Climate Change on Council’s Agenda

Unfortunately, our past climate is no longer a reliable guide to weather conditions in the future. The impacts of climate change are already being felt across Australia. Here in Penrith it will mean increasingly hotter weather, less rain, and more extreme weather events such as heat waves, intense rainfalls, wind gusts and electrical storms.

Maintaining our infrastructure and services under these changed conditions is set to be a challenge for Council. The decisions we make now can significantly impact on our ability to meet those challenges in the future.

So what should Council be doing do now - and in the years ahead - so that we are better able to cope with the challenges that climate change will bring?

These are the key questions being addressed through an important new project being undertaken, involving a process of climate change risk assessment and adaptation planning.

As part of the project, key staff from across Council will be invited to participate in interviews and workshops to identify, evaluate and rank climate change risks to Council’s infrastructure and services, and then identify and analyse options to treat those risks.

The support and participation of Council staff from across the organisation is critical to the success of this process and the value of its outcomes. Tapping into the knowledge of our staff and their understanding of what it is we do and how we do it, is vital in ensuring we develop effective responses to avoid or minimise the adverse impacts of climate change.

Some of our key external stakeholders have also been involved in providing their input to the risk assessment process.

The outcomes of this process will form the basis for an Adaptation Action Plan. This plan will be incorporated into Council’s existing risk management processes and will provide a strategic framework from which Council can implement actions to minimise climate risk and realise any potential opportunities.

To find out more about this important initiative please contact Council's Senior Strategic Planner, Bernadette Riad, on 4732 7629 or email briad@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au.

'The Prince and the Frog' Campaign for Climate Change

You might have seen news stories about the latest climate change campaign that has been launched globally. It's attracting a lot of attention due to the appearances made by a number of big name celebrities including Prince Charles, Harrison Ford and Robin Williams.

These eco-concious stars are encouraging viewers of the 90 second film to sign up to support the Princes Rainforest Project's Rainforest SOS campaign. Also starring in the film is a very realistic computer generated frog!

The campaign aims to make the link between the destruction of rainforests across the world and the global impacts of climate change. It's alarming to learn just how enormous the impacts of deforestation have the potential to be.

"What happens in the rainforest has an immediate and powerful effect on our lives," explained actor and long-time environmental campaigner Harrison Ford.

"The air we breathe, the clean air that's required, the services that ecosystems provide are beyond value," he added.

"I believe it is our moral responsibility to protect the environment, to save what we can of the planet's resources for future generations and our children." (BBC News Online, 5 May 2009)

Are you FoodWise?

Foodwise is a new campaign that has recently been launched by the group 'Do Something' to draw Australia's attention to the huge amount of food that we waste.

Did you know?

• Australians spend $5 billion a year on food that we buy and then end up throwing away


• Each Australian throws away the equivalent of 145kg of food, adding up to a massive total of 3 billion tonnes every year


• Approximately 20% of the food we buy at the supermarket ends up in our bins

These figures are staggering, particularly when you consider the huge number of people across the world who go to sleep each night without enough food. Perhaps it's time we went back to basics to place a real value on our food and just how precious it really is.

The Foodwise Campaign offers simple and practical tips and ideas to save on food wastage including:

• Write a list before you go shopping and plan to buy only what you need.


• Check the best before and use by dates of products that you buy, and products at home. Make sure you use your older stock up first.


• Avoid processed foods. Often these foods are very energy and water intensive and have usually been shipped long distances, adding to the hidden costs of your food.


• Buy products that are in season and buy locally wherever this is possible.


• Be smart about your cooking and use your leftovers creatively, for example use leftover cooked meat as the basis of a pasta dish or casserole the following night.


• Freeze leftovers for quick meals at a later date.

Visit the Foodwise site for tips, information, resources and, if you submit your own tip before May 15, you can go in the running to win a Tupperware prize pack. What are your tips and suggestions for cutting back on food wastage?

Sustainability Street- April 2009

Click here to view the April edition of Sustainability Street Newsletter!

Stories include:-

- Taps, Toilets & Rainwater Tanks

- Upcoming Street Dates

- One Finger = The Power to Make a Difference

- Tricia's Tips

- Sustainability Streets in Profile- St Clair Holy Spirit Church

- Put a Blanket on Your Home

- The News in Brief

If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive a copy of the newsletter automatically please email Carmel Hamilton with your name and contact details and specify whether you would like to recieve it electronically or in the mail.

Sustainability Street- March 2009

The latest edition of the Sustainability Street Newsletter for Penrith is out now. Click here to download your copy.

Read for stories on:-

- Continuing the Sustainability Street Journey

- Upcoming Street Dates

- Top Ten Quick Tips for Saving Energy

- Sustainability Streets in Profile - Wallacia-Mulgoa Rotary Club

- News in Brief

If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive a copy of the newsletter automatically just email Carmel Hamilton with your name and contact details and specify whether you would like to recieve it electronically or in the mail.

Businesses Participating in Earth Hour 2009

Westfield Centre Management take a close and active role in dealing with all facets of retailing to ensure customer satisfaction, retailers are trading successfully and the centre is profitable.






Jennyren Gifts is a company that supply a range of gifts and products that are not only practical but affordable and different. They cater for everybody, every occasion and on any budget!

Jenny from Jennyren gifts believes that Earth Hour is important and that people should be a part of it. Earth Hour is fun, it's easy and it's a way of making people aware of the issues effecting our environment and she wants to ensure that her kids, and their kids, and their kids have a future."




WISE Employment is a not-for-profit organisation with a professional, integrated approach to finding the right job for jobseekers and the right staff for employers.

They are participating in Earth Hour because they believe that individuals working together can make a difference.






The Penrith Press offers a complete marketing media solution including in print and on line. Delivered twice weekly to the Penrith Valley and surrounding districts we strive to be the voice of our community and have done for more than 60 years.


Penrith Press participate in their own little Earth Hour every afternoon, having office 'monitors' making sure that all computer screens are turned off and have stickers near light switches reminding staff "if your out, it's off."






@Print Creative Solutions specialise in the production of high quality full colour work for corporate, government, agency and trade clientele. Products include Company Brochures, Leaflets, Booklets, Promotional Mailers, Calendars, Annual Reports, and pretty much anything else required to support an organisation's marketing needs in print.

Aaron understands that Climate Change is becoming a big issue, especially for younger generations and he is keen to participate in events involving the environment as well as learning what he as an individual as well as a business can to to reduce his ecological footprint. And as Aaron stated, "anything that can reduce the electrical bill at the end of the day is a good thing."

Contours Werrington is a women's gym that caters specifically to fitness & weight loss needs of women living and working close to the Werrington area.

Donna from Contours Werrington jumped at the opportunity to participate in Earth Hour as she is always looking for new things her business can participate in.







Pinnacle Taxation Services specialise in providing total financial solutions to Individuals and small to large businesses. Pinnacle is dedicated to providing the best advice to achieve peak financial efficiency.
Jim, from Pinnacle Taxation Services admits that already his offices are quite energy efficent and is participating in Earth Hour because it's something extra and something easy he can do for the environment.




Breakthru Employment Solutions is a not for profit organisation and offer a range of free specialist employment programs to job seekers with disabilities and other disadvantages. As a free service, we also work closely with employers to find the right person for their job vacancies.

The staff from Breakthru Employment regularly turn the lights off when they leave the office, however they admit to leaving the computers on. They see Earth Hour as an opportunity for them to get really involved and switch off all unused electrical appliances.

Earth Hour 2009 - Have you signed up yet?

Penrith City Council is once again throwing its support behind Earth Hour - an annual event coordinated by WWF Australia to raise awareness of climate change, while at the same time encouraging households, schools, businesses and organisations to take the practical steps that are needed to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 5% over the coming year.

Initiated inSydney in 2007, the inaugural Earth Hour event in 2008 was the first international Earth Hour, helping spread the cause to all but one continent, across 35 different countries. Major cities across the globe took part with the cooperation and support of major businesses. With the tremendous success of Earth Hour 2008 behind us, Earth Hour 2009 is set to switch off the globe. Already 377 cities, and double the number of countries that participated in 2008, are committed with millions of people in households, communities, businesses and corporations set to switch off lights for just one hour to create a platform of support for action on climate change. The official date for Earth Hour 2009 is:

Saturday March 28 at 8:30pm

Earth Hour aims to demonstrate unprecedented solidarity and provide a visual mandate for action on climate change.Along with millions of others around the globe, Penrith City Council will "power down" for one hour on Saturday 28 March at 8.30pm by turning off non-essential lighting across Council owned facilities and encouraging all staff to switch off machines and unplug appliances at the power point before they leave the office.While turning the lights off is a great first step, the challenge is to take this commitment even further and make some simple and inexpensive changes in your home or business to reduce your energy use by 5% over the following year.So, why not make some plans to take advantage of the dark during Earth Hour? You could enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner for two, explore your backyard by torchlight, visit a planetarium and look at the stars or head to a park with some neighbours for a picnic by candlelight.

It’s easy to get involved.

1. Sign up to Earth Hour
Sign up your home, business, organisation or school to participate in Earth Hour. To sign up – just go to http://www.earthhour.org/. Alternatively email krace@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au or call the Sustainability Unit on 4732 8071 with your contact details. Signing up is absolutely free and you will also be provided with an Earth hour information pack. Turning off your lights will send a highly visible sign to the community of your commitment to addressing climate change.

2. Turn off appliances on standby
Many appliances and electronic equipment – including computers, photocopiers and even washing machines - actually draw electricity even when they are not in use. Getting rid of this wastage of energy is easy. Turn your appliances off at the switch whenever they are not in use and save money.

3. Switch to energy efficient lighting
There is a great range of energy efficient lighting options now available from lighting and hardware stores and online. As lights in your home or office give up the ghost replace them with a more energy efficient alternative and start saving on your bills.

4. Spread the word
Spread the word about Earth Hour and how easy it is to play a part in tackling climate change. Encourage fellow businesses, employees, family and friends to get involved – ask them to sign up and pledge their commitment.

5. Switch to Green Power
Green Power is electricity that has been accredited by the NSW Government as coming from clean, renewable sources with very little greenhouse gas emissions. Most energy providers have an accredited product available. Why not call your energy provider and find out what is available? For more information on Green Power visit http://www.greenpower.com.au/ .

For more ideas on how to save energy in your home, school or workplace visit http://www.energysmart.com.au./

Sustainable Times Newsletter T1 2009

The latest edition of Penrith City Council's Sustainable Times Newsletter is out now. The Sustainable Times is a newsletter aimed at local schools, and provides information on activities, projects and upcoming initiatives that might be of interest to schools and school children.

To download your copy simply click here. If you would like to be added to our mailing list send Krystie Race an email stating your prefernece for an electronic or hard copy. The term 4 edition for 2008 is packed with useful information, including stories on:

- Earth Hour 2009- Get Your School Involved

- Would You Like to Visit Japan in 2009?

- Taking Enviro-Adventure to the Schools

- Clean Up Schools Day

- Implementation of Ropes and South Creek Regional Open Space Plan

- Tree Planting at Ellison Reserve

Community Solar Power and Climate Change Workshop

Penrith residents came together in November 2008 to discuss the critical issue of climate change as part of the NSW Community Climate Summit Project.

The first of its kind in NSW, the NSW Community Climate Summit project gives everyday Australians a unique opportunity to discuss our response to the issue of climate change and to make recommendations to the NSW Government.

The discussions and deliberations from the Penrith forum brought forward a range of thoughts, concerns, suggestions, and recommendations surrounding the issue of climate change, and what we as individuals and communities can do to respond to this issue.

The views presented at the forum more than demonstrated the concern of our community with regards to climate change and the impact that it will have on our lives and our environment. Just as importantly though, it demonstrated that together, we can work to address this important issue.

Some of the key concerns discussed at the Penrith forum included; transport and the need for improved services in terms of connectivity and designated cycleways, the impact of storms and increased temperatures and the need for improvements to building design for energy efficiency and changed weather conditions, as well as issues surrounding current farming practices.

The outcomes of the Penrith forum will be brought together with those from forums held across the state at the NSW Forum being held in Sydney on February 20-21. Recommendations from the state forum presented to the NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Hon Carmel Tebbutt MP, following the event.

Eastern Water Dragon Sightings

The Eastern Water Dragon is Penrith’s symbol for sustainability and it features on the logo to brand Penrith City Council’s Sustainable Penrith program. It represents the environmental, social and economic health of Penrith City.

The Eastern Water Dragon habitat and numbers along the creek banks of Penrith City is a good indicator of the health of the City’s waterways.

Below are listings of the Eastern Water Dragons activities and hideouts:

*A young male eastern water dragon, spotted in a backyard on December 6th 2006 which was closely followed by a sighting along the waters edge around Werrington Lakes.

*A young Eastern Water Dragon which has taken up residency in a garden in Jamieson Street, Emu Plains, from April 2007. This young Dragon has been making itself very at home finding a number of sleeping positions around the house, including the top of a hot water tank and in front of a bedroom window ledge and enjoying the continuous supply of bugs found near a composting bin.

* This Female Water Dragon marvelled a household in Nepean Ave in Penrith on November 3rd, 2008 when she stared laying her eggs in front of a watchful crowd. Residents monitored the progress of her young.

*In October 2008 an Eastern Water Dragon decided to go for a quick dip in a local swimming pool in Emu plains.

*Four Eastern Water Dragons have been spotted by kayakers on December 6 2008, along the various channels from the boat landing site on the Nepean River at Castlereagh.

Have you seen a Water Dragon out and about in Penrith City? Let us know to help us build a database of Dragon sightings. Just tell us when, where and how many you saw.