Sustainable Neighbourhood News

Plastic free and plant-based at Blacksmiths
A number of good quality reusable cups are still available at local cafes participating in our Plastic Free Cafes project. We are delighted to be working with more than 30 local cafes to reduce the amount of litter and waste created by single use plastic items such as takeaway coffee cups and plastic straws.
The Pelican Area Sustainable Neighbourhood team have taken the opportunity to strengthen their relationship with the Yoga Place Cafe at Blacksmiths. We chatted with cafe owner Alyx-jane about the various actions they are taking to become plastic free, and how they are demonstrating local leadership in sustainability. Read the story here.

Waste to Art 2021
We are kicking off our planning for the 2021 Waste to Art project. We have a range of volunteer roles available in all aspects of project management, arts administration, event management and marketing.
Read the position description below for more details. Please get in touch to talk about a role to suit you.
Waste to Art Coordinator - Volunteer role

Clean Up Australia Day
Don't forget Clean Up Australia Day this Sunday 7 March.

Find a site near you at cleanupaustraliaday.org.au, and help keep Lake Mac clean.

Clean up coal ash: Campaign update and planning

Saturday 20 March, 9am-12noon
The Place, Charlestown Community Centre
Join the Hunter Community Environment Centre and Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance for an update on the Clean Up Coal Ash campaign and to get involved in the next phase of the journey. Help plan how we can work towards 100% reuse and rehabilitation of coal-ash waste dumps to protect waterways in Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast from further contamination, and ensure coal-ash is put to good use.

All welcome! Registrations essential at eventbrite.com.au.

For more information visit hcec.org.au.

Boomerang Bags are back!
Enjoy a social sewing bee, making reusable shopping bags, produce bags and more from donated fabric. The Canopy and the Cardiff Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group have teamed up to run these fun friendly sewing bees. Help cut out patterns, sew bags together and learn how to make reusable bags at home.
Bookings essential to casng2015@gmail.com. Please visit sustainableneighbourhoods.org.au for further details and Covid-19 requirements to attend.
Sunday 28 March, and last Sunday of the month, 10am-2pm
Cardiff North Public School library, 59 Wansbeck Valley Road, Cardiff

Sustainable Neighbourhoods Gathering

We had a great time at our gathering in February. It was lovely to get together with other Sustainable Neighbours, hear about what everyone is planning, and hear some ideas for working together in 2021.

Here's some summaries from what was discussed - attached. Have a look for some inspiration about how we can organise our projects to complement and coordinate with each other.

Congratulations Nico and Sustainable Neighbourhoods!
Greg Piper recently mentioned your wonderful work through a Community Recognition Statement in NSW Parliament.

"I'd like to acknowledge the hard work of the volunteers behind Lake Macquarie Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance based at Toronto, and in particular Nico Marcar from Carey Bay. Each year the volunteers in the alliance contribute many thousands of hours working towards noble environmental goals..."
"I offer my congratulations and thanks to Nico Marcar and all of the Lake Macquarie Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance volunteers for all they do for the Lake Macquarie community."

You can read the full statement at gregpiper1.com.

Greg Piper presenting Nico with the Lake Mac Environmental Leader Award back in 2020.

Community Environment Grants now open
Grants of up to $5000 are available to support community-initiated projects that improve our local environment and inspire environmentally sustainable behaviour in Lake Macquarie City.
Not-for-profit community organisations such as groups, clubs and school parents and citizens associations are eligible to apply.
For more information, visit lakemac.com.au.

Here's Susan and Indra from the Dudley Sustainable Neighbourhood Group, talking about the amazing mural they and the team created with one of these grants back in 2012.

Reminder: Please get in touch if your group is considering applying for grant funding.
The Alliance board will need to review your application before it is submitted. There's some further advice about applying for grant funding here: Managing Grant Funding for Sustainable Neighbourhood groups.

Council's Urban Greening Strategy
Council has commenced work on a new Urban Greening Strategy, to ensure our green areas continue to grow and thrive for years to come.
Public comments will be invited, between 4 March-1April, about how to make our urban areas even greener at shape.lakemac.com.au.

Better Streets
Council’s draft Walking, Cycling and Better Streets Strategy will help deliver new pedestrian, cycling and road safety improvements across the City.
Community members are encouraged to provide their feedback at shape.lakemac.com.au/walking-cycling from early March.

Regional Planning Panel representatives
Council is seeking local industry experts to represent Lake Macquarie City on the Hunter and Central Coast Regional Planning Panel - an expert industry body that considers regionally significant development applications and rezoning proposals.
For more information visit lakemac.com.au.

Alliance policy and procedures
We have a range of resources and policies to help you organise your group and events.
Please ensure your group submits a risk assessment, at least 7 days prior (21 days is better!), when planning a new activity, for approval from the Alliance Board.
Please get in touch if you'd like any assistance.

Notification and risk assessment form

Alliance resources and procedures

Follow us on Facebook
Another way to keep up to date with Sustainable Neighbourhood events and activities.
SustainableNeighbourhoodsLakeMacquarie

Facebook

Website