As part of the City of Melbourne’s Future Melbourne process, they are inviting experts in different fields - including environmental expertise - to online conversations about our city in their online Lounge. Rob Gell is the next guest to enter The Lounge on Monday 28th January, 2008 to stay for the following week.

Rob is a coastal geomorphologist by training; he taught Environmental Science and Physical Geography at Melbourne State College and Melbourne University, then for twenty-eight years he has presented television weather.

To start the conversation visit The Lounge at http://evillagemelbourne.com.au/.

The Medical Journal of Australia has an interesting article, “The way we live in our cities”,
by Anthony Capon that outlines the health and environmental sustainability issues of living in Australian cities. See abstract below. Full article available (free) at http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/187_11_031207/cap11053_fm.html.

ABSTRACT:

During 2007, the human species became predominantly urban: Australia is highly urbanised, and health varies within Australian cities.

Australian urban life is characterised by sedentariness, excess food intake, reliance on cars for transport, a high level of exposure to media and marketing messages, and a consumer culture.

These characteristics are linked to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, some cancers, chronic respiratory disease, injury, depression and anxiety.

The evolution of cities has been characterised as a four-stage process: poverty, industrial, consumption and eco-city. Each stage but the last has defining health disorders.

Transition to healthy and sustainable cities requires infrastructure investment in new urban areas (including mass transit, education and health services), better conditions for walking and cycling, access to healthy food and encouragement of suburban economic development.

There is a role for everyone in the transition to healthy and sustainable cities.

Full article available (free) at http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/187_11_031207/cap11053_fm.html.

How do we harness creativity for a sustainable future?
Design, Innovation, Opportunities and Dilemmas – A view from The Netherlands

Professor Han Brezet
Head, Design for Sustainability (D4S), Technical University of Delft; City Innovator, Rotterdam; TV Judge, ‘Best Ideas of the Netherlands’

Prof Brezet’s work has supported many famous new products and entrepreneurial activities: the Rotterdam Sustainable Dance Club; Formula Zero (hydrogen fuel cell racing); the Friesland Solar-boat Challenge; the Mitka for Nike; portable electric vehicles; SustainableRotterdam.com; home biogas generators; bamboo products… In the Netherlands, as in Australia, the reality of climate change is shifting the focus of design and innovation from eco-products to new services, new institutions new life-styles and to greater engagement of the community in re-inventing the future.

Sustainability Victoria, the City of Melbourne, the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab, SustainableMelbourne.com and Design Victoria are pleased to invite you to this important free public lecture by an important ECO-LEAD visitor to Melbourne*.

Wednesday 6 February 2008 6pm to 7.30pm (followed by drinks) Carrillo Gantner Theatre, Sidney Myer Asia Centre, University of Melbourne, Swanston Street, opposite end of Faraday Street, Carlton. Visit http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/venuehire/general/maps.html for a map of the campus.

Please RSVP by Friday 1 February 2008 to Sustainable Melbourne Coordinator, Ferne Edwards: fedwards@unimelb.edu.au.

Professor Han Brezet is head of the oldest Design for Sustainability program in Europe at the Technical University of Delft. He is the City Innovator for Rotterdam, charged with generating new interests, possibilities and collaborations, for the future of Rotterdam. He has focused on the creation of ‘creative city platforms for change’, bringing together designers and design students with industry, government and the community to envision new possibilities for Rotterdam’s development. He is also one of three judges for the “Best Ideas of The Netherlands” TV reality show - one of the most popular reality television shows on Dutch TV in which thousands of people compete to get their ‘invention’ to the market (think The New Inventors meets Australian Idol).

Prof Brezet is also a leader of the research and development program of the Cartesius Institute for Sustainable Innovation in Friesland and a Professorial Fellow of the Australian Centre for Science, Innovation and Society (ACSIS) at the University
of Melbourne.

This lecture will contribute to the development of Future Melbourne, the City of Melbourne’s plan for the future of the city in 2020 and beyond.

* ‘ECO-LEAD: Leading thinking in eco-innovation’ is a program of Sustainability Victoria and VEIL (the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab at the University of Melbourne).

The section below is republished with permission from the Going Solar Transport Newsletter #42, 15 January 2008, compiled by Stephen Ingrouille. Going Solar, www.goingsolar.com.au/transport.

Sustainable Transport: Cycling
“The number of cyclists entering central Melbourne has doubled in the past year, according to the first comprehensive study of cycling in the City of Melbourne. [The] inaugural Bicycle Account summarises cycling trends, behaviour and safety in the CBD and inner suburbs.

A copy of the account obtained by The Age shows:
♦ Cyclists account for 8 per cent of all trips in the morning peak, up from 4 per cent last year.
♦ On-road cycling increased by 10 per cent and off-road by 20 per cent.
♦ Cyclists make up 22 per cent of traffic on St Kilda Road.

The number of cycling accidents is also decreasing. In 2005, there were 155 crashes, dropping to 146 in 2006. In the year so far, only 46 road crashes have been recorded. Crash figures could be much higher as many incidents go unreported or police are unable to prosecute because cyclists have been thrown from their bikes and cannot identify other vehicles involved.

But only 46 per cent of cyclists surveyed in the data said they felt safe riding in the City of Melbourne and 41 per cent said cyclists observed road rules. Lord Mayor John So said cycling had become a preferred mode of traffic in the CBD. ‘More than half of cyclists surveyed for this initiative described Melbourne as a cycle-friendly city. We want to ensure that even more cyclists share that view in the future,’ he said.

Ref: Stephen Moynihan and David Rood The Age 17/10/07

Republished with permission from the Going Solar Transport Newsletter #42, 15 January 2008.

The information below is from the Friends of the Earth website.

Over the past few years, we have seen the emergence of a new social change movement, driven by an inspiring new wave of grassroots community activism. Around the country there are literally dozens of new groups, campaigning for effective action on climate change.

As yet, this new movement has not been able to gather in the one place. The climate movement convergence seeks to create this space in a one day forum, aiming to bring together the remarkably diverse climate change community we have here in Victoria, including local climate action groups, peak green groups, thinkers and strategists, social activists and other sectors concerned about climate change, and progressive businesses.

We aim to provide an inspiring day of workshops, open space for discussions, an overview of the latest climate science, ideas on building a strong and vibrant movement, and the opportunity to ponder what opportunities are now present with a change in federal government.

The program covers:
* analysis of opportunities for change under the Rudd ALP government
* a download of recent climate science
* an overview of current theories and models for taking action on climate change
* inspirational examples of what climate change groups, businesses, development organisations, social justice groups,
unions and others are already doing to tackle climate change
* workshops – there are two workshop sessions - one on campaign themes, and one based on geographical regions.
Anyone can propose a workshop.

The full program is available at: http://www.foe.org.au/climate-justice/media/news-items/front-page-news-feed-1/climate-movement-convergence-victoria-february-9

To offer a workshop, please see the website or contact Cam: cam.walker @foe.org.au

We would welcome your involvement.

*Details*:
Saturday February 9, 9am start – 5pm (registration from 8.45am)
Northcote High School
St Georges Road, Northcote, 3070 (just north of Merri creek). Take tram line 112 towards West Preston, stop 26: full details at: http://tt.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/tt/TTB/20071216-092454/vic/03112Ettb.pdf
Costs: low income $15/ waged people $25 (no one excluded through lack of funds)
We are asking people to pre-register: details shortly on: _http://sustainabilityconvergence.org.au/_
Groups welcome to hold stalls ($10 fee).

On the day ….
Please note: we are not able to provide lunch, please either BYO (minimum waste!) or cafes/ food outlets are close by in North Fitzroy. If possible, please bring a cup for cuppas.
Please let us know if you require childcare (the conference organisers will provide this at no cost).

The convergence is being organised by the Sustainable Living Foundation (SLF), Friends of the Earth (FoE), the Greenleap Strategic Institute and Sustainable Business Practises and is supported by a range of climate groups including Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE), Carbon Equity, Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, Environment Victoria, Futureye, Greenpeace, Moreland Energy Foundation, Western Region Environment Centre and Zero Emissions Now (ZEN).

There are weekly planning meetings, if you would like to get involved please contact Cam: cam.walker @foe.org.au

I’m now 2 weeks on in my goal to map where food is produced within urban Melbourne, based at the Victorian Eco-Innovation Laboratory (VEIL), the University of Melbourne. The research is going well - I hadn’t realised how many urban agriculture sites there are! But I’m sure that there are even more out there….!

Does anyone know more specifically about types of fresh, primary food production (ie. not processed) on a scale greater than household production in urban Melbourne (ie. within the Melbourne 2030 urban growth boundary) that is:

• Commercial production / market gardens
• Hydroponics
• Gourmet/ niche food production
• Street edge gardening – ie. nature strips & street trees?

For each of these categories I am interested in:
• Where food is grown (so this can be mapped)
• The food type
• Possible contact details for further information.

Please send any information you have to fedwards @unimelb.edu.au.

Thank you!
Ferne

Ferne Edwards
Sustainable Cities Research Officer
Victorian Eco-Innovation Laboratory (VEIL)
Australian Centre for Science, Innovation and Society (ACSIS)

Old Arts Building
University of Melbourne 3010
E: fedwards@unimelb.edu.au
T: (03) 8344 3004
F: (03) 9013 2674
W: http://www.acsis.unimelb.edu.au
http://www.sustainablemelbourne.com
http://www.sustainablecitiesnet.com

Phase 2 of the Future Melbourne Project “Considering the Options” has now commenced.

The City of Melbourne’s Future Melbourne project has been collecting ideas and aspirations of all Melbournians to help create the future of our city and city life. This has included two Future Melbourne forums being held in conjunction with the Sustainable Cities Round Tables - click on the ‘Sustainable Cities Round Table‘ tag at the top of this screen to view presenters from these events!

The Future Melbourne Options are now on the eVillage website, http://evillagemelbourne.com.au/index.php. These Options represent Melbournians’ input into the possible futures for the city. Continue to have some input in shaping Melbourne’s future. Log onto the eVillage to read the Options that we now have and share your vision for our future.

Comments close on Friday, 29 February.

Although Christmas is over a book that provides a guide to using rainwater and greywater at home is a good gift all round - especially in our drought-stricken climate. This book recently released by the Alternative Technology Association (ATA) has over 150 pages of comprehensive information and diagrams on how you can sustainably use water around the home.

Topics include:
* Choosing rainwater tanks and harvesting rainwater
* Supplying rainwater to the house and garden
* Setting up a greywater diversion system for the garden
* Greywater treatment systems for the house and gardens
* Health and environmental concerns with greywater
* Creating a raingarden to capture stormwater
* Cutting greenhouse emissions while saving water

The author, Stuart McQuire, has reduced his family’s mains water use by 96%, using just two and a half buckets of mains water per day, but still has a thriving garden full of fresh produce.

Published by the Alternative Technology Association and supported by the Smart Water Fund. To find out how to get a copy visit the ATA website at http://www.ata.org.au/home-page-items/new-book-from-ata-water-not-down-the-drain/.

Cultivating Community is a not-for-profit organisation that has grown out of support for community garden projects in inner-city public housing estates. Over the years it has evolved into an organisation to promote and support the development of community garden projects across the entire community including developing community gardens, school gardens, food cooperatives and neighbourhood renewal garden projects.

Learn of their achievements in their 2007 Cultivating Community Annual Report. This report can be downloaded from www.communitygarden.org.au.

Below is an extract from the December edition of the Future Melbourne newsletter. To view more information about this project visit http://evillagemelbourne.com.au/. Sustainable Melbourne was proud to work with the University of Melbourne and the City of Melbourne to hold two Future Melbourne forums - click on the ‘Sustainable Cities Round Tables’ tag above to view footage from these events.

“The Future Melbourne project is a large undertaking which began way back in May (in 2007) and is divided into five phases. Phase 1, information gathering, is now complete. Your collective contributions have been enormous with over 500 posts discussing key issues, sharing ideas, solutions and general comment, to help shape the City’s options going forward.

The early Phases of the Future Melbourne project are about gathering and analysing ideas and information, and have, so far involved consultation with more than 1,000 people, groups and organisations, including those from the eVillage.

The Future Melbourne project has now entered Phase 2 ‘Considering the Options’. In this phase, the City of Melbourne is seeking your collaboration as we transform the Values and Issues identified in Phase 1 into a series of Options for the future of our city.

These Options offer a range of different ‘futures’, depending on which options we choose. As the Plan develops the City of Melbourne will continue to work with the Melbourne community in considering and evaluating these Options, and exploring where each will take us in the future. Through this process, we will collectively refine the Options into real possibilities for the future of our city.

For more information in addition to seeing how you can become involved in this project visit http://evillagemelbourne.com.au/.