Welcome to the Autumn edition of EnviroNews - 2020

In these troubling, uncertain times we are more aware than ever of the importance of local community. Although many of us may be 'stuck at home' and miss our usual daily lives, we can try to use this time to slow down, do some home tasks that we don't often have time for, greet our neighbours (from a distance) and offer or ask for help if needed. We can appreciate the simple things in life - the beauty of nature is still out there, visible from your backyard, balcony or daily walk.

This edition includes suggestions for things to do at home including details about the Solar and Batteries Information Night, ordering plants from our Indigenous Nursery and updates on waste, recycling and bin collection services. You many be surprised to learn about a special bird living nearby and you can pick up some ideas for kids' environmental activities.

Solar and Battery Information Night - now an online webinar!

Tuesday 21 April, 7 - 9pm

Most of Council’s free Greening Our Future events have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However we are happy to say that the Solar and Batteries Information Night will go ahead as an online webinar.

Solar is becoming more affordable than ever and if you are in the position to consider home solar power and battery storage, now or in the future, this is a great chance to learn more about it. This free, independent information session will help you find out whether solar and batteries are right for your home. We will help you:

• understand how solar and batteries work
• find out how to get the right system for your home
• understand how to claim the government rebates

The webinar is FREE but you need to register to take part. Once registered, you will be sent information about how to join in on the night. There will also be the opportunity to ask questions and get follow up information after the event.

This community event is brought to you by Frankston City Council and the Australian Energy Foundation.

Frankston Indigenous Nursery accepting orders

Orders available by phone or email

While spending extra time at home, why not get out in your garden and do some autumn planting? Although the Nursery is currently not open to the public for visits, you can still get your hands on some fantastic indigenous plants via email and phone orders. Appointments can be made to pick up orders between 7.30am and 3.30pm on weekdays.

Plants can be selected from the stock lists on the Indigenous Nursery website with both indigenous and non-indigenous species available. Phone your order on 9768 1513 or email: fin@frankston.vic.gov.au

EFTPOS is available and payments can be made by credit card over the phone. The nursery is not accepting cash payments.

Powerful owls in the hood

Woo hoo!

Frankston City contains important habitat for the Powerful Owl, the largest owl in Australia. Growing to 66 centimetres in length with a wingspan of up to 140 centimetres, the Powerful Owl is dark grey-brown above and white underneath with grey-brown v-shaped markings. Their calls may be heard at any time of the year but they are more vocal during the autumn-winter breeding season. The male has a slow, deep and resonant double hoot - “Woo-hoo”- with the female's being higher pitched.

Their diet includes the Common Ringtail Possum and other arboreal possums, gliders and birds. A major threat to the Powerful Owl is a loss of suitable large hollow bearing trees which take hundreds of years to develop. This limits the availability of nest sites and also suitable homes that support its main food source.

A recent Deakin University study GPS-tracked a Powerful Owl in heavily fragmented treed habitat in Langwarrin, Frankston, Dandenong and Cranbourne. It is unusual for an urban Powerful Owl to have such a large home range. Fragmentation caused by urbanisation and land clearing could be why this owl needs to travel further to meet its survival needs.

Have you seen or heard a Powerful Owl? Report your sightings on the Frankston City online Wildlife Map.

Photo credit: David Lochlin

Recycling - the times they are a changin'

Our world is going through a lot of changes at the moment and the recycling industry is no exception. Some of the items that you can and can’t recycle via your yellow lidded recycling bin have changed and will continue to do so into the future. Use your recycling bin to dispose of:

• Plastic containers and bottles (no plastic trays or plastic lids please)
• Steel and aluminium cans, foil and trays (including Easter egg foil wrappers rolled into one ball)
• Glass bottles and jars
• Paper and cardboard

The following items should NOT be placed in your household recycling bin:

• Plastic bags and other soft 'scrunchable' plastic packaging
• Recycling in bags (items should be placed loose in your recycling bin) 
• Clothing
• Rubbish

Now is the perfect time to refresh your knowledge by visiting Council's website to find out what’s in and what’s out when it comes to recycling. All future recycling changes will be communicated through this website.

Nude food in garden waste bins

Bin liners optional

While compostable liners are a convenient way to place food waste in your garden waste bin, they are not essential. You can also:

• go nude (with your food of course) by emptying your food scraps in loose
• wrap food scraps in newspaper or paper towel instead of a bag

To keep your garden waste bin clean and odour free, you can:

• freeze your meat/fish scraps until collection day
• clean your bin from time to time to remove any leftover residue
• layer garden clippings and leaves over the food scraps 
• place a sheet of cardboard or a sprinkling of bi-carb soda at the bottom of the bin
• keep the lid of your bin tightly closed (not overflowing) to prevent animals and flies getting in
• put your bin out for each fortnightly collection so that food scraps don't sit around for long periods 
• store your bin out of direct sunlight (if you can) because heat can intensify smells

Remember, you can also wash your caddy (it is dishwasher safe).

New way to chat with us

Have you discovered our new 'live chat' service via Council's website? Feel free to try out this safe new way to make contact with us.

If you would like to stay up to date on how Council’s services, events, support services and facilities have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, visit Council’s dedicated website page to see all the details.

Stay safe everyone, we will get through this together.

All the best from your Council.

Seaford » Frankston » Langwarrin » Karingal » Skye » Frankston South » Frankston North » Carrum Downs » Langwarrin South » Sandhurst