Welcome to the Spring 2024 edition of EnviroNews
Welcome EnviroNews readers
In this latest edition of EnviroNews find out about grants, coastal management, energy efficiency, our many biodiversity and conservation opportunities, upcoming events and community engagement.
Environmental Sustainability Grants
We've updated the grants to include regenerative projects for landholders
We’re excited to announce that our Environmental Sustainability Grants guidelines have been updated to support biodiversity improvements for landholders. One-off-funding is available for environmental and sustainability projects that support the strategic vision for Frankston City’s future and results in local positive community outcomes.
These grants cover initiatives that restore and enhance the health of the land, including soil improvement, native vegetation planting and sustainable water management. Expanding our grant criteria will provide the opportunity for landholders to adopt practices that not only conserve but also regenerate natural ecosystems. Applications will open from 9 September - 21 October.
Photo description: Woman kneeling down outside and planting a tree with gardeners in the background
Adoption of Coastal and Marine Management Plan
Council adopted the new Coastal and Marine Management Plan at its 22 July 2024 meeting
Adoption of the Plan provides direction for the future local management of an area of marine and coastal Crown land where Frankston City Council is an appointed Committee of Management. Its 78 actions will work toward the ten-year vision for our coastal and marine areas to be protected, resilient and connected, and their bio-cultural diversity to be valued and conserved. The Plan has been referred to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action seeking ministerial approval.
Year one actions being delivered focus on growing our understanding of Aboriginal cultural values through engagement with the Bunurong Land Council; continuing our work on the management and monitoring of the ecological function of our coastal reserves; water quality improvements; as well as understanding the extent and impact of current and future coastal hazards. Learn more about our Coastal Environment and read the Plan linked below.
Photo description: Coastal and Marine Management Plan 2024-2034 cover page
Become a beach scientist
Council installed 2 additional CoastSnap stations
Council is expanding its beach monitoring network as part of, CoastSnap, a global citizen science project to capture changing coastlines. If you have a smartphone and an interest in the coast, we welcome you to participate!
CoastSnap relies on repeat photos at the same location to track how the coast is changing over time due to processes such as storms, rising sea levels, human activities and other factors. Using a specialised technique known as photogrammetry, CoastSnap turns your photos into valuable coastal data that is used by coastal scientists to understand and forecast how coastlines might change in the coming decades.
Using the CoastSnap stations has become easier. There is no need to register or use an app, simply scan the QR code on each station and upload your photo.
Photo caption: New CoastSnap Station at Riviera Outlet, a pier with the bay in the background
Induction Cooktop Toolkits launch at Frankston City Libraries
Have you ever wanted to try induction cooking without committing to changing your stove just yet?
Exciting news for the community. Frankston City Council’s local libraries are now offering Portable Induction Cooktops for loan. Induction cooking is an excellent way to save energy and reduce household costs. The featured cooktop is the powerful and user-friendly Westinghouse Induction Cooktop 2000W. This appliance operates quietly and includes a child lock safety feature, ensuring a safe cooking environment for families.
Borrowing the cooktop is an opportunity to test if induction cooking suits your needs and to check if your pots and pans are compatible. In addition, Council has just supplied two additional Home Energy Saver Toolkits and Thermal Imaging Cameras for loan, helping you further enhance energy efficiency in your home. You can also borrow the most up-to-date edition of the book, ‘Your Home’, one of Australia’s most comprehensive guides to environmentally sustainable homes. Visit Frankston Library for more information and to borrow these items. Supporting the community to be more energy efficient is an action in Council’s Climate Change Strategy 2023-2030. The Library of Things is an initiative at Frankston City Libraries with many household items for loan, sign up for the next induction session to learn more about it.
Photo description: Ian, a Council Officer, having a look at the Induction Toolkit in the office kitchen
2024 Biodiversity Blitz
Join our Biodiversity Blitz on iNaturalist
Frankston City Council is once again partnering with our neighbouring councils to celebrate Biodiversity Month by holding the Biodiversity Blitz 2024! For the whole of September we will be running a competition between local councils on who can record the most species using the iNaturalist platform.
Participating is easy - Join the iNaturalist project Biodiversity Blitz 2024 - Frankston City Council and head outdoors to snap photos of flora and fauna in the Frankston area and upload them to iNaturalist. Your observations will automatically be added to this project.
You'll be contributing to community science and showing the world the amazing biodiversity Frankston city has to offer, as well as learning more about your local wildlife and flora. Frankston City placed third overall in 2023, let’s see if we can better that in 2024!
To learn more about how to use iNaturalist see this great video made by Yarra Ranges Shire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx8CYJc0ODs
Or look at the Video Tutorials available on the iNaturalist website: https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/video+tutorials
Photo description: A family of ducks in a pond spotted in the municipality
Backyard Biodiversity Events
Urban Microbats
Microbats are small but mighty. They play an important environmental role.
Learn more about the species of microbats surviving in suburbia, pollinating, keeping mosquito populations down and much more with Dr Lindy Lumsden. Event Details: Thursday 12 September, 7-8:30pm. Location to be announced.
Book here: Urban Microbats Tickets | Eventbrite
BIRDS IN THE ‘BURBS’ improving habitat for native birds in residential areas
Join Us for a Special Event at Frankston Library: Improving Habitat for Native Birds, Saturday 5 October. As Australia's population grows, urban development often impacts local bird species. Join us to explore how birds respond to these changes and discover ways to create bird-friendly environments. Dr. Jacinta Humphrey, an Urban Ecologist from RMIT University, will share her insights on making our suburbs more welcoming to native birds. Learn more and get your hands on Dr. Humphrey's pamphlet, Birds in the 'Burbs, to start improving bird habitats in your area.
Event details: Saturday 5 October,
10-11:15am at Frankston Library.
Book here: BIRDS IN THE ‘BURBS’ Improving habitat for native birds in residential areas Tickets | Eventbrite
Photo description: A focus image of a magpie with a blurred brown background
Frankston City Enhancing Community Resilience youth co-design project completed
Students from Frankston High School and Elizabeth Murdoch College took part in a climate resilience co-design project
Frankston City Council collaborated with the South East Councils Climate Change Alliance (SECCCA) and the Minderoo Foundation on a climate resilience co-design project involving students from Frankston High School and Elizabeth Murdoch College. Recognising that young people in Frankston city are vulnerable during extreme weather events like storms and bushfires, the project aimed to address their feelings of being underprepared and lacking information on how to respond in emergencies.
Students from the two schools volunteered for three workshops facilitated by Project Planet and Authentic CoDesign. Discussing their experiences with severe weather and other emergencies and receiving emergency planning information from Council Officers, including the 'Are You Prepared?' pamphlet. Inspired by these discussions and as part of the co-design project, the students created a series of videos focusing on climate impacts and strategies for resilience. The series of videos developed were shared on the Australian Youth Climate Coalition Instagram throughout the months of May and June. More information can be found at SECCCA's Enhancing Community Resilience Youth CoDesign page linked below.
Photo description: A behind-the-scenes photo showing the back of two students looking into the monitor screen which depicts their peers being filmed in an interview in Upper Sweetwater Creek Reserve
Spring School Holiday Ranger Program in October
Come join us during our School Holiday Ranger Program in one of Frankston City’s natural reserves
Book into our School Holiday Ranger Program for Spring to learn more about our native flora and fauna and the value of biodiversity conservation at Kannanook Creek. Discover the diversity of wildlife in this beautiful habitat on Wednesday 2 October 2024.
There are three sessions run in a day for up to 7-year-olds (with an adult) at 10am, 8–12-year-olds at 11:30 am (with an adult) and a mixed group (0-17 years with an adult) at 1pm. All sessions are 1 hour. Spaces are limited to 15 participants per session and must be booked in advance.
Photo description: School holiday ranger program activity, including clapsticks and books about wetlands, birds and Country
Schools Tree Day 2024, a Big Success
Positive results for Schools Tree Day in July
Frankston City Council donated over 2,700 plants on Schools Tree Day, Friday the 26th of July. With children and students from 50 participating centres and schools planting indigenous plants with children and students. The two Environmental Ambassador Schools were Ballan Park Primary and McClelland Secondary College.
A highlight this year was that these schools were located next to each other, and as a result the secondary students were able to assist the primary school students with planting. Janet Wheeler from ‘Living with Wildlife’ ran presentations that focused on local flora and fauna. Planting projects focused on cultural and environmental stewardship, habitat, wildlife, revegetation and shade. Congratulations to our book prize winners at Seaford Kindergarten, Frankston East Primary and Mount Erin College.
Photo description: Schools Tree Day Planting at Woodleigh School, 2023
Action Sweetwater Creek's 50 year anniversary
Here's to half a century of community action
For 50 years local residents have been volunteering in Sweetwater Creek Nature Reserve to support the restoration of the creek and natural environment to its original state. The local action group has a membership of 150 local residents. Working bees are held weekly each Thursday and monthly on the first Saturday of the month undertaking weeding, planting and light clearing in collaboration with Frankston City Council and Melbourne Water. Propagation of indigenous plants for the reserve is another activity, as well as producing a newsletter several times a year. Membership of Action Sweetwater Creek is open to anyone interested in the preservation of indigenous nature reserves.
Join a guided walk along picturesque walking tracks and boardwalks with views of the creek and indigenous bushland. Afterwards join the Action Sweetwater Creek Volunteers for a delicious morning tea. It will be on Thursday October 10, 9.30-11am. Information on where to meet will be in the Seniors’ booklet put out in September. Bookings to Jenny on 0412844112.
Photo description: Action Sweetwater Creek Planting Day 2024
Credit: Amy Motherwell
Creating Water Havens for birds and insects at home
Prepare your garden for wildlife this summer and record sightings at the Aussie Bird Count
Creating water havens in your garden for bugs, birds, and bees in your backyard is a simple and effective way to support wildlife. These small water sources, such as shallow dishes or birdbaths, offer essential hydration, especially during hot and dry periods. Placing them in shaded areas can prevent evaporation, and adding stones or twigs provides safe landing spots for insects. These water havens are particularly important for pollinators like bees, who rely on moisture during the heat. Even a small garden can become a refuge, contributing to the well-being of local species and helping maintain biodiversity.
If you enjoy bird spotting, join thousands of people for National Bird Week from across the country recording bird sightings in the 11th annual Aussie Bird Count. More information on how you can be part of the Aussie backyard Bird Count 14-20 October in the link below.
Photo description: Two rainbow lorikeets in a bird bath
Have you checked out SunSpot solar decision-making tool?
Work out if solar is worth it for your rooftop?
SunSPOT is a calculator that has been built by solar engineers at the UNSW for the Australian PV Institute. Its aim is to help householders and small businesses to make an informed decision about investing in rooftop solar.
In two minutes you can get an estimate of:
- your optimal solar system size for the best return on investment
- map the solar panels on your roof to calculate how the system will perform. The premium version of SunSPOT shows where the sunniest areas of the roof are with red and orange dots making it easy to place the solar panels to enhance your system
- the expected cost of the system
- how much the solar system will save you over a year.
Frankston City Council residents and businesses have premium access to the SunSPOT Solar Potential Tool (SunSPOT). Accelerating the transition to renewable energy is one of the key themes in Council’s Climate Change Strategy 2023-2030.
Photo description: Close up photo of solar panel array
Engage Frankston
We want to hear from you!
Council has a dedicated website for engaging with the Frankston City community on important local issues and matters.
Many projects and plans will be of interest and relevance to EnviroNews readers. Open for comment are the Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan and We are better together survey.
You can learn more about Council's proposed projects and plans, provide your feedback, share your ideas and priorities, plus sign up to receive updates.
Let us know what you think of planned strategies and projects or join Mini Frankston City.
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Frankston City Council acknowledges and pays respect to the Bunurong People, the Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters.
Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019, formally recognising that we need to work together to meet the lower target of the Paris Agreement, which is to keep global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably below 1.5 degrees Celsius. We are committed to working with our community to collectively reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and prepare and adapt to the impacts of climate change.