• Environmental Events in Warringah

• Power Mates Now on Standby at Libraries
  
• Better FloodSafe than Sorry
• Every Drop Counts at Warringah Council
• Public Exhibition of the Draft Local Environmental Plan and Development Control Plans Closing Soon
• Lagoon Monitoring
• See It For Yourself Tours
• News from Narrabeen Lagoon
• Schools Waste Education Program
• Eco News Survey Results

• Davidson High Supporting Endangered Species
• Gibberagong Environmental Education Centre
• Eco Schools Grants Early 2010
• New Ecological Footprint Calculator

• Kimbriki Eco House and Garden Open
• Energy Efficiency for Small Business Program
  
• One Million Women
• Rebate-a-Meter
• National Energy Efficiency Strategy
• Smart Grid, Smart City
• Australia Cracking Down on Greenwash
• Green Cleaning Tip
• What to Plant in Summer

• Sustainable Reuse of Trees
• Duffys Forest Ecological Community - Soil Seedbank Translocation Project

• Weed of the Month - Bitou Bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp.rotundata)
• Fauna Spot - Sydney Christmas Beetle (Anoplognathus viriditarsus)
• Flora Spot - Dwarf Apple (Angophora hispida)
• Photo of the Month
  

• Long Reef Golf Club Stormwater Reuse Project

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What's On

All of the following Council events are free. For other Council events or to submit an event, click here.

Community members can now borrow an energy meter called a Power Mate Lite from one of Council's four libraries to measure their electricity use, greenhouse gases and costs of running common home appliances.

Appliances can account for up to 40 per cent of a household's energy use and this number is predicted to grow as households increase the number, size and variety of home electrical goods. Standby power (such as on a TV, stereo or computer) can account for 10 per cent of electricity consumption in a typical home, costing households around $150 a year on their electricity bills*.

Using a Power Mate Lite can help your household to identify and reduce unnecessary energy costs and greenhouse gas pollution. The device connects between the appliance and the power socket to provide accurate measurements of energy consumption. Power Mate Lites give people the ability to see for themselves exactly how much the TV, clothes dryer or other appliances are costing each year.

For more information, or to borrow a Power Mate Lite, visit your local Warringah library at Belrose, Dee Why, Forestville or Warringah Mall. See www.wls.nsw.gov.au for library locations.

Reference: * Sustainable Energy Development Office Western Australia www.sedo.wa.gov.au

Warringah Council has achieved four stars under Sydney Water's five star 'Every Drop Counts' program as a result of a concerted effort across Council operations to reduce water consumption. This is a big win for the community and the environment.

The objective of the five-star water management program is to help organisations take a holistic approach in managing their water resources. To date only a handful of councils have achieved four stars and above.

Click here for more information.

There is still a short time left to view the draft LEP and draft DCP - both on public exhibition until 11 December 2009.

A Local Environmental Plan (LEP) is the principal legal document for guiding and controlling development at the local government level. The zoning or locality provisions establish permissibility of land uses and standards that regulate the form and extent of development.

A Development Control Plan (DCP) provides greater detail and supplements an LEP. It outlines the controls that apply to a particular zone and/or to a type of development. Its content and format are flexible and it can consist of a combination of text, diagrams, maps and illustrations. 

To gain the full planning picture for an area, the plans need to be read together. LEPs and DCPs are made in accordance with the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment legislation.

Click here for the draft public exhibition documents, public exhibition details, online submissions and frequently asked questions and answers.

Warringah Council monitors Manly, Dee Why, Curl Curl and Narrabeen lagoons for flood risk to surrounding properties. Lagoons are occasionally mechanically opened to minimise localised flood risks.

Following heavy thunderstorms and rain, Warringah Council opened Curl Curl Lagoon on 7 October 2009 (pictured).

Council's four tours to waste and recycling facilities during September and October were booked out, with a total of 96 residents touring either Chullora Materials Recycling Facility or Kimbriki.

Some comments included: "After today I will be even more careful about stuff I put into recycling". And some lessons learned included: "Only six years of landfill left for Sydney" and "Wonderful to see how much use there is for recycled goods".

Participants enjoying the Chullora Materials Recycling Facility Tour

News from Narrabeen Lagoon

The Narrabeen Lagoon Creating a Sustainable Catchment Project is progressing well. The beginning of daylight savings has brought an end to this year's spotlight walk tours which were a huge success. There will be more walks and tours again in the New Year. Friends of Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment group are also offering free adventures around the catchment areas for keen and interested residents. For more information visit www.narrabeenlagoon.org.au

The project team is about to embark on a new wave of schools' education in partnership with the Coastal Environment Centre (CEC). The program began in October at the start of the fourth school term but will be ongoing for the 2010 school year. The schools' education program will provide schools with the opportunity to either visit areas within Narrabeen Lagoon on excursions or have the CEC educators visit their school. If you're a local teacher in the area contact the CEC on 9970 6905 for information on the new program!

The project team has also been working hard on a local area DVD that highlights the beautiful flora, fauna and natural areas that make up the Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment Area. The DVD will highlight what you can do as an individual to reduce your local impact. The DVD will be released to the public early in 2010. If you are interested in receiving a free copy please contact James Birsebois, Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment Project Manager on 9942 2111 or email.

Schools Waste Education Program

Warringah schools have been participating in various fun learning activities about avoiding, reducing and recycling waste, through Council's new School Waste Education Program.

Three schools took up the challenge of building an edible garden and learning about the benefits of growing their own food. The students built the garden from scratch by layering paper, hay and compost and planting a variety of edible flowers, herbs and vegetables. A composting system was also set up so that garden waste would be used to renourish the soil.

Other schools have participated in Eco Garden workshops at Kimbriki, have hosted a waste audit or have received talks about recycling and waste reduction at their school. For more information on the program, call 9942 2111.

Eco News Survey Results

Thanks again to everyone who replied to the recent Eco News Survey. Here is a small snapshot of the excellent results which we will be using to build Eco News into an even better resource for our community:

• Respondents were overwhelmingly satisfied with the quarterly frequency of Eco News
• 100 per cent of respondents were either highly or very highly satisfied overall with Eco News
• Eco News is reaching a wide audience on a variety of sustainability topics
• 88 per cent of respondents did not feel that Eco News was replicating information available elsewhere
• While survey respondents were highly satisfied with the variety of topics covered by Eco News, respondents would be interested to see more articles covering sustainable living, native plants and native animals
• Suggested improvements included providing more information on weeds, pest animals, providing habitat through native gardening, more notice for events, case studies on sustainability champions or sustainable schools, and organic markets, plus information on topics such as sustainable homes and technology, growing vegetables and Aboriginal heritage.

Gibberagong Environmental Education Centre

Gibberagong Environmental Education Centre, located in picturesque Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, focuses on environmental education and provides fieldwork from Sydney Harbour to the Hawkesbury River.

The centre takes school groups for day or overnight visits and provides programs that complement Key Learning Areas from Stage 1 through to Stage 6. Centre staff can work with the class teachers to plan fieldwork experience, environmental education, sustainability education and school environmental audits to help form a School Environmental Management Plan.

The centre is open Monday to Friday 9am to 4.30pm (closed school holidays). Note that bookings must be made at least a term in advance.

Information, including excursion outlines, teacher resources, overnight camping, and educational programs are available at www.gibberagon-e.schools.nsw.edu.au

Eco Schools Grants Early 2010

Teachers and school networks should keep in mind that the NSW Environment Trust Eco Schools Grant workshops begin in March 2010.

Schools that did not receive an Environmental Trust grant in the previous year are eligible to apply for the $2,500 grant. Schools must also be registered on the Sustainable Schools NSW website, www.sustainableschools.nsw.edu.au. Please note that preschools are not eligible to apply.

For more information visit www.environment.nsw.gov.au/grants/schools.htm

New Ecological Footprint Calculator

The Powerhouse Museum has produced an interactive ecological footprint calculator which could be a useful tool when talking to school students about sustainability. Check it out here.

Sustainable Living

Kimbriki Eco House and Garden Open

Eco workshops are underway again at Kimbriki and the finishing touches to the new Eco House have been completed. The new precinct is now open for everyone to enjoy.

Peter Rutherford, Senior Ecologist and Kimbriki's inspirational teacher is still on board and Kimbriki are hoping to offer a new line-up of visiting lecturers and guest speakers such as TAFE permaculture lecturer Penny Pyett, chef Richard James and other interesting people.

The new workshops include favourites such as the Fruit Tree Workshop and basics such as Introduction to Eco Gardening, along with a new advanced workshop for those clamouring for adventures in soil science, Microbial Management of your Soil.

Kimbriki has introduced a contribution of $20 ($10 concession) for most workshops and $40 ($20 concession) for advanced workshops. Kimbriki does not charge for school excursions. Drop-in time is Thursdays 1-3pm.

As friends in eco matters, readers of Eco News may have some ideas or contacts for workshops or forums. To make a booking, or suggest ideas, please email or phone Kimbriki on 9486 3512, or see the Kimbriki website for more information.

Energy Efficiency for Small Business Program

When you are running a small business, it can be hard to find time to make changes such as reducing your environmental impact and saving money by becoming more energy efficient.

The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (DECCW) would like to partner with your business to help you reduce your power bills and carbon pollution.

For only $50 businesses will receive a personalised energy assessment and action plan, and are then eligible for a 50 per cent rebate of up to $5,000 for implementing energy efficiency improvements as outlined in the action plan, including lighting and skylights, heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, electric motors, air compressors, commercial refrigeration, boilers, insulation and hot water systems.

Call the Environment Line on 1300 361 967 or see Energy Efficiency for Small Business for more information.

One Million Women

One Million Women is an online campaign of daughters, sisters, mothers and grandmothers committed to protecting our climate, our communities and our future. The goal is to inspire one million Australian women to take practical action on climate change by cutting one million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2), the main greenhouse pollutant causing global warming.

Every woman who joins has a personal goal to cut one tonne of CO2 from their daily lives within a year of joining the campaign. The website guides you through ways to cut your one tonne and how to track your progress. You don't have to be an expert on climate change as they guide you every step of the way.

Rebate-a-Meter

The Rebate-a-Meter is the first national, comprehensive and easy-to-use website that calculates Federal and State Government hot water rebates.

Simply enter your postcode and the site will calculate the rebates you are eligible to receive. Too easy!

See www.hotwaterrebate.com.au

National Energy Efficiency Strategy

For the first time, Australian Governments have agreed to a comprehensive 10-year strategy to accelerate energy efficiency improvements for householders and businesses across all sectors of the economy. Accelerating energy efficiency is a key plank in the strategy to combat climate change, reduce the cost of emissions abatement and improve the productivity of the economy. The strategy will complement the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme by addressing the barriers that are preventing the efficient uptake of energy efficient opportunities, such as split incentives and information failures.

The strategy will substantially improve minimum standards for energy efficiency and accelerate the introduction of new technologies by improving regulatory processes and addressing the obstacles to the uptake of new energy efficient products and technologies. For more information, visit www.climatechange.gov.au.

Smart Grid, Smart City

The Australian Government announced in the 2009-10 budget that it would invest up to $100 million to develop the Smart Grid, Smart City demonstration project in partnership with the energy sector.

The initiative will support the installation of Australia's first commercial-scale smart grid. Smart grids combine advanced communication, sensing and metering infrastructure with existing energy networks. This enables a combination of applications that can deliver a more efficient, robust and consumer-friendly electricity network. Smart grid infrastructure uses sensors, meters, digital devices and analytic tools to automate, monitor and control the two-way flow of energy from power plant to plug.

Smart grids have the potential to transform the way we use energy in our homes and businesses. A smart grid can identify and resolve faults on the electricity grid, automatically self-heal, manage voltage and identify infrastructure that requires maintenance. Smart grids can also help consumers manage their individual electricity consumption and enable the use of energy efficient "smart appliances" that can be programmed to run on off-peak power.

The Australian Government is seeking public comment on the draft guidelines for the initiative. Visit www.environment.gov.au/smartgrid

Australia Cracking Down on Greenwash

Have you ever stood in the supermarket aisle and been completely bamboozled by the green claims on products such as "earth friendly", "green choice" or "CFC free"? These types of phrases are commonly known as greenwash, and if you've been confused (or even if you haven't) then you'll be pleased to know that Australia's advertising industry is cracking down on greenwash with the publication of an Environmental Claims in Advertising and Marketing Code by the Australian Association of National Advertisers.

The code aims to ensure that "marketers apply rigorous, industry-wide standards when they make environmental claims in advertising or marketing communications".

Source: wickedoutdoorsy.blogspot.com

Green Cleaning Tip

Are you waging chemical warfare against household grime? Powerful cleaners that zap household grime can contain ingredients you'd really rather not be breathing, wearing or washing in. Each issue we will be bringing you a new green cleaning tip.

This month we target wasteful liquid soap dispensers:

What to Plant in Summer

Australia's climate can be challenging in summer, but there are plenty of vegies and herbs to plant in Sydney's temperate zone in the coming months. Here are some ideas:

December
Amaranth, asparagus pea, basil, beetroot, brocolli, Brussell sprouts, cabbage, carrot, celeriac, celery, chili, chives, climbing beans, coriander, cucumber, endive, eggplant, kohl, leeks, lettuce, okra, oregano, parsley, parsnip, pumpkin, radish, rockmelon, silverbeet, squash, sunflower, sweet corn, tomato, turnip, watermelon, zucchini

January
Amaranth, asparagus pea, beetroot, brocolli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrot, chives, climbing beans, coriander, cucumber, endive, kohl, leeks, lettuce, oregano, parsley, parsnip, radish, silverbeet, sunflower, swedes, sweet corn, turnip, zucchini

February
Amaranth, beetroot, brocolli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrot, chives, cucumber, endive, fennel, kohl, leeks, lettuce, onion, oregano, parsley, parsnip, radish, shallots, silverbeet, swedes, sweet corn, turnip.

Reference: www.gardenate.com

Sustainable Reuse of Trees

From time to time Council's Environmental Projects Team is compelled to have large trees removed from bushland reserves. Usually these trees are weeds, non indigenous species or trees which are structurally unsound and present a danger to the public.

All large trees, even if they are pest species such as camphor laurel, have reached a considerable age and provide some limited habitat or food source for native animals. When cut down, these trees end up being chipped or taken to Kimbriki for mulching, which is a fairly inglorious end for those huge boughs.

Massive Blue Gum log ready to be milled into usable timber

Duffys Forest Ecological Community - Soil Seedbank Translocation Project

This project aims to assist in the management of the endangered Duffys Forest Ecological Community by translocating the soil seedbank from a development site in Belrose containing remnant Duffys Forest to a degraded site owned by Warringah Council, and to successfully rehabilitate the vegetation community. This soil seedbank would otherwise have been destroyed by the development and discarded as waste.

The procedure will rehabilitate a site that has been historically degraded from its use as a road maintenance depot and storage site. It will augment existing Duffys Forest Ecological Community management, provide an important research area and education tool and assist in maintaining the integrity of the surrounding bushland.

The soil translocation took place in August/September 2009 and while it is still too soon for any regeneration from the soil seedbank, ongoing site monitoring will take place at three, six and 12 monthly intervals to record species germination and plant cover at the site.

For more information call Council's Environmental Officer - Bushland on 9942 2111.

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Community Corner

The Long Reef Golf Club (LRGC) is located on Griffith Park, Collaroy. LRGC leases a portion of the land, which is a Crown Reserve managed by Warringah Council under the Crown Lands Act 1989. LRGC has been active in water conservation and management for many years. It recently won the 2009 Keep Australia Beautiful Sustainable Cities Grundfos Water Conservation Award for the total re-use of urban stormwater from the Anzac Avenue outfall which runs across Fishermans Beach.

The Stormwater Reuse Project diverts urban run-off in a complementary water management approach. Urban stormwater run off from Anzac Avenue and boat-ramp ocean outfall is diverted to sedimentation and fore bay ponds. This rescued water is connected to the rehabilitated wetland retention/detention area, and then used for irrigation, wash down, toilet flushing, boat wash down and aquifer recharge.

The infrastructure to by-pass this outfall, commissioned in May 2009, results in the diversion of flows up to 2,000L per second (predicted 20 year average recurrence interval) which previously resulted in scouring (eroding) of Fishermans Beach. This outfall is now redundant, improving the beach amenity with increase in sand accumulation. The photos show results immediately after rainfall events before and after storm water diversion.