Welcome to the Spring edition of EnviroNews
To put a spring in your step we have lots of good news for you in this edition: new Greening Our Future webinar events, energy saving and waste initiatives including free home energy consultations, kids' nature activities, a Biodiversity Action Plan survey, tips on dealing with swooping magpies and invasive plants, recycling and much more!
Climate change a hot topic
Unprecedented response to community survey
Thank you to everyone who completed Council's Climate Change Community Survey recently. We had an astounding 762 responses, showing a high level of community engagement in this important issue of our time. The independent consultant who helped us run the survey is now working on a report of key findings. The community's priorities and ideas will guide actions we can work on together to urgently address the challenges of climate change.
The survey results will inform Council’s response to the climate emergency, including the review and update of the Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Plan and actions to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions, which are a key contributor to climate change.
Following the Local Government elections we will present the survey results to the newly elected Councillors and our community. Thank you again for taking part in the survey and Big Ideas Forum and for your interest in the health of our community and the planet.
Biodiversity Action Plan - have your say now
Submissions open until Friday 18 September
Council is currently developing a Biodiversity Action Plan which will integrate with our other environmental and climate change initiatives. As the name implies, it is a plan for action (and resourcing) which will guide the work we do to manage and improve our natural assets and flora and fauna, for the health and wellbeing of our community.
Our community’s views on local biodiversity and ideas for working with Council to protect and enhance it are key to developing this plan. To share your thoughts about Frankston City’s natural environment, complete the Biodiversity Action Plan Survey. Be sure to include your ideas about how we can work together to protect biodiversity now and for future generations.
The link below also includes a children’s activity sheet so we can hear from our youngest community members.
Inviting frogs to your garden
Monday 21 September, 3–4.30pm
Frogs are an important part of the ecosystem and with a few simple additions, you can attract them to your garden.
This webinar will introduce you to the wonderful world of frogs, including local varieties and the environmental changes that are threatening them.
Learn how to create an inviting environment for frogs in your garden.
Junior Explorer activities
Each school holidays, Council usually hosts ranger guided walks which give residents the opportunity to discover and learn about the local environment.
Unfortunately the spring school holiday program has been cancelled due to the current restrictions on public gatherings.
However, we have prepared some Junior Explorer activity sheets for you to use while enjoying your garden, park or local walks through our beautiful natural reserves.
Download a range of interactive activities to share with your family these school holidays.
Inviting small birds to your garden
Wednesday 28 October, 7–8.30pm
Having small birds visit our gardens is a joy that’s becoming less common these days. Luckily, there are changes we can make to encourage them back.
This webinar will share the challenges facing small birds in the urban environment and tips for encouraging them to come back and possibly make a home in your garden.
It is also a great opportunity to become acquainted with some of Frankston City’s small birds.
Indigenous food, fibre and medicine plants
Tuesday 10 November, 10–11.30am
Before European settlement the Australian bush provided the first nations people all the food, fibre and medicine they needed to thrive in this unique country.
This webinar will inspire the home gardener to grow and enjoy some of the plants used by Indigenous Australians over the centuries.
Introduction to solar and batteries
Tuesday 24 November, 7.30–9pm
With rising electricity costs and solar becoming more affordable than ever, there's never been a better time to consider solar power and battery storage for your home.
Join this free webinar to find out whether solar and batteries are right for you.
This information session will help you:
- understand how solar and batteries work
- find out how to get the right system for your home
- learn about expected savings and payback
- understand how to claim the government rebates
This session is presented by the Australian Energy Foundation in partnership with Council.
If you can't join the session, you can still learn about solar and batteries and how to save energy in your home by visiting the Australian Energy Foundation website: aef.com.au
Lighting the way forward
LEDs replace fluorescent street lights
Council will begin upgrading 7000 fluorescent street lights with energy efficient LEDs this November. The project is a key action to reduce Council’s greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Towards Zero Emissions Plan (2019-2023) and supports Council’s climate emergency response.
The LEDs are up to 53 per cent more energy efficient than the old lights and are expected to save over $2.6 million over the life of the light fittings.
The project will reduce emissions equivalent to taking 110 cars off the road each year.
The new lights will be better overall with:
- greater uniformity of light across and along the street
- better colour and visibility
- less loss of brightness over time
- less glare and light spill
- greater reliability
- lower maintenance costs
- longer life (lasting up to 20 years)
Unlike the old lights the LEDs do not contain mercury, reducing the risk of this hazardous chemical entering the environment.
The new lights are Council's best choice for light quality, energy use and reducing our environmental footprint. The old lights will be deconstructed and recycled.
Cities Power Partnership
At its Ordinary Meeting on 31 August, Council pledged its support and commitment to the Cities Power Partnership (CCP), joining 125 other local government areas across Australia taking meaningful action on climate change.
The CPP is a national program led by the Climate Council to accelerate and celebrate local government successes in achieving emission reductions and transitioning towards clean energy.
Council has committed to five pledges as part of the program and will report on its progress to the Climate Council every 12 months. These pledges are:
- Use Council resources to support the uptake of renewable energy
- Provide incentives and/or remove barriers to encourage local businesses to take up solar power and battery storage
- Roll out energy efficient lighting across the municipality
- Ensure Council fleet purchases meet strict greenhouse gas emissions requirements and support the uptake of electric vehicles
- Lobby state and federal governments to increase sustainable transport options
Council looks forward to connecting and collaborating with other councils across Australia on climate solutions. The knowledge and resources shared will inform Council’s climate emergency response and initiatives for achieving the organisation’s zero net emissions (carbon neutral) goal by 2025.
Free 20 minute energy advice consultation
Council has partnered with the Australian Energy Foundation (AEF) to offer free 20-minute energy consultations to Frankston City residents over the phone. A short consultation could help you with:
- tips on shopping around for the best energy tariff
- heating and cooling your home more cost-effectively, without sacrificing comfort
- easy ways to use less energy when working, studying and cooking
- considering powering your home with solar and information on the steps and investment required
The AEF is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that can help you work out what you need to do to make your home more energy efficient.
From solar to insulation, the AEF can provide advice on all areas of your home, helping you make an informed decision. They can also connect you with reliable suppliers who will provide a quote to undertake the works. Suppliers are selected based on a rigorous procurement process so that you can buy with ease and confidence.
Book your free consultation by clicking on the link below or calling AEF: 1300 236 855.
Garden escapees
Many popular nursery plants are actually regarded as environmental weeds and can cause havoc if planted close to natural reserves and bushland. Environmental weeds are a major threat to our natural environment because they can change and destroy habitats and ecosystems and compete with indigenous plants for light, nutrients and water. This compromises the food and habitat of native animals and can lead to their decline.
Recently a concerned Seaford resident contacted Council about a common garden ornamental plant. Living adjacent to Kananook Creek, they noticed a new plant had appeared on their property, followed rapidly by several others. After doing some research they discovered that the plant was Mediterranean Spurge (Euphorbia characias subsp wulfenii). This species is very drought tolerant and can spread rapidly by seed. They also have very toxic, poisonous sap.
Small seedlings can be easily removed. When removing larger plants it is advisable to wear gloves, long sleeves and goggles/face shield. Council’s coastal team will be keeping an eye out for any of these or other garden escapees along the creek.
For more information on invasive plants and their control, see the Frankston Invasive Plant Guide (not a complete list). When choosing garden plants it is a great idea to choose indigenous species whenever possible.
Recycling update
Separating recyclables from garbage is important to limit contamination, which happens when the wrong things are placed in your recycling bin. This makes the collection service more expensive, compromises the sorting of materials and poses a risk to the workers involved in this sorting. Contamination can therefore result in recycling being sent to landfill.
A recent audit undertaken in the Frankston municipality revealed that in 2020-21:
- The recycling contamination rate was 16 per cent by weight for single unit dwellings. This means that on average, 16 per cent of items in these household recycling bins were in the wrong bin and not recyclable through the kerbside collection system.
- The recycling contamination rate was 27 per cent for households in multi-unit developments.
Please continue to place these items in your yellow-lidded recycling bin:
- Plastic bottles, containers and trays
- Steel and aluminium cans, foil and trays
- Glass bottles and jars
- Paper and cardboard
Items that can't go in your yellow-lidded recycling bin:
- Anything in a plastic bag (including recyclables)
- Soft scrunchable plastics like plastic bags, bread and pasta bags
- Hard plastic that is not recyclable such as toys, buckets, broken pieces of plastic and straws
- Clothing, pillows, blankets, wash cloths and soft toys
- Polystyrene
- Food waste
- E-waste
- Timber/wood
For information on how to recycle these and other items, please visit: The A - Z Waste and Recycling Directory
Spring is swooping season for magpies
Birds are nesting at this time of year and for about six to eight weeks of the year some male magpies (only about 10 per cent) get a bit touchy about people getting too close to their eggs or chicks.
Scientists have found that magpies learn to recognise people who live close by their nests and seem to only swoop those they consider a threat to their young. If you have magpies living close by, allow them to get to know you before the breeding season starts. They are less likely to swoop a friendly face they recognise.
Top tips for magpie swooping season:
- Know your local swooping areas
- Avoid swooping areas if possible
- Move quickly without running
- Cover your head or use an umbrella
- Fix “eyes” onto the back of your hat / helmet
- Don’t harass them - they are more likely to swoop
- Don’t destroy nests - they will start breeding again, increasing the swooping season
- Don’t feed swooping birds, it rewards their behaviour
- Travel in groups if necessary
- Let your neighbours know swooping birds are nearby
You can help with research into swooping birds by marking a swooping area on the Victorian Government's map below.
Food and garden waste collection service
Spring is in the air
Spring has sprung and this means that many of us will have more garden waste in need of disposal. If you don’t already have a food and garden waste bin (the one with the lime green lid), now could be the perfect time to order one.
The food and garden waste collected is transformed into compost for Aussie farmers.
Thanks to everyone already using this service for using it correctly. Keeping contamination to a minimum helps ensure high quality compost.
You can order a food and garden waste bin by calling Council on 1300 322 322.
South East Water Grants
Open until Wednesday 14 October
This Community Grants program is now open for applications.
Eligible community groups in the South East Water (SEW) service area can apply for up to $10,000 funding for projects that:
- support the health and liveability of Port Phillip Bay and Western Port as well as nearby areas such as beaches, creeks and wetlands
- support the community in the areas of affordability, environment, health and liveability, water security and literacy
Seaford » Frankston » Langwarrin » Karingal » Skye » Frankston South » Frankston North » Carrum Downs » Langwarrin South » Sandhurst
 |  |  |  |  |
PO Box 490
Frankston 3199
Tel: 1300 322 322
info@frankston.vic.gov.au