Archive for the ‘Movements’ Category
Movements refer to social and environmental movements located within Melbourne associated with contributing to sustainable cities. Although they may appear to be isolated action, they contribute to a larger movement of action and thought. Consider the “relocalisation” movement. If you are part of such a movement with action occurring in Melbourne, Australia, you are welcome to post your experiences on the site. To do so visit the “How to use this site” page and follow the prompts.
Sustainable Apartment Living: SOCs & Blocks Round 3
Posted in Movements, Seeking by Kate Archdeacon on November 8th, 2011
Source: Port Philip EcoCentre
SOCs & Blocks (short for Sustainable Owners Corporations and Apartment Blocks) is a program to encourage the uptake of sustainable technology and practices in the operation of apartment buildings in the City of Port Phillip.
Through this program, Council works with owner’s corporations (formerly called body corporates) to increase the energy and water efficiency of common areas and common services, as well as improving the level of diversion of waste from landfill and the uptake of sustainable transport through improvement of facilities improvement and education. The central plank of the program involves council engaging a consultant to undertake a sustainability assessment of the participating buildings. The ultimate aim is to reduce the environmental footprint of participating apartment blocks. Council’s Toward Zero Sustainable Environment Strategy indicates that council will work with the community to reduce energy and water consumption, and this program works toward the goals in that strategy.
The third round of SOCs and Blocks is now OPEN so please register your interest by Friday 9 December 2011.
This program is FREE to join and the sustainability assessment of your block is also FREE.
Read more about the program, including participant experiences and registration details.
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Melbourne’s Food Policy: Get Involved
Posted in Events, Movements, Seeking by Kate Archdeacon on November 4th, 2011
| 16 November , 2011 | ||
| 6:00 pm | to | 8:30 pm |
| 17 November , 2011 | ||
| 9:30 am | to | 12:00 pm |
You have the opportunity to shape the future of food in the City of Melbourne and we’d love you to get involved – we’re engaging with stakeholders, industry organisations and the community. The Food Policy discussion paper is now available. The closing date for feedback is COB Friday 9 December, 2011.
Food Forums:
City of Melbourne will be holding food conversations in November. The following two dates are confirmed, check back for further details of any subsequent sessions:
- Industry / Stakeholder Food Conversation
- Date: Thursday 17 November Time: 9.30am – 12pm (Morning Tea provided)
- Venue: Melbourne Town Hall – Supper Room, 120 Swanston Street, Melbourne
- RSVP to: health
@melbourne.vic.gov.au - Community / Residents Conversation
- Date: Wednesday 16 November Time: 6pm – 8.30pm (light refreshments provided)
- Venue: Visy Park (Carlton Football Club) – George Harris Function Room, Royal Parade, Carlton North
- RSVP to: health
@melbourne.vic.gov.au
What does food mean to you? Keep your eye out for our reply paid postcard at City of Melbourne libraries, community centres and recreation centres. Complete the card and return it to us by 30 November for your chance to win an iPad2!
Extract from the Food Policy Discussion Paper:
Melbourne is world-renowned for the quality of its food and its liveability, and we want it to stay that way.
We want to make sure that everyone in Melbourne can enjoy good food, now and reliably into the future. For many of us, Melbourne’s food is a cause for celebration – we have ready access to a wide variety of high-quality foods all year-round, which we enjoy at home and in a diverse and thriving scene of cafes, restaurants, bars and other outlets. These and other related businesses are an important part of our local economy, providing diverse jobs, opportunities and enterprise.
For others, there are real challenges in consistently being able to get the food they need. Limited choices often combined with poor physical or economic access undermines health and contributes to food insecurity. Those of us who do have ready access to the foods we want also often eat in ways that undermine our health.
It is increasingly apparent that food systems and the health of the natural systems that support them (our land, water and atmosphere) are unsustainable. The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to a changing climate and reduce oil vulnerability in the food system, are pressing. These issues are emerging as important global concerns. Cities around the world are recognising the important role they can play in leading and catalysing change towards healthy, sustainable, fair and resilient food systems.
The community has articulated a vision for Melbourne as a “bold, inspirational and sustainable city” – this discussion paper starts the conversation about what this means for food.
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Find out more on the City of Melbourne website.
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St Kilda Community Kitchen: Renovated and Reopened
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on November 2nd, 2011
Via Port Philip Urban Fresh Food Network (PPUFFN)
“The kitchen is back in operation after recent renovations and the room looks fantastic. It’s great to see delicious dishes, aromas, and laughter filling the kitchen once more.” PPUFFN October Newsletter
The St Kilda Community Kitchen is a community-run weekly activity that is based on the idea that we all get stuck on cooking the same recipes day in, day out. But, while those recipes might be tired and boring to one person, they’re completely new and exciting to others! Each week people from backgrounds come together to have fun socialising and cooking, all the while expanding their cooking repertoire. So if you’ve ever wanted to learn a few more cooking skills, this is a great and engaging way to do it!
With everybody pitching in their ideas and skills in this way, you don’t need to be an expert to join in the fun, since it’s really about enjoying the experience of cooking in a relaxed and friendly group setting. In this way, a fantastic group cohesion is created that strengthens the local St Kilda community on the journey to preparing a delicious feast!
WHEN: Every Monday from 6:30pm ’til around 8:30pm. Come and stay for as much or as little as you like!
WHERE: Corner of 114 Inkerman St & Bath St, St Kilda. Enter off Bath St and look for the signs pointing to the Community Room.
COST: FREE!! All you’ll need to prepare a delicious feast is provided, just be sure to bring your appetite!
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The St Kilda Community Kitchen uses food that is kindly provided by SecondBite. SecondBite is an innovate organisation dedicated to the redistribution of surplus fresh food from local food donors directly to local community groups. This sustainable and award winning program was created in 2009 to further SecondBite’s mission of making a positive difference to people by identifying sources of surplus fresh food that might otherwise go to waste. SecondBite is always looking to engage more volunteers. For more information on how you can be involved, go to secondbite.org.
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Drinking Water: New service models in Melbourne
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on October 13th, 2011
Photo by Harry Troedel
Article by Kate Archdeacon:
Last week the Southbank Campus of the Victorian College of the Arts stopped selling bottled water through its vending machines, bars and cafés, with the support of staff, students, commercial tenants and Sharyn Lowe from Do Something! Water is now available through public water fountains (Aquabubblers) across the campus, as well as in the ReSauce café on site. Harry Troedel, Sustainability Manager, Implementation, at the University of Melbourne, explained that including the café tenants in discussions about the move away from bottled water allowed them to make decisions about the services they could offer instead. As a result, ReSauce now owns and operates a Freshie water vending machine. Patrons can refill their bottles from the machine, with prices varying depending on what type of water they buy. The choices range from chilled, filtered, sparkling, and flavoured water, with prices coming out at considerably less than a single-use bottle. The water from the Aquabubblers is the same quality and temperature as tap water, so the café has an opportunity to provide a point of difference.
As part of the initiative launch, Vestal Water gave away some of their stainless steel water bottles. Vestal Water are developing new services around water supply – they have a V.I.P. card which allows the bearer to refill their water bottle for free at participating outlets (cafes, service stations etc) on purchase of a hot drink, and they are developing a refill station map to support this promotion. Mr. Troedel says that Hairy Little Sista, the bar at Council House 2 (CH2) has replaced their bottled water with a Vestal Water system.
Shifting water consumption away from throwaway packaging while still providing quality products has been proposed as a great product-service-system in many student designs we’ve seen at VEIL. It’s great to see some real-world examples emerging in Melbourne.
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Love the way you shop! Workshop
Posted in Events, Movements by EcoCentre on October 4th, 2011
| 9 October , 2011 | ||
| 2:00 pm | to | 4:00 pm |
Love the way you shop! Workshop on conscious shopping
Let’s discuss what the impacts on our consumer choices are and how to channel your $$ power to practices you support. We talk about: GMO, organic, supply chain, corporate power, health, community, budget restraint, embodied energy, carbon footprint….. …..and anything that puzzles or disturbs you.
The workshop is FREE! Just bring $5 you will spend on shopping – a hands-on exercise during the workshop!
- Sunday, 9 October: 2pm – 4pm
- Wednesday, 12 October: 6pm – 8pm
- Thursday, 13 October: 6pm – 8pm
Bookings: reception@ecocentre.com
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Mornington Peninsula Food Swaps
Posted in Events, Movements by Kate Archdeacon on September 29th, 2011
| 4 October , 2011 | ||
| 3:00 pm | to | 4:00 pm |
Water-Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) Tour – Stonnington & Port Phillip
Posted in Events, Movements by Kate Archdeacon on September 28th, 2011
| 14 October , 2011 | ||
| 8:50 am | to | 1:30 pm |
Source: Clearwater
Clearwater’s latest tour highlights an array of WSUD stormwater treatment measures and harvesting systems across the City of Stonnington & Port Phillip.
Council experts and design consultants will be onsite to provide insights into the development and management of each project, discussing challenges, learnings and outcomes from concept to completion. This tour will visit tree pits, raingardens in both commercial and residential areas, stormwater harvest systems designed for open space irrigation and vehicle washdown sites. You will gain an insight into project goals, costs, engineering, landscaping and maintenance considerations and community engagement. The tour will include visits to 7 sites; morning tea; sit down networking lunch. Suitable for anyone involved in sustainable water planning or asset maintenance / design, including developers, planners, architects, environment and maintenance staff.
8:50AM – 1:30PM, Friday 14th October 2011
Meeting point to be advised upon booking your place.
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The City of Port Phillip Water Plan is a great example of a municipal strategy, that sets long term integrated water management targets and promotes a water sensitive approach to urban water management. The plan sets considerable targets for reduction in council and community mains water consumption, and promotes the substitution of mains supply with alternative water sources where appropriate. Pollution reduction targets are set to be achieved through an increase in water sensitive urban design (WSUD) projects in road, drainage, and streetscape works.
The City of Port Phillip Water Plan recently won the 2011 Stormwater Victoria Excellence Awards in the category of Research, Innovation, Policy and Education.
Read more about the City of Port Phillip Water Plan.
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Carlton Eco-Neighbourhood Launched
Posted in Models, Movements by Kate Archdeacon on September 27th, 2011
Photo: Jackson Architecture
Article by Kate Archdeacon:
Stage One of the redevelopment of part of the Carlton Housing Estate into the Carlton Eco-Neighbourhood was officially launched last Friday. The result of collaboration between residents, local action groups, architects, developers, the City of Melbourne, the Department of Human Services and Environment Victoria, the buildings incorporate environmentally efficient design. Natural lighting and ventilation, solar access and solar hot water, as well as water-saving systems that recycle water and capture rainwater all combine to reduce the carbon footprint of residents.
A potential demonstration project for many of the Eco-City principles mentioned by Cr Cathy Oke at the launch, the Eco-Neighbourhood is seen as an opportunity to combine technology with community-building to get to grips with a real-world test case for sustainable living in a Melbourne neighbourhood. The 174 apartments are a combination of public and private housing, and Environment Victoria is recruiting residents to train as Eco Champions, spreading information and practical examples of sustainable behaviour in a variety of languages and cultures. Charlie Davie from Environment Victoria explained that in the average Victorian household, the biggest energy uses tend to be heating, cooling and hotwater, but the careful design of these apartments means that the true gains in efficiency will be in the way residents choose and use their appliances. Eco Champions will be given test packs including Future Switches and microfibre cleaning cloths to try out for themselves as part of the training.
Residents have only started moving into the apartments in the last two months, so the community side of the project is still in early stages. It will be fascinating to see how the Eco Champion program progresses over time, since it’s clear that building design is only part of the equation for reducing occupants’ carbon footprints. The complex issues of choice, habit and long-term commitment to behaviour change are the reality that decides whether projects like these become reference points in the shift towards sustainable living that is so urgent.
www.environmentvictoria.org.au/carlton-eco-neighbourhood
http://carlton.vic.au/news/eco-carlton-neighbourhood-project/
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Support renewable energy in Bendigo: Thursday 29th
Posted in Events, Movements by Kate Archdeacon on September 26th, 2011
| 29 September , 2011 | ||
| 12:30 pm | to | 1:30 pm |
Source: Mt Alexander Sustainability Group Inc (MASG)
Photo: Launch of Mt Barker Community Wind Farm in Western Australia
Help us hand over an invitation to the Premier Mr. Baillieu to come to Castlemaine for a public presentation of the Mount Alexander Sustainability Group (MASG) community wind power project.
The Coalition government recently BANNED COMMUNITY WIND FARMS from the Mount Alexander Shire and City of Bendigo east of the Calder freeway and gave us NO REASON WHY. At the same time the Coalition government has announced the biggest expansion of COAL AND GAS MINING & EXPLORATION IN DECADES and is supporting a NEW PRIVATELY OWNED COAL POWER STATION with $50 M taxpayers’ money. We want to invite the Premier to Castlemaine so that he understands the social, environmental and financial benefits of community-owned wind power and supports renewable energy.
Show your support for community owned renewable energy this Thursday the 29th of September at 12.30pm at the Bendigo office of the Premier Level 1 56-60 King Street Bendigo
If you can’t make it send a message to the Premier Ted Baillieu and let him know how you feel 9651 5000 or ted.baillieu@parliament.vic.gov.au and ring or email Damian Drum, 5443-6277 damian.drum@parliament.vic.gov.au our Upper House member and Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development. Tell them you want a wind industry in Victoria, that the wind industry is good for regional economies, farmers and Councils and the environment and you support a Community wind farm in the Mt Alexander Shire and want the blanket ban reversed.
For more information contact Dean on 0448 327 791 or dc@masg.org.
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On The Edge: A forum on food and sustainability around Australian cities
Posted in Events, Movements, Research by Kate Archdeacon on September 22nd, 2011
| 25 October , 2011 | ||
| 8:30 am | to | 5:30 pm |
Whichever way you look at it, food production forms the basis for physical, environmental, economic, social and cultural health. How we preserve, manage and develop our agricultural resources close to where a majority of people now live worldwide- in cities- will determine the future health, sustainability and conviviality of our communities. Our peri-urban agriculture is a key component of what makes Melbourne the most liveable city in the world, and it’s worth protecting, now.
Key discussions on the day:
- Setting the scene for peri-urban agriculture in Australia- where are we at? What are the key challenges and opportunities? – Trevor Budge & Michael Buxton
- British Columbia Agricultural Land Reserve and Strengthening Farming Program (Vancouver, Canada) – Dave Sands
- Parc Agrari del Baix Llobregat, an instrument for preserving, developing and managing a peri-urban agricultural area (Barcelona, Spain) – Sonia Callau-Berenguer
- Feeding Milano; energy for change (Milan, Italy) – Anna Meroni
- The expansion of the Urban Growth Boundary in Melbourne’s outer South East and its impact on jobs, food security and the Bunyip Foodbelt – David Wilkinson
- Promotion, protection and enhancement of food production on the Mornington Peninsula – Kevin Wyatt and Gillian Stewart
- CERES Fair Food- connecting local producers and local eaters – Chris Ennis
- Peri-urban areas and zoning options – Michael Tudball
- Keeping commercial farming viable in peri-urban areas – Susan Finger
- Farmlands trusts; an innovative vehicle for securing land for sustainable agricultural use on the urban fringe – Robert Pekin
8:30 – 5:30pm, Tuesday 25 October, 2011
Hume Global Learning Centre 1093 Pascoe Vale Road Broadmeadows (Melways 6, 8H)
Early Bird until 25 September $495 Full Fee $660
Click here for the full program and registration.
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