Strategic plans to manage water and weeds
This week Council adopted two strategic plans to help secure the health and longevity of our local environment into the future. The Weed Management Strategic Plan 2019 takes into account significant policy and legislative changes, as well as community consultation, in relation to weed control. In addition, the Water Sensitive Blue Mountains Strategic Plan was drafted in collaboration with WaterNSW and the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities, and updated in response to submissions received during the public exhibition period in 2018. This plan outlines the best-practice approaches and design principles to manage our city’s waterways and water resources. Get more information
Free movies with your library card!
Blue Mountains Library has partnered with Beamafilm to offer members free viewing of hundreds of the best Australian and independent movies, documentaries and festival favourites. Library members can stream movies from home on any internet-connected device, using their Blue Mountains Library card number to log in to the Beamafilm website. Beamafilm champions Australian filmmaking to library patrons around the country. While mainstream movie streaming platforms offer less than 2% of Australian content, Beamafilm’s catalogue of more than 750 independent films, features over 35% Australian content. Get more informaton
Grants help local bushcare efforts
Our ongoing efforts to control weeds, regenerate bushland and control stormwater will be increased over the next five years, thanks to grant funding secured from the Sydney Local Land Services and the NSW Environmental Trust. We will use this funding to extend current bush regeneration and weed control programs, especially targeting:
Cats Claw Creeper in Springwood, Blaxland and Lapstone
Pussy Willow, Boneseed and African Olive in the mid to lower Mountains
Bird spread weeds on private property in Mt Wilson, and
Bush regeneration in Blue Mountains Shale Cap Forest and Sun Valley Cabbage Gum Forest across Council reserves.
Why not join our community of 400+ bushcare volunteers and help keep our bushland healthy? We provide training – no previous experience is needed, just enthusiasm! Get more information Or read the latest Gecko newsletter
Awesome turnout for tourism workshop
Our free customer service training workshop for tourism operators, Creating Awesome Experiences, held at the Cultural Centre (pictured) this month was a sell-out success, with more than 60 enrolments from enthusiastic local operators. At the workshop, tourism marketing consultant Naomi Farrelly spoke to local tourism operators about current product trends, understanding customers, creating customer experiences, delivering great customer service and how to create an action plan to wow your customer. Keep up to date on our training opportunities
National Carers Week recognises Blue Mountains carers
Did you know 13% of the Blue Mountains community are carers? National Carers Week is a great chance for us all to acknowledge the outstanding contribution unpaid careers make to our community. Our program of events for National Carer's Week will provide a wide variety of respite and entertainment options for carers including a music concert, a pamper afternoon, mystery bus tour, free health checks, a falls prevention workshop, an indigenous celebration, community café, art talk, movie screening, and a music and movement class. Download the program
