Gardens Workshops The Warrnambool Community Garden will be holding a number of workshops over the Winter months. We will also be introducing Saturday morning sessions at the garden where people can come along and take part in communal vegetable growing, learn about starting a vegetable garden at home as well as seed propagation and other aspects of organic gardening.
June: Saturday 3rd June - Working Bee 10am-12pm (Members of the public interested in the garden welcome to come along) July: Tuesday 4th July – Herb Workshop 11.30am-1.30pm Sunday 16th July – 'Connect' cooking with Kylie Treble 10am-12pm August: Saturday 5th August - Working Bee 10am-12pm Sunday 13th August - No Dig Garden Workshop 10am-12pm Sunday 27th August - Seed Propagation Workshop 10am-12pm
Cost of the workshops is $5 including morning tea, and registrations are essential for catering purposes. For further information on workshops or Saturday morning sessions, or to register contact Hannah on 0408 320 795 or email [email protected] The Warrnambool Community Garden is located on the corner of Grieve St & Grafton Rd.
Produce Exchange A produce exchange is held on the first Saturday of the month. This is open to everyone who has produce to share. Simply come along and place your excess food on the communal tables and choose something you would like to exchange. No money changes hands! CWA Hall, 30 Kepler St, Warrnambool Winter dates are: 3rd June, 1st July, 5th August 2017 More info: [email protected]
