Take a peek inside a local sustainable house!

Ever wanted to take a peek inside a regular house that has been improved to make it more sustainable? Ever wanted to chat to the people who own these homes, for an honest opinion without a sales spiel? Sustainable House Day gives you the chance to do just that!

Sustainable House Day, which is on this Sunday, is perfect for those people looking to make their home more sustainable, or even those people just curious to check out what other people are doing. Over 270 houses across the country will open their doors, with the owners on hand to answer all of your questions, and it’s all free!

For more information, and a list of the houses which will be opening their doors, check out the Sustainable House Day website:

National Threatened Species Day – 7 September

Tomorrow is National Threatened Species Day. Held on 7 September every year, this day aims to make people more aware of the number of plants and animals at risk of extinction across our great country. This day, September 7, was chosen in recognition of the day the last Tasmanian Tiger died in Hobart Zoo, back in 1936.

Unfortunately, our environment is under stress from things such as land development, introduced plants and animals, pollution, and a changing climate. Sadly, about 50 native plant and animal species found in the Penrith area have been listed as threatened under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. However, we can all take steps to help our local plants and animals.
Workshops are being held as part of the Ropes and South Creek Project on topics such as native gardening, seed collection and propagation, and bird habitat restoration. These are a great way to learn more about the different things we can all do to improve our local environment. To find out more these workshops, please click here.

Looking after local bushland by getting involved with Bushcare is another great way to make a difference. To find out more about Bushcare, please click here.

National Water Week - Calling All Amateur Photographers!

To celebrate National Water Week, Penrith City Council is running an exciting Photographic Competition with the theme “Water in Penrith - Our Most Precious Resource”.

How to Enter:
We are calling for all creative amateur photographers to submit a photograph that captures what the theme “Water in Penrith - Our Most Precious Resource” means to them. All photos submitted must have been taken within the Penrith Local Government Area (refer to the map opposite for the boundaries). Photos will be judged on presentation of the theme, composition, focus, use of light, and creativity. For Terms and Conditions click here.
All photographic entries must include a completed entry form, and can be submitted as below. This and more information can be found on the National Water Week webpage on the Penrith City website

In digital jpeg format via email to photocomp@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au. All images must be of a high quality when viewed in an A4 format.

In digital jpeg format on CD and an A4 mounted photograph. All digital images must be of a high quality when viewed in an A4 format.

Send your photographic entry to:
“Water in Penrith” Photographic Competition
Penrith City Council PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751
Or drop into:
Penrith City Council 601 High Street, Penrith
Entries close Monday 11 October 2010
Up to 3 entries will be accepted per person.
The winners will be notified by 25 October 2010

Caring for Penrith's waterways and our precious water resources is everyone's responsibility.

Online Environmental Documentaries

Come on a journey with the inspiring volunteers, landholders and Indigenous community taking action to restore our rivers, bushland and farmland in the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment in eight online documentaries commissioned by the Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA.

The films are:

• Fighting a War on Willows – Willow Warriors in action
• Stewards of the River – oyster farmers protecting our estuary
• Our Rivers, more than just water – three Indigenous women tell their stories of connection to our waterways
• Protecting the fringe – efforts to protect the 5000km fringe of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area
• Connecting bushland corridors across the landscape – the work to connect major regional bushland corridors
• Farmers protecting soil and biodiversity – repairing major land degradation on the southern tablelands
• Migadan – Dharawal story on the Bargo River
• Biladurang – Wiradjuri creation story told on the River Lett

Check out the films at http://www.hn.cma.nsw.gov.au/ or order your free DVD by calling (02) 4725 3054 or emailing stacey.a.roberts@cma.nsw.gov.au

Walk Against Warming

Take a step to tackle climate change and join the Penrith Walk Against Warming on Sunday 15 August! 

A community initiative supported by Penrith City Council, the walk gives you the opportunity to hear from renowned climate change expert Andy Best, have your say on climate change and register for free cycling classes.

Walkers will meet at 10am at Weir Reserve, Bruce Neil Drive, Penrith on Sunday 15 August.

Highlights of the day include:

• A talk from renowned climate change speaker Andy Best, who is a past recipient of the Churchill Fellowship for his work in sustainability education.
• The opportunity to participate in filmed interviews so we can capture your voice on climate change.
• Native plant give away.
• The opportunity to register for free cycling classes to help you increase your confidence on your bike.
• Kids can also get a free temporary tattoo from our friendly sustainability mascot, Echo the Eastern Water Dragon.

Residents are encouraged to bring their own water on the day, and fresh fruit will be supplied. Why not bring a picnic lunch to enjoy with the family after the walk?

For more information on the walk call Council’s Sustainability Unit on 4732 7983 or 0423 021 897

Shout Out for Climate Change

The Shout Out for Climate Change competition offers young Australians the opportunity to share their thoughts and views on climate change.

If you are an aspiring film director, actor, advertising executive or just have a creative flair and care about the future of our planet, we are counting on you to shout out for climate change in the 2010 school and university competition.

Australian primary, secondary and tertiary students living and studying in Australia are eligible to enter the Shout Out for Climate change competition.

Through this competition you will have the opportunity to ‘shout out’ your ideas about combating climate change – and we will help you share them with Australia.

To find out more visit the website Shout out for Climate Change

Graffiti Action Day Tagged A Success

Australia’s first ever Graffiti Action Day was held on Sunday 2nd May 2010, and it was a great success. 237 individual sites were targeted and 4178 m2 of illegal graffiti vandalism was removed.

A range of participants were involved on the day across the state. NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos thanked the volunteers for pitching in on Graffiti Action Day 2010. “Everybody who rolled up their sleeves to help clean up the scourge of graffiti from communities on Graffiti Action Day should be congratulated. Their efforts send a clear message to graffiti vandals that they’ve had enough.” Mr Hatzistergos said.

Graffiti Action Day is a joint initiative between Keep Australia Beautiful NSW and the NSW Government. Details about Graffiti Action Day 2010 are available at http://www.blogger.com/www.kabnsw.org.au Stay tuned for updates about next year’s Graffiti Action Day 2011.To anonymously report graffiti vandalism crime, call the Crime Stoppers hotline 1800 333 000 or visit Crime Stoppers

Free Home Sustainability Assessment with Y Green

Want to make your home more sustainable, but not quite sure where to start? Why not get a free Home Sustainability Assessment done by a pair of fully trained assessors!

The Y Green Western Sydney project is offering households in the Penrith area the opportunity to have assessors visit their home to conduct a Home Sustainability Assessment. The assessors will look at things like lighting, appliances, water fittings, insulation, and the heating and cooling efficiency of your house.

After the assessment, you receive a written report outlining how your house faired, along with some simple suggestions to help save on your energy and water bills. You will also receive information on government rebates for things like water tanks, solar panels and insulation. As an added bonus, residents who participate will also receive a $20 Bunnings gift voucher.

Coordinated by MTC Work Solutions and funded by the Australian Government’s Job Fund, the Y-Green project is a great opportunity for residents to learn more about sustainability and the simple options available to become more sustainable.

If you would like to have a free home sustainability assessment please visit www.ygreen.com.au or call 1300 139 996.

Get on your Bike - Join the Bicycle NSW Commuter Challenge

Whether you are a seasoned cyclist or a Sunday rider, Bicycle NSW has put out the call to join the NSW Commuter Challenge.

The aim of the NSW Commuter Challenge is to reward those who cycle to and from work and for fitness and also to inspire those who are considering cycling as an alternative to their existing forms of transport.

The challenge invites individuals to register and accumulate 500km of cycling. There are great prizes and incentives for taking part and completing the challenge including cycle computers, Bicycle NSW memberships, a range of cycling accessories and free entry to a number of cycling events (including Sydney's largest recreational cycling event - Spring Cycle 2010).

To register simply complete the online registration form. You will be sent a digital logbook in which you can record your rides. Rides of any distance can be included in the logbook. The completed logbook participants will receive a gold medal, certificate of completion and the opportunity to win the prizes on offer.

You can register for the challenge anytime until Friday 26th November 2010. All participants have until Friday 17th December 2010 to complete the challenge.


For more information about the challenge call (02) 9704 0853, email challenge@bicyclensw.org.au or visit the website
http://www.bicyclensw.org.au

Love Food Hate Waste

‘Love Food Hate Waste’ is a new campaign that has just been launched by the NSW Government to provide practical tips and tools to help reduce food waste at home.

We all love our food, but many of us probably don’t realise just how much food is being wasted across NSW. For instance, did you know that in NSW alone, households throw away more than $2.5 billion worth of edible food a year and send an average of 800,000 tonnes of food to landfill.

Not only are we wasting valuable food – and all of the resources that go into producing, packaging and transporting that food - but food sent to landfill produces methane gas. A greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

The good news is that each and every household has the ability to make a difference, and for those of us lucky enough to live in Penrith, the 3 bin system means that we can make an even bigger difference.
In the past six months the amount of recyclable material being diverted from landfill has increased from 20% - 58%.

A-Grade compost, made from the green-lidded organics bin is now being used on the city’s sporting and recreational facilities.

So putting the right things into the right bins is working towards creating a greener future for Penrith.

In terms of reducing food waste, things as simple as planning your meals and your shopping, preparing and cooking the correct serving size, and learning how to best store food, all make a difference.

Loving food is about wasting less every day - saving you time and money, making a difference to our environment and living more sustainably.

For more information about 'Love Food Hate Waste' visit the website www.lovefoodhatewaste.nsw.gov.au