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Welcome to Sustainable Wollongong Issue 76
Amongst overcast and rainy weather, spring has also brought with it some warmer, sunnier days. What better way to spend those glorious sunny spring days than admiring the beautiful blooming flowers at the Botanic Gardens, or going for a walk along one of Wollongong's many bush walking tracks, taking in the fantastic views of the ocean from the escarpment.
We hope everyone is keeping safe and following social distancing and hygiene practices in order to protect ourselves and others in the community during this time.
This month's newsletter features the following articles:
- Grow Local
- National Recycling Week
- Australian Pollinator Week
- Connecting Neighbours Verge Garden Grants
- Plogging: Exercising and Making a Difference
- How we'll build a resilient community as we step up to face climate change
- Spring's the season for cycling
- The Garage Sale Trail is going Virtual this November
- Grow with FOGO Competition
- Free Online Workshops
- Did You Know?
- Threatened Species Profile: Humpback Whale
Feel free to forward this newsletter on to interested friends and family.
If you would like to make any comments or suggestions please contact us at sustainability@wollongong.nsw.gov.au
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Grow Local
Growing an edible garden in your own backyard can have several benefits to both your well being and the environment’s. The satisfaction of growing fresh produce at home is very fulfilling, providing you with nutritious food and also helping to reduce your impact on the environment.
It is important that we consider how we obtain, use and dispose of food in order to support sustainable food production, distribution, packaging, consumption and disposal. By growing your own edible garden, or buying locally grown produce, you can reduce your carbon footprint all the while supporting the local economy. This can also reduce emissions affiliated with the transportation of your food.
On our website we provide a range of information on community gardens, no-dig veggie gardens you can create at home, Grow Local guides, Love Food Hate Waste program, and low cost and free meals. We also have a ‘Second Time Round Recipe Book’ which is full of recipe ideas from local Wollongong residents that use leftovers in delicious ways!
Visit our Sustainable Food webpage here and you can access our Second Time Round Recipe book here.
Harvest Now
FRUIT: Apricot, Avocado, Babaco, Banana, Black Sapote, Carambola, Cherimoya, Cherry of Rio Grande, Custard Apple, Fig, Lemon, Mulberry, Orange, Paw Paw, Peach/Nectarine, Plum, Atherton Raspberry, Blueberry, Brazilian Cherry, Grumichama, Jaboticaba, Strawberry.
VEGETABLES: Garlic, Leek, Onion, Shallots, Beetroot, Silverbeet, Spinach, Carrot, Celery, Parsnip, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chinese Greens, Kale, Kohlrabi, Radish, Rocket, Cucumber, Squash, Zucchini, Green Bean, Potato, Tomato, Asparagus, Corn, Lettuce, Warrigal Greens.
HERBS: Basil, Coriander, Dill, Parsley, Chives, Ginger, Mint, Lemongrass, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme.
Plant Now
VEGETABLES: Leek, Shallots, Beetroot, Silverbeet, Carrot, Radish, Rocket, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Squash, Zucchini, Green Bean, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Tomato, Corn, Lettuce, Sweet Potato, Warrigal Greens.
HERBS: Basil, Chives, Ginger, Mint, Lemongrass, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme.
Prune Now
FRUIT: Mulberry.
You can read the Grow Local Illawarra Edible Garden Guide here.
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National Recycling Week
National Recycling Week is running from the 8th to the 14th November and this year is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Established by Planet Ark in 1996, this campaign aims to help you to reduce your waste and recycle correctly.
The focus of 2021 is to celebrate National Recycling Week your way! It is also important to engage Australians on the importance of closing the recycling loop by buying products made with recycled content.
Recycling can be confusing – do you know what you can and can’t recycle? Check out Recycling Near You for a list on how and where to recycle various materials.
Let’s all become better at recycling and managing our rubbish. Visit Planet Ark’s website and Recycling Near You for more information.
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Australian Pollinator Week
From the 13th – 21st November is Australian Pollinator Week, where we can celebrate all the amazing and unique pollinators we have here in Australia and the important work they do. Across the globe, over 75% of the world’s food crops (by type) require pollination from animals. When we think of pollinators, bees spring to mind, but there are more than 20,000 species that pollinate plants, including flies, butterflies, moths, wasps, beetles, thrips, birds, bats and other vertebrates.
Australian Pollinator Week was founded by Dr Megan Halcroft in November 2015, following on from a community project called “Bee Aware of Your Native Bees”. Pollinators are responsible for transferring pollen to nearly 90% of wild flowering plant species globally. Plants require pollinators to transfer pollen to the reproductive parts of flowers, with this process known as pollination. This then leads to the development of seeds and fruit which then feed animals including us.
Pollinators drive biodiversity and provide a number of essential ecosystem services that we benefit from, such as food production, nutrient recycling, soil formation, water purification, wood and fibre, climate, flood and disease regulation, and also recreational, spiritual, cultural and educational values.
Sadly, multiple reports globally have documented widespread pollinator declines. So lets take some time to appreciate all the wonderful things pollinators do for the environment and us, and give them a helping hand! You can support them by installing an insect or bee hotel, planting native flowering plants to provide habitat and food sources, provide sources of water particularly in the summer months and avoid using pesticides.
Visit the Australian Pollinator Week website for more information.
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Connecting Neighbours Verge Garden Grants
We’re looking for ideas which will bring people together and help neighbours connect by sharing a verge gardening project. If successful you’d get a $250 Greenplan voucher to buy plants at our native plant sales. Applications close 30 November 2021. For more information and to apply go to: www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/grants
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Plogging: Exercising and Making a Difference
Do you enjoy getting outside for exercise and also have a passion for helping the environment? Well, plogging might just be the perfect activity for you! Plogging is a combination of two words: jogging and the Swedish phrase for pick up “plocka upp”. It involves running and quickly picking up any rubbish you see on your way, getting fitter while picking up litter, exercising and making a difference.
It was originally started by a Swedish community incentive wanting to collect rubbish in Stockholm, but now the activity has spread across the globe with people all over the world getting involved. Plogging has many benefits, from getting active, to taking more notice of your local environment, to preventing rubbish from entering waterways and harming wildlife, and preventing plastic pollution.
All you have to do is head out into your local area and collect rubbish as you go, or you can get friends and family, your workplace, sporting club or any other groups involved. Anyone can participate no matter your fitness level, and it doesn’t have to be jogging, you can walk, hike, paddle or any other form of outdoor exercise!
Take a reusable or biodegradable bag with you to collect rubbish in, and make sure you wear personal protective equipment such as closed in shoes and gloves, and also sun protection. Watch out for any trip hazards on your jog or walk, keep to designated paths or defined paths if in bushland, and don’t pick up any dangerous items. Once you are finished, carefully sort the collected material into landfill items or recyclable items and dispose of correctly.
Please remember to follow current COVID-related restrictions in your area, and maintain social distancing and hygiene practices, such as using hand sanitiser.
Happy plogging!
Read Clean Up Australia’s Plogging Guide and this Merriam Webster article for more information.
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How we'll build a resilient community as we step up to face climate change
We recognise that climate change is a real concern for our community. Although it’s difficult to imagine the City of Wollongong 30, 50 and even 100 years into the future, we know that we all need to take action now to adapt to the challenges of climate change.
In 2017, Council joined the Global Covenant of Mayors initiative, an international alliance of cities and local governments who share a long-term vision of promoting and supporting voluntary action to combat climate change.
As part of our commitment to this important international alliance, we need to meet a number of key milestones. The next milestone on our list is Council’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan. We’ve drafted and endorsed this Plan and we’ll be calling for community feedback soon before we start work to finalise the Plan next year.
Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said that the most urgent priority for all countries, cities and local governments, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“In 2019, Council declared a state of climate emergency and this requires urgent action by all levels of government to manage human induced problems that are causing global warming. In response to this, we’ve already set and are working towards climate mitigation targets of net zero emissions by 2050 for the City of Wollongong, and net zero emissions by 2030 for Wollongong City Council operations,” Cr Bradbery said.
“Now we’re planning and preparing for changes to our environment, which are a result of our current and past global emissions. Council’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan looks at the ways we can take action to ensure our community’s resilience in the face of climate change.
“The science has been consistent in its warning of what environmental challenges we’ll face this century. What we already know is that we’re likely locked into a climate future that will see increase risks of flooding, sea levels rise, erosion, storms, extreme bush fire, hotter weather, and severe droughts.”
Council’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan is based on the most-up-to-date climate science and takes a measured approach to adapting our city for the future. We’ve identified actions that can be taken in the short, medium and long-term, including actions related to future climate change conditions that have not yet occurred.
“We’ve identified 72 actions in total that Council can take to minimise the impact of climate change on our community with 26 of these actions are expected to be delivered in the next Community Strategic Plan period of 2022 to 2026.
“The science is compelling and the risks we’ll face together as a community are real. It’s a community-wide effort to tackle the challenge, but by acknowledging and understanding the risks we’ll face in the future, puts us in a position where we’ll be able to plan ahead, prepare and support our community.
You can read the full article here.
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Spring's the seasons for cycling
With warmer weather ahead, we’re already seeing many residents, families and children get on the bike and go for a ride. At the same time, work is progressing on the Port Kembla and Wollongong pop-up cycleways providing more opportunities to get out and about more easily.
In Port Kembla, we’ve finished work along Military Road to install traffic separators, repair the kerb and gutter as well as putting in line marking and signage. We’ve given this section of the cycleway a good sweep with a mechanical broom to clear any debris and it’s now ready for people to enjoy.
In Wollongong’s CBD, we’ve completed additional work along Gladstone Avenue, Smith Street and Kembla Street. Although much of the Wollongong CBD pop-up cycleway is already being used by community members, we’ll continue to make adjustments as needed to the design and complete any additional work over the next few weeks.
“Council is pleased to see so many residents make use of the completed cycleways in Thirroul and Towradgi. What’s more we’ve also seen people bike ride around the Port Kembla and Wollongong CBD pop-up cycleways which is great,” Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.
“Good infrastructure to support on-road and off-road cycling is a real benefit to our community as it allows bike riders of different abilities to enjoy and access their community.
“At the same time, decreasing our reliance on cars for shorter trips and outdoor recreation is a positive way we can make our city more sustainable into the future.
“As lockdown restrictions ease over the coming months, there will be more people using our shared pathways and on-road cycleways. For some people who haven’t visited the CBD or left home in a while, some of these changes might be a bit of a surprise.
“We ask that everyone is considerate when using our roads, cycleways and footpaths. These are shared spaces and that means everyone has a responsibility to be aware of others and do the right thing. We appreciate cooperation from drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
“For people using our shared paths, we also ask that you be mindful of others as you enjoy these assets. Our shared paths are for both pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy and as we enter summer, these share paths will get busier. When moving around others make sure you slow down, be aware of your surroundings and share the space.”
For more information about these projects see our Pop-Up Cycling Routes page.
You can read the full article here.
This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with Wollongong City Council.
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The Garage Sale Trail is going Virtual this November
Registrations STILL OPEN and it’s free to register! This year you can ‘Choose to Reuse’ safely with virtual sales and shopping. Keeping everyone safe and meeting COVID-19 restrictions.
If you’ve never sold things online before, don’t worry – there are lots of great resources to help keep it simple and show you how to find new homes for your pre-loved stuff or buy new treasures contact free.
Get excited as there are two big weekends of sales in November.
13-14 and 20-21 November – Two huge weekends of online garage sales held simultaneously around the nation.
SELL (SAFELY). SHOP (SAFELY)
It’s garage sales made easy with tips, tricks and free promotional materials and an online map of garage sales to explore. You can take part covid-safely online with a host of covid safe tools and resources.
Join a community of over 250,000 Australians choosing to reuse their preloved stuff.
By choosing to reuse you keep items circulating and in use for longer and reduce your carbon, waste and water footprint, all while making you some money.
Garage Sale Trail is made possible locally by Wollongong City Council.
Register at www.garagesaletrail.com.au//Wollongong-City
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Grow With FOGO Competition
We’re looking for Wollongong’s FOGO Champions! Enter our Grow With FOGO competition for the chance to win a GoPro Hero7 camera.
This competition is open to all ages. All you need to do is make a short (15-60 second) video of you with your FOGO bin or caddy. Make sure your video includes:
- Why you love using FOGO, and
- Your best food waste reduction tip.
We're looking for the most creative and fun entry with a good message. It doesn't have to be professional - you can shoot it on your smart phone, home video camera, or whatever you have available.
The most important thing is to have fun and share your love of recycling food waste!
There are two ways to enter this competition. Whichever way you enter, make sure you read and agree to our Competition Terms and Conditions*.
Option 1: Instagram
Post your video on Instagram and include the tag #FOGOchampion.
You'll need to make sure your account is publicly visible, otherwise we won't be able to see your entry!
Option 2: Enter online
Upload your video to a suitable place online (eg YouTube, Vimeo, your website), then fill in our online form at *https://wollongong.nsw.gov.au/book-and-apply/waste/fogo/grow-with-fogo-competition and include the link to your video. Please make sure the video is publicly visible.
Entries must be in by 11.59pm on Tuesday 30 November 2021.
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Free Online Workshops
Join us in these FREE online workshops as part of our National Recycling Week (8-14 November) celebrations.
Worm farming – Online workshop
When: Friday 12 November Time: 12pm – 1pm
Pets with benefits! No noise, they don’t require exercising, no pet hair everywhere, their manure doesn’t smell and is GREAT for your garden. Worms are awesome!
They munch through your paper, fruit and vegie scraps and even old cotton items of clothing. Want to know more?
Participants of the Wollongong LGA will receive a FREE worm farm* (worms not included). Terms and conditions apply. *
Composting – Online workshop
When: Friday 19 November Time: 12pm – 1pm
This workshop will take you through the basic steps of composting. Things like where to put the compost bin, how to start a compost, maintaining a compost and how to use finished compost will all be covered. At the end of the workshop we want you to feel confident to start your own compost that will go on to have wonderful results.
Our workshop will be led by a gardener with nearly 30 years experience and an absolute love of composting. To help you out even further, if you are a resident of the Wollongong LGA and meet our Terms and Conditions*, we’ll even give you a compost bin to get you started.
Bookings are essential. Must be a resident of the Wollongong Local Government Area.
Visit www.eventbrite.com.au for more details or to reserve your spot in these FREE workshops.
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Did You Know?
The Australian Government has an online tool called Your Home which acts as a guide to environmentally sustainable homes. It is a resource for people aiming to build, buy or renovate a sustainable home, and can be used by homeowners, architects, designers and builders.
By incorporating good design principles in your home, this can save energy, water and money, reducing its environmental impact while creating a more enjoyable and comfortable home. The guide covers information on:
- Passive design such as orientation, shading, passive solar heating and cooling and insultation
- Materials such as waste minimisation, brickwork and blockwork, concrete slab floors, mud brick, rammed earth, green roofs and walls
- Energy such as heating and cooling, hot water service, lighting, appliances, home entertainment and renewable energy
- Water such as reducing water demand, rainwater, wastewater reuse, stormwater, outdoor water use, waterless toilets
- Housing such as adapting to climate change, carbon zero carbon positive, the liveable and adaptable house and affordability
It also has several case studies from across a range of climate zones and building types to inspire your sustainable home.
Visit the Your Home website here for more information.
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Threatened Species Profile
The Humpback Whale is listed as Vulnerable in NSW and also by the Commonwealth. They are known as a baleen whale, meaning that they have plates of whalebone in their mouth that they use to strain plankton and krill from the water. They are a large marine mammal that can grow up to 16 metres in length and have a stocky body and broad round head.
Their flippers are very long, while their dorsal fin is quite small. Their back, sides and parts of their underside are black, with the underside also having some white and their flippers and undersection of the tail flukes are mainly white. In the Southern Hemisphere, Humpback Whales generally have a greater degree of white colouration on their ventral surface compared to Northern Hemisphere whales. Humpbacks have several knobbly projections on their body, on their head, jaw and flippers.
Humpback Whales are found in oceanic and coastal waters worldwide. In Australia, there are two populations, the west coast and east coast populations. The east coast population migrates from summer cold water feeding grounds in sub-Antarctic waters to warm-water winter breeding grounds in the central Great Barrier Reef. They are frequently observed along the NSW coastline from June to July on their northward migration and from October through to November on their southward migration. Important resting areas have been identified during the southern migration.
Humpback Whales are known for their amazing leaps out of the ocean, and they occasionally swim on their sides with their flipper above the water. Humpbacks are also known for their underwater singing; they produce a wide range of sounds which are used for a variety of purposes such as foraging, distress calls and in non-mating social situations. They feed mainly in summer in Antarctic waters, feeding primarily on krill. Their life expectancy is about 48 years but is likely to be a lot longer than this. Breeding primarily occurs in winter, and their gestation period lasts 11 to 12 months.
Both the west coast and east coast Australian populations are reported to be recovering after near population collapse caused by whaling in the 1950s and 1960s. This species still faces a number of threats today, such as:
- Collision with marine traffic
- Accidental entanglement in nets, traps, longline and other fishing gear
- Marine debris, particularly plastic, which can harm the animal by causing suffocation, abrasion, infection or blockages when swallowed
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