Autumn 2008
The City of Whittlesea’s Environmental Newsletter
Garden Waste Recycling Environmental Events
FROM July 2008 City of Whittlesea of waste from landfill in the City of It’s a Frogs Life
residents can use a new garden waste Whittlesea from 32% to 40–45%. Discover the frogs of Whittlesea at
bin to dispose of grass clippings, the Growling Frog Golf Course and
leaves, common garden weeds (non- The mulching process Barbers Creek.
noxious), and prunings. The service The garden waste material is double 10am–1pm Sunday 30 March
has many sustainability benefits chipped using a very large mulching Growling Frog Restaurant (golf
including reduced greenhouse gas machine. The composting chips course), Donnybrook Road, Yan Yean.
emissions, less waste going to landfill are turned regularly to encourage
Pasture Drought Recovery Field Day
and the production of recycled mulch. aerobic (using oxygen) decomposi-
Leading experts discuss pasture
The 240 litre wheelie bin will be tion to avoid methane production.
drought recovery strategies, with
available for an annual fee of only The composting process takes up
a walk around the NMIT Yan Yean
$65 and is great value. Collection to 16 weeks above 60 degrees to kill
paddocks.
will be fortnightly and available to weeds, seeds or pathogens. The end
10am–4pm Wednesday 16 April
urban residential areas, including the result is quality mulch, compost and
NMIT Northern Lodge, 2005 Plenty
Whittlesea township. soil enhancers, and a more sustain-
Road, Yan Yean.
able Council waste service.
Reduced waste Residents using the new service Water Use and Saving Around the Home
Around two of the eleven kilograms are still encouraged to mulch leaves, Investigate how to make good water
(18%) of waste in the average resident’s grass clippings and small branches saving decisions.
garbage bin is garden waste that can at home to reduce water use in 1pm–2.30pm Friday 2 May
be diverted from landfill and recycled. the garden. Food waste will not be Mill Park Library, 394 Plenty Road, Mill Park.
Garden waste sent to landfill ulti- collected and is best composted, or
Learning to Compost and Worm Farm
mately contributes to the generation of placed in the normal garbage bin.
Learn to set up and manage a trouble
methane (CH4), because of anaerobic
Registration details free compost bin and worm farm.
(without air) decomposition of waste
7–8:30pm Tuesday 6 May
material deep inside the landfill. Once If you would like to have a garden waste
Victorian Sustainability Learning
emitted methane is 20 times more bin return the order form sent to rate-
Centre, Mernda Villages Drive, Mernda.
damaging than carbon dioxide (CO2) as payers in February marked YES as soon
a greenhouse gas. as possible to Council or register online Community Plantings:
With the introduction of the new at www.whittlesea.binchoice.com. Growling Frog Golf Course
service, it is anticipated the commu- Tenants can request from their land- 10am–3pm Saturday 17 May
nity will divert approximately 7,000 lords permission to order the service. BBQ lunch provided. Golf course car
tonnes of garden waste from landfill, Further information about park, Donnybrook Rd, Yan Yean.
enough waste to fill Epping Soccer the service can be found at Quarry Hills Bushland Park
Stadium a metre above the goals, www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au or by 10am–3pm Sunday 25 May
lifting the community’s diversion rate calling 9401 0555. BBQ lunch provided. Enter from The
Lakes Boulevard 100m north of Findon
Garden waste as branches (before) and mulch (after) Road roundabout, South Morang.
Bookings essential. Contact
Sustainability Planning on
sustainability@whittlesea.vic.gov.au or
9217 2195.
1
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
GreenPower Accredited Renewable Electricity
AUSTRALIA’S per capita emissions GreenPower electricity is distrib-
of greenhouse gases are amongst uted via the common grid network,
the highest in the world because the same as electricity from non- A small price to pay
our electricity mostly comes from renewable sources. For GreenPower
generators that burn coal and our customers the electricity supply will BUYING power from renewable
high demand. Nowadays, about 8% be exactly the same as before. sources is usually more expen-
of Australia’s electricity comes from sive than traditional generators
renewable sources such as the sun, Guaranteed renewable energy such as coal-fired power plants.
wind, water and biomass waste. The GreenPower logo means that Although coal-powered electricity
GreenPower is electricity from the source of renewable power may seem cheaper, it does not take
accredited renewable generation has been approved by the National into account the true cost to the
sources. As of September 2007 more GreenPower Steering Group. environment such as air and water
than 645,000 Australian households GreenPower products sold by elec- pollution and greenhouse gas
and businesses have switched to tricity retailers are rigorously moni- emissions. These are all costs that
GreenPower, including 252,000 in tored and retailers must submit the community at large must bear.
Victoria. The collective purchasing of regular publicly available reports Depending on the product
GreenPower represents a significant to ensure that sufficient accredited and the amount of power used
benefit towards reducing greenhouse renewable energy is purchased to GreenPower adds between $0 to
gas emissions. meet customer needs. $7 extra to the weekly electricity
Retailers must commit to sourcing bill. If you cannot afford to buy
100% of their GreenPower sales from 100% accredited GreenPower, even
‘new’ renewable sources commis- 10% makes a difference.
sioned after 1 January 1997, and the Household electricity consump-
development of new renewable tion can often be reduced by up
generation. This acts as an incen- to 25% by implementing simple
tive for a viable renewable energy efficiency measures and the
industry in Australia. financial savings can be used to
buy GreenPower at no additional
Buying GreenPower cost. For tips on reducing energy
The GreenPower web site www. consumption, see council’s web
greenpower.gov.au lists all site or the Alternative Technology
GreenPower retailers. For inde- Association’s site: www.ata.org.au.
pendent price comparisons of
Transfield Services’ wind turbines GreenPower products visit www.
in Toora, South Gippsland supply choice.com.au or www.greenelec-
accredited GreenPower tricitywatch.org.au. Some organi-
sations allow you to remain with
How GreenPower works your current electricity retailer but
When you buy GreenPower an purchase GreenPower credits.
amount of renewable electricity Once you have selected a product
equivalent to your consumption is contact the retailer to make the
fed into the grid, thereby avoiding switch. Have your last bill at hand
that amount of coal derived power. to help answer the salesperson’s
This reduces your own and Australia’s questions. Research the products
greenhouse gas emissions and is a thoroughly, avoid lengthy contract
personal contribution to improving periods, and beware of any products
the environment and combating that do not clearly state GreenPower
global warming. As demand for accreditation.
accredited GreenPower increases
from customers, energy suppliers will
buy more energy from new renew-
able energy generators. An electricity bill with 100%
Look for this logo for 10–100% GreenPower showing no
GreenPower greenhouse gas emissions
2
SUSTAINABLE WATER
Designing better rainwater supply systems
WITh the extended drought and water use per month. For garden use this To receive the Estimator
restrictions the humble backyard rain- should done for the summer months The Estimator is available via email
water tank is enjoying a remarkable using past water bills, knowing the from cameron.taylor@whittlesea.
revival. Rainwater use, as an alterna- number of buckets used per day, or vic.gov.au or by phoning 9217 2084.
tive water supply to potable (drinking) by reading the water meter before Cameron Taylor, Sustainability Officer,
water, makes a significant contribution and after watering. Typical garden use can help talk residents through the use
to the conservation of water resources. varies between 20–200 litres per day, of the spreadsheet and how to inter-
The determining factors for the depending on garden size and condi- pret the graph. Residents without a
amount of water supplied by a rain- tion, the types of plants, and watering computer or Excel can call to have the
water system are the collection (roof habits. details of their system entered for them
area), storage (tank volume) and usage and to discuss possible design options.
(litres), plus rainfall. With this informa-
tion better informed decisions when
designing and purchasing a rainwater
How it works
system can be made.
To help residents with this, the City
of Whittlesea’s Sustainability Planning
has developed the Rainwater Supply
Estimator. This simple Excel spread-
sheet helps users to understand how
much rainwater is available from
different sized roofs, if this is adequate
for the intended purpose, and to figure
out what tank size might be best.
While as a general rule it is pref-
erable to have as large a roof area
connected to as big a tank as possible,
this is not always practical. The extra
cost of larger tanks, a lack of space or
difficulties connecting all downpipes can
place constraints on rainwater collection.
With careful design and the aid of the
Rainwater Supply Estimator, it is possible
to maximise rainwater supply.
Using the Estimator The Rainwater Supply Estimator can help design a reliable rainwater tank systems
The Rainwater Supply Estimator does
not tell users what the best tank size ThE lITRES of rainwater collected collection efficiency’ is set at 90%
is for them. What it does do is show from a roof area can be calculated to slightly reduce the monthly rain-
how a system is likely to perform, using this simple metric formula; 1 water collection figures; and to allow
by comparing the water collected cubic meter (m3) is 1000 litres. for reductions in rainfall from climate
from a given roof area with the esti- 1mm on 1m2 = 1 litre change the ‘long-term average
mated monthly water use. From this a 10mm on 1m2 = 10 litres reduction’ is set at 70%. Taking
preferred tank size can be worked out. 20mm on 10m2 = 200 litres these reductions into account helps
Users of the Estimator need to The Rainwater Supply Estimator uses improve the reliability of the rain-
know or estimate the size, in square this formula to calculate the volume water system.
metres (m2), of the roof area that will of rainwater that will be collected The best tank size can then be
be connected to the tank via the roof given the entered roof area and the worked out by comparing the differ-
gutters and stormwater downpipes. actual and average monthly rainfall ence between the rainwater collec-
This can be done by measuring the records. tion and use graphs. If the use is
sides of the house, from plans or other To allow for small rainfall events much more than the collection a
means. (less than 1mm) that evaporate larger roof area might be needed, or
Users also need to estimate the before reaching the tank a ‘rainfall bigger tank to carry over winter rain.
volume of rainwater they expect to
3
Donnybrook • Doreen • Eden Park • Bundoora • Humevale • Kinglake West • Mernda • Whittlesea • W
LOCAL SCENE
Sustainable Homes Program
THE SUSTAINABLE Homes Program is mental products. Showcasing Sustainable Homes
on again in 2008. The workshops are The kits are limited and will be Wednesday 23 April
designed to give people the tools and given out on a first in, first serve basis Create a Water Efficient Home &
confidence to make changes in their at the workshops. Kits are available Garden
home and/or office, whether this be for residents of the three partici- Thursday 29 May
in choosing and installing a water pating municipalities only. Being Waste Wise & Buying Green
saving shower head or a rainwater All workshops are free and will Thursday 12 June
tank or getting a compost bin or be held at the City of Whittlesea Create a Sustainable Workplace
worm farm working. Council Offices, Fountain View Room, (Breakfast)
Participants in the Program are 25 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang Wednesday 23 July
encouraged to undertake a self audit (Melway 183 A10). Registrations from Create an Energy Efficient Home
to identify what actions they can 6.45pm and workshops conclude at Wednesday 13 August
take to make their home or office 9pm (unless stated otherwise). Create a Sustainable Garden
more water or energy efficient, and To make a booking or for more Thursday 4 September
their gardens more sustainable. By information contact the Sustainable Sustainable Transport
sharing these changes as part of the Homes Co-ordinator on 8470 8373 or Wednesday 22 October
program participant will receive a sustainablehomes@darebin.vic.gov.au Sustainable Homes Tour
free Sustainability Kit with a range of or visit www.sustainablehomes.vic. Sunday 16 November 10am–1pm
simple, easy to use or install environ- gov.au.
The 2007 Sustainable Homes Program
Santinon family home in South Morang Jayawardene family home in Greenvale Di Marco family home in Lalor
The last workshop from the 2007 wall and roof insulation and solar homes and is a wonderful opportu-
Sustainable Homes Program was the orientation. At the Santinon home nity to share knowledge and experi-
Sustainable Homes Tour. Participants the use of solar hot water was ence in the sustainability journey. The
visited families in the City of explained, and at the Di Marco’s Sustainable Homes Program is funded
Whittlesea and Hume City Council home visitors toured the amazing through the Victorian Government’s
that had made sustainability changes backyard fruit and vegetable garden Sustainability Fund and Banyule,
to their homes. At each home the and sampled home made wine. Mr Di Darebin and Whittlesea Councils.
families shared their experience with Marco explained how he only needs For more information visit www.
the visitors. to water the garden once a month sustainablehomes.vic.gov.au or to
At the Jayawardene’s visitors because of how well the soil held register your interest contact the
heard about thermal design for moisture after a deep irrigation. Sustainable Homes Coordinator on
passive heating and cooling including The Sustainable Homes Tour in sustainablehomes@darebin.vic.gov.
double-glazed windows, additional 2008 will visit more sustainable au or 8470 8373.
4
Woodstock • Wollert • Yan Yean • Beveridge • Epping • Lalor • Mill Park • South Morang • Thomastown
Local Sustainability Strategy
Environmental IN 2008 the City of Whittlesea will be reviewing its 2001 Local Conservation
Events Strategy, and begin planning for a new Local Sustainability Strategy. Community
consultation will have an integral part in the development of the Local
Sustainability Strategy. To register your interest in having input into the new
THE CITY of Whittlesea’s 2008
strategy contact Felicity Ayres on felicity.ayres@whittlesea.vic.gov.au or 9217 2279.
Environmental Events calendar
is out now. The diverse range of
Environmental Events are organised
around four main themes:
• green living in the home and Search and Destroy Mission
garden
• community planting days
• getting out and about
• managing the land
New events include a dusk walk at
Yan Yean Reservoir with information
about the site’s history and night
fauna, a search for frog life at the
Growling Frog Golf Course, a water
saving cry-baby session that mums
(and dads) are welcome to bring their DPI officers surveying an infestation of Lobed needle-grass remains green when
babies and young children to, six tree lobed needle-grass other grasses have dried out
planting events and an accredited land
management course through Northern DURING October 2007 over 100 rural If found growing on properties the
Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT). properties in the City of Whittlesea Department of Primary Industries will
Plus many more events. were inspected by the Department of organize and pay for the eradication of
To receive a copy of the Primary Industries in search of lobed lobed needle-grass as it is a state prohib-
Environmental Events program needle-grass (Nassella charruana). If ited weed, however landowner coopera-
contact Sustainability Planning on not eradicated lobed needle-grass can tion is essential to ensure that this search
sustainability@whittlesea.vic.gov.au quickly invade prime agricultural land and destroy program is successful.
or 9217 2195. and conservation areas. The Ecological
Vegetation Classes (EVC) 132 Plains Identifying lobed needle-grass
Grassland and 175 Grassy Woodland Lobed needle-grass looks similar to
found in the City of Whittlesea are Chilean needle-grass and serrated
particularly at risk. tussock, and can also be confused
Lobed needle-grass was first with rushes that grow in damp areas.
discovered in Australia growing in On closer inspection lobed needle-
Epping in the 1990s. Since then infes- grass has tightly in-rolled leaves, while
tations have been found mostly in the rushes have cylindrical hollow leaves.
Wollert-Woodstock-Epping area. Unlike Lobed needle-grass has waxy leaves
other weeds, such as Paterson’s curse that squeak similar to nylon cord when
which are widespread and established, dragged between fingers. During dry
The Perils of Ferals, September 2007 lobed needle-grass infestations are weather when everything has died back
generally small and isolated and can lobed needle-grass is likely to be the
still be eradicated. only green thing in the paddock.
Tackling weeds before they become If landowners suspect lobed needle-
widely dispersed helps to protect grass is on their property or would like
native ecosystems and productive further information including identifi-
agricultural lands, and in the long run cation sheets they are encouraged to
will save large amounts of money. It’s contact either Sarah Partington, Weed
estimated that weeds already cost Alert Contact Officer, Department of
the Australian economy $4 billion Primary Industries on 5366 0034 or
plus annually. The needle sharp seeds Natasha Baldyga, Land Management
of lobed needle-grass are dangerous Officer, City of Whittlesea Sustainable
Solar Living at Thomastown Library, to cattle and other stock. As a feed it on 9217 2493.
August 2007 offers little nutrition or protein. 5
WISE ON WASTE
Free School Education Service & Teacher Support
THE CITY of Whittlesea offers tion through a catchment. They can
schools in the municipality a free also participate in the popular drain
education program to help them stencilling activity within the school
introduce waste minimisation and grounds, providing a permanent litter
recycling initiatives. The program message for the entire school.
is delivered to both primary and
Product Lifecycles and Landfill
secondary schools by the experienced
Composition (Secondary students)
EnviroCom education team.
Students will look at the processes
Sessions available to schools include: involved in managing a landfill to
minimise the impact it has on the
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
environment. Sessions look at waste
An interactive session where students
at a global level, comparing waste
identify ways to reduce rubbish, reuse
initiatives in different countries.
items and recycle correctly.
Students will follow the lifecycle of a
Composting and Worm Farming product from the raw materials it is
An EnviroCom educator can visit
Students learn how to look after a produced from to its disposal. schools in the City of Whittlesea
worm farm at home or at school. Schools who want to take advan-
Staff and students will see an estab- tage of this fantastic opportunity can complemented with guest speakers
lished worm farm in action, learn contact Nicole Burke at EnviroCom on and provide an arena to share project
what worms like to eat and have the 9703 5212 or nicole.burke@envirocom. ideas and networking opportunities.
option of getting right up close with com.au to book sessions for Term 2, 3 Meetings are held once each
the worms. and 4 in 2008. school term. Membership is free and
Free teacher support is also open to any primary and secondary
Litter and Stormwater Pollution available through the Teachers school teachers in the City of
(grades 3 – 6) Environment Network (TEN). The Whittlesea interested in making their
Students will discuss what litter is and network started in 2004 in recogni- school more environmentally sustain-
why it poses a problem in the environ- tion that teachers often have limited able. For more information contact
ment. Students will participate in the opportunities to network and share Sylvia Turk, Environmental Education
River Relay Game which illustrates information with neighbouring Officer on sylvia.turk@whittlesea.vic.
the flow of water and litter pollu- schools. TEN meetings are often gov.au or 9401 0509.
Disposing of unwanted computers responsibly
MOST homes, schools and businesses order is to donate them to a charity The ‘Recycling Near You’ website
are faced with the problem of what or to someone who would appreciate www.recyclingnearyou.com.au
to do with old computer equipment them. If the equipment is broken or provides a comprehensive and
when they upgrade. There are now obsolete, computer waste can be updated search tool for locating the
environmentally friendly ways of dropped off for recycling at: best local recycling opportunities for
disposing of such equipment, rather a range of waste across Australian
than being dumped in landfill. Banyule Waste Recovery Centre and locally.
About one million computers end 307–325 Waterdale Road, Bellfield For more information contact
up in landfill in Australia each year. (Melways 31 F4) Ph: 9490 4521 Council’s Infrastructure Project
These contain hazardous materials Weekdays 7:30am–3pm, weekends Officer on
such as lead, mercury, cadmium and 7:30am–12noon info@whit-
arsenic, which could potentially leach Outlook Environmental tlesea.vic.gov.au
into soil and groundwater creating Darebin Resource Recovery Centre or 9401 0555.
new environmental problems. Kurnai Avenue, Reservoir (Melway
The best option if your computer 18 B6) Ph: 9460 7241
and accessories are in good working Weekdays and weekends Computer
8.30am–3.30pm waste can be
6 recycled
BIODIVERSITY BUZZ
Stony Knolls of the Grassy Woodland Plains
IT IS widely known that Australia has
one of the world’s worst biodiversity
extinction rates. Many Australians
know that rainforests and the Great
Barrier Reef are under threat but
are unaware that the grasslands
surrounding Melbourne are some of
the most endangered ecosystems in
the world.
In the open paddocks of the
Donnybrook-Wollert area there
are fragments of grasslands and
even rarer stony knolls. These rocky
outcrops or mounds of basalt (blue-
stone) rocks developed during the
lava flows when volcanoes were still
active in the area more than 50,000
years ago.
Local habitat
Stony knolls are a haven for spec-
tacular and significant local
Small outcrops of bluestone harbour lizards and
flora, including chocolate lilies native vegetation
(Arthropodium strictum), tufted
bluebells (Wahlenbergia communis)
and slender sun-orchids (Thelymitra
pauciflora), as well as the iconic
kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra).
top to bottom:
Shrubs and small trees including
Creamy candles
sweet bursaria (Bursaria spinosa) (Stackhousia
and hedge wattle (Acacia paradoxa) monogyna),
grow on stony knolls that have been Kangaroo Grass
protected from grazing pressures. (Themeda
Between the lichen and moss trianda) and
covered basalt (bluestone) rocks Chocolate Lilies
common maidenhair (Adiantum aethi- (Arthropodium
opicum) ferns grow in the crevices. strictum)
These gaps provide perfect habitat for
local fauna including the endangered Undisturbed bluestone rocks on stony knolls are a haven for
striped-legless lizard which if disturbed mosses and lichen
by passersby or predators, such as
nankeen kestrels, can hide between that threaten stony knolls ecosys- Through Council’s land manage-
the crevices. Without these important tems in the City of Whittlesea. ment education programs land-
habitat values these animals may Dumping soil and fill on stony owners are becoming aware that
become extinct. knolls destroys them and changes there are benefits to retaining and
the overall rural landscape. Stony protecting stony knolls. There are
Protecting rocky knolls knoll vegetation along with other also funding opportunities to fence
Stony knolls vegetation can survive native vegetation is protected under off and manage these areas from
some grazing pressures as long as it the Whittlesea Planning Scheme. Council or through the Plains Tender
is intermittent. This allows plants to Landowners covering stony knolls Program. Interested landowners
flower and set seeds and to recover face fines and court action, and should contact Council’s Sustainable
from environmental factors such as must spend large amounts of money Land Management Officers on either
drought. Unfortunately there are either reinstating or off-setting the 9217 2493 or 9217 2323.
some land management practices destruction.
7
FAUNA FACT restricted is through the activities of
the St John’s wort beetles (chrysolina
beetles). A number of different types
St John’s Wort Beetle of these beetles were introduced from
Europe in the 1930s and in later years.
St John’s wort is a noxious weed not particularly widespread Two of the most successfully estab-
in the City of Whittlesea. This is fortunate because it contains lished chrysolina beetles are Chrysolina
hypericin which is poisonous to stock; horses being more hyperici and C. quadrigemina.
sensitive than sheep and cattle. Both Chrysolina beetles are black
One way that the spread of St John’s wort is being with bronze, dark-blue or purple reflec-
tions, 5 to 7 mm long and oval in shape;
C. quadrigemina is slightly larger than C. hyperici. The beetles
feed on the leaves of St John’s wort, with larvae attacking
winter growth and adults attacking spring growth.
Whilst the beetles may not be native, they do play a part
in reducing the spread and impact of this toxic weed.
Source: NSW DPI Prime Facts ‘St John’s wort’
DPI Landcare Note LC0177 ‘St John’s wort’
DNRE Landcare Note LC0152 – ‘Biological control of St John’s wort
with chrysolina leaf beetles’
POSTAGE
PAID
Locked Bag 1
AUSTRALIA
Bundoora MDC 3083
Multilingual
Environews Coordinator Update Telephone
Service
(This is a free service)
Regular readers of EnviroNews may have noticed some changes to this
Autumn 2008 edition. Due to the growth of interest in sustainable water and
energy these topics now have a dedicated page each. To accommodate this
addition the Land Talk page has been removed and will be developed into a
new separate newsletter focused on rural land management.
We are interested in your comments and feedback on EnviroNews. Please
contact Cameron Taylor, Sustainability Officer on cameron.taylor@whittlesea.
vic.gov.au; 9217 2084 or 9217 2420 (TTY).
To receive EnviroNews via mail or email contact Sustainability Planning on
sustainability@whittlesea.vic.gov.au or 9217 2195.
Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled Cyclus Offset paper, using vegetable based
inks, under ISO 14001 Environmental Certification, in Australia by Printgraphics Pty Ltd.