Sustainability in Business

The Local Government and Shires Association of NSW (LGSA) have put together a number of case studies of businesses who have improved their sustainability, and saved money in the process. They’re great examples of how a sustainable approach to running business makes good business sense.

To read more about the case studies and the positive outcomes achieved, please click here.

Junk Busters

The Junkbusters website is for people who are concerned about food marketing aimed at children. It is a one-stop shop for information on Australian government regulations and industry self-regulation covering all forms of media. Junkbusters exists to help concerned people take action against specific food marketing practices and examples.

For more information, click here

Visy Social Sustainability Grants Program 2010/2011

Funding Round Opens 5 October - Closes 5 November.

This funding program targets projects that promote principles of social sustainability, this includes:

• Achieving long-term economic and social security;
• Empowering people and fostering participation;
• Expanding and enabling cooperative networks to work towards a common, sustainable future
  
  Please note:


• Funding will be available ONLY to organisations which have Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status within the Penrith Local Government Area (LGA)

The information pack including guidelines and application form is available here

Please contact Council’s Community Projects Officer, Vesna Kapetanovic for further information on 4732 7771 or vkapetanovic@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au

Business Recycling

It can be difficult for a small business to find the reuse, recycling and waste services they need. Many don’t have the time or the experience in finding these types of services. So the Business Recycling website and hotline have been set up to make the job that much easier. Whether you run a café, a garage, a factory or an office block, you will be able to find reuse or recycling options for much of the waste generated by your business.

For more information, click here

Become a Fair Trade Champion - Take the $2 A Day Pledge & Win!

TAKE THE PLEDGE & WIN!
$2 is less than most of us spend on a cup of coffee yet that is what more than 2 billion people around the world must survive on every day.This October you can become a Fairtrade Champion by pledging to spend at least $2 A Day on Fairtrade products for two weeks from October 17-31.By spending at least $2 A Day on Fairtrade coffee, tea, chocolate, hot chocolate, cotton and the many other Fairtrade products available, you will be helping to end poverty by providing developing country farmers, workers and their families with the opportunity to build a better future.This year each person taking the pledge will receive an exclusive Fairtrade Champion's Pack* and will also go into the running to win some great prizes.For more information and to register your pledge visit the $2 A Day website now!

*Terms & conditions apply (please see campaign website for full details).

Fairtrade Australia

PO Box 306,

Flinders Lane PO,

VIC 8009

Ride to Work on Wednesday 13

Wednesday 13 is National Ride 2 Work Day. The day sees thousands of people across Australia ride to work - riding to work is a great way to save money and get some exercise too! The day encourages those not already cycling to work to give it a go for the first time. Not only that, but riders who register go in the draw to win a bunch of great prizes including a Trek 7.6FX bike valued at $2,000! For more information check out http://www.bv.com.au/ride-to-work/

Why did the chicken cross the road?

To buy some more eggs!

Blue Hills Wetland Taken Over by Snap Happy Residents!

Sunday morning saw 20 local residents armed to the teeth descend on Blue Hills wetland. No it wasn’t a riot, it was a swarm of photographers brandishing massive telescopic lenses, tripods, and other fancy equipment!

The photography walk was organised by Council as part of its Water in Penrith photography competition. One of the highlights of the walk was our ‘gun photographer’ Maggie, who was there to help people learn about photography and to get the most out of their cameras – and she was in high demand!

Thanks to everyone who came along, it was a pleasure having you all there. We can’t wait to see all of your entries in the competition! Hopefully there will be a few entries from the walk on Sunday.

To learn more about the Water in Penrith photography competition, please click here (entries close 11 October!). In the mean time please enjoy these shots from the walk at Blue Hills Wetland on Sunday (click on the pictures to see a bigger version).

Green Skills Training Program for Local Businesses

Local businesses can now participate in a Green Skills training program, which helps them to become more environmentally friendly. Each workshop goes for two half day sessions, with topics including:

• Caring for the Environment
• Implementing and Monitoring Environmental Protection Measures
• Develop Workplace Policy and Procedures for Sustainability

There is a nominal cost per person of $100 with the remainder of the training costs covered by Government funding that will be secured by the PBAs (Penrith Business Alliance)

For more information, click here

"Go Green or be left behind"

Local Kids Harness the Sun and Conquer the Waves

Glorious sunny blue skies greeted the 2010 Solar Boat Challenge on Saturday at Penrith Pools. Almost 30 schools were pitched against each other in a bid to see who could build the best solar powered boat. Primary aged students built crafts which follow an overhead wire, whilst high school aged students built boats which were fully remote controlled.

The day started off with each team making presentations to a series of judges on how they designed, built and decorated their boats. This included a panel of engineers, who assessed the boats on their technical design and use of recycled materials. The engineers also had the all important task of allocating racing classes to each boat based on its design and construction.

You could tell when racing got underway, with all of the noise and excitement from the crowd of teachers, family and friends! The wire guided boats raced in a specifically constructed pool with a wire ‘track’ above it, while the remote controlled boats had to navigate around a series of buoys in the full size pool. A series of heats were held throughout the day, with a little bit of time allowed for the students to make those crucial tweaks (and in some cases emergency repairs) to their crafts. The wire guided boats finished their heats a little early, so some handicapped grudge matches were held for those all important bragging points, not to mention chocolate freddos for the winners!

Overall it was a fantastic day, with a number of winners over a range of different classes. Congratulations to all of the students involved, and we look forward to seeing you next year!

The wire guided boats ran in their own specially built pool.

Everyone was able to get close to the action

Preparing for a start with the remote control boats.

GO! The marshall signals the start of the race.

There was a big crowd in attendance

The crowd got into it too!