Welcome to the summer edition of EnviroNews

In this edition read about Council's declaration of a Climate Emergency and get practical tips and ideas on how we can all help the environment through everyday actions. Information includes 'summer smart' homes, pest species and indigenous plants, E-waste, recycling, water for wildlife, schools, a cool local beauty spot and how to have your say on the draft Environmentally Sustainable Design Guidelines for Council Buildings Policy.

Council declares Climate Emergency

Joining others to acknowledge the problem and act for positive change

Council joins more than 190 jurisdictions in 24 countries and 290 million citizens worldwide that have declared a climate emergency. Mayor Sandra Mayer said, “As part of the decision, Council made a commitment to review and update our Climate Change Impact and Adaption Plan, which will provide us with a clear roadmap of how we, as a city and community, can continue to prioritise initiatives, infrastructure and projects that positively impact the planet.

Council will work with the community to raise awareness of the climate emergency and support community action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.”

Summer smart homes

Simple ways to keep cool at home

Summer is here and the days of sweltering heat are just around the corner. Here are some easy and affordable ways to keep your home cooler this summer:

During the day, keep curtains and blinds closed to keep the heat out and pull down external blinds if you have them
Block any gaps around doors and windows to stop hot air from coming in. Use an incense stick to check for draughts – the movement of the smoke will show you where the gaps are
Check your ceiling insulation, which lasts around 20 to 25 years. To refresh, just add more insulation straight over the top, the old insulation does not need to be removed. Make sure the entire ceiling surface area is covered all the way to the edges and into the corners. (You can lose up to half of the benefit of insulation if just 5% of the ceiling is left uninsulated)
DIY your own evaporative cooler: place a container of iced water in front of your fan. The air will cool as it moves over the cold water resulting in nice cool air for you to enjoy
If you have an air conditioner, focus on cooling specific areas and close off areas you're not using
Once the sun has gone down and the cool of evening arrives, remember to open up doors and windows to allow in the fresh breezes

More tips from Sustainability Victoria

Which plants are pests?

New Invasive Species Guide

The guide, available on Council's website, will help you identify and control any invasive, problem species on your property.

Environmental weeds and pest animals threaten our unique natural environment. Invasive plant species are a huge problem because they compete with local plants for light, water and nutrients. Invasive animal species compete with our local fauna for resources such as shelter and food.

Many pest plants are spread from garden 'escapees'. Seeds are spread by birds and animals and also by the illegal dumping of garden cuttings into bushland and waterways.

Download a copy

Which plants are best?

New Indigenous Plant Guide

The guide highlights many of the plant species naturally occurring within the area and how they can be used in your garden.

Our local indigenous native plants provide many benefits and can add a beautiful finishing touch to your home garden. They can provide spectacular displays of colour and texture throughout the seasons.

Indigenous plants can be used to create formal, bush-style or cottage gardens. They provide many benefits because they are better suited to local conditions, are more resistant to disease, attract and provide food and shelter for wildlife and reflect the natural character of the area.

Grab a copy of the guide at your your local Customer Service centre, or on Council's website.

Download a copy

Are you a recycling guru?

Take the quiz

Planet Ark has developed a recycling quiz, a great way to test your knowledge and bust some recycling myths.

What you can and can’t recycle does change from time to time, so it’s always good to refresh your knowledge.

For further recycling information, visit Council’s website to see:

A-Z Waste and Recycling Directory
Bin Information (what goes in which bin)

Take the quiz

Drop off e-waste for FREE

Frankston Regional Recycling and Recovery Centre (FRRRC)

E-waste is any item with a plug, battery or cord (e.g. TVs, computers, mobile phones, vacuum cleaners and toasters).

Recovering e-waste is important but it's better to try and minimise waste to begin with. You could consider:

re-evaluating whether you really need a new electronic item or device
considering the second-hand market
looking after your electronic items to preserve their life
donating or selling unwanted working electronics, to give them a second life
repairing broken electronic items

However if you still have e-waste to dispose of, you can drop it off to FRRRC for FREE or at other local collection points listed on Council’s online A-Z Waste and Recycling Directory.

A - Z Waste and Recycling Directory

Teachers Environmental Network (TEN)

Open to all schools in Frankston City

The TEN is a Council-facilitated network for teachers focusing on environmental education and actions. This popular network is open to all primary and secondary schools in the municipality.

Many local schools are working to reduce their waste, energy and water use and plant indigenous vegetation to support biodiversity.

The TEN is a great way for schools and teachers to learn from each other and tap into various forms of assistance for environmental education e.g. grants, resources, professional development and events.

Council is proud to support local schools as they educate our younger generations to become environmentally responsible future citizens, while caring for our precious environment right now.

Water for wildlife

Summer can be tough for animals as well as people

You can help our native birds and other wildlife by leaving out clean water in a safe, accessible and shady place for them, particularly during heat waves. Shallow bowls are best, as small birds can get trapped in deep dishes and drown. Make sure the water for birds is high enough to be protected from predators e.g. cats.

If you only have large bowls or buckets, place some large twigs or rocks inside to allow any trapped animals to make their way out.

If you spot heat stressed or struggling wildlife, call a local wildlife care group for help.

It's also a good idea to have an emergency kit in your car including water, a blanket/towel and a box for injured wildlife.

Message in a bottle

Litter trackers come to Frankston

This innovative project designed by RMIT and Melbourne Water has scientists working with schools and community groups to launch GPS-tracked bottles into Melbourne’s waterways. Kananook Creek was chosen as one of the key waterways in the local area. Each bottle's journey is tracked via an interactive online map to show how and where litter travels.

Recently students from Frankston High School’s Eco Team launched 5 of these special bottles into the creek. Watched by volunteers from Kananook Creek Association and local Beach Patrols and Council officers, it was good to know these particular bottles were not just litter. The RMIT researchers will track their journeys to see exactly where they end up, before being collected and disposed of correctly.

Litter Trackers not only collects data but educates communities about the issue of litter in our urban environment – how items dropped in suburban streets travel via stormwater drains into creeks and rivers and eventually to the bay.

If you come across one of these bottles, please don't put it in the recycling bin - contact RMIT for collection!

Have your say

Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) for Council buildings

The revised draft ESD Standards for Council Buildings Policy is now available for public feedback until Tuesday 24 December 2019.

The draft policy outlines the ESD principles to be applied to Council’s building projects, sets minimum ESD targets and outlines the assessment tools used to meet those targets.

Council's buildings, on average, contribute 50% or more of the organisation’s greenhouse gas emissions (from energy usage) and 35% of Council’s mains water usage. The policy plays an integral role in helping Council progress towards meeting its environmental targets (i.e. zero net emissions and water targets).

Have your say

Summer by the creek

The heat of summer draws us to the cooler temperatures that water offers. Why not explore Kananook Creek Reserve's walking trail? It runs parallel to the coast from Eel Race Rd, Seaford to the mouth of the creek at Frankston beach.

The trail, maintained with help from Kananook Creek Association volunteers, offers plenty of shade and glimpses of the creek from the banks. It can be accessed from many different points along its length, offering both long and short walks as the mood takes you. A circuit walk can be created by incorporating a return stroll along the beach.

The vegetation along the creek is significant, being one of the last remaining Riparian (streamside) Coast Banksia Woodlands in the Melbourne region. These magnificent trees offer food and lodging for a number of birds including honeyeaters, lorikeets and cockatoos.

When exploring the upper reaches of the creek, it is hard to believe you are so close to suburbia, with the densely vegetated banks and many beautiful waterbirds providing a sense of peace. A number of canoe launching points also provide opportunities to explore the creek from a different perspective.

Detox your home - February in Skye

Free drop-off service for household chemicals

Detox Your Home is a free service which allows you to dispose of common household chemicals safely. The collected items are recovered and diverted from landfill.

Date: Saturday 1 February 2020, 9am - 3pm

Location: Skye, site address provided upon registration

Registration: Visit https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/detoxyourhome or phone 1300 363 744

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.

Accepted items and more information

Community conservation grants

Protect native species, habitat, landscapes and cultural heritage

The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife(FNPW) is welcoming grant applications for conservation projects. Grants are available for both field projects and education programs that have a direct outcome for nature conservation in Australia.

FNPW Community Conservation Grants aim to fund urgent and high priority projects that have a direct outcome for nature conservation.

Applications are now open and close on Friday 31 January 2020.