Welcome to the Summer 2024 edition of EnviroNews
Welcome EnviroNews readers
In this latest edition of EnviroNews find out about beach access, home composting, garage sales, the Library of Things, Victorian solar and energy upgrades rebates, upcoming events and Council's Bike Riding Strategy.
Improved beach access in Frankston
Beach access matting promotes inclusivity - ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can enjoy the beauty and recreational opportunities that beaches offer.
The official launch party of the beach matting will take place in the afternoon of Saturday 30 November at the Frankston Yacht Club: A true celebration of what can be achieved when community work together.
The matting, made from 100% recycled materials, is a temporary installation that is rolled out and pegged down. The beach matting will be available outside Frankston Yacht Club (30N Long Island Drive, Frankston) over the summer season on Saturdays during their operating hours. This beach has public accessible parking spots, nearby accessible bathroom available and refreshments can be purchased from neighbouring café Oliver’s Corner which has ramp access. For more information on the beach access matting contact Frankston Yacht Club on frankstonyachtclub@gmail.com.
Council has been working with community, including Rotary 2.0, Frankston Yacht Club and Accessible Beaches Australia, to improve beach access as part of our Disability Action Plan 2021-2025.
Did you know community members can also hire Council’s beach wheelchair for free via the Frankston Visitor Information Centre? Also, at Frankston Waterfront Reserve Playground, there is a Liberty Swing for wheelchair users, requiring an MLAK key. For more information call 1300 322 842.
Photo description: The Frankston Beach Access Planning Team on the new Beach Access Matting at Frankston Yacht Club.
Home Compost Rebate Program
Turn your food scraps into soil.
Frankston’s new Compost Rebate Program is here! Did you know that 50% of the materials in our red lid garbage bins are compostable? That's mostly food waste! Instead of sending this waste to landfill, turn it into nutrient-rich soil for your garden.
Composting at home is a great way to cut your waste in half, save money, reduce your carbon footprint and make rich soil and fertiliser to grow healthy gardens.
Eligible Frankston City Council households can get up to 70% off on compost bins, Bokashi systems, and worm farms through our partnership with Compost Revolution.
For further information and apply for your compost rebate with the link below.
Photo description: person tipping food waste into home compost bin
Garage Sale Trail this weekend
Shop the Trail!
Frankston City Council, get ready to shop the everyday essentials you need and the pre-loved gems you want in your neighbourhood this weekend, 16-17 November.
With loads of items going up for sale, at more than 20 registered garage sales, you’re bound to find one-of-a-kind pieces that tell a story and are easy on the budget.
From designer fashion to furniture, cookware, vinyl, kids’ stuff, tools, collectibles and everything in between, there's a bargain for everyone on the Garage Sale Trail.
Photo caption: child holding red garage sale sign in front of sale items
Discover the Library of Things
Borrow common household items through Frankston Libraries
In collaboration with Waste Circularity, Frankston City Council is excited to introduce the Library of Things (LoT) – a collection of useful household items available to borrow for free with a library card and a one-time induction session. The LoT helps the community reduce waste and live more sustainably by reusing common items.
Available items include a Kodak Film Scanner, sewing machine & overlocker, garden tools & bike repair kit, induction cooktops, cookie cutters & cake decorating tools, a food dehydrator, Finska, Quoits and more. Explore these resources and start borrowing today!
Photo description: garden tools and pot plants
Frankston Library FrankTalk: My Efficient Electric Home Handbook
Join Tim Forcey and Frankston Libraries for a FrankTalk on home electrification
Join us for an enlightening talk with Tim Forcey, author of My Efficient Electric Home. Tim is a home comfort and energy adviser dedicated to helping individuals transform their spaces into efficient, all-electric havens.
In this talk, he’ll share practical tips from his book on how to make your home healthier, reduce energy costs, and embrace renewable energy. Discover strategies for improving comfort, eliminating gas bills, and shrinking your environmental impact.
Date: Sunday 1 December
Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm
Venue: Frankston Library
Spaces are limited, don’t miss this chance to learn from a leading voice in sustainable living!
Photo description: Tim Forcey holding his new book on an illustrated background with the event details
Solar for apartments program
Second round of rebates expands offer to townhouses and units
Currently, only a small portion of the 2.5 million Victorian households living in apartments have rooftop solar. If you live in an apartment, townhouse, or unit with a body corporate, you could be eligible for significant savings on rooftop solar through the Solar for Apartments program. It has already received over 400 applications from Owners Corporations, covering 12,000 kilowatts of solar capacity for over 5,000 apartments, with nearly half of these units being rented.
The second round of applications is now open, offering rebates of up to $2,800 per apartment or $140,000 per building, making it easier for you to reduce electricity bills by up to $500 a year. With an additional $16 million in funding, this program is designed to help more community members access affordable solar energy. Whether you own or rent, now is the time to check if your building qualifies and take advantage of these rebates. Solar not only helps you save money but also contributes to a cleaner, greener community.
Photo description: Solar array on urban apartment rooftop
Victorian Energy Upgrades Program
New discount to change your gas cooktop to induction
Victorian households can now apply for a $140 discount on the cost of changing an existing gas stove for an induction cooktop. This is a new offer available as part of the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program.
Households are eligible as long as they have an existing gas stove and have not already claimed an incentive. A minimum co-payment of $200 dollars is also required.
To make a claim you must go through a VEU accredited provider at participating retailers either at the point of sale or through a cash back refund, if the cooktop has already been purchased.
For further information on this and all discounts available under the VEU program visit Victorian Energy Upgrades for homes.
Photo description: modern bench and induction cooktop with pan on top
Is your business ready to be environmentally savvy?
Do you want to turn your business waste into a resource?
Reduce your waste disposal and costs, create new supply chains and generate new income for your business with the ASPIRE platform. ASPIRE is an online marketplace where businesses connect to buy, sell or trade materials and products that would otherwise go to waste.
If you're a Frankston business or organisation with an ABN and 20 employees or less, we've covered your registration costs. ASPIRE allows unlimited listings and is actively trading a wide range of items for reuse and recycling. This fantastic program not only helps you make money off unwanted goods, it also helps other businesses and the environment.
Join the circular economy today, visit www.frankston.vic.gov.au/aspire. We're running workshops in the new year to help you get started, complete our expression of interest form below.
Photo description: ASPIRE advertisement showing the mobile app platform
From Books to Beauty: Christmas Tree Ornaments Workshop
Making Christmas decorations out of paperback books
Let your creativity shine this festive season at our Christmas ornament workshop! Join fellow residents for a fun two-hour morning of turning old paperback pages into beautiful Christmas decorations that share a story.
You’ll leave with one-of-a-kind pieces that add a personal touch to your home this Christmas.
Date: Friday 29 November
Time: 10am – 12pm (2 hours)
Venue: Frankston Library
All materials are supplied—just bring along your creativity!
Photo description: image of Christmas presents with mistletoe illustrated border
Food/Garden Waste + Composting Information Stall
Learn about your food and garden waste
Come and have a chat to Frankston City Council’s Waste Circularity department to find out what happens to your food scraps once your green lid bin is emptied.
Learn how you can complement this service with effective home composting practices. Together, we can support your recycling efforts and help reduce food waste in our community.
Date: Tuesday 26 November
Time: 10:30am - 12pm
Venue: Carrum Downs Library
No bookings required.
Image: Man holding shovel, with composting systems, food and garden waste bin.
From Hive to Home
Create Your Own Beeswax Food Wraps
Beeswax is amazing stuff and can be made into some wonderful products including beeswax food wraps. During this workshop, Holly from Holly's Backyard Bees will teach us about how and why the bees make beeswax in the first place, how the beekeeper harvests it, and how we can use it to craft some beautiful and sustainable products.
This is a hands-on workshop where all participants will take home their own beeswax food wrap made on the day to reduce plastic waste. You will leave with the skills you need to make these in your own home too.
Date: Friday 13 December
Time: 1pm – 2.30pm (1.5 hours)
Venue: Frankston Library
All materials are supplied – just bring along your imagination and enthusiasm. Limited places available
Photo description: person placing a bowl covered with a wax wrap in the fridge
Why Community Gardens Matter: Benefits for You and the Planet
Community gardening offers numerous advantages that empower and connect residents
As food costs rise and climate change becomes urgent, community gardens offer a simple yet powerful solution to reducing emissions and food miles. They promote physical activity, foster community bonds and promote local food and gardening education.
This November, during Urban Agriculture Month, visit one of Frankston City’s nine unique community gardens. Each run by volunteer community members, they reflect the interests and passions of the people involved. Many gardens support local relief programs by donating excess produce to help those in need.
So come and visit your local garden and see the benefits for yourself. Every one of our local gardens are happy to welcome you!
Frankston City Bike Riding Strategy 2024-2039
Gearing up to provide more safe riding opportunities for bike riders
Council has prioritised several key bike riding path connections following input from the community.
The paths include:
- Baxter Trail to Beauty Park via Clarendon Street and Hastings Road
- Fletcher Road between Dandenong Road East and Playne Street/Baxter Trail
- Towerhill Road from Frankston-Flinders Road to the end of Delacombe Park
The projects were identified by the community during two rounds of community engagement in 2023 and 2024 to inform Council’s new Bike Riding Strategy 2024-2039.
The strategy includes a range of actions, including advocating to the State Government for more bike riding facilities at train stations and safe riding infrastructure on major roads, investigations to improve access from key residential areas to the bicycle network, road safety audits at locations on council streets with more than one bike crash, and more.
Seaford » Frankston » Langwarrin » Karingal » Skye » Frankston South » Frankston North » Carrum Downs » Langwarrin South » Sandhurst
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.