Mornington has active individuals, community groups and a committed council that protects the environment, implements sustainable practices and promotes the region. Held since 1983, the Mornington Peninsula Schools Environment Week provides the chance for schools, the local community and the shire to develop a strong voice on a sustainable local environment. The Mornington Community Garden has recently provided workshops on organic food production, local area seed saving, waste, water-wise gardening, composting and much more. St Macartan’s Primary School was built with sustainability in mind – the school is energy efficient, implements towards zero waste and water saving principles, while providing comprehensive teaching on the environment. Other groups, in partnership with the shire, work towards the preservation and enhancement of the region’s coastline.
Norm McKinlay is a driving force behind community activity for the Capel Sound Foreshore Committee of Management and Friends of Chinamans Creek. Norm is well respected in the community and is known as a ‘legendary conservationist’. He fosters partnerships and respected relationships between various groups and the council. In his retirement, Norm has been fully committed to improving biodiversity, habitat and wildlife. Projects at Chianmans Creek have expanded over the last 10 years and Norm has been instrumental in continually sourcing important grant money to keep projects going.
In January 2011, Carisbrook was inundated with flood water affecting 75 per cent of houses in the small community. Immediately, the Lions Club of Carisbrook swung into action. After cooking breakfast for the evacuees, the club set up a mobile kitchen in the town’s centre and over the next 35 days, a band of volunteers provided meals for an average of 300 residents. The mobile kitchen provided a meeting place for residents to talk, listen and share their experiences.
The Western Port Festival has been an iconic event for the Mornington Peninsula for over 40 years. In 2011, over 25,000 visitors came to the family-friendly event and the Hastings Township celebrated its 150th birthday. The event attracted visitors and even international visitors who included the festival in their tour of the region. The three-day festival is waste-wise, includes sustainability themed messages and is a huge effort for the small community with 65 groups involved.
The Inverloch Community Group has given priority to the management, protection and development of Inverloch’s national and cultural history. Natural heritage assets include the Bunurong Marine and Coastal Park, famous for its dinosaur fossils and Anderson inlet used for fishing and boating. Projects include art and signage to reflect the geography and geology of the area, linking historical signage to bicycle trails and walking paths as well as new efforts to preserve the historical Rocket Shed.
St Macartan’s Parish Primary School was built on the core theme of sustainability. Planning has gone into providing a place of real life learning that is sensitive to the environment. Sustainable construction and functions surround the themes of natural temperature control, energy saving, minimising waste and recycling. Features include sun shading devices, pergolas, movement sensors for lighting and fans for summer that eject warm air and let in cool night air for the school day ahead.
The four North East resorts in the Victorian Alpine region are active members of NevRwaste and strive to improve and lead innovation in waste management practices within their unique alpine environments. Funding from Sustainability Victoria has led to positive outcomes such as over 70 tonnes of organic waste being diverted for recycling in the first year. The Living Bin project, encouraging the use of green bins for organic waste, had 134 participants—80 of those were commercial operators.
A campaign led by Jodie Goldsworthy, to eradicate the Asian Bee made its way to Parliament House in Canberra after the Federal Government cut all funding for the original project. The bee is contained in Cairns, however, there is still a risk of entry into southern states. The insect steals honey from hives and threatens to reduce the number of European honey bees, which would have dire consequences for the honey industry, food producers and Australia’s food security.
The Community Planning Group has instrumental in establishing the Inverloch community hub. The hub is a multi-faceted partnership between government agencies, the Bass Coast Shire Council and the community. It offers a place to access a wide range of services and activities, for example library use has increased by 13 per cent for book users and 28 per cent for personal visits in the first year. Community programs have risen as well, demonstrating the value of well-located, community facilities.
The Horsham Tidy Towns Committee worked with Year 9 and 10 students across the Horsham region on the topic of water sustainability. Through research and reports, students were empowered with knowledge to become ambassadors for the future of sustainable water usage. This year’s theme was climate change where historical data was researched to inform future water use in the region. At the University of Ballarat, Horsham Campus the schools came together to share their projects.
Mal Robinson, of Robinson’s Truck and Coast Maintenance, has constructed a self-sustaining, environmentally-friendly workshop in Wangaratta to reduce his impact on the environment at a local level. Mal has focused on reducing waste while incorporating water saving and energy saving techniques. One example is the crushing, draining and recycling of all fuel and oil filters. The waste is stored to be either picked up and environmentally disposed of, or used in a gun fired boiler to heat the floors, creating a more comfortable environment for staff.
Travis is Head Boy Prefect at Wangaratta High School and actively cares for the local environment through the Community Pride Advisory Committee and volunteering. Travis helps organise environment awareness events such as ‘My Backyard Rules’ and the ‘Community Pride Awards’. Travis facilitated the school’s involvement with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition’s ‘Meet Your Member’ campaign, gathering over 200 signatures to present from the school community to the local federal Member of Parliament.
The Wildlife program responds to issues identified by the Hastings Neighbourhood Renewal initiative connecting community, the environment and local youth. One of the objectives was to build and strengthen relationships between peers, family and community members. Young people participated in a camp along the Balnarring foreshore teaching skills anger management, self discipline and survival skills with shire rangers. Outcomes included linking young people with volunteer opportunities and educating participants on how to be a good role model.
The four pillars of the environment program at Mildura West Primary School are waste, water, energy and biodiversity. Their community based program involves five student action teams and a sustainability ambassadors team. There are teams of pest busters, revegetation, biodiversity, litter control and recreation management. The ambassadors provide assistance at environmental days and peer teaching. The students link school practices to rubbish free Wednesdays, Clean Up Australia campaigns and recycling milk bottles for furniture.
INITIATIVE NAME: WYCHEPROOF VISION INC.
Wycheproof Vision Inc. represents the community in developing projects and strengthening social infrastructure. After 10 years of drought followed by floods, the work of this group became vital in ensuring the survival of the town. The group is developing or managing many initiatives including the business incubator shop, publishing a monthly newsletter, the Wycheproof Festival, community kitchen and carbon development, and the $1 rent a farmhouse project. Some of the outcomes they achieved include a 25 per cent increase in school enrolments and new businesses have opened in town.