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FOR EVERY SHADE OF GREEN - September, October, November 2024
Please note - during the Caretaker Period in the leadup to council elections we will not be publishing this newsletter or posting on our Green Living Facebook page. So this edition is covering events and opportunities from now until November. Lots to enjoy!
Let's blitz this!
During September 2023 City of Casey is celebrating Biodiversity Month by partnering with other south-east Melbourne councils for the Biodiversity Blitz 2024. Help us record Casey's wild plants and animals on iNaturalist between Friday 20 and Monday 23 September. Now, I'm not saying we want to beat Cardinia, Dandenong and the Yarra Ranges, but ... Casey for the win🏅
Climate Action grants
After all that inspirational biodiversity, consider applying for a grant of up to $50,000 from the Climate Action Living Lab. We want to hear your ideas. If you're a problem-solver, 🔍investigator, environmental warrior, cultural leader or science innovator and you believe you can leave the world better than you found it, please get in touch. Closes 22 September 2024
Finally, thank you 😍
For the thousands of you who have weighed in on the mandated changes to the state's bin laws, you're helping us make Casey a better place to live. If you haven't had the chance, read on for your opportunity to do so and potentially win a $100 voucher.
Threatened Species Day walk and talk @ Myuna Farm Tuesday 3 September 4.30pm - 6.30pm
The Great Southern Bioblitz 2024 Friday 20 September-Monday 23 September
Doveton Show Biodiversity and Waste Education stalls Sunday 22 September 2024, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Gardens for Wildlife School Holiday Program Join us at the Old Cheese Factory these September School Holidays and discover what wildlife is living in the gardens. Learn how you can create a wildlife friendly garden and make an insect hotel to take and hang up at home. Ages 6-12 Please bring along a clean 400g tin can for creating your own insect hotel. All other materials will be provided. Tuesday 24 September 2024, 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm |
Making friends Casey Friends groups are a great way to get involved in the community. Most of our friends groups meet monthly for activities like planting, weeding, litter collection and environmental monitoring. Come along and join the Friends of Eumemmering Creek for a working bee and find out all about it. Saturday 7 September 9.30 am - 10.30 am |
Gardens for Bandicoots and Wildlife At Cranbourne Gardens, we are the lucky custodians of endangered Southern Brown Bandicoots. They thrive here. Learn how the Gardens protect our bandicoots and other wildlife. Plus, get tips to make your garden a wildlife haven, whether you're in the bush or the city. 🍃Saturday 17 September 🍃Saturday 5 October 🍃Saturday 2 November |
Growing Friends of Cranbourne Gardens Spring plant sale Saturday 12 October & Sunday 13 October 10am-4pm
Aussie Bird Count 14 – 20 October
World Migratory Bird Day Saturday 14 October
Detox Your Home Dandenong Saturday 26 October 9am-1pm
Casey Electric Vehicle Expo 2024 Saturday 9 November 2024 11am-3.00pm
Textile and E-waste Recycling Drop-off Saturday 23 November 9am – 2pm
See the latest version of our Green Living Event flyer here
For the birds Spend 20 minutes outside to join this year's Aussie Bird Count. Simply record the birds you see in that time. You can enter as many times as you like 🦜 Not too familiar with our feathery friends? Don’t worry – there's a built-in bird-finder tool in the app. 14 – 20 October |
Growing Friends Spring Plant Sale Come on down to the Cranbourne Gardens Spring Plant sale. With many native Australian plants to choose from, you'll find something for that bare spot in your garden. Bonus - get advice from the on-site Gardens for Wildlife volunteers. Saturday 12 October and Sunday 13 October, 10am-4pm. |
Free chemical control Quick! Grab this increasingly rare opportunity to dump your toxic household chemicals at Detox Your Home - Dandenong. Dispose of cleaning products, pool chemicals, and pesticides safely. Collected items are either reused or disposed of properly. Saturday 26 October 9am-1pm |
Join the Green Living in Casey Facebook group for even more tips, activities and ideas.
Kerbside reform
If you haven't heard, we're after your feedback on the state's standardised household waste and recycling services.
All Victorian council kerbside services will have a 4-bin system by 2027. Let us know your thoughts on when, what and how.
Let's bin it right
Meanwhile, welcome to the latest waste management guide! By now, you're likely to have seen the single postcard for your fridge. The two QR codes on the purple strip will take you directly to your bin days or our waste disposal list.
But if you want the full 16 pages, you can either download the Waste Guide or request a physical copy to be mailed out to you.
A smarter solution
The City of Casey is one of nine councils from Melbourne’s south east who have worked together to deliver a smarter solution to deal with household rubbish in the future.
Alongside recycling and separating green & food waste for composting, advanced waste processing is a smarter solution for household rubbish than burying it in the ground.
Helping you do the right thing when you’re at the bin
Recycling and knowing how and where to get rid of unwanted items can be confusing. We understand. To raise awareness of common recycling mistakes and make it easier for residents to dispose of their unwanted items responsibly, the City of Casey is hosting a free Textile and E-Waste Drop Off Day on 23 November 2024 in Narre Warren. TFor more information on how to get rid of waste and unwanted items correctly, visit https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/how-get-rid-waste-unwanted-items
It's back! 2024 Textile and e-waste dropoff Do you have household linens, clothes and shoes at the end of their lives and in need of recycling? Struggling to clear out your old electronics? City of Casey is working with Australian Textile Recyclers and EWASTEC to recycle as many of these textiles and e-waste items as possible. Please see the event booking page for the full list of accepted items. The event is free, but bookings are essential! Please note - This event is for City of Casey residents only, for household quantities. This event is not for businesses or large quantities. |
Amping up battery recycling When batteries end up in our kerbside bins, they cause fires. To celebrate National Recycling Week, we’re collecting batteries for recycling from Casey schools. Participating classes or teams will receive an education pack including lesson plans and activities, a container to collect your batteries and information to send home. A party prize will go to the class or green team that collects the most batteries during the competition. Let's amp up the recycling effort to keep our truck drivers safe and reduce the risk of battery fires! Teachers can sign up until the 6th of September. 7th of October - 19th November 2024 |
We've got the power!
Casey has been selected to pilot a home planner that removes the guesswork from moving to an all-electric home.
It uses basic info about your home to recommend the best appliance upgrades, government rebates, expected return on investment and emissions reductions.
Climate Action Living Lab
If you want some inspiration for this incredible funding opportunity, check out what people around the world - including Australian grassroots groups - have achieved at Earthshot.
The living lab offers
💲 Between $20,001 and $50,000 of financial contributions for large projects; 1:1 contribution (minimum 50% financial)
💲 Up to $20,000 of financial contributions for small projects; 1:1 contribution (in-kind only)
💲 In-kind support for any applicant
Come along to hear from industry experts on the future of the EV market, test drive an EV, and chat with attending stallholders.
Ever wanted to test-drive an electric car?
If you’re curious to learn more about the latest automotive innovation taking the world by storm, look no further than Casey’s free Electric Vehicle (EV) Expo at Bunjil Place on Saturday 9 November.
Casey flora and fauna spotlight – Southern Brown Tree Frog (Litoria ewingi) “Creeeeeee creee creee cree cree cree” this small tree frog can be heard calling throughout Casey. With their sticky toe pads they are fantastic climbers. They can also jump to catch flying insects that make up the bulk of their diet. Photo credit - S Charles |
It's swooping season! We know you've heard it before - but as we enter the nesting season of the magpie and other native birds, let’s take a look at why they swoop! While you're at it, check out this amazing map. Photo credit – Lisa Hunt |
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Edible natives Mountain Pepper (Tasmannia lanceolata) The leaves and fruit of the Tasmanian Mountain Pepper are edible. Did you know there are male and female plants? The berries from the female plant have more antioxidants than blueberries! |
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Show us your plants Please share your best gardening photos at our Facebook page. If you're keen on growing your gardening friendships, join one of our fabulous groups. |
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Get a head-start for summer It's a good time to start off summer seeds, like tomatoes, eggplant, capsicums and melons. Plant into sheltered punnets and get some healthy seedlings to plant when the weather's warm enough. 
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Go to seed Did you know Connected Libraries members have access to a free Seed Library? Simply join up and you can take home three different seed packets per season and get growing. Visit any Connected Libraries location and ask our staff about free seeds. They're friendly, and so are our seeds 🌱 |
Conservation & Interpretation Grants (The Copland Foundation) closes 15 September 2024
This grant supports community groups to conserve, research and/or interpret historic houses and gardens along with their collections and individual objects of special significance.
Community Grants (Landcare Australian) closes 20 September 2024
These grants support landcare activities including educational workshops, restoring wildlife habitat, shelter belts and fences, protecting waterways, managing weeds and feral animals, working with First Nations organisations, community workshops, or purchasing plants and equipment and signage.
Climate Action Living Lab (City of Casey) closes 22 September 2024
These grants support projects that successfully deliver and validate innovative solutions for climate action; producing measurable environmental, social and economic benefits to enable a climate-ready city.
Equipment and Training Grants (City of Casey) closes 4 October 2024
These grants are designed to help community groups support and develop volunteers and group members, buy equipment and/or diversify programs to ensure they are inclusive and accessible.
What are your tips, hacks or even questions for using, reusing, upcycling and recycling? Please share them with us via email or through the Green Living in Casey Facebook group.
Finally, if you're not sure what to do with your waste, check out our searchable directory or our updated Recycling and Waste Guide.
