No Images? Click here
Smarter, Cleaner, Greener - August 2018
National Tree Day At Laurel Park
Thanks to everybody who supported and took part in the National Tree Day 2018 at Laurel Park. The day was a great success with over 195 people planting over 800 plants to expand the bushland corridor along Buffalo Creek. Now in its 22nd year, National Tree Day brings community together on one day to plant and increase our natural and green space areas through combined community effort. To date the program has achieved over 24 million trees planted. Plantings at Laurel Park this year will assist to prevent overland litter entering the creek and provide food and habitat for our native animals. The planting day was supported partly funded under an EPA litter grant to Council and co-ordinated by our Waste and Environment teams.
City of Ryde Rapidly Divesting From Fossil Fuel Investments
The City of Ryde is following through on its commitment to reduce its fossil fuel investments, with the value of Council’s investments in non-fossil fuel aligned financial institutions increasing by 27% in just six months. In November last year, Council resolved to divest its term portfolio from all fossil fuel aligned financial institutions – such as oil, coal and gas companies – as a way of helping tackle climate change and protecting the environment. As Council’s current term investments expire with fossil fuel aligned institutions, these funds are then re-invested with companies that are not associated with fossil fuels. All funds reinvested need to be compliant with Council’s investment policy and the investment rate of interest has to be equal to or better than those offered by fossil fuel aligned institutions.
“Environmental policies such as the fossil fuel divestment and the recent decision to phase out single use plastics shows how the City of Ryde is leading the way in improving the environment and committed to delivering real action on climate change which will benefit our community for generations to come”, City of Ryde Mayor, Clr Jerome Laxale, said.
Solar Stall at Science & Tech
Expo Day
Residents of Ryde will now be able to use an easy online tool to assess the potential for energy generation that solar PV on their rooftop could provide. This tool is called SunSPoT (Solar Potential Tool) and Council will be launching this at the Science Expo Week Expo at Top Ryde Library this Saturday. Pop by the SunSPoT stall to get a free quick lesson on how to use the website.
Free Sustainability - Urban Resilience Talk
Ed Blakely will be one of the guest presenters at our next sustainability talk on urban resilience on Tuesday 14 August at Macquarie University. Ed was the Director of Recovery in New Orleans after the Hurricane Katrina disaster. He will provide his unique insights into this topic and will also be joined by speakers from the SES, 100 Resilient Cities and City of Ryde.
Sustainable Waste 2 Art Prize - Entries Closing Soon
There's still time to get your entries in for this year's Sustainable Waste 2 Art Prize! With categories for youth (10-13 and 14-17 years) and an Open category, this is the perfect opportunity to turn trash into treasure! There are generous cash prizes to be won and around 80 entries will be selected to be displayed at our exhibition in Meadowbank. Entries close on Friday 17 August.
Crank Zappa Art Installation Visits Eastwood
Crank Zappa, the hot tempered electric jellyfish, is coming to Eastwood Mall to tell us what he thinks about litter! Made from litter found in a nearby waterway from items such as plastic bags, coffee cups, straws and beverage containers, Crank Zappa interacts with you by lighting up and talking. Designed by artist Amigo and Amigo, he engages the public, creating an accessible and engaging platform for people to learn about the impacts of littering behaviour.
The installation will be in operation at the West Parade end of Rowe Street Mall in Eastwood from 22-26 August from 5.00-9.00pm each evening. The Crank Zappa installation in Eastwood is supported by the City of Ryde and proudly funded by the NSW Government.
Spring Garden Competition - Entries Close 31 August
Hurry - entries close on 31 August for our Spring Garden Competition. This annual community event is open to City of Ryde residents, businesses and community organisations. It is an inclusive event and we strongly encourage entries from young aspiring green thumbs (children) to older green thumbs (seniors), individual gardeners, families, community groups, different cultural groups, gardeners with different abilities, commercial organisations and small businesses. With 12 categories of entry, there is certainly something for everyone. Get your entries in before 31 August. Judging will take place from mid-September to early October.
Free Guided Walk For National Biodiversity Month
Get involved in our Guided Walk through Field of Mars Reserve as we celebrate Biodiversity Month! Biodiversity Month aims to promote the importance of protecting, conserving and improving biodiversity and this walk will highlight features that contribute to biodiversity in our local area. Field of Mars is a 5-hectare nature reserve and wildlife refuge nestled between the Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers. Join us as we walking through the gum trees; see the wildlife, birds and urban creeks. Learn about the Indigenous and European history of this area and the bush food/supplies which the local aboriginal tribes and European settlers relied upon.
Date: Saturday 15 September 2018
Time: 10:30am–12:30pm (arrive 10:15am)
Cost: FREE – Active In Ryde program
Bookings: Advanced booking essential.
Home Waste And Sustainability Advisory Service
Let us help you create a comfortable, healthy and efficient home while saving money on your bills. The Home Waste and Sustainability Advisory Service offers free advice to Ryde residents that will help you understand how you can reduce your home's running costs - and at the same time improve its comfort and environmental performance.
Health Benefits From The Urban Forest
The expanse of green canopy viewed from a high-rise window for as far as the eye can see is known as the “Urban Forest”. The presence of a tree-lined street has been proven to have a positive impact on human health and wellbeing. Studies have found a tree-lined street can considerably improve quality of life, through better air quality and reducing airborne contaminants and reducing cardiovascular disease and skin cancer. It has also been shown to contribute to wellbeing by reducing stress levels.
You can request a free street tree for your property via Council's website.
A Collaborative Effort
The NSW Department of Planning & Environment is working with individuals and councils throughout Greater Sydney to plant 5 million trees by 2030. That’s more trees in our streets, parks, backyards, neighbourhoods and schools, so we can grow our tree canopy from 16.8 per cent to 40 per cent. More tree canopy means healthier neighbourhoods, more shade, cooler suburbs, more habitats for our wildlife and even an increase in property values.
To get involved, plant and register your tree today at the 5 Million Trees website.
Join Us In Fighting The War On Waste
The ABC’s series War on Waste has helped to shed light on waste issues plaguing our local community, including the rise in takeaway cups (coffee cups), food waste and plastic pollution. The battle continues and single-use plastics and its impact on our waterways and marine life is now being scrutinised further. City of Ryde is taking a proactive approach to waste management and in May 2018 Council placed a ban on single-use plastic drinking straws in all City of Ryde operations and Council-sponsored events. It also committed to phase out balloons, plastic bottles, plastic cups and plastic bags. Council continues to encourage residents to make the switch from disposable single-use plastics to reusable products. Below are a few Council waste services that can help you to join the war on waste!
Water Refill Stations
In an effort to reduce single use plastic and encourage people to use reusable drink bottles, council has installed over 15 public filtered water stations throughout the Ryde LGA. [Learn More]
Clothing Recycling Bins
Recently council celebrated reaching 1,000 tonnes of textiles collected through the SCG clothing bins. All textiles collected through this service are on sold through Smith Family stores and materials that can’t be sold are recycled into insulation, padding and other products. [Learn More]
TV and Computer Collection Service
City of Ryde residents have access to five free TV and computer collections per year. All materials that are collected through this project are recycled into new products and help to reduce our reliance on virgin resources. It also helps to prevent hazardous material like mercury and cadmium from ending up in landfill. [Learn More]
Facts And Tips
- Launched by Paul, Mary and Stella McCartney in 2009, Meat Free Mondays is a non-profit campaign which aims to raise awareness of the detrimental environmental impact of eating meat and to encourage people to help slow climate change. If you would like tips and recipes on how you can reduce your meat intake, visit the Meat Free Mondays website. [Learn More]
- Need help understanding your energy bill? Check out the Australian Government's Energy Made Easy site for a great range of resources and understandable explanations of the components of your bill. [Learn More]
Bill Mitchell Stormwater Harvesting Scheme
In 2017, Council completed a two-year stormwater harvesting system to provide catchment water treatment and recycled water for irrigation to Bill Mitchell Park, Gladesville. The system captures water from drains from an area of over 47 hectares extending from the Parramatta River to as far as Victoria Road.
The multi-staged collection and treatment system captures pollutants from the stormwater network in the upper catchment, sends captured water for ultraviolet treatment before it can then be stored for reuse on the park. Outcomes from this project will also enable council to access recycled water for town centre cleaning and maintenance reducing additional costs.
In July 2018, the system captured and used 264,000 litres of recycled water from the stormwater network. This is a massive saving for council and a fantastic environmental outcome for the Parramatta River and water quality.
Inside the gross pollutant trap
UV treatment system
Treated water after UV
Upcoming Events
- Sun 12 August: Terrys Creek and Browns Waterhole Guided Walk [Book Now]
- Tues 14 Aug: Urban Resilience Talk [Book Now]
- Fri 17 Aug: Sustainable Waste 2 Art Prize Entries Close [Enter Now]
Sat 18 Aug: Small Electricals Repair Café [Book Now]
Fri 31 Aug: Spring Garden Competition Entries Close [Enter Now]
Tues 21 Aug: Your Waste Adventure Tour [Book Now]
Mon 10 Sep: Declutter Workshop [Book Now]
Sat 15 Sep: National Biodiversity Month – Field of Mars Reserve Guided Walk [Book Now]
 |  |  |  |  |  |
Copyright © 2018 City of Ryde. All Rights Reserved.