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Welcome to the January issue of Sustainable Shellharbour. This month we have local diver and underwater photographer Steve Gillespie back by popular demand to deliver another fascinating Nature Talk in the Library on the underwater world of Bass Point. Native bee expert Dr Tim Heard will be delivering a workshop on native stingless bee keeping, and at the Tinkerage you can learn the basics of upholstery by upcycling milk crates and reclaimed materials into a funky crate seat. Keep reading for details. 

Nature Talk in the Library - Return to Bass Point

Come along and hear local dive instructor and underwater photographer Steve Gillespie share his amazing photos and insights into the underwater world of Bass Point. Steve is back by popular demand, following on from his booked out Nature Talk about the underwater world of Bass Point in September. This presentation will showcase amazing new photos and stories about marine life, and is sure to have the crowd equally enthralled!
 
Our free Nature Talks in the Library are designed for adults and older children (8 years+) to hear firsthand from people working in biodiversity conservation and research, nature photography and wildlife care.
 
Bookings essential through Eventbrite or by calling City Library on 4221 6222.
 

Native stingless bee keeping workshop with Dr Tim Heard


Join entomologist and author of the Australian Native Bee Book Dr Tim Heard in this highly interactive workshop on Friday 7 February from 10am - 4pm at the Shellharbour Civic Centre and find out everything you need to know about keeping native stingless bees in your backyard.
 
Learn about the fascinating lifecycles of these social bees, their role in the environment, the small amounts of unique honey they produce, how to care for a hive and more. Watch a hive being split and honey being extracted. Native honey tasting included. This workshop is a mix of indoor photographic slideshows and outdoor practical sessions, and is designed for adults (16 years and over).
 
Bookings essential through Eventbrite, or call Shellharbour City Council’s Environment team on 4221 6111.

Level 2 water restrictions now in place  


With the ongoing drought, Sydney Water is enforcing Level 2 water restrictions in the Shellharbour area. If you have any questions about the restrictions, please contact Sydney Water through their website, or call 13 20 92.
 

Saving water at home


From having a bucket in the shower to catch water for your plants, to reusing greywater from your washing machine and being water wise in the kitchen, there are lots of different ways you can save water at home. For water saving tips, see Sydney Water's everyday tips. 
 
The Tinkerage is a community-use space for the making, repairing, and re-purposing of things that would otherwise end up in landfill. Come and join our creative, can-do, tinkering community behind the Revolve shop at Dunmore Recycling and Waste Disposal Depot. The Tinkerage is a joint venture between Shellharbour City Council and Resource Recovery Australia.

Open for drop-in tinkering every Friday between 10am to 3pm by a gold coin donation.

Email: tinkerage@resourcerecovery.org.au 
Instagram: @the_tinkerage

Beginner upholstrey workshop at The Tinkerage  


Come along on Saturday 15 February from 10am – 3pm and learn the basics of upholstery by upcycling milk crates and reclaimed materials into a funky crate seat with teacher Janine Bailey.
 
This workshop is free for residents living in the Shellharbour council area. A $40 fee applies for non-Shellharbour residents. Please bring fabric scissors, a staple gun (+8mm staples), a small flat screwdriveror staple remover, a Stanley knife, cotton/thread and sewing machine if you have one (we can share the machines, and tools, so don’t worry if you don’t have these items, you can still do the workshop).
 
You must wear enclosed protective shoes to The Tinkerage. Feel free to bring along lunch/drink too. Participants must be over 16 years old.

Bookings for Tinkerage workshops can be made by emailing tinkerage@resourcerecovery.org.au, phoning the Revolve Shop on 42375193, or in person at the Revolve Shop or The Tinkerage at 44 Buckleys Road Dunmore.

Plant in the veggie garden now


In this hot, dry weather, consider focusing your efforts on hardy, tough plants in the veggie patch like:
 
·       Perennial basil
·       Cherry tomatoes
·       Rosemary
·       Sorrell
 
Remember Level 2 Water restrictions are now in place. In these tough conditions, a good layer of mulch will help your veggies and herbs survive. Sugar cane mulch, sold at Council's Nursery, is a great mulch option for veggie beds.

If you're keen to add veggies and herbs to your garden, head into Council's Nursery on River Oak Place, Oak Flats, or contact them on 4221 6191 or at nursery@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au. They're open Monday to Friday 7.30am to 3.45pm (except public holidays). 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.
 

BushCare and LandCare


Shellharbour Council's BushCare and LandCare volunteer 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 usually meets in Oak Flats fortnightly on Wednesdays. This month the group will be meeting on Wednesday 15 and 29 January from 9am – 12pm. Contact Council on 4221 6111 for details.
  • Tullimbah LandCare will be meeting on Saturday 18 January at 8am (note the change to an earlier start to beat the heat) at Elizabeth Brownlee Reserve (end of Digby Close, Albion Park). Contact Ruth Jenkins for details on 0402027221.
  • Currambene Reserve BushCare meets fortnightly on Saturdays in Flinders, though there are no working bees schedule for January and working bees will resume in February. 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 on Sunday 19 January from 9am - 12 noon. Please ring Tony Hepworth on 4297 6490 to be advised of future meeting places and times. 
  • The Watercourse BushCare at Campaspe Circuit Albion Park normally meets on the second Sunday of each month from 9.30am until 12:30pm on Campaspe CCT Albion Park, though there are no working bees schedule for January and working bees will resume in February. For more details, please contact Council on 4221 6111.
  • Koona Bay BushCare usually meets on the first Sunday of each month, though there are no working bees schedule for January and working bees will resume in February. For details about further working bees please contact Council on 4221 6111.
  • Warilla Dunes Bushcare meets in the north side of the surf club on Osborne Parade, though there are no working bees schedule for January and working bees will resume in February. Contact Dane Fitzpatrick on 0419299635.

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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