Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on May 23rd, 2013
| 25 May , 2013 |
| 2:00 pm | to | 4:00 pm |
This event is for the fight for our food!! We deserve to know what we are eating. Food sovereignty and food security starts with us. Biotech companies are slowly killing the world with their patented seeds, domination of the distribution of food and deadly DNA interrupting chemicals, which we ingest everyday.
The day commences at 2pm, we have expert guest speakers, acoustic entertainment, a seed swap/giveaway and public discussion forum…it’s going to be huge!
STATE LIBRARY of VICTORIA at 2PM
328 Swanston Street Melbourne
>> March Against Monsanto global site
>> Melbourne’s March Against Monsanto facebook site
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Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on May 22nd, 2013
Photo: Duncan Rawlinson via flickr CC
Australia is one of the sunniest continents on earth, so producing power from the sun just makes sense.
This has been recognised by millions of Australians who have chosen to take energy generation into their own hands.
One million rooftop power stations are now lighting up homes around the country. And many more households are looking to solar as a way to manage their energy bills, creating cleaner energy along the way.
To date ordinary Australians have invested $8 billion of their own money in solar – a massive investment in clean energy generation in the grid.
The solar revolution IS happening at an astounding pace – the price of solar is plummeting, making solar more affordable than ever, and rates of uptake continue to rise rapidly.
But despite the many reasons to go solar, some big energy companies don’t want to see Australians take back control of their own energy needs. They want to make connecting to solar harder, not easier.
Solar Citizens is a new community project to bring together existing and future solar owners to ensure the rights of solar owners are protected and to help see Australia put a panel on every rooftop.
Solar Citizens will work to ensure:
- Every Australian is able to take up the benefits of solar in their home or in their community
- Solar homeowners are paid a fair price for the power they contribute to the grid
- Solar homeowners are able to connect to the grid
- Solar homeowners are not subject to unreasonable charges or tariffs
If you want to ensure your rights as a solar owner are protected or if you believe in a solar future for all Australians join Solar Citizens today.
Solar Citizens is an initiative of 100% Renewable – a community organisation to help Australia move towards a renewable energy future. The project is non-partisan and independent of any political organisation or party.
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Posted in Events, Visions by Kate Archdeacon on May 21st, 2013
| 18 May , 2013 10:00 am | to | 9 August , 2013 5:00 pm |
Images by Andrew Wong, Nikaya Lewis, Tom Shield
Vision: Florence 2035 – Eco-Acupuncture: Developing Sites of Urban Intervention is a free exhibition of selected Architecture and Urban Planning projects developed as part of the Victorian Eco Innovation Lab’s Eco-Acupuncture travelling studio in Florence 2012. The projects envision a sustainable and resilient future for Florence.
18 May – 09 August
Museo Italiano, 199 Faraday Street, Carlton
Open Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm
Saturday 12noon-5pm
>> Download the exhibition flyer
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Posted in Models by Kate Archdeacon on May 20th, 2013
Image: Compost Revolution
The Mount Alexander Shire Council has signed up for a Compost Revolution - your ‘one-stop-shop for composting and wormfarming’:
“Composting and wormfarming is easy to do and prevents the wasteful transport of food scraps to landfill where they produce harmful greenhouse gases. You can halve your rubbish and return vital nutrients to the soil to grow your veggies in. You can learn all the basics of composting and wormfaring at our online tutorial, then take the quiz.
After that [if you live in Mt Alexander] you’re eligible for a discounted compost bin or worm farm!
The Compost Revolution is a community initiative that promotes home composting, growing food locally and connecting with your neighbours. Get involved, learn, test yourself and start turning food scraps into healthy soil for growing food.”
>> compostrevolution.com.au/mountalexander/
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Posted in Models by Kate Archdeacon on May 17th, 2013
Photo: Michael Wright, David Simmonds via Landezine
It’s nearly winter and hopefully time to replenish some of our urban water sources. Clearwater has recently published a great case study on the Royal Park Stormwater Harvesting project, which has evolved since its launch in 2006:
“The 1984 Royal Park Master Plan proposed the development of a wetland, which would provide a range of benefits to the local community. In 1998, following on from this preliminary idea, a stormwater harvesting system was included in the Master Plan, and the conceptual design was finalised in 2004. When Melbourne hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2006, there was a strong push for environmental initiatives. Given that the chosen site for the Athlete’s Village was adjacent to the proposed wetland location, the construction of the Village became the main driver to implement the wetland and stormwater harvesting project. It was completed in time for the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the area was included in the secure recreation zone of the Athlete’s Village.
Stormwater is diverted from an open Melbourne Water stormwater drain, which collects water from a 187ha catchment area. The diversion structure, which also acts as a sediment trap, allows only low flows into the constructed wetland which is 0.8ha in size. The treated water then flows into a 12ML storage basin, which allows overflow into Moonee Ponds Creek. This storage space was supplemented in 2008 by a 5ML underground tank, situated below one of the sporting fields. To ensure the water is fit-for-purpose, it is treated with UV light and held in a distribution tank prior to use for irrigation of the neighbouring golf course, sports ovals and parkland. To minimise human health risks, the water is applied at night-time through spray irrigation. The system has a back-up supply with a connection to potable mains water. Two water hydrants are also located in an adjacent street to allow trucks to fill up and use the treated water for irrigation of streetscape features.”
Read the full article on Clearwater’s site for more details and great pictures, or to download the case study as a PDF.
>> clearwater.asn.au/content/royal-park-stormwater-harvesting-project
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Posted in Research, Seeking, Visions by Kate Archdeacon on May 15th, 2013
Post Doctoral Researcher: Visions and Pathways for Low Carbon Built Environment and Urban Living.
A flagship project of the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab and the CRC for Low Carbon Living.
(Melbourne University Position Number 0031360 – see: http://jobs.unimelb.edu.au/jobSearch.asp?stp=AW)
Join a ground-breaking flagship project to explore and articulate visions, scenarios and pathways for a low-carbon resilient urban environment linked to a dynamic program of engagement with industry and government.
This project is lead from the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne in collaboration with researchers from the University of New South Wales and Swinburne University. It is supported by a grant from the Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living, a major research initiative bringing together key property, planning, engineering and policy organisations with leading Australian researchers to develop new social, technological and policy tools for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment.
The challenge of the decarbonisation of the built environment involves no less than a transition from one set of technologies, infrastructures, practices, perceptions, values, policies and regulations to a (potentially very) different set. This research project will investigate the diversity and complex systems dynamics of technological and societal changes required to pursue a low-carbon resilient society.
The project will use scenario thinking within a twenty-five to thirty year horizon. Over its life, we will road-map potential transitions and disruptive change, articulate and refine scenarios for Australia’s future, guide designers in the production of visualisations of the future built environment, provide strategic input to the scoping of the CRC research program and publish for academic, professional and general media.
The successful candidate will focus on the investigation and elaboration of approaches to the design of ‘eco-cities’ and the technological, social and infrastructural innovations that could provide the basis for the transformation of both new and existing built environments. Reporting to the project leader, Professor Chris Ryan, the position will connect closely with researchers in the Victorian Eco Innovation Lab (VEIL) and will be located within the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.
>> Application deadline extended to May 22, 2013
Sustainable Melbourne and Sustainable Cities Net are projects of the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab (VEIL). Occasionally we cross-promote projects or events in order to reach as many of the right people as possible.
Posted in Events by EcoCentre on May 15th, 2013
| 18 May , 2013 |
| 11:00 am | to | 12:30 pm |
Saturday 18 May, 11am-12.30pm
Want bucket loads of worm castings, like these ones collected from EcoCentre? In this workshop you’ll learn how to set up and maintain a top-performing worm farm.
Everything you ever wanted to know about how to wrangle worms and turn your organic kitchen waste into garden enriching compost.
The workshop will be run by industry professional Richard Thomas. Richard is a highly sought-after expert who not only runs a worm nursery in Melbourne but who also consults in this field in developing countries. This workshop uses active, demonstration wormfarms and covers theory and troubleshooting.
Bookings ESSENTIAL. Cost $15 EcoCentre ‘green’ members/$25 others
www.trybooking.com/CTXM
9534 0670 / paula@ecocentre.com
Venue: Port Phillip EcoCentre
Cnr Blessington & Herbert Streets, St Kilda
(in St Kilda Botanic Gardens)
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Posted in Events by Creative Suburbs on May 6th, 2013
| 9 May , 2013 |
| 7:00 pm | to | 9:00 pm |
How can suburbs get creative and engaging? Talking about the role engagement plays in spatial justice, Alvaro Maz will be exploring ways cities can use -cool- marketing examples to design and interact with our parks, buildings and streets.
We will examine the way we engage with the urban form of our cities and imagine the potential of having an inclusive, sustainable and creative places to live.
Alvaro is a former international development devotee interested in spreading ideas, examining and connecting places and people and feeding his new chocolate addiction; an urban thinker exploring new media with a beer and cheese appetite and passion for informal, vibrant communities. He lives, eats and blogs from Melbourne. Alvaro is also the founder of Creative Suburbs, a community consultation platform to share and support ideas to enhance Melbourne’s suburbs.
Date: Thursday 9 May, 2013
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: Elisabeth Murdoch Building, Victorian College of the Arts (Southbank campus), 234 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Refreshments provided/gold coin donations welcome!
http://urbantalks.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/alvaro-maz-on-creative-suburbs-thursday.html
Posted in Events by Mark Ogge on April 29th, 2013
| 6 May , 2013 |
| 6:30 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
Image via LIVE
David Robinson is the Project Manager of Locals Into Victoria’s Environment (LIVE) Community Power. He is planning Australia’s first community solar project to install up to 3000 solar panels on the roof of South Melbourne Market, adding to about 150 already in place.
In March 2013, the South Melbourne Market solar project passed an important milestone. The feasibility report commissioned by the City of Port Phillip and LIVE was released. David will present on the funding model process and an update on the project.
David’s 40 year career was spent in Information Technology in a range of technical, marketing, communications and sales roles. He is well known for his environmental campaigning, mainly through LIVE (Locals Into Victoria’s Environment) the group of which he is now the Convenor. During 2013 David is focussing on CORE (Community Owned Renewable Energy) projects. LIVE Community Power is the first of these projects, and he expects many more to follow in the years ahead.
Tune into the live webcast. Join the discussion and find out how you can help.
Time: 6:30 – 8pm Monday 6 May 2013
Fritz Loewe Theatre (entry via level 2)
McCoy Building
University of Melbourne
Cnr Elgin & Swanston Streets, Carlton
LIVE streaming of this event in HD720 video will be available
Entry: Gold coin donation
http://bze.org.au/events/discussion-group
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Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on April 26th, 2013
| 27 April , 2013 |
| 8:00 am | to | 1:00 pm |
Image: Bart Heird via flickr CC
The weather forecast is great, the line up of stallholders is fabulous, local community groups and buskers are ready and the school community is raring to go! Now all we need is the good folk of the North to come out in droves to show that Melbournians support Victorian producers.
Stallholders locked in include:
- Plains Paddock Lamb
- Hazeldean Farm organic veg
- Boisdale Best veg
- Bundarra Berkshire
- Three Bridges Apples
- Greenvale Farm
- Five n Dime Bagels
- Myrtleford Butter
- Kingfisher Citrus
- Bee Lovable Honey
- King Valley Pies
- Peninsula Fresh Organic Veg
- Gippsland Pasture Fed Meats
- Goldfields Cheese and more…
Of course, we’ll be rocking along simultaneously at the Abbotsford Convent with the wonderful stallholders, but Coburg’s goal is to introduce a new crowd to shopping direct, so please help spread the word.
See you at… Coburg North Primary School
180 O’ Hea Street (just down from the excellent O’Hea’s Bakery), Coburg
Saturday 27 April, 8am-1pm
BYO bags etc. $2 donation for school projects appreciated at the gate.
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