TASNG Talk:

The Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group (TASNG) was formed in 2011 and covers Coal Point, Kilaben Bay, Carey Bay and Toronto east of The Boulevarde. It is one of 10 such groups under the Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance across Lake Macquarie.

Over the years many projects - including plastic-free cafes, the footpath along Brighton Ave from Ambrose Street to Jarrett Street, fire-retardant garden at Toronto fire station and the Awaba Road verge garden- were completed and many submissions written on development proposals. We work closely with the Coal Point Progress Association.

TASNG continues to educate the public about the Circular Economy and Recycling now that Council has changed its bulk waste system and NSW Government looks likely to extend its ban on some plastic packaging and plastic-lined takeaway coffee cups. Hundreds of signatures have been collected on our petition to make recycling more accessible and create jobs from recycled products.We have sold (recycled) household items collected from bulk waste throw out and other sources at the Toronto Lions Market.

We regularly help clean up around Toronto during Clean Up Australia Day and have joined in the campaign to save the turtles from Fennel Bay to Dora Creek during the big Lake cleanup in May.

TASNG has improved Toronto in many ways, especially over the last year. With support from Origin (through the Eraring Investment Fund), businesses and Council we have removed a lot of graffiti and installed stunning aboriginal prints at Goodsir Place, near Coles. A celebration of artists’ works was held at The Hub with 35 attendees.

We hold fortnightly landcare sessions to rehabilitate the wetlands adjacent to Fennel Bay bridge. We continue to support Coal Point Landcare, the Hub Community Garden and the development of the new Toronto Foreshore. We are in communication with Council about possible natural sculptures along our Greenway, the importance of increasing visibility of the wheel stops along The Boulevarde to keep pedestrians safe and we have participated in Council’s Resilience Project to prepare our area for climate change events such as bushfires and storms.

We continue to canvas for better cycling and pedestrian infrastructure in and around Toronto and for shared pathways from Booragul to Toronto and heading down to Rathmines along the foreshore.

We also support the Five Bays SNG’s Pampercare project which provides food and counselling services at Woodrising Neighbourhood Centre.

All our efforts are through volunteering. We are always keen to have new members and friends. Annual membership is only $5. We also support The Chronicle by extending its distribution to Kilaben Bay and Toronto. However, this requires financial commitment.

Please consider joining TASNG and/or providing a donation or helping to deliver The Chronicle to assist us in continuing this distribution. Contact Nico (Secretary) for membership forms and bank details at torontoareasng@gmail.com.