March 2016

Welcome Its Smart Living Newsletter time! Check out all the latest sustainability news and Smart Living Events coming up in this Autumn.

Captains Corner Autumn is here and across Warrnambool we are still seeing beautiful sunny days and noticing the darkness starting to creep in a little earlier each evening and hang around longer in the morning!

Sustainability Living Festival The Sustainable Living Festival (SLF) was held on a beautiful summer’s day on the 20th February. A huge crowd who came along enjoyed a program packed full of events at the Backyard Feast Themed day.

The festival had a lot of new features for 2016. It was the first time the festival had a theme and Satellite events and also the first time it was run as a waste free event. The feedback received on these new innovations was pleasing and they will be developed in future events.

It was fabulous to see so many different members of the community contributing to this great day out. The festival saw 11 speakers, 17 community groups, 30 local businesses, and 40 market stall holders all working together to bridge the gap between people’s desire to live more sustainably and actually having the skills to do so. A massive THANK YOU to all of those who helped make the day successful.

Overall the event has received some fantastic feedback and if you would like to have your say on the event and help shape future events we would love to hear from you. Simply visit the following link and fill in the survey.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FG5D9CL It only takes a couple of minutes and it’ s anonymous.

Date here March 2016

CLEANER, GREENER, SMARTER

Community Development fund Warrnambool City Council’s very own grant fund which has given away over $90,000 since 2009. The fund is to assist local clubs and organisations in developing and providing sporting, recreational, cultural or environmental sustainability programs, projects, activities or events that will be completed by 30 June each year and based within Warrnambool city. Applications for the fund will be opening soon, so now is the ideal time to start discussing with your group what to apply for in 2016/2017. More information is available on the WCC website. http://www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au/

Grants News There are a number of grants available at the moment which your community group might be interested in applying for. Here are the details of what’s going on in the grants world!

Premiers Grants to protect Victoria’s Heritage: Community organisations are encouraged to apply for funding from the Coastcare Victorian Community Grants Program which supports the conservation, restoration and rehabilitation of coastal and marine environments. Grants are available for up to $7,500. http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/grants-available-to-protect-victorias-coasts/

Emergency Management Victoria – 2016-17 Bushfire Mitigation Grants The BMGP supports projects that promote bushfire mitigation at a local/ community level. Grants available between $10,000 - $90,000. https://www.emv.vic.gov.au/

Regional Riparian Landcare grants Funding is available to support Landcare/ Community Based groups to undertake on ground riparian works in low priority areas. http://www.ghcma.vic.gov.au/landcare2/landcare-grants/

Victorian Litter Plan – Litter Innovation Fund Not-for-profit groups are among those who can apply for this funding for innovative approaches that prevent and reduce the impact of litter and illegal dumping. http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/services-and-advice/funding

Garden Planting Autumn is a great time to get out and get the vegetable patch restocked after summer. The conditions are ideal to plant the following: Artichoke Broad beans Broccoli Brussel Sprouts Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Garlic Spring Onions Lettuce Onions Radish Rosemary Spinach Leek

Date here March 2016

CLEANER, GREENER, SMARTER

Successful Shade Grant Application Warrnambool City Council was recently contacted to be informed of their successful application for a Victorian Government Community Shade Grants. The funding will be used in conjunction with the planned upgrades to the Cramer St playground which is in the Albert Park Reserve and will provide landscaping and shade to the children and their families who are using the facilities.

Clean up Australia Day Staff from across Warrnambool City Council got the ball rolling early in participating in their annual staff Clean up Australia Day on Tuesday. The working bee took place at Cannon Hill and 10 bags of rubbish and recycling were collected.

What’s happening at City Sustainability? There’s always a lot going on in the Sustainability department, so we thought we would share with you some of our highlights!

Recognition for Moyjil Project The Point Ritchie Moyjil Project Committee received a special commendation at the Victorian Coastal Awards for Excellence for the Sharing of Stories of Place – Point Ritchie Moyjil project.

The Sharing Stories of Place project involved the development of a video and website – http://www.moyjil.com.au/ – which explain the stories of Moyjil Point Richie from indigenous and scientific perspectives. The award was presented by the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water, Lisa Neville.

Moyjil/Point Ritchie, as it is now officially known, is a significant Aboriginal site. For thousands of years Aboriginal people visited the area to gather food including eels from the river and shellfish from the ocean.

A record of this extended period of human occupation is preserved in the rocks and in the sand dunes of Point Ritchie. In recent years traditional owners and scientists have worked together to help tell the story of this site, which is recognised as having great heritage significance. The site is listed on the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register and in 2013 received an Ongoing Protection Declaration from the State Government.

Date here March 2016

CLEANER, GREENER, SMARTER

Contact us If you would like more information on

any of the items in the newsletter or if you wish to be removed from the mailing list please contact Helen

Sheedy (Sustainability Officer) on hsheedy@warrnambool.vic.gov.au or

(03) 5559 4439

Detox your home Household Chemical Collection is on Saturday 5th March, 8am-5pm at the Warrnambool Saleyards. This is a safe, FREE and easy-to-use service to dispose of common households chemicals without harming your health or the environment. Simply turn up on the day with your unwanted items and trained chemists will do the rest. Detox your Home does not accept: Batteries, CFLs & fluoro tubes or paint However, household quantities of these items can now be disposed of for FREE all year round at our Permanent site, situated at Statewide Recycling, 355 Koroit St, (next to the showgrounds). For information about what items will be accepted at Detox Your Home, visit http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/detoxyourhome or call 1300 363 744

Clean up Australia Day Clean up Australia Day takes place every year on the first Sunday of March. This year Clean Up Australia Day will take place on Sunday 6th March from 10am – 12pm. There are 3 public sites this year, register and pick up gear at: • Russell's Creek (Bromfield St intersection, near

Supergrass Tennis) • Boat ramp carpark, near the breakwater • Warrnambool Angling Club, near Proudfoot's

Warrnambool City Council, Friends of the Merri Marine Sanctuary and South West Fishcare are calling on all residents to come on down to one of these sites on Clean Up Australia Day, to help clean up our beautiful city and especially work to keep plastic out of the ocean and out of our waterways.

Schools and community groups who want to get involved please call Kate McInnes on 5559 4800 or via email kmcinnes@warrnambool.vic.gov.au Earth Hour Saturday 19th March 2016 is the day 172 Countries and Territories will switch of for Earth Hour. If you would like to join in this world wide event, simply turn off all electrical appliances from 8.30pm - 9.30pm.