Welcome to the late spring edition of EnviroNews 2020

In these positive times as we move out of lock down, it is wonderful to get a taste of the great outdoors a little further from home (within 25 kilometres for now). 

However our upcoming Greening Our Future events will stay online, where you can join us from the comfort and safety of your own home. In this edition you will find information on recycling and waste, indigenous food plants, solar and batteries, wildlife gardens, making preserves, snakes, changes to tree laws and more. 

Know Your Recycling - free webinar

Community information session about local recycling and waste 

Thursday 5 November, 7-8.30pm

In the lead up to National Recycling Week, you are invited to join us to find the answers to those tricky recycling questions you have been wondering about.

You may have heard about recent changes to the waste and recycling industry. This is your chance to hear from experts in the field about what you can and can’t recycle, as well as where your recycling, food and garden waste goes and many other interesting facts.

This is a great opportunity to have your questions answered and learn simple ways to reduce waste. Please note, this session will focus on local information and is only relevant to residents in the Frankston municipality.

Check it before you chuck it!

Another way to celebrate National Recycling Week is to use the new Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) to help you recycle correctly.

This label is appearing on more and more product packaging. It tells you if each component of the packaging is recyclable, conditionally recyclable or not recyclable.

• Items labelled ‘recyclable’ can usually go in your household recycling bin
• ‘Conditionally recyclable’ items can be recycled only if the instructions on the label are followed
• Items labelled ‘not recyclable’ should go in your household garbage bin.

While there are a few regional differences as to what can and can’t go in household recycling bins, the ARL is a great tool to help you figure out what is typically accepted in household recycling bins in Australia.

For more information on the ARL view this short video.

Beware of snakes this spring

Tread carefully

Before every summer we hear warnings about snakes because they become more active as the weather warms up. Snakes are attracted to suitable food sources such as frogs, mice and small lizards. Keeping your yard tidy will reduce the chance of snakes venturing into your living space.

When walking in the bush, stay on the trails, wear long pants and sturdy shoes and carry a snake bandage, just in case.

If you see a snake:

• stand still without sudden movements
• wait for the snake to move away
• NEVER approach, threaten or try to remove a snake (95 per cent of bites occur in cases when people have done so)
• let other people nearby know of the snake’s presence

For sightings in Council Reserves call Customer Service on 1300 322 322.  Rangers will be notified and put out warning signs.

Only a licensed snake handler may move a snake for public safety. In Victoria snakes are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975.

Save waste, save money

Did you know that each year the average household in Victoria throws away $2,136 in wasted food and almost two thirds of this could have been eaten? This equates to 250,000 tonnes of edible food wasted by Victorian households – that’s enough to fill Melbourne’s Eureka Tower!

To reduce food waste (and stop throwing money away), consider the following:

1. Plan ahead - Check what you already have and plan your meals so you know what to buy
2. Shop with a list (and stick to it) and shop after you have eaten, rather than when you are hungry, to prevent purchasing more than you need  
3. Waste-free cooking - Cook to a meal plan, get creative to use up surplus ingredients and cook the right amount to avoid leftovers
4. Food safety - Visit the Better Health Channel for tips
5. Store your food correctly so it lasts longer and to reduce food spoilage

Tree law changes

State-wide amendment to the Victorian Planning Provisions

Changes to state laws around tree removals came into effect on 5 August 2020. These changes realign the municipal wide 10/30 and fence line vegetation exemptions to apply within the Bushfire Prone Area (BPA) only. 

This means properties outside recognised bushfire prone areas will need to get a permit under the Local Law or Planning Scheme to remove trees and vegetation. Landowners of dwellings constructed prior to September 2009 within bushfire risk areas mapped within the BPA can still continue to clear the necessary vegetation to protect their lives and property without the usual costs and effort associated with the planning permit application process. 

The changes are good news for Frankston City’s urban forest and vegetation in general, because it means trees can't be removed for reasons unrelated to bushfire protection, such as to obtain a development advantage. The updated planning provision 51.12 can be found here.

To determine if a property is within a BPA mapped area, view the ‘bushfire layers’ by visiting: mapshare.vic.gov.au/vicplan

More detailed information is provided in the fact sheet below. To find out more about permits needed for tree removals, please contact Council on 1300 322 322.

Agricultural and environmental work crews

Available for six months

Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority's work crews are available for six month stints to help farmers, organisations and community groups to deliver their projects and improve environmental sustainability.

Through the project, designed to provide employment to Victorians, crews will work across the western (Werribee and Maribyrnong catchments), northern (Yarra catchment) and south-eastern (Mornington Peninsula and Western Port catchments) areas.

Work crew services are available to a range of eligible groups including farms and small environmental enterprises, community environmental groups, Traditional Owner organisations, bushfire affected landholders and local councils.

This project is supported by the Victorian Government through the Working for Victoria initiative.

We hope you can get outside and enjoy the rest of spring in a park or reserve near you.  Frankston City has a wealth of open, natural spaces just waiting for you to explore (while wearing your face mask and social distancing).

Check out the options within 25 kilometres of your home, on Council's website and in the Natural Reserves within Frankston City booklet available online.

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