Providing a COVID Safe environment at our events
Scheduled Brimbank City Council upcoming events will be managed in alignment and subject to the Victorian Department of Health guidelines and COVIDSafe settings for coronavirus (COVID-19). Where events can run, all attendees will be required to follow the current COVIDSafe guidelines, including sign-in for contact tracing, physical distancing, personal protective equipment including fitted face masks where required and good hygiene.
To help us manage our events safely, all attendees for community events are now required to register beforehand on the Eventbrite website.
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Explore and Restore your garden
18 September - Event cancelled
We wanted to let you know that this event is regrettably cancelled, due to the extended lockdown restrictions in Melbourne.
At this stage no rescheduling will occur, and our little wildflower friends will be safely planted at Buckingham Reserve instead.
Given the enthusiasm and uptake in registrations for this giveaway, we know that we can plan an event like this again in future, so please keep an eye out for future announcements.
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Reusable Goods Drop Off Day
Clear out your home, load up the car or trailer and take unwanted household items to the ‘Reusable Goods Drop Off Day’ at Victoria University, Sunshine Campus.
Residents can drop-off TVs, computers, electronic appliances, whitegoods, furniture, mattresses, bicycles, homewares, clothes and linen. Items in good condition will be donated to local charities and items which cannot be re-homed will be separated into parts and recycled.
When: Saturday 23 October 2021, 8am-1pm.
Where: 438/460 Ballarat Rd, Sunshine North VIC 3020
Register here
Cost: No Charge
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Spring into September - School Holiday Fun
There's plenty to do these school holidays with Brimbank Libraries. The Environment team are helping out with a few activities!
Larry Leadbeater Storywalk
Where: Caroline Chisholm Park, Keilor
When: Saturday 18 Sept - Sunday 3 Oct
More information here
Nurturing Natives - make your own paper plate animal activity
Suitable for 4-8yrs
Where: Online workshop
When: Monday 20 September, 10.30am
Register here
Nurturing Natives - make your own possum drey (nest) activity
Suitable for 8+yrs
Where: Online workshop
When: Wednesday 29 September, 1.00pm
Register here
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My Smart Garden Workshops
My Smart Garden has a jam packed lineup of online workshops at no charge to help you with your garden this month. Please see the links to book your ticket:
Raising Vegetable Seedings
Where: Online workshop
When: Monday 6 September, 6pm
Register here
Getting Started- Food Gardening for Beginners
Where: Online workshop
When: Thursday 16 September, 6pm
Register here
Backyard Chicken and Quails
Where: Online workshop
When: Thursday 23 September, 6:30pm
Register here
Talking Habitat: A practical guide to creating a wildlife-friendly Australian Garden with AB Bishop
Where: Online workshop
When: Thursday 30 September, 6:30pm
Register here
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Victoria Nature Festival
From 11-26 September, the Victoria Nature Festival will take place for the second year with a program full of creative ways to connect with and act for nature.
Go for a bushwalk, learn from Traditional Owners about caring for Country, join exciting panel events and take part in citizen science.
All events will be hosted on the Victoria Together Platform. You can register your interest here.
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Watch the Zero Waste Festival
Did you miss the Zero Waste Festival? What a huge day of conversation, connection and inspiration to rethink waste!
Highlights included a great exploration of our relationship with waste, an ‘any greens pesto’ cook-along with special guest Costa Georgiadis, a conversation on what a circular economy can look like and workshops to help curate a sustainable closet and cope with eco (and COVID) anxiety.
The day was wrapped beautifully by Charlie McGee with his song There’s no such thing as waste… only stuff in the wrong place!
Thanks to everyone who came along and to Zero Waste Victoria for delivering such an inspiring event.
Catch up on the entire festival here
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Clean Up Australia's Get fitter with Litter Adopt a Street Campaign
Want to get fitter and help the environment? The benefits of getting out in the open air and walking are well documented. It makes you feel good, be more energetic, mentally alert and physically fitter. Even better if you walk with friends.
Better again if you have an added purpose and adopt a street to keep it neat!
Get Fitter With Litter is a healthy, fun way to do your bit towards reducing the problem of litter in your neighbourhood.
When walking your dog, on your way to the shops, taking the little ones to school or while socialising with friends, take a bag and pick up litter as you go.
For more information and to sign up, visit https://www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/event/gfwl
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Harvest without Harm- New fruit netting regulations
From 1 September, netting used or sold to protect household fruit-trees, vegetable gardens, or other fruiting plants must have a mesh size of 5mm x 5mm or less at full stretch.
If you use netting to protect your household fruit or vegetable harvest you will need to comply with this new mandatory requirement introduced under Victoria’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (POCTA) Regulations 2019. Any existing household fruit netting that does not meet this specification must now be replaced with appropriate netting.
There are alternatives to netting, such as the use of fruit bags that are placed over individual branches. These can reduce the risk of capturing animals while leaving excess fruit available for hungry wildlife.
Don’t forget that old netting when discarded can still be an entanglement risk. If you plan to dispose of old netting, it is recommended that you place it into a strong biodegradable bag before sending it to landfill.
Further advice on netting requirements, protecting fruit trees and wildlife and helping injured wildlife is available at http://animalwelfare.vic.gov.au/netting or by calling 136 186.
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Programs to Help you Save
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Solar for Communities Housing
Not-for-profit community housing providers are eligible to apply for solar panel rebates on behalf of their renters. This is a great opportunity for housing providers to help reduce cost of living pressures for low-income Victorians.
Solar Victoria can support eligible community housing providers who are preparing to install solar on their properties. More details on eligibility can be found here.
Under the program, eligible not-for-profit community housing providers can receive:
- Rebates for solar systems installed on existing residential dwellings, including free standing homes, multi-unit dwellings and apartments.
- Solar Victoria will fund up to $1,400 or a maximum of 50% of the costs of the solar per individual residential rental agreement. For example, if the net costs of solar are $2,000, then the rebate value applied is $1,000 (not $1,400).
The program is being delivered across Victoria now. For more information on this rebate and others offered by Solar Victoria visit the Solar Homes Program webpage.
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Apply for a home heating and cooling rebate of $1,000
The Victorian Government is providing assistance to eligible households to receive a rebate to upgrade your heater to an energy-efficient reverse-cycle air conditioner. Upgrades must be completed by an approved Home Heating and Cooling Upgrades supplier and the product must be listed in the approved product list. More details can be found here.
Under the program, eligible households can receive:
- $1,000 towards the cost of an energy-efficient reverse-cycle air conditioner,
- $200 towards the cost of decommissioning their outdated gas heater (if an existing gas heater is being replaced), and
- $500 towards the cost of upgrading their switchboard (if an upgrade is required to install the rebated reverse-cycle air conditioner).
The program is being delivered across Victoria now. For more information visit the Home Heating and Cooling Upgrades website.
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Share the News: If you know of a friend or colleague who would like to subscribe to this newsletter, please forward it on and ask them to subscribe here.
Want to advertise a local online community event here? Send your October events to environment@brimbank.vic.gov.au by 20th of September, 2021.
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