Welcome to the Autumn 2023 edition of EnviroNews
Welcome EnviroNews and Halve Our Waste readers
EnviroNews and Halve Our Waste have now joined forces, so you'll find waste related events and updates in future EnviroNews editions. In this latest edition of EnviroNews find out more about Council's recently adopted Climate Change Strategy 2023-2030, decide if solar is worth it for your rooftop with SunSPOT tool, contribute to biodiversity with free nature strip planting permit applications, plus the latest updates on glass recycling and food and garden waste bins, upcoming environmental events and much more!
Frankston City Council is proud to release our Climate Change Strategy
Council's recently adopted Climate Change Strategy 2023-2030
Exciting news for Frankston City! On the 4th April 2023 Council adopted the Climate Change Strategy 2023-2030, reflecting the community's priorities for a sustainable and climate-smart future.
This builds on a reduction of 6,856 tonnes of CO2 through the Towards Zero Emissions Plan. Our strategy identifies actions to guide the Council towards meeting a 42% science-based emissions reduction target, support sustainable choices, and build resilience to climate change.
Priorities of the community were considered with a Climate Change Community Survey, helping refine and re-prioritise actions of most interest. Council is committed to delivering projects for a thriving environment with six themes:
• Embed climate change in Council’s operations
• Invest in active and zero emissions transport
• Accelerate transition to renewable energy and zero-carbon assets
• Protect and adapt natural environment and open space
• Build community's capacity for climate action and resilience Advance transition towards zero waste and a circular city
Council will empower the community and collaborate with other agencies to ensure a climate-smart future with low-emission, sustainable, and resilient services. We look forward to working together to create a sustainable and resilient Frankston City.
Is solar worth it for your rooftop?
Check out SunSPOT decision-making tool
Find out if solar is right for you using the free not-for-profit solar decision-making tool, SunSPOT. Frankston City Council has subscribed for premium access over the next three years for residents and businesses to use the SunSPOT Solar Potential Tool (SunSPOT).
SunSPOT is a calculator that has been built by solar engineers at the UNSW for the Australian PV Institute, specifically to help householders and small businesses understand the possibilities and benefits of solar on their rooftop.
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 in a year.
Find a recent bill with your average daily electricity usage in kWh on it by visiting the United Energy My Energy website (myenergy.ue.com.au), also visit www.sunspot.org.au to find helpful videos and more information.
Accelerating the transition to renewable energy is one of the key themes in Council’s newly adopted Climate Change Strategy 2023-2030. It is also a key priority listed in the Frankston City Community Vision 2040 with Council, government, businesses and the community working together to lead the way on climate change adaptation, encouraging the use of clean, renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect against sea level rise. Using the SunSPOT tool will assist businesses and households to make an informed decision about investing in rooftop solar.
PARC 523.5 kilowatt solar system
Civic Centre 89 kilowatt solar system
Maxing out the rooftops at Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre and Frankston’s Civic Centre!
Large solar systems on Council buildings
Early this year Frankston City Council completed two significant rooftop solar system installations. The first was a substantial 523.5 kilowatt solar system on the Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre (PARC) and the second was an 89 kilowatt solar system on the Frankston Civic Centre (Civic Centre), thanks to recent roof upgrades and rectification works.
Both PARC and the Civic Centre are in Council’s top three highest electricity using facilities. Together making up over 61% electricity usage by facilities and generating over 41% of Council’s total emissions. As such Council filled all available roof space with the new solar systems to take advantage of the maximum solar energy capacity at both sites.
It is estimated that each year PARC’s 523.5 kilowatt solar system will produce around 639 megawatt hours of electricity, reducing an estimated 614 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. The system has an expected payback of 7.5 years. While the Civic Centre’s 89 kilowatt solar system is estimated to produce 108 megawatt hours of electricity, with an expected payback of 7.7 years. The Civic Centre’s electricity usage is already emissions free due to being included in Council’s 10 year renewable energy agreement.
Council declared a climate emergency in November 2019 and its investment in solar is a key action of the newly adopted Climate Change Strategy 2023-2030. The money saved on electricity costs from both of these sites will be used to deliver other important community services.
Introducing glass recycling bins
A purple lid glass recycle bin is coming soon
In line with the Victorian State Government’s requirement for every Victorian household to have a standardised four-bin waste and recycling service, Frankston City Council are introducing our new household glass recycling service later this year. The purple lidded bin will be delivered to households in September, with collections every four weeks commencing in October.
All residential single unit developments with a yellow recycling bin will receive a glass bin. Most multi-unit developments will be included in the initial rollout of the glass recycling bins however, some multi-unit developments will require further assessment by Council to find the most suitable solution for the property. Council will engage and work with the Body Corporates and resident committees to ensure the service is available in a manageable manner.
The reason behind the bin introduction is to separate glass from the other recyclable materials therefore, increasing the value of these materials and reducing contamination. By collecting glass separately, we can make sure more of it is recycled. Glass products can be made into various products including new glass jars and bottles, footpaths and roads.
Food and garden waste in your garden bin
Did you know all food can be recycled from home?
If you have a green lidded bin for garden waste, you can now use this for both food and garden material.
This is a game changer in how much we can divert from landfill, as anything from, bread, roast chicken and meat bones, meat products, mouldy cheese, citrus, and everything food wise, can now go into your Food and Garden Waste bin!
The food and garden waste that is collected is turned into compost for gardens and farms around Victoria.
If you already have a Food and Garden Waste bin, you can get a Free kitchen caddy and liners from Council to collect your food scraps and transfer them to the bin outside.
Visit Council to collect your caddy or call 1300 322 322 to find out more.
Detox Your Home
Free chemical drop off event
We often find we accumulate different chemicals around the home, from cleaning products to the heftier garage items.
It is because of this that Frankston City Council are excited to be hosting another Free chemical drop off event this year at Frankston Regional Recycling and Recovery Centre.
For a full list of what can be dropped off visit Dispose of household chemicals (Detox Your Home) | Sustainability Victoria
Detox Your Home – Frankston
Date: Saturday 3 June 2023
Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Location: Frankston Regional Recycling and Recovery Centre
Address: 20 Harold Road, Skye, VIC 3977.
It is that time of year again…. Hard Waste time!
Free scheduled annual hard waste collection in your area
From May until mid-June Hard Waste will be being collected around the municipality. Each week a different area will be getting collected and you can find your collection week in the link.
Your hard waste items are to be placed out on your nature strip for collection no earlier than two days before your scheduled collection and no later than 6am on the Monday of your collection week.
For more information on what can and cannot be collected, please visit Free Annual Hard Waste Collection 2023 - Frankston City Council
Frankston’s Indigenous Nursery Open Day
A morning of festivity at Frankston Indigenous Nursery
Come and join us at Frankston’s Indigenous Nursery Open Day on Saturday 6th May from 9am to 1pm. This year’s theme is ‘The value of Urban Biodiversity.’
Enjoy a range of activities including plant sales and giveaways, nursery and propagation tours, free coffee and a sausage sizzle. There will be interactive displays from local wildlife gurus, Living with Wildlife, AWARE Wildlife Rescue, Frankston's Natural Reserve Friends groups and Gardens for Wildlife Victoria volunteers.
Special guest presenter Gio Fitzpatrick, urban ecologist, conservationist and environmental educator will be presenting on urban wildlife and ecosystems. Gio is the author of ‘the Gardener’s guide to the Birds of South-East Melbourne’ and has been profiled on ABC’s Gardening Australia.
Address: 2r McMannis Way Seaford, VIC 3198
10am: Gio Fitzpatrick presentation
11am: Nursery Tour
12pm: Propagation workshop
Parking is limited, where possible we encourage you to walk, ride or catch public transport.
National Tree Planting Day
Come and plant trees at North Road Reserve Quarry
This year’s National Tree Day is going to held at North Reserve in Langwarrin, 15 hectares of former quarry land, on Sunday 30 July 10am - 12pm. This is a unique planting site as it is currently under rehabilitation not accessible to the public. This year’s aim is to establish pioneer plantings at the reserve to build and nourish the soil making it more habitable for other species to succeed.
The plants selected for planting will be hardy, fast growing and densely planted (such as Coast Tea-Tree, Kangaroo Apple and Boobialla). These plants will aid in building up the leaf litter and encouraging beneficial invertebrates that are essential for healthy soil. They will then make way for a second stage of planting with species that are more representative of the remnant vegetation community. This site is surrounded by high quality vegetation that provides important habitat to species such as Swamp Skink, Southern Toadlet, Wallabies and Koalas.
On the day, entrance to the reserve will be from Brilliante Circuit and the end of Delicia Street in Langwarrin. Street Parking available along Brilliante Circuit and Delicia Street, providing there is no impact to neighbouring residents - follow signage. Access will require walking across grass, may be muddy and slightly hilly. Unfortunately, wheelchair access is not available at this site.
Free BBQ will be provided. Please bring drinking water, suitable footwear/clothing for the weather and personal protective equipment, such as gloves (limited quantities of gloves will be supplied). Watering and planting equipment will be supplied.
Schools Tree Day
Schools Tree Day - Friday the 28th of July
Join us this year on Schools Tree Day - Friday the 28th of July with a tree planting day to enhance your natural environment for enhanced biodiversity, outdoor learning and more nature play!
Frankston City Council is offering FREE indigenous plants, 50 free plants for schools and 25 for preschools in the municipality to plant on Schools Tree Day. Indigenous plants provide habitat, food and shade for local wildlife. They also provide a beautiful environment for our young people to learn how to care for, protect and restore an environment local to them.
Schools also have the option to apply to become one of two School Environment Ambassadors who will receive up to 300 free plants and other additional support. Registrations close on Friday the 23rd of June 2023:
Did you know it is now free to apply for a nature strip planting permit?
No fee for nature strip planting permit applications and a planting program for Carrum Downs residents
Did you know it is now free to apply for a nature strip planting permit? It’s a great way to continue promoting biodiversity on and around your property.
Do you live in Carrum Downs? Council has secured a Living Links Victorian Government grant that aims to re-green and reduce the effects of urban heating in Carrum Downs.
As part of the program, 20 residents will receive free indigenous plants, educational material and advice, and the opportunity to attend a community workshop to assist them plant out their nature strip. If you are interested in learning more or registering your interest, please email Ranger.jacky@frankston.vic.gov.au with the subject line: Living links nature strips.
Engage Frankston!
We want to hear from you
Did you know that 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. 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.
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.