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Council's community grants program is now open!
Council's new look community grants program is now open for 2019/2020!
Our community grants program has undergone a review, and community groups and organisations can now apply for:
- small grants of up to $3,000
- medium grants of up to $15,000
- venue hire grants of up to $8,000
So if you are interested in mobilising to take action on the climate emergency, reducing single-use plastic in your neighbourhood, protecting indigenous plants and animals or increasing sustainable transport use, why not apply for a grant!
For more information visit www.darebin.vic.gov.au/communitygrants
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Sustainability News reader survey - have your say now!
We're making some changes to Sustainability News and we'd love to hear your thoughts!
Complete our 3 minute survey and tell us a bit about yourself and what you think about this newsletter, so we can ensure Sustainability News is relevant to you.
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Recycling update
Thank you for your support and understanding during the temporary closure of our recycling processor, SKM. We have good news to share – EPA Victoria has confirmed SKM has achieved compliance with the outdoor stockpiles requirements for its Coolaroo site, and is again accepting recyclable material.
From Thursday 21 March, all recyclable materials collected in Darebin are being sent to recycling as normal. We are relieved that this situation has been resolved, but we will keep advocating for long term solutions, and continue to support the community through education.
While recycling in Darebin is back to normal, it is still very important to rethink our shopping habits and try to find ways to avoid buying unnecessary packaging.
Think outside the box with our top hints:
Say no to unnecessary packaging and BYO instead!
BYO is not just for your coffee cups, water bottles and shopping bags. More and more people are taking their own containers when they shop or eat out – so why not join this growing trend? You can take your own containers for your weekly shopping trips to food stores, delis, markets and local butchers. You can also avoid a lot of single-use items by bringing your own container and a fork or spoon to take away your food from restaurants. Just keep them handy with your shopping bags or house keys.
Choose reusable
Having a picnic in the park or throwing a party or event? Why not choose reusable dinnerware over disposable or recyclable options. If you don’t have enough, you can hire what you need, or ask your guests to BYO crockery. Or why not source some cheaply from op shops – you can even donate them back when you are done!
Check your bathroom
Does everything in your bathroom come in plastic packaging? You can start your zero waste journey from little things like:
- Swapping shampoo in bottles to shampoo bars
- Making your own cleaning products from natural ingredients like bicarb and vinegar
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Mapping your climate experiences
Friends of the Earth are calling for stories from people facing the frontline of climate change. The aim is to create an interactive map to help better understand what impacts are already being felt at a local level. If you have a story you would like to share, please get in touch with Friends of the Earth. Your story could be about changes to harvest time, extreme weather affecting crops or many things!
For more information or to contribute email aaron.brooks@foe.org.au
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Less waste, more business savings
Do you work in the hospitality industry and want to reduce how much food waste you’re sending to landfill? The Love Food Hate Waste program, which supports Victorians to reduce their food waste and save money, is now being trialled for businesses.
Want to get involved? It’s easy! You can sign up now to be part of the pilot program at www.lovefoodhatewaste.vic.gov.au/business. Places are strictly limited and it’s first in first served – so jump online and register to get involved.
As part of the pilot program you’ll be provided with in-person support and a range of resources to reduce food waste and complete the program.
Your business will also participate in the free 3-step program by:
- Reviewing food waste
- Taking action
- Measuring your savings
If you're unable to be part of the pilot, you can still sign up to the self-directed online program to receive a suite of materials and information to help you reduce food waste. For more information visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.vic.gov.au/business.
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Sustainability Matters event
Learn from local businesses that have introduced innovative recycling practices and achieved business success at this year's free Sustainability Matters event on Tuesday 30 April. Watch this video featuring Sam from Moon Rabbit, a sustainable social enterprise cafe in Preston, for a taste of what you can expect at this year's event. Register your place now via Eventbrite.
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Back from the brink – Large-Flowered Crane's Bill (Geranium Carolinii)
This humble little native Geranium hadn't been seen in Melbourne since 1903 and was believed to be extinct – until it was rediscovered in 2000 in native grassland along a train line in Craigieburn.
This remarkable discovery has led to a concerted effort to increase the plant’s numbers by collecting its seed and using it to propagate new plants for reintroduction into conservation reserves around Melbourne.
Darebin’s Bushland Management Team is getting on board with these efforts by introducing the endangered plant into several sites along the Merri and Darebin Creeks within the City of Darebin.
These populations will help bolster the species’ survival and provide a seed source for future collection and propagation by the Victorian Indigenous Nurseries Co-operative (VINC).
You can help with the conservation of this species by planting it in your indigenous garden.
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The secret lives of Black Swans
Have you ever wondered why some Black Swans at Edwardes Lake have a numbered collar?
The collared swans are part of a research project by zoologist Raoul Mulder of the University of Melbourne, who has been studying the movement and breeding of Melbourne’s Black Swans since 2006.
If you’ve recently visited the lake you’ll no doubt have seen one of the males swanning about, identified by his collar K35. To make the swans easy to recognise, females are fitted with white collars and black numbering while males have black collars with white numbering.
You can join this citizen scientist project by helping record where you see the swans. This helps researchers track their movements.
Visit www.myswan.org.au to find more information and to record the Black Swans you see in Darebin.
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That's a wrap – Clean Up Australia Day 2019
Sunday 3 March marked the 20th anniversary of Clean Up Australia Day. It was an amazing day of community-led action right across Australia, with 12 groups in Darebin cleaning litter from Edwardes Lake Park, Darebin Parklands, train stations surrounds and local reserves and gardens.
The Edwardes Lake clean up group alone collected more than 60kg of rubbish! Around two thirds of this was assorted plastic, with volunteers noticing a significant decrease in plastic bags compared to 2018.
While bags had decreased, other groups in Darebin reported cigarette butts, bottle caps and plastic packaging were still the most common nuisance items found on the day. These items, while small, have devastating impacts on our waterways and the creatures that call them home. With 95% of litter on our beaches coming from suburban streets through the storm water system, we all have a part to play in keeping plastic out of our oceans.
If you couldn’t make it out for Clean Up Australia Day, don’t forget you can clean up at any time of the year to help make a difference. Find more information at www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au.
Read more about Council’s single-use plastic policy aimed at eliminating single-use plastic products at Council events and events held on Council land.
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Cafe to Garden program
Did you know that you can pick up coffee grounds from 11 cafes in Darebin? You can collect coffee grounds to add to your compost or worm farm – just bring your own container or bucket.
Coffee grounds are a great source of nitrogen for your compost or worm farm. If recycled properly, they can nourish gardens as a rich plant food.
You will find a list of participating cafes here.
Find our more about our Cafe to Garden program at our upcoming Sustainability Matters event.
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Festivals in Darebin – the way forward
Council is changing the way we produce festivals and events. We are proposing a new model based around two festival ‘seasons’ per year. Each season will showcase different art-forms, ideas, locations and community connections.
Visit Your Say Darebin to find out more.
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Pop-up forest school
Thornbury resident Victoria Milne is working to reconnect kids to nature through a free pop-up Forest School event which will be held on Saturday 27 April along the Darebin Creek in Thornbury. This relaxed three hour event for 4-8 year olds will include bushcraft and sensory activities, flora and fauna identification and lots of unstructured bush play. Click here to register.
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