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Welcome to the September issue of Sustainable Shellharbour. This month we have a Threatened Species Nature Talk in the Library about Spotted-tailed Quolls, Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies and the Illawarra Socketwood, new sustainability tours of the Civic Centre, Green Thumb gardening workshops in the Library, Shellharbour Bikeabout and much more. It's also the last chance for community groups to apply for the Small Environmental Projects Fund, and we congratulate Blackbutt BushCare on their 20,000th plant going in the ground as part of their National Tree Day celebrations. Keep on reading for details!
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Threatened Species Nature Talks in the Library
Come along on Wednesday 5 September 2018, 5:45pm – 7:45pm to City Library and hear from passionate experts and community members working locally to save the Spotted-tailed Quoll, Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby and the Illawarra Socketwood (an endangered rainforest tree) from extinction. This is a free partnership activity between Shellharbour City Council, Shellharbour Libraries, Team Quoll, Friends of the Brush-Tailed Rock-Wallaby, and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Bookings essential, call City Library on 4221 6222, or on-line at libraries.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au.
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Shellharbour Civic Centre
Sustainability Tours
As a lead up to National Sustainable House Day, Shellharbour Civic Centre will be running free hour long sustainability tours of the new Civic Centre building starting at 9am and 11am on Friday 14 September. Come along and find out how this building has achieved a 5 star Green Star design rating through innovative architecture, water and energy savings measures, and a range of sustainability features. Places are limited, please book on-line.
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Small Environmental Projects Fund
The Small Environmental Projects Fund helps deliver projects and environmental education that assists the Shellharbour community to practise sustainable living and/or protect and promote the natural environment. These are objectives of Council's Community Strategic Plan 2018-2028.
In 2018/2019 as part of the Small Environmental Projects Fund, Council invites child care centres, primary schools and not-for-profit incorporated community groups/organisations to nominate themselves to participate in the following workshops:
- Creepy Creatures
- The Butterfly House
- Animal Show
A total of $10,000 is available to fund these workshops. All workshops are delivered by independent educators and must be undertaken by successful applicants between November 2018 and 31 May 2019.
Applications close 4:30pm Friday 7 September 2018. To access a copy of the application form visit http://www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Live/My-Environment/Small-Environmental-Projects-Fund-Application-Form. For more information email sustainability@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au or call Shellharbour City Council on 4221 6111.
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Green Thumbs at the Library
Our Green Thumb Gardening Series, a partership program with Shellharbour City Libraries and the Shellharbour City Council Nursery, continues in September. We are offering two exciting workshops including Kokedama Making on Saturday 15 September, and Eco Friendly Pest Control on Wednesday 19 September. Bookings are essential, contact 4221 6222 or visit the library website on libraries.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au.
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Inspiring artworks exhibited from the Threatened Species Children's Art Competition workshops
Green and golden bell frogs, koalas, mountain pygmy-possums and the Eastern Flame Pea were amongst the fantastic range of threatened species painted by children at our recent Threatened Species Children's Art Competition school holiday workshops. The artworks will remain on display at City Library until Threatened Species Day on Friday 7 September. Pop in and check them out!
Congratulations Skye Sinclair, whose painting of an Adam’s Emerald Dragonfly was just announced as one of the 70 finalists from over 2,300 entries submitted for the state-wide Threatened Species Children's Art Competition. Well done Skye!
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Call for community representatives for Coastal Management Working Party
We are seeking nominations for community representatives to be on the Coastal Management Working Party. The establishment of the Coastal Management Working Party will ensure continued community inclusion and engagement in the development, implementation and monitoring of the Shellharbour Coastal Zone Management Plan, any future Coastal Management Programs as well as any Estuary Management Plans with the exception of the Lake Illawarra Coastal Management Program, which has a separate Council Committee.
The working party will consist of three community representatives and one representative from the Shellharbour Aboriginal Advisory Committee. These are voluntary unpaid positions and will be chosen through a secret ballot system.
For further information please contact Cheryl Lappin on 4221 6111. Written nominations including contact details close 4.00pm, 5 September 2018 and are to be marked "Confidential Nomination" and forwarded to the General Manager, Shellharbour City Council, Locked Bag 155, Shellharbour City Centre NSW 2529. Alternatively, you can send your nomination electronically to council@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au.
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Threatened plant profile
National Threatened Species Day is commemorated across the country on 7 September to raise awareness of plants and animals at risk of extinction.
Bree Sinclair created this fabulous painting of an Eastern Flame Pea (Chorizema parviflorum) at our recent Threatened Species Children’s Art workshops at City Library. This Endangered Population of the Eastern Flame Pea has been recorded in forests between Austinmer and Albion Park. It is a pretty shrub growing to 50 cm high, with narrow leaves and pea-like, yellow flowers.
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Shellharbour Bike About
Council's 17th annual event will be held on Sunday 23 September as part of Bike Week NSW aims to increase awareness of safe cycling while educating locals of the extensive shared path systems available to walkers and cyclists.
This great family event includes an 8km ride starting and finishing at Lake Illawarra PCYC. The Blue Scope Steel Bike Park will be in full swing so bring a picnic and enjoy this fun, learning environment.
Registration is from 8.30am with the ride starting at 9.30am. The day finishes with entertainment and a prize giveaway.
Registration forms are available on Council’s website, from Council's Administration Centre and libraries, as well as on the day at the start point. Watch our Facebook page for more information, or call 4221 6124.
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Shellharbour Bike Map
Have you checked out the Shellharbour bike map, your guide to the bike routes & facilities in the Shellharbour area? Download your copy from Council’s website or email us at sustainability@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au or call Council on 4221 6111 to be posted a printed copy.
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Loot in ya boot
The Garage Sale Trail is on again this October. Choose to Reuse, divert waste from landfill and host your own garage sale on the weekend of 20 & 21 October 2018. Shellharbour City Council are again hosting a group sale as part of the 2018 Garage Sale Trail.
Loot in ya Boot
Saturday, 20 October, 8:00am – 12:00pm
Reddall Reserve, Reddall Parade (opposite Windang Street), Lake Illawarra
Head to www.garagesaletrail.com.au to register your garage sale or to join our Loot in ya Boot group sale.
For more information, contact Waste Services on waste.admin@shellhabour.nsw.gov.au.
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Workshops at the Tinkerage
The Tinkerage is a community space for workshops and learning. Located at the Dunmore Resource Recovery Centre, it provides a space for people to tinker, create, repair and upcycle.
Details about the next workshop about about buildling microbat nesting boxes will be out soon.
For more information see the Shellharbour Waste website, or contact Shelharbour City Council Waste Services on 4221 6111 waste.admin@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au.
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Plant in the veggie garden now
The signs of spring are all around, and now is the time to start thinking about planting
- Zucchini
- Pumpkin
- Cucumber
- Basil
If you're keen to add veggies and herbs to your garden, head on into Council's Nursery on River Oak Place, Oak Flats, or contact them on 4221 6191 or nursery@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au. They're open Monday to Friday 7.30am to 3.45pm (except public holidays), with special Saturday openings throughout the year. Everyone is welcome — not just Shellharbour City Council ratepayers. Staff are happy to help you with advice on what to plant when, what’s easy to grow, what can be grown in a pot and how to prepare your soil for the next crop.
For information on food gardening ideas check out Council's Grow Local Illawarra Edible Garden Guide on Council’s website. Don’t forget you can also borrow great gardening magazines like ABC Organic Gardener from the library or free on-line if you are a Shellharbour City Libraries member.
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Blackbutt BushCare celebrates 20,000th planting as part of National Tree Day
Local students from five schools planted 1,500 native grasses, climbers, shrubs and trees over three days this August at Blackbutt Forest Reserve as part of National Tree Day celebrations. Since 2007, schools have now planted 20,582 native species at Stony Range, Mt Warrigal and Blackbutt Forest! What a fantastic achievement for all involved to reach the milestone of 20,000 plants in the ground.
Blackbutt BushCare has co-ordinated this major planting activity over 12 years, with help from Shellharbour Council’s Natural Areas team, Bunnings Warehouse Shellharbour, Oak Flats Bowls and Recreation Club, and a team of BBQ volunteers.
A special recognition is extended to Blackbutt BushCare and National Tree Day volunteer co-ordinator Tony Hepworth for his efforts in making these fantastic school tree-planting days such a success.
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BushCare and LandCare
Volunteers at Shellharbour Council's BushCare and LandCare groups provide an incredible service greening our city and improving the local environment. Why not join in a working bee and see what it's all about?
- Oakey Creek BushCare meets in Oak Flats fortnightly on Wednesdays. Come and join them on the 12th and 26th September from 9am – 12pm. Contact Council on 4221 6111 for details.
- Tullimbah LandCare is scheduled to meet on Saturday 15th September at 9am at Elizabeth Brownlee Reserve (end of Digby Close, Albion Park). Contact Ruth Jenkins on 0402027221.
- Currambene Reserve BushCare meets fortnightly on Saturdays in Flinders. Join them this month on Saturday the 1st, 15th and 29th of September from 9am – 12pm. Contact Council on 4221 6111 for details.
- Blackbutt BushCare has scheduled the third Sunday of each month for regular working bees in Blackbutt Reserve. The next working bee is scheduled for Sunday the 16th of September. Please ring Tony Hepworth on 4297 6490 to be advised of future meeting places and times.
- Mt Warrigal BushCare meets at the end of Rowland Ave, Mount Warrigal. Contact Council on 4221 6111 for details of the next meeting.
- The Watercourse BushCare at Albion Park will be meeting this month on Sunday the 16th September from 9.30am until 12:30pm on Campaspe CCT Albion Park. The group normally meets on the second Sunday of each month. For more details, please contact Council on 4221 6111.
- Koona Bay BushCare meets on the first Sunday of each month. Join them this month on Sunday 2nd September from 1pm – 4pm. Contact Council on 4221 6111 for details.
- FIG – (Foreshore Improvement Group) meets on the first Sunday of every second month at Boonerah Point. Contact Council on 4221 6111 for details.
- Warilla Dunes BushCare group meets north of the surf club along Osborne Pde. The next working bee is scheduled for Saturday 8th September at 8am. Contact Council on 4221 6111 for details.
If you are keen to start a BushCare group to help look after your local patch, we'd love to hear from you. Please call Council's Bush Regeneration team on 4221 6111.
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Hazard Reduction burns
Council worked with Fire and Rescue NSW and the Rural Fire Service (RFS) to undertake two Hazard Reduction Burns in August.
Stony Range, Blackbutt was conducted on Thursday the 9th of August. Conditions were perfect for the day with successful completion of the burn by mid-afternoon. It was conducted in one hectare of bushland in the Reserve bordering New Lake Entrance Road.
Croom Reserve, Albion Park Rail was conducted on the follow Thursday the 16th of August. Four hectares of the 33 hectare Reserve that hasn’t burnt for more than 8 years had the attention of the RFS. The burn was conducted along the Croom Road side of the reserve to reduce fuel loads, which is timely with the lack of rain over winter, dryness and the onset of summer.
Council will continue to work with the RFS and Fire and Rescue NSW to conduct regular Hazard Reduction burns to reduce the threat of bushfires in our urban area.
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In the neighbourhood
Canyon Care Day at Macquarie Pass National Park
The Macquarie Rivulet needs your help! Following on the success of the last Canyon Care day in May, Illawarra Intrepid Landcare and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service are inviting you to join them on Sunday September 9th from 9:00a.m – 1:00 p.m to help with weed control. Meeting at the carpark at the bottom of Macquarie Pass, weeding efforts will be focused on an area near the start of the trail which is heavily infested with wild tobacco tree and other weeds. There are limited spaces, so please use the ticket system to ensure you get a spot, or call or text Emmett Weatherford on 0457 193 742 if you have any further questions.
Renew Wollongong Branch - FOGO and Food Waste to Sewage
At the next meeting of Renew’s Wollongong Branch on Thursday 6 September (6:30pm arrival for 7pm start) at the UOW Innovation Campus, they will have four exciting speakers on Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) and a new Sydney Water/UOW project to add food waste to sewage. Attendance is free. See the Alternative Technology Association website for more details.
National Sustainable House Day.
Four houses will be opening in the Illawarra as part of National Sustainable House Day. On Sunday 16 September, why not tour these local examples of sustainable living - the Illawarra Flame House, Broker’s View, Silk Farm and the Russell Vale Reno.
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