These workshops are being held as part of Council's Werrington Creek Rehabilitation Project.
Thursday, 3 November 2011
FREE Sustainable Living Workshops
Council is once again offering a series of FREE Sustainable Living workshops for the community. These are a fantastic opportunity to learn about how to reduce your impact on our environment and save some money as well! For more information, click on the image below to make it larger.
These workshops are being held as part of Council's Werrington Creek Rehabilitation Project.
These workshops are being held as part of Council's Werrington Creek Rehabilitation Project.
Council staff have a clothing round up!
Sharon from the Salvo's is presented with a ute-load of clothes, donated by Penrith Council staff.
What happens when you have a clothing drive at Penrith Council? You get that many clothes you need a ute just to transport it all! Here in the Sustainability Unit we wanted to promote ‘Buy Nothing New Month’ to Council staff, and we figured a clothing drive was a great way to do it. We chose to donate the clothes to the local Salvo’s op shop – the Salvo’s are a partner of ‘Buy Nothing New Month’ and they do some great work for the community.
So with that we put the word out to staff to have a Spring clean and go through their wardrobes. They did the rest and the result was a ute-load of clothes! We didn’t count them (we’d still be counting), but we ‘guesstimate’ there’s about 200kg of clothes in there – a decent haul by any standards. Sharon, the Manager of the local Salvo’s Store, was thrilled with the result. In recent times they’ve been having difficulty attracting donations, so these clothes were warmly welcomed.
How about having a Spring clean of your own, and donate it to your local op shop? It’s a great opportunity to make some more room in your wardrobe and help out a charity. And why not ask your boss if you can do a clothing drive at your work? All it takes are some emails to your fellow staff and some signs to remind people – it’s easy to organise, doesn’t take much time and it’s great ‘social capital’ for a business.
Friday, 28 October 2011
Blue Mountains Eco Homes Tour
A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to participate in the latest Eco Homes Tour, which was held in the upper Blue Mountains. The tours are organised by Blue Mountains architect Nigel Bell, who specialises in designing sustainable homes. The homes are graciously opened by the home owners, and there is always a selection of different homes and building styles on show. All the money raised from the tours go to the Katoomba High School P&C, so you’re supporting a good cause too.
If you’re interested in hearing about the next tour which is likely to be held in May or so next year, visit www.ecohomestour.com.au, add your name to their email list and they’ll let you know when it’s happening.
The first stop for the day was a house still very much under construction in Blackheath. The home is designed to make the most of the views and the sun, with lots of windows on the north side. What caught my eye most was the timber work in the house. The timber was almost all from the house block itself, they felled the timber and had it milled on site. The builder handling the timber work was a craftsman in the true sense of the word, his previous work including restoration work on the Globe Theatre in the UK. This was the playhouse where many of Shakespeare’s plays were held, and the restoration was period correct – traditional methods and no power tools! The Blackheath home also featured earthern walls using soil from the site. This provides ‘thermal mass’ which basically helps to regulate the temperature inside the house.
Back on the bus and we travelled to Little Hartley to visit Hartley Green Power. They had a range of solar and wind generators, with most of them in use so you can check them out in action. What got most people’s attention was the electric Caterham style sports car – which was charged with solar power! There were also a number of electric bikes and scooters on display as well.
The next stop was a short trip around the corner to a house in Little Hartley. This house was actually designed by Nigel, and the happy owners had been living there for a while. It features passive solar design, strawbale walls with an earthern covering, was completely ‘off the grid’ through solar PV and was self sufficient for water as well. It was a great chance to talk to the owners and see what it was actually like to live in a house like this.
After a brief stop for lunch we visited a heritage listed cottage in Lithgow, originally built in 1878. The cottage had been restored, and it also featured a new extension using passive solar design and recycled materials. The owner was a history buff and the home was a great reflection of that – it felt part way between a museum, an antiques store and a home design magazine photo shoot! What’s more is the beautiful garden was almost all food plants, so it was really practical too. I was particularly fond of the office chair made from a WWII bomber seat – what a great example of upcycling!
The last stop on the tour was another house still under construction in Mount Victoria. Dubbed ‘the house that ebay built’ by the owner, it featured a stack of recycled materials in its construction which were bought cheaply online. The owner was also saving money by doing almost everything by himself, and only calling on specific trades people as he needed them. The highlight for me was the home made rammed earth walls, which used soil from a construction site in Katoomba. They were low on embodied energy and looked fantastic, and a have strength similar to concrete when complete.
Overall the Eco Homes Tour was a fantastic opportunity to visit a selection of sustainable homes and talk to the owners, builders and architects involved in bringing them to life. If you’re looking at building or renovating your house and making it more sustainable, or just enjoy checking out eco homes and sustainable architecture, it’s well worth getting along to the next Eco Homes Tour.
If you’re interested in hearing about the next tour which is likely to be held in May or so next year, visit www.ecohomestour.com.au, add your name to their email list and they’ll let you know when it’s happening.
The first stop for the day was a house still very much under construction in Blackheath. The home is designed to make the most of the views and the sun, with lots of windows on the north side. What caught my eye most was the timber work in the house. The timber was almost all from the house block itself, they felled the timber and had it milled on site. The builder handling the timber work was a craftsman in the true sense of the word, his previous work including restoration work on the Globe Theatre in the UK. This was the playhouse where many of Shakespeare’s plays were held, and the restoration was period correct – traditional methods and no power tools! The Blackheath home also featured earthern walls using soil from the site. This provides ‘thermal mass’ which basically helps to regulate the temperature inside the house.
Back on the bus and we travelled to Little Hartley to visit Hartley Green Power. They had a range of solar and wind generators, with most of them in use so you can check them out in action. What got most people’s attention was the electric Caterham style sports car – which was charged with solar power! There were also a number of electric bikes and scooters on display as well.
The next stop was a short trip around the corner to a house in Little Hartley. This house was actually designed by Nigel, and the happy owners had been living there for a while. It features passive solar design, strawbale walls with an earthern covering, was completely ‘off the grid’ through solar PV and was self sufficient for water as well. It was a great chance to talk to the owners and see what it was actually like to live in a house like this.
After a brief stop for lunch we visited a heritage listed cottage in Lithgow, originally built in 1878. The cottage had been restored, and it also featured a new extension using passive solar design and recycled materials. The owner was a history buff and the home was a great reflection of that – it felt part way between a museum, an antiques store and a home design magazine photo shoot! What’s more is the beautiful garden was almost all food plants, so it was really practical too. I was particularly fond of the office chair made from a WWII bomber seat – what a great example of upcycling!
The last stop on the tour was another house still under construction in Mount Victoria. Dubbed ‘the house that ebay built’ by the owner, it featured a stack of recycled materials in its construction which were bought cheaply online. The owner was also saving money by doing almost everything by himself, and only calling on specific trades people as he needed them. The highlight for me was the home made rammed earth walls, which used soil from a construction site in Katoomba. They were low on embodied energy and looked fantastic, and a have strength similar to concrete when complete.
Overall the Eco Homes Tour was a fantastic opportunity to visit a selection of sustainable homes and talk to the owners, builders and architects involved in bringing them to life. If you’re looking at building or renovating your house and making it more sustainable, or just enjoy checking out eco homes and sustainable architecture, it’s well worth getting along to the next Eco Homes Tour.
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Water in Penrith Photo Competition
The Water in Penrith Photo Competition is on again! There are some fantastic prizes on offer, not to mention a free nature photography walk (booking essential). For more information click on the image below.
Love food? Want to learn from a Masterchef in some FREE cooking workshops?
Why not come along to one of Council’s Love Food Hate Waste workshops? We’ve got Jay Huxley from this year’s Masterchef doing some cooking demonstrations at the Hawkesbury Harvest Farmers and Fine Food Market, as well as a range of different cooking workshops for you. The workshops include:
Recipe Planning and Cooking – Create healthy and interesting menus to save money and time, while learning tasty cooking tips.
Kitchen Gardening with Kids – Pot some seedlings, plant bean sprouts and learn how to cook a yummy omelette or salad with them.
Sustainable Food Shopping and Menu Planning – Learn hints and tips on creating a weekly menu and shopping list, and how to make the most of leftovers.
Booking is essential for the workshops. For more information click here visit the Council website
Friday, 9 September 2011
Sustainable House Day - Sunday 12 September
We love Sustainable House Day - a day when owners of sustainable houses open their doors and let everyone check out the amazing things they have done. We love being able to see what other people have done, but more importantly to be able to talk to people who have done things with their own money in the real world - without the usual sales pitch or rolled eyes you usually get when asking about the sustainability credentials of products and appliances!
To find out more about Sustainable House Day and to see the houses opening their doors near you, visit their website by clicking here.
To find out more about Sustainable House Day and to see the houses opening their doors near you, visit their website by clicking here.
Thursday, 8 September 2011
Walk to Work Day – 16th September
Walk to Work day is on again! Now in its 13th year, the Cancer Council National Walk to Work Day is an annual event which helps people to build regular walking into their daily routine.
Did you know that people who walk before and during work are generally healthier, more productive and creative and less likely to be sick? Regular walking can also help to relieve feelings of depression or anxiety, and it improves our environment by reducing car dependency.
We’d love to hear about the creative ways you will participate in Walk to Work Day on the16th September. Let us know what you’re up to by emailing us at mdesmarch@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au
Here are some suggestions on how you can Walk to Work:
• If you can't walk all the way, get off the bus or train a few stops early and walk the rest of your journey
• If you must drive, leave the car at least a kilometre from your destination and walk the rest of the way.
• Take a half-hour walk at lunchtime and where possible, use the stairs.
• If you are required to sit a lot at work, get up and walk around at least once every hour.
So, step into Spring, put your feet first and register at www.walk.com.au to take part in Cancer Council Walk to Work Day.
Friday, 26 August 2011
Spring Gardening Festival - Sat 10 September
Well the days are getting warmer and Spring is just around the corner – what better way to enjoy it than by getting outside in the garden? The good news is the Library have organised the Spring Garden Festival to celebrate all things gardening. If you've got a green thumb (or you’re like me and you wish your brown thumb was a little greener), the Festival is not to be missed. On the day 1000 trees and shrubs will be given away! There are also a range of really interesting talks throughout the day:
Talks in the Library Theatrette
10am – Sustainable gardening in suburbia – I did it, you can too!
11am – Container growing – veggie garden in a box
12pm – Composting
1pm – Worm farming
2pm – Sydney Food Fairness Alliance
Talks in PC Training Room
10am – Benefits of a garden club
10.30am – Bush regeneration
11.30am – Fuchsias
12.30pm – Therapeutic properties of herbal teas
1.30pm – Salvias
Talks in Woodlands Room
10.30am – Pest management the permaculture way
In addition to all of the talks, a range of friendly experts will be on hand with information on different gardening topics, plus there’ll be pruning and propagating demos, plant varities to check out, handouts and so on. If you’ve got a question you’d like to answer, these are the people to ask! Some of the groups who’ll be on hand to help you include:
• Nepean Bonsai Society
• The In-Ground Fuchsia Group
• The Bromeliad Society of Australia
• The Australian Geranium Society
• Bushcare
• Blue Mountains and Nepean Herb Group
• Blue Mountains and Penrith Districts Orchid Society
• Hazelbrook & Woodford Garden Festival
• Lower Blue Mountains Garden Club,
• Penrith City Garden Club
• Sydney Food Fairness Alliance
• Permaculture Blue Mountains
We’re really looking forward to it, and we hope to see you there! For more information call the library on (02) 4732 7891.
Friday, 19 August 2011
E-Waste Drop Off Day - Sat 10 Sep
Following the massive success of the first E-waste collection day, Council is holding another one on Saturday 10 September. This is a perfect opportunity to dispose of items like old TVs, computers, phones etc in a sustainable way.
The E-waste collection day goes from 9am-3.30pm at Jamison Park (South Penrith), and entry is via Jamison Road. More information on the day, including the items you can drop off, can be found on the Council website, please click here to view it.
The first E-Waste recycling drop off day was held on 19 February 2011 at Jamison Park. In under 7 hours, 1095 vehicles dropped off a massive 72.5 tonnes of computers, televisions and other old electronic appliances!
Friday, 5 August 2011
St Clair couple reduce their annual water and energy bills by almost $1000 with simple changes!
Have you ever wondered what effect all those little things you could be doing at home would have on the environment and your wallet? Sure they say all those little things add up, but how much? A couple from St Clair recently wondered this, and what they’ve achieved is outstanding!
Zuzana Cernak-Frketic and Robert Frketic of St Clair became inspired after attending one of Penrith City Council’s recent Sustainable Living workshops. “The workshop we attended ‘Home sustainability basics’ gave us the motivation and inspiration to do something about reducing our water and energy use” explains Zuzana.
“The first thing I did was to determine what our daily usage was by calculating the average of past water and electricity usage bills (this was based on 12 months) using a spreadsheet. Our average daily usage was 471 litres of water and 19.5 kWh of energy. The next thing I did was an itemised water audit to determine how much water each water activity uses. I did this by doing a water meter reading before and after each activity. Then I did an audit of what we used”. By doing this, they were able to track their energy and water usage and work out exactly how much they were saving.
So what did they achieve?
Zuzana and Robert were able to achieve a massive 68% reduction in their water use, and a 52% reduction in their energy use – this equates to saving a total of $985 a year! “The results blew us away. We are so pleased that we are doing something for the environment and our wallets”.
Their energy and water usage and what they were able to save is outlined in the table below.
How did they do it?
Saving almost $1,000 on your annual energy and water bills is an amazing achievement in itself – not to mention the positive outcomes for the environment. So we asked Zuzana what they did to get such fantastic results. We’ve outlined their top tips below, and we challenge you to take on some of them in your own home and see what you save!
Zuzana and Robert’s top tips for saving energy:
• Turn off all electrical appliances/services at the power point when not is use
• Cook in bulk (make 4-6 servings per dish)
• Cook more than one item when using the oven
• Trade your rechargeable cordless phone for a phone with a cord – this means there’s no need to charge your batteries all the time
• Use hot water bottles and multiple layers of clothing to heat up and stay warm
• Use the torch to move around the house at night instead of flicking on light switches
• Have two 24 hour TV/computer/radio free days
• For parties use a wood fire oven and wood fire pot to cook for your guests
• Once a week eat only raw food. Have a competition of who can make the tastiest and most creative salad made from either vegetables or fruit, and use herbs from the garden
Zuzana and Robert’s top tips for saving water:
• Shower for 4 minutes (use a shower timer)
• Only use the washing machine when it’s full, and use cold water only
• Use a bucket in the shower to collect the initial 30 seconds of cold water until it heats up and use this water to fill up the washing machine
• Wash vegetables and fruit under a bucket and use it to water the garden
• Mulch your garden (this cuts down on watering and improves the soil health)
• Use a broom instead of vacuuming tiles and floorboards
• When rinsing dishes, turn off the tap between dishes
• Use several buckets to collect water for the garden
• Wash your car in the rain
• Flush your toilet only when it’s needed (we have the motto “if it’s yellow let it mellow, if its brown, flush it down” attached on our bathroom wall for all to see)
Where to from here for our sustainability champions?
You’d think that they’d be pretty happy with what they’ve achieved, but Zuzana and Robert have even more goals that they want to achieve. In the short term this includes buying a more water efficient washing machine, borrowing a power mate meter from the library to determine the energy being used by each of their appliances, installing rain water tanks, and reusing grey water from the washing machine.
Within 6 months, their aim is to reduce their water consumption to less than 100 litres a day and their energy use to less than 5kwh per day. Using our energy and water costs from before, that equates to:
• An annual energy bill of $361 – that’s $90 a quarter!
• An annual water bill of $76 – that’s $19 a quarter!
We can’t wait to catch up with them at the end of the year and see how they are doing.
Zuzana Cernak-Frketic and Robert Frketic of St Clair became inspired after attending one of Penrith City Council’s recent Sustainable Living workshops. “The workshop we attended ‘Home sustainability basics’ gave us the motivation and inspiration to do something about reducing our water and energy use” explains Zuzana.
“The first thing I did was to determine what our daily usage was by calculating the average of past water and electricity usage bills (this was based on 12 months) using a spreadsheet. Our average daily usage was 471 litres of water and 19.5 kWh of energy. The next thing I did was an itemised water audit to determine how much water each water activity uses. I did this by doing a water meter reading before and after each activity. Then I did an audit of what we used”. By doing this, they were able to track their energy and water usage and work out exactly how much they were saving.
So what did they achieve?
Zuzana and Robert were able to achieve a massive 68% reduction in their water use, and a 52% reduction in their energy use – this equates to saving a total of $985 a year! “The results blew us away. We are so pleased that we are doing something for the environment and our wallets”.
Their energy and water usage and what they were able to save is outlined in the table below.
How did they do it?
Saving almost $1,000 on your annual energy and water bills is an amazing achievement in itself – not to mention the positive outcomes for the environment. So we asked Zuzana what they did to get such fantastic results. We’ve outlined their top tips below, and we challenge you to take on some of them in your own home and see what you save!
Zuzana and Robert’s top tips for saving energy:
• Turn off all electrical appliances/services at the power point when not is use
• Cook in bulk (make 4-6 servings per dish)
• Cook more than one item when using the oven
• Trade your rechargeable cordless phone for a phone with a cord – this means there’s no need to charge your batteries all the time
• Use hot water bottles and multiple layers of clothing to heat up and stay warm
• Use the torch to move around the house at night instead of flicking on light switches
• Have two 24 hour TV/computer/radio free days
• For parties use a wood fire oven and wood fire pot to cook for your guests
• Once a week eat only raw food. Have a competition of who can make the tastiest and most creative salad made from either vegetables or fruit, and use herbs from the garden
Zuzana and Robert’s top tips for saving water:
• Shower for 4 minutes (use a shower timer)
• Only use the washing machine when it’s full, and use cold water only
• Use a bucket in the shower to collect the initial 30 seconds of cold water until it heats up and use this water to fill up the washing machine
• Wash vegetables and fruit under a bucket and use it to water the garden
• Mulch your garden (this cuts down on watering and improves the soil health)
• Use a broom instead of vacuuming tiles and floorboards
• When rinsing dishes, turn off the tap between dishes
• Use several buckets to collect water for the garden
• Wash your car in the rain
• Flush your toilet only when it’s needed (we have the motto “if it’s yellow let it mellow, if its brown, flush it down” attached on our bathroom wall for all to see)
Where to from here for our sustainability champions?
You’d think that they’d be pretty happy with what they’ve achieved, but Zuzana and Robert have even more goals that they want to achieve. In the short term this includes buying a more water efficient washing machine, borrowing a power mate meter from the library to determine the energy being used by each of their appliances, installing rain water tanks, and reusing grey water from the washing machine.
Within 6 months, their aim is to reduce their water consumption to less than 100 litres a day and their energy use to less than 5kwh per day. Using our energy and water costs from before, that equates to:
• An annual energy bill of $361 – that’s $90 a quarter!
• An annual water bill of $76 – that’s $19 a quarter!
We can’t wait to catch up with them at the end of the year and see how they are doing.
Friday, 22 July 2011
Jay from Masterchef set to cook up a storm in Penrith!
In exciting news we’ve managed to sign up Jay Huxley, who was one of this years outstanding Masterchef contestants, to help out with some cooking demonstrations and workshops in Penrith.
Jay grew up in Cranebrook, and is passionate about sharing his love of cooking with us. “I am excited about the prospect of working on this project. The area and cause are both things that are close to my heart”.
Council has received funding from the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), to develop a program of activities including cooking demonstrations and workshops as part of the Love Food Hate Waste program. Participants will learn about things like planning meals, cooking leftovers, as well as a bunch of Jay’s other cooking tips. We’re still finalising everything, but we’re really excited about what’s coming up later in the year.
To find out more about Love Food Hate Waste visit the official website. We’ll post more information here about what we’re doing in Penrith as it comes to hand, however in the mean time why not check out Jay’s website and check out his handy work! www.jayhuxley.com
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Naidoc Week celebrations – a great celebration for the whole community!
Once again the Penrith NAIDOC celebrations were a great success! After a week of wild and windy weather, the day was perfect with heaps of sunshine and barely a whisper of wind. There were things for the whole family, though the kids were particularly well looked after – the giant slide was definitely a crowd favourite. Even Echo, Council’s sustainability mascot dropped in and joined in the fun. If you missed this great community event, make sure you make an effort to come down next year.
Recycling on an industrial scale
Old industrial buildings and structures have a unique beauty and style all of their own. One only has to look at something like the Queen Victoria Building to be reminded of the old saying ‘they sure don’t make ‘em like they used to’. And in many respects, that’s great! New buildings are becoming more and more sustainable in how they are built, and more efficient in how they are run – and that’s great for the environment and for us.
At the same time there are a bunch of old industrial sites which are sitting unloved and unmaintained. Of course the million dollar question is what’s the best thing to do with them? Sure you could pull it down, but why not make use of that beautiful industrial style and local history? And how good would it be if you could make it into something that the community can use and cherish?
Well we’ve found a few examples (a couple of Sydney ones and one from New York) which do exactly that. It’s a great reminder that we should never be afraid to think outside of the box, because that’s where some of the most exciting sustainability ideas lie.
Paddington Reservoir, Paddington NSW
Images from City of Sydney
Paddington Reservoir was built between 1866 and 1878 as a key water storage facility for Sydney. After being decommissioned in 1899, the site served as a workshop and service station. However in 1991 part of the roof collapsed and the area was closed off for a number of years for safety reasons. It has since been revitalised into a stunning community park, which celebrates it’s beauty and also its history. For more information click here.
Ballast Point Park, Birchgrove NSW
Image from Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
Ballast Point Park was used between 1788 and 1800 as a source of ballast for ships returning to Europe. It was owned by a variety of people, and then served as a fuel depot from the 1920s to the 1990s. Again it was derelict for a number of years, before being revitalised into a fantastic community park. For more information click here.
High Line Park, New York
Images from www.treehugger.com
The High Line is an elevated railway that was built in the 1930s in Manhattan, as the previous railway line on the street was causing too many accidents. It was used until 1980, and likewise it fell into a state of disrepair. Following a number of years of community and legal debate about what to do with it, it was rebuilt as thread of elevated parkway creating much needed parkland for the city of New York. For more info check out the High Line website.
Of course other well known examples include The Brickpit at Sydney Olympic Park and the nearby Newington Armoury. All of these examples serve to highlight the potential for creating great resources when you use the principles of sustainability and think outside of the box!
At the same time there are a bunch of old industrial sites which are sitting unloved and unmaintained. Of course the million dollar question is what’s the best thing to do with them? Sure you could pull it down, but why not make use of that beautiful industrial style and local history? And how good would it be if you could make it into something that the community can use and cherish?
Well we’ve found a few examples (a couple of Sydney ones and one from New York) which do exactly that. It’s a great reminder that we should never be afraid to think outside of the box, because that’s where some of the most exciting sustainability ideas lie.
Paddington Reservoir, Paddington NSW
Images from City of Sydney
Paddington Reservoir was built between 1866 and 1878 as a key water storage facility for Sydney. After being decommissioned in 1899, the site served as a workshop and service station. However in 1991 part of the roof collapsed and the area was closed off for a number of years for safety reasons. It has since been revitalised into a stunning community park, which celebrates it’s beauty and also its history. For more information click here.
Ballast Point Park, Birchgrove NSW
Image from Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
Ballast Point Park was used between 1788 and 1800 as a source of ballast for ships returning to Europe. It was owned by a variety of people, and then served as a fuel depot from the 1920s to the 1990s. Again it was derelict for a number of years, before being revitalised into a fantastic community park. For more information click here.
High Line Park, New York
Images from www.treehugger.com
The High Line is an elevated railway that was built in the 1930s in Manhattan, as the previous railway line on the street was causing too many accidents. It was used until 1980, and likewise it fell into a state of disrepair. Following a number of years of community and legal debate about what to do with it, it was rebuilt as thread of elevated parkway creating much needed parkland for the city of New York. For more info check out the High Line website.
Of course other well known examples include The Brickpit at Sydney Olympic Park and the nearby Newington Armoury. All of these examples serve to highlight the potential for creating great resources when you use the principles of sustainability and think outside of the box!
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Sustaining the Meadow sows the seeds of success!
We love hearing about some of the great sustainability initiatives which are being undertaken in the local community. The ‘Sustaining the Meadow’ project is a great example!
Held in Claremont Meadows, the project involved a series of sustainability workshops for local residents over the last couple of months. Topics included creating your own seed raising mix, sowing seeds, vegetable gardening in a box, organic pest control and creating a worm farm. The workshops weren’t just theory either, participants at each workshop got to get in and get their hands dirty! The workshop series was coordinated by the St Marys Area Community Development Project, with funding from Penrith City Council’s Magnetic Places Program.
By all reports everyone had a great time at the workshops and walked away brimming with new information and enthusiasm – we can’t wait to see what they get up to with their new skills!
If you’d like more information about the Sustaining the Meadow project, or other exciting programs happening in the Claremont Meadows area, call Greg Harriden on 9673 2169. Greg is a Community Development Worker with the St Marys Area Community Development Project and he would love to hear from you.
Held in Claremont Meadows, the project involved a series of sustainability workshops for local residents over the last couple of months. Topics included creating your own seed raising mix, sowing seeds, vegetable gardening in a box, organic pest control and creating a worm farm. The workshops weren’t just theory either, participants at each workshop got to get in and get their hands dirty! The workshop series was coordinated by the St Marys Area Community Development Project, with funding from Penrith City Council’s Magnetic Places Program.
By all reports everyone had a great time at the workshops and walked away brimming with new information and enthusiasm – we can’t wait to see what they get up to with their new skills!
If you’d like more information about the Sustaining the Meadow project, or other exciting programs happening in the Claremont Meadows area, call Greg Harriden on 9673 2169. Greg is a Community Development Worker with the St Marys Area Community Development Project and he would love to hear from you.
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
Getting a handle on the carbon tax
The Federal Government have just announced their plans for a carbon tax for Australia, and quite rightly it’s got people across the country talking about it. Basically the big questions are what is it, how is it going to work, and how is it going to affect my household/work/business?
We’ve done a little research to try and make it easier for you to understand what it means for you and the country as a whole.
The Federal Government have established www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au to help people learn more. One of the great features is this household calculator , where you can quickly and easily estimate what the impact of the proposed changes will be. I just did it for my own household, and it was nice and easy to use.
So how does a carbon tax like this go towards addressing the issue of climate change? Here’s a simple graphic which explains the principle behind it.
Another good link we’ve found is this 6 page pdf. The document outlines the key actions and activities which will be undertaken as part of the proposed scheme, such as things like investing in renewable energy.
We’ve done a little research to try and make it easier for you to understand what it means for you and the country as a whole.
The Federal Government have established www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au to help people learn more. One of the great features is this household calculator , where you can quickly and easily estimate what the impact of the proposed changes will be. I just did it for my own household, and it was nice and easy to use.
So how does a carbon tax like this go towards addressing the issue of climate change? Here’s a simple graphic which explains the principle behind it.
Another good link we’ve found is this 6 page pdf. The document outlines the key actions and activities which will be undertaken as part of the proposed scheme, such as things like investing in renewable energy.
Thursday, 7 July 2011
Come celebrate NAIDOC week at Jamison Park
NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and is an opportunity to recognise the contributions of Indigenous Australians in various fields.
NAIDOC stands for the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced back to the 1920s, when Aboriginal groups sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Indigenous Australians. To learn more, check out the NAIDOC website.
To celebrate this important event, why not come down to Jamison Park on Friday 8 July? The event runs from 10.30am to 3.30pm and will include singers, games, barbeque, mixed netball and touch football competitions, and activities for children!
Friday, 24 June 2011
Last seen in 1898!
Can you imagine discovering an animal that hasn’t been seen for 113 years? I certainly can’t, but that’s exactly what happened recently in a nature reserve in Columbia!
This red-crested tree rat (Santamartamys rufodorsalis), dropped in to an ecolodge in the El Dorado Nature Reserve, where a couple of nature conservation volunteers were able to get these photos. It was last observed in 1898, despite a number of surveys since then to find it. It apparently hung around for a couple of hours, before scuttling off back into the bush.
To give that some perspective, 1898 was the year the first referendums were held about Australia becoming a single nation! It’s also the year that the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney was completed. To see what Penrith looked like back then, check this out.
For more information on the sighting of this cute little critter, check out the Conservation International website.
Okay, here's one more pic for you all.
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Fridge Buyback
A lot of people have a second fridge somewhere, quietly humming along and using more electricity than they really need to use. With electricity prices going up, these fridges (which are usually older and less efficient) are going to cost more and more to run. It’s estimated that these fridges cost about $225 a year to run as it is, not to mention the tonne of carbon they produce each year!
So what’s the best way to get rid of one of these old fridges? The answer to that is Fridge Buyback. Basically Fridge Buyback will pay you up to $35 to collect your fridge, and it will then be professionally recycled (and all the nasty refrigerant gases are captured too). As always terms and conditions apply, but the basics are that the fridge has to be a working second fridge, be 250L or more in size, and be over 10 years old.
Fridge Buyback is funded through the NSW Climate Change Fund, and is available to a number of areas in the Sydney and greater region. So far over 430 households in Penrith have participated in the scheme, which won the Best Specific Environmental Initiative category of the Virgin Blue Business Awards as part of the United Nations Association of Australia’s World Environment Day Awards.
For more information call 1800 708 401 or visit www.fridgebuyback.com.au
Monday, 20 June 2011
Sydney by bike
Following on from my previous post about exploring your own backyard, on the weekend I decided to take advantage of the great weather and do just that. My partner was working at Mosman, so I took the opportunity to throw the bike in the back and carpool with her, and go exploring from there.
I’ll admit that I drove to Kirribilli and parked the car on a residential street, but it saved me riding back up the hill to Mosman at the end of the day (not to mention avoiding the traffic along Military Road!).
I started with a leisurely cruise along the foreshore to Luna Park, looking over the harbour to the Opera House, Botanic Gardens and Circular Quay. From there it was up the hill to North Sydney, which is also where you access both the pedestrian and bicycle paths across the Harbour Bridge. The east side is for pedestrians only, and the west side is for bikes. Suffice to say the views from the bridge are magnificent! If you’ve never walked or ridden across the bridge, I highly recommend it.
The cycleway from the bridge meets up with the new bike lanes on Kent Street, which have been installed by the City of Sydney. Basically it is a dedicated lane on the street for bicycles, which is protected from cars and trucks on the road by a concrete medium strip. A full map of the cycleways can be found here on the City of Sydney’s website, to help you plan your trip.
From there I cut across Pyrmont Bridge past Darling Harbour, and again along more dedicated bike lanes through Pyrmont to the end of Anzac Bridge. While the Anzac Bridge doesn’t have the same beauty that the Harbour Bridge does, the views from it are also amazing.
From the end of Anzac Bridge I turned left to follow the edge of Rozelle Bay, where there are parklands and a shared pathway along the waterfront. This stretches around to meet Blackwattle Bay, and then you’re basically at the fishmarkets. From there I went back through Pyrmont and Darling Harbour, back up Kent Street and back across the Harbour Bridge to where I started.
Touring by bike in Sydney has never been easier and more inviting than with the new cycleways that have now been installed. It’s nice and cheap, and you can cover a lot more ground than if you were on foot. Just make sure you take some water and some basic tools and a puncture kit, and a reasonable quality lock just in case you want to drop into any shops along the way.
I’ll admit that I drove to Kirribilli and parked the car on a residential street, but it saved me riding back up the hill to Mosman at the end of the day (not to mention avoiding the traffic along Military Road!).
I started with a leisurely cruise along the foreshore to Luna Park, looking over the harbour to the Opera House, Botanic Gardens and Circular Quay. From there it was up the hill to North Sydney, which is also where you access both the pedestrian and bicycle paths across the Harbour Bridge. The east side is for pedestrians only, and the west side is for bikes. Suffice to say the views from the bridge are magnificent! If you’ve never walked or ridden across the bridge, I highly recommend it.
The cycleway from the bridge meets up with the new bike lanes on Kent Street, which have been installed by the City of Sydney. Basically it is a dedicated lane on the street for bicycles, which is protected from cars and trucks on the road by a concrete medium strip. A full map of the cycleways can be found here on the City of Sydney’s website, to help you plan your trip.
From there I cut across Pyrmont Bridge past Darling Harbour, and again along more dedicated bike lanes through Pyrmont to the end of Anzac Bridge. While the Anzac Bridge doesn’t have the same beauty that the Harbour Bridge does, the views from it are also amazing.
From the end of Anzac Bridge I turned left to follow the edge of Rozelle Bay, where there are parklands and a shared pathway along the waterfront. This stretches around to meet Blackwattle Bay, and then you’re basically at the fishmarkets. From there I went back through Pyrmont and Darling Harbour, back up Kent Street and back across the Harbour Bridge to where I started.
Touring by bike in Sydney has never been easier and more inviting than with the new cycleways that have now been installed. It’s nice and cheap, and you can cover a lot more ground than if you were on foot. Just make sure you take some water and some basic tools and a puncture kit, and a reasonable quality lock just in case you want to drop into any shops along the way.
Friday, 10 June 2011
Explore the world in our own backyard
Here in Penrith we're pretty spoilt when you think about it - we're a stones throw away from the world heritage listed bushland of the Blue Mountains, and to the other side we've got one of the most diverse and culturally rich cities in the country! But how often do we actually take the time to slow down and fully appreciate all that Sydney has to offer?
One person who has done that is photographer Louise Hawson, with her 52 Suburbs project. "My blog, 52 Suburbs came about when I was scouting for a new photographic project. I have always thought it odd that many people regard the world as fascinating but shut down when it comes to their own backyards, regarding them as ho hum and not particularly interesting. When I applied this thinking to my own city, Sydney, I realised I was just as guilty as anyone else — I had been drawn to many places overseas and constantly fantasised about travelling far away — but I was not very interested in Sydney. It felt like I’d stopped exploring it a long time ago and had been stuck instead in my own little patch for years."
Louise decided to visit a new suburb each week for a year (hence the 52 Suburbs name), and document the images of her visits on her blog at www.52suburbs.com. Originally just a pet project, word spread about her amazing images and more and more people started to hear about it. This has resulted in a book titled 52 Suburbs (pictured below), and there is also an exhibition of her photos on display at the Museum of Sydney until 9 October (details here). And yes, if you're wondering she did visit Penrith, see that post here.
52 Suburbs is a great reminder to all of us to open up our own eyes and appreciate the beauty and diversity of our own backyards. It's also a great example of the kind of great things that can happen when you follow your passion.
Monday, 6 June 2011
Carpool and win!
There's never been a better time to join up to Western Sydney Carpool wwww.wscarpool.org. Car pooling a great way to save money and help look after the environment.
There's a bunch of benefits to carpooling, which include:
• Save money on fuel and tolls
• Play your part in reducing congestion on our roads
• Reduce wear and tear on your car by using it less often
• Enjoy priority parking at selected locations (Penrith Council will provide two dedicated spots in front of the Civic Centre)
• Reduce your carbon footprint
• Meet new people
• Stress less by sitting back and enjoying a ride to work
Western Sydney Carpool features a secure website which ‘matches’ you to commuters with similar travel arrangements, and it's absolutely free. All you need to do is log on to the system, and create a personal profile. The system will then identify other travellers who live within 15km of you with similar travelling needs.
There's a bunch of benefits to carpooling, which include:
• Save money on fuel and tolls
• Play your part in reducing congestion on our roads
• Reduce wear and tear on your car by using it less often
• Enjoy priority parking at selected locations (Penrith Council will provide two dedicated spots in front of the Civic Centre)
• Reduce your carbon footprint
• Meet new people
• Stress less by sitting back and enjoying a ride to work
Western Sydney Carpool features a secure website which ‘matches’ you to commuters with similar travel arrangements, and it's absolutely free. All you need to do is log on to the system, and create a personal profile. The system will then identify other travellers who live within 15km of you with similar travelling needs.
Penrith Farmers Markets
We love local food - it's fresh and tastey, it supports local farmers, and it's good for the environment too! Lucky for us Hawkesbury Harvest coordinate monthly farmers markets in Penrith, so there's a stack of yummy produce all in the one place.
The markets are held the first Saturday of the month from 8am to 1pm, on the grass area between Penrith Library and the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre. For more information click here to check out the Hawkesbury Harvest website. Here's some photos from Saturday to give you an idea of what's on offer!
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