Welcome to the late Summer edition of EnviroNews
Greening Our Future events
Indoors and out
In this edition, see details of our ever-popular series of Greening Our Future events, back stronger than ever, with a wide range of both indoor and outdoor happenings. Free online webinar sessions continue to be a great way to learn, until face-to-face indoor events can return safely. We're excited to include some enjoyable outdoor events too (COVID-19 restrictions permitting). Join us, connect with your local community and learn interesting, practical tips for sustainable living.
Other topics in this edition include recycling news, an important Planning Scheme Amendment, a peek at our world class wetlands and current grant opportunities.
Cloth Nappies 101 - webinar
Tuesday 2 March, 7.30-9pm
Join Elana from Cloth Nappy Workshops Melbourne to discover the world of modern cloth nappies. Elana will cover everything you need to know to get started with cloth nappies - and show how they are good for your baby, your budget and the environment.
Learn how to wash cloth nappies, where to buy them and what to look for. The session will cover washing tips, dispel myths, show the different styles of modern cloth nappies and most importantly, answer your questions so you feel confident using cloth nappies.
Best of all, this independent, free advice is from someone who isn't trying to sell you nappies!
Attracting native bees and butterflies - webinar
Tuesday 9 March, 7.30 - 9pm
Join Richard from Sustainable Gardening Australia to learn all about the secret lives of native bees and butterflies.
They are great pollinators and beautiful additions to any garden. This webinar will introduce you to the role of native bees and butterflies as pollinators and important players in the food web. They also add a splash of colour, movement and beauty to the garden.
Discover the many ways to encourage butterflies and bees into your garden, from simply planting a range of different pollinator-friendly plants, to building an insect hotel.
Clean Up Australia Day
Sunday 7 March 2021
Picking up litter on Clean Up Australia Day is a great way to enjoy your favourite parks, beaches or bushland reserves and give back to the community. Every piece of rubbish disposed of properly makes a difference.
To get involved, you may like to:
Join a local Clean Up Australia Day event (free)
- When: Sunday 7 March, 2021
- Where: Various sites registered across the municipality including:
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community House of Peace Mosque
(meet at mosque gate entrance, 6 Leisureland Drive, Langwarrin)
10am–1pm
3198 Seaford Beach Patrol
Seaford Pier and Beach (meet at barbecues near Seaford Pier)
9.30–11am
3199 Frankston Beach Patrol
Frankston Pier and Beach (meet at Frankston Pier, 5N Pier Promenade)
From 9.15am
Participate in the Clean Up Australia 'Plog-a-thon' ($20 per participant)
- Plogging (picking up litter while walking or jogging) is a great way to exercise and clean-up the environment at the same time.
Conditions apply to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Detox your home
Sunday 14 March, 8am-3pm
Where: Skye, site address provided on registration
Registration: Visit Eventbrite.com or phone Sustainability Victoria on 1300 363 744
Detox Your Home is a free drop-off service which allows you to dispose of common household chemicals safely. The collected items are recovered and diverted from landfill.
Registration is required to manage traffic flow and avoid queues on the day, which means you can get in and out quickly.
This Detox Your Home event is made possible through Frankston City Council and the Victorian Government.
Indigenous Nursery Open Day's special guest
Saturday 27 March, 9am-1pm
McMannis Way, Seaford (next to Frankston SES)
We all understand the importance of having flowers pollinated to produce seeds and fruits but have you ever wondered who does the pollinating?
At the Indigenous Nursery Open Day, Luis Mata (Research Fellow at RMIT University) will share his knowledge about wild pollinators and the best garden plants to attract them.
For more information on what else is happening on the day and to register your attendance click on the button below.
During the week beginning 11 April, the Wild Pollinator Count will be held around Australia. This citizen science project is simple to participate in, with all the resources you need provided here: Wild Pollinator Count
Simply spend 10 minutes observing a flower or group of flowers in your garden or local park and record which insects and birds come to visit. You can find easy to use identification guides and submit your records to the Count on the link above.
Earth Hour - nature walk after dark
Saturday 27 March, 7.30-9.30pm
Paratea Flora and Fauna Reserve, 10 Paratea Avenue, Frankston South
On Saturday 27 March, people all over the world will turn off their lights for Earth Hour at 8.30pm local time. This important event brings attention to climate change and the rapid loss of biodiversity and nature.
For something a little different, you may like to switch off the lights at home and join Frankston City rangers on a guided night walk to experience our local environment after dark.
Some of our nocturnal friends are featured in the Frankston Fauna Guide.
Places are limited and bookings are essential. To reserve your place, call the Frankston Visitor Information Centre on 1300 322 842 or click on the link below.
If you can't make it to the walk, why not join Earth Hour's Virtual Spotlight? Learn more at Earth Hour.
How to save energy in your rental - webinar
Tuesday 20 April, 7.30-8.30pm
Wondering how to make your rental home energy efficient, cut down your carbon emissions and pay less for power?
In this Australian Energy Foundation webinar you will discover cost effective ways to make your rental home more energy efficient without sacrificing on comfort.
Information includes:
- Simple DIY ways to make your home more thermally comfortable without needing landlord approval
- Technologies, products and simple energy saving solutions
- How solar works and the steps required to install it at a rental property
- How to switch to renewable energy through GreenPower
Composting and worm farming for beginners - webinars
Composting: Wednesday 19 May, 7.30pm
Worm farming: Thursday 20 May, 7.30pm
If you don’t eat it, your garden will. Join Michelle from All Environmental Concepts to learn how easy it is to create nourishing compost or 'worm juice', to improve your soil in either the garden or pots.
Composting and worm farming are good for you, your garden and the environment. These skills can help you grow healthy plants, while reducing the amount of food waste going to landfill.
With two separate webinars, you can choose the one you’re most keen on (or attend both). Bookings will open soon on the Environmental Events page on Council's website.
Great recycling news for Frankston City
Council secures valuable grant funding
Council is proud to be one of the 16 councils awarded $2.6 million to use recycled materials in infrastructure projects including roads, footpaths, sports facilities, outdoor park furniture and pavements.
Thanks to the Victorian Government, a $300,000 grant through Sustainability Victoria has been awarded to Council for the Brighton Street reconstruction.
This project will incorporate extensive use of recycled materials in stormwater pipes, concrete footpath paving and asphalt.
Recycling Victoria Communities Fund
Grants for community waste projects
This Sustainability Victoria fund provides more than $5.4 million over four years for social enterprises, not for profits and community organisations to collaborate and explore smarter ways of using resources and materials in their local area.
Funded organisations will receive grants of between $25,000 and $250,000 for projects to increase reuse, repair and share opportunities in their communities, with the goal of minimising litter, illegal dumping and waste to landfill.
Applications close 19 March 2021.
World Wetlands Day
50th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention
World Wetlands Day is celebrated internationally each year on 2 February. This year marked the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in Ramsar, Iran. Australia was one of the five founding nations to sign the convention and today there are 66 Ramsar listed wetlands around the country. There are sites in every Australian state and territory, including our very own Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands.
Wetlands are critical to the health of our natural environment. They protect our shores from wave action, reduce the impacts of floods, absorb pollutants and improve water quality. They provide habitat for animals and plants and many contain a wide diversity of life, supporting plants and animals that aren't found elsewhere.
These wetlands are precious natural havens for wildlife and people alike and we are privileged to have one in our own backyard.
Our worldly wetlands
Edithvale and Seaford Wetlands provide an important summer refuge for over 30 species of migratory wading birds. Unfortunately these wetlands are all that remain of the Carrum Carrum Swamp which once covered 4,000 hectares. This was reduced to approximately 300 hectares with the creation of the “Patterson Cut” (River) in 1879. The swamp was an important source of animal and plant foods and medicine for the Bunurong, the first peoples of the area.
Migratory waders like the Ruddy Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper travel enormous distances, twice a year, between southern Australia and the Northern Pacific, where they breed.
The Edithvale section of the wetlands hosts a Melbourne Water Wetland Education Centre, available to school groups by appointment.
Volunteers from the Friends of Edithvale Seaford Wetlands undertake planting programs, run educational tours and operate a bird hide on weekends (currently closed due to COVID-19).
The track beside the Seaford Wetlands is great for walking or cycling with several points where you can stop to observe the birds.
Smart planning for the future
Frankston Planning Scheme Amendment C138
This Amendment proposes to introduce a Local Planning Policy to ensure that development achieves best practice in environmental sustainability, from the design stage through to construction and operation of new buildings. The Amendment applies to all land within the Frankston municipality.
The introduction of an Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) policy into the Frankston Planning Scheme will help ensure that a higher percentage of new residential and commercial developments exceed mandatory standards, by requiring best practice ESD outcomes to be considered early in the planning stages.
For more information and to inspect the Amendment and supporting documents, visit Council's website (see link below).
The closing date for submissions is Monday 22 March 2021.
This Amendment is one of the key actions in Council’s Towards Zero Emissions Plan (2019-2023).
Grants available
The following Victorian Government grants are currently open for applications:
- Community Volunteer Action Grants
- Stream 1 - Strengthening Environmental Volunteering
- Stream 2 - Biodiversity on-ground Action and Stewardship
- 2021 Port Philip Bay Fund
- 2021 Aboriginal Community Caring for Country Grants
- Coastcare Victoria Community Grants
- Victorian Landcare Facilitator Program
Until next time, stay safe and remember our beautiful, shady natural reserves, like Sweetwater Creek pictured above, can make a lovely summer escape when you need a cool bit of nature for your soul.
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