Sustainable Neighbourhood News

Repair Cafe pop-up : make and mend session- Toronto Library

Next date: Wednesday, 23 February 2022 | 10:00 AM to 01:00 PM

Have you got any clothing pieces that need mending?

Join Repair It Lake Mac for this free mini pop-up event and have items mended by our expert repairers, whilst learning new skills in a fun and friendly environment. Or simply come and chat about our major repair days around Lake Macquarie. Make a booking with a repairer and access to a machine, or drop in for a chat.

10am-1pm. RSVP by Booking in.

Sustainable Neighbourhood Gathering

Get together with Sustainable Neighbourhood volunteers from around Lake Macquarie for an afternoon to catch up and plan for a productive 2022.
● Hear about what other Sustainable Neighbourhood groups are planning
● Identify and develop our projects and priorities for 2022
● Get together face to face for some cake and conversation

All welcome! Saturday 26 February, 1.30-4pm, Charlestown
Registrations essential via humanitix by Wednesday 24 February.

Pamper Care Project

All over the world and including Australia, people are doing it tough. West Lake Macquarie is no exception. There is the “hidden” population of homeless and disadvantaged people - men, women and children.

Most people don’t choose to be homeless or disadvantaged. For many, this happens because of domestic violence, marriage/ relationship breakdown, loss or change of employment, illness or accidents, family breakdown.

The Five Bays Sustainable Neighbourhood Group is helping the homeless in our local area, working with Woodrising Neighbourhood Centre to give a little bit of pampering with personal care products to those who need it the most.

Donations of all kinds of personal care products are welcome, including soap, body lotion, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, tampons and pads, toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouth wash and more.

Drop your donation at either:

• the Blackalls Park Pie and Cake Shop, shop 11a Blackalls Park Shopping Village; or 
• Woodrising Neighbourhood Centre, 80 Hayden Brook Road, Woodrising 

Pamper Care packs are currently distributed to people in need through the Woodrising Neighbourhood Centre.

More information: http://www.sustainableneighbourhoods.org.au/pamper-care-project.html

Sustainable News

TASNG AGM

The AGM of the Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group (TASNG) will be held on Wednesday (11 October) at 5 pm at the HUB (97-99 The Boulevarde, Toronto) and will be followed by the monthly meeting. All welcome!

TASNG would love to welcome new faces who would like to see our beautiful Toronto even more sustainable and thriving. Please let your friends and colleagues know.

If you would like to consider nominating for a committee position, feel free to contact TASNG Secretary (Lois Simpson) on 4959 5863 to find out more information. All positions are open!

Pamper Care Project

The LT Creek Sustainable Neighbourhood Group is working with the Woodrising Neighbourhood Centre to help people in West Lake Macquarie who are homeless or disadvantaged.

The Pamper Care Project collects donations of personal care products for distribution to those who need it most.

Donations can be taken to the drop off basket at the Blackalls Park Pie and Cake Shop.

What will your World Environment Day awesome action be?

Lend your voice to helping protect some bushland at Awaba?

The Proposed Awaba Conservation Area provides a vital wildlife corridor from the Watagan Mountains through Awaba State Forest and Sugarloaf Conservation Area to the shores of Lake Macquarie and the Lake Macquarie Conservation Area. There are many threatened species living in the area including Squirrel Gliders, Spotted -tailed Quolls, Swift Parrot, Grey-headed Flying foxes, Sooty Owl, Powerful Owl, Masked Owl and Tetratheca juncea.

In 2009 the NSW State Government acknowledged the importance of the land with its high conservation and biodiversity values stating “Additional conservation areas in West Lake Macquarie are clearly the next highest priority for the future. DECC will be actively working to improve conservation of priority lands in the West Lake Macquarie area by improved conservation practices on other crown tenures, through private land partnerships or as the sites for conservation offsets” ( DECC 2009 LHCP p32).

You can sign a petition or learn about the aims of the group trying to get it protected by visiting www.conservewestlakes.wordpress.com

Keeping in the Loop

There are quite a few events and activities supported by LMCC’s Sustainable Neighbourhood and Landcare programs. One way to find out about them all is to ask Maree at the Landcare Office to put you on the weekly mailing list, ph 49210392 or email lro@lakemac.nsw.gov.au

Sustainable Neighbourhood Update

The local Sustainable Neighbourhood group have been gathering the local goals and putting them together in a document called the SNAP, Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan.

The document provides the pathway to local projects and facilitates securing support from LMCC.

Locals John Gill and Nico Marcar have done a tremendous job in compiling this community document.

The following information is contained in the the background section of the SNAP.

The Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group

The Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group (TASNG) comprises community members who live in and identify closely with the neighbourhood through work, volunteering, friends, family or other means of connection. The Group is committed to implementing this plan and to monitoring and reviewing it annually. The TASN Coordinating Group, formed by local residents, with the support of Council, has utilised a participatory democratic process to coordinate the implementation, evaluation and review of the Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group Action Plan (TASNAP) and associated community projects.

Our aim is to support activities associated with the TASNG by:

• Establishing decision-making mechanisms that are inclusive and democratic
• Encouraging neighbourhood representation and participation
• Promoting and supporting Sustainable Neighbourhood projects
• Developing a regular review process of the Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan
• Increasing communication within the community and the different community groups
• Encouraging residents to join Council sponsored programs

If you are interested in becoming involved in any of the actions in this Plan or have ideas on how to improve our neighbourhood the Group would love to hear from you. Find out about our current projects and activities, and how you can join with us to be part of this community-based initiative.  The TASNG meets monthly at the Toronto Library or a local venue.

The Lake Macquarie Sustainable Neighbourhoods Program

Reducing our ecological footprint neighbourhood by neighbourhood
Through the Sustainable Neighbourhoods Program Lake Macquarie City Council partners with its residents to plan and promote local action, enhance and protect their natural environment, reduce their ecological footprint and increase community connectivity and resilience. The program enables residents to develop a vision for their neighbourhood, articulate local values, uncover neighbourhood assets and develop a local action plan to address neighbourhood challenges.  The Sustainable Neighbourhoods Program is about individuals and groups collectively taking responsibility to ensure that their unique environment remains sustainable for future generations.

The Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Initiative

The Toronto Area is a vibrant community with a history of community action and environmental protection.  In September 2010, a group of dedicated residents embraced the Sustainable Neighbourhoods Program proposal and worked with Council to conduct a series of community engagement activities within the Toronto community.  Further interest from the peninsula communities sparked the expansion of the Sustainable Neighbourhood Area to include Carey Bay, Coal Point, Kilaben Bay and Toronto.  Engagement activities were designed to elicit content for the development of the Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan. This Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan is a living document that will be reviewed and adapted on an annual basis by the Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group (TASNG).

About Our Area

The Toronto Area including Carey Bay, Coal Point, Kilaben Bay and Toronto is the traditional land of the Awabakal people.  The aborigines called the Toronto foreshore 'Derah-bambah' meaning 'rising ground', Toronto was 'Pondee' meaning 'overlooking view' and Kilaben Bay was 'Killibinbin' meaning 'unspotted bright shining'.

Our area is situated on the north-western side of Lake Macquarie, the largest coastal saltwater lake in Australia – seven times the size of Sydney Harbour.  The name Toronto was chosen by the Excelsior Land, Investment & Building Co. and Bank Pty Ltd. when it purchased a portion of the original land grant to Reverend Threlkeld that had been used for an aboriginal mission in 1887.  By 1906 Toronto was still mainly limited to the triangle formed by Cary Street, The Boulevard and the railway line. In the 1830s and 1840s the current centre of Toronto was the site of a prosperous farm with a variety of crops and many fruit trees including mulberry.  Coal was first mined at Coal Point in 1841 by the Rev Threlkeld.  By the late 19th century, ferries were running from Speers Point to Toronto. When the railway was extended to Toronto, a regular ferry service operated to Coal Point and Carey Bay. A steam tramway service linking Toronto to the Fassifern railway station was started in 1891.  The subsequent railway service was replaced in 1993 by a connecting bus service. Toronto is considered to be the hub for public transport on the western side of Lake Macquarie.

Known for its natural geographic features, the Toronto area contains five of the City’s nine ecosystem types including forest, woodland, waterways, wetlands and lake. As is the case with most urban bushland areas, the natural assets of this area are deeply treasured by neighbours but are unfortunately under considerable pressure.  These pressures are brought about for example by urbanisation, over-development, coal mining in neighbouring communities and lack of awareness of property owners in conservation zones ( i.e. garden escapees, logging and clearing of dead and sometimes living trees), thereby destroying valuable habitat.

Our area is characterised by its relaxed and outdoor loving, water-based lifestyle.  The lake foreshore with historic buildings, wetlands, reserves and bushwalking tracks as well as events like the Lake Macquarie Classic Boatfest, Carols by Candlelight and local markets attract a broad range of local, national and international visitors.

Welcome to another Progress Year

The year is starting off at a pretty quick pace with a couple of community events, an AGM and a funding application on the go for $250,000 over 6 years to make the Coal Point peninsula weed free.
 
The Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group (TASNG) is also swinging into action with project planning underway for Community Gardens, Cycleways/Pathways, Computer & Mobile phone Recycling, Landcare, Foreshore protection and Children’s Parks & Gardens. 
 
The TASNG coordinators of the various project groups meet on the 1st  Wednesday of the month at 5pm in the Toronto Library meeting room.

Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group (TASNG)

The Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group (TASNG), covering Carey Bay, Coal Point, Kilaben Bay and Toronto, is in the process of developing a local action plan around the themes of Foreshore Protection, Community Garden, Landcare, Children’s Parks and Playgrounds, Footpaths & Cycleways and Reducing Computer Components in Landfill. Each of these project areas has a team leader coordinating the group’s input into the local area action plan. 
 
The coordinating group of TASNG meets on the 1st Wednesday of the month at the Toronto library meeting room.  Kelly Wood, the Sustainability Engagement Officer supporting the group, can be contacted for more information or getting involved. 
Ph 4921 0089, kwood@lakemac.nsw.gov.au

Draft Cycling Strategy 2011-12

On exhibition at the moment is the Draft Cycling Strategy 2011-12
Correspondence from LMCC has stated that consideration will be given to a shared pathway connection between Coal Point/Carey Bay and the Toronto CBD in the development of Council's Cycleway Strategy. 
 
The Strategy is out now, there will be an information stall in Toronto Town Square on Thursday 19th January and the local Sustainable Neighbourhood Footpaths and Cycleways group will also be considering the draft. 

Submissions are due by Friday February 24th, 5pm.
If you would like to see a shared pathway in our community consider lodging a submission, which is as easy as writing a letter.

More Sustainable Neighbourhood Workshop Outcomes

  

You may be wondering what sort of people attended the workshop. You can find out at http://www.hackdays.com/knowwhereyoulive/ .  

Know Where You Live is the prototype of a data mashup that displays a range of Australian Government data based on your geographic location along with a Google satellite map. 

The initial prototype was created in under 24 hours as part of the inaugural Govhack event in Canberra in October, 2009

Living on the Edge

The results of the Sustainable Neighbourhood survey of Toronto, Carey Bay, Coal Point and Kilaben Bay showed that the most highly rated considerations was the need to “protect and improve the natural environment” followed closely by the need for access to parks, beaches, bushland and other natural areas”.  

With this Chronicle is a copy of our council's LIVING ON THE EDGE brochure.

While this appears to be aimed mainly at lake foreshore homes it's good to remember that several of our reserves are not on foreshore eg  Burnage, the Ridge Reserves and Carey Bay Wetlans with its catchment creeks.

The suggestions in the brochure about ways to protect reserves apply to all homes in our area as seeds from very invasive plants in gardens fly through the air and flow with drainage. This causes big problems in reserves which local landcarers struggle to manage especially in the bushland areas we so much appreciate.

There has been action in the area of Footpaths and Cycleways too.

Nico Marcar has taken on the role of convenor for the group and can be contacted by email at  nico.marcar@gmail.com.

Feedback from Council over requests for pedestrian options around the point was received. “Consideration will be given to a shared pathway connection between Coal Point/Carey Bay and the Toronto CBD in the development of Council's Cycleway Strategy.  It is anticipated that the draft strategy will be placed on exhibition sometime in November/December 2011.  This will give the community further opportunity to comment on the proposed shared path links in the Coal Point/Carey Bay area, it will not however provide a detailed analysis on footpath location.  A separate footpath strategy is being developed of the next 12 months, which will provide detailed information on where footpath will be installed in the Council area.”

The Progress Association at its August meeting has also been investigating various lines on maps which could possibly provide access to foreshore and bushland areas. Clarification of what constitutes public access will be sought, signage will be pursued where possible and investigations undertaken to open up obscured access ways to promote community usage. This information will be distributed throughout the community on a map in the not-to-distant future.

Community Garden Goss

Since the workshop in August there has been activity in various areas.

The Community Gardening crew meet regularly on the 2nd Wednesday  of the month All are welcome. The group will discuss how to go about getting a great crop in your own backyard and progress gathering interest in a community garden.

LMCC has a Community Garden Policy. It is well worth reading as it clearly describes the process that has to be undertaken for planning a community garden, approvals etc:

Some great community gardening websites:

http://communitygarden.org.au/

http://www.northeystreetcityfarm.org.au/

http://www.thesharehood.org/community-gardening

http://sydneycityfarm.org/

http://www.sgaonline.org.au/?p=1263

Sustainable Neighbourhood Workshop Outcomes

The Sustainable Neighbourhood project is gathering momentum throughout the community. At the August 16th workshop several areas of community interest emerged.

Project teams were formed around the topics of:

• Community Garden
• Foreshore Protection
• Landcare
• Children's Parks and Playgrounds
• Footpaths and Cycleways
• Reduce Computer Components in Landfill

Participants undertook a planning exercise from these interest areas and developed a prioritised action plan.

A Toronto, Coal Point, Carey Bay & Kilaben Bay Sustainable Neighbourhood Board has been elected comprised of
Chair: Steven Slott
Assistant Chair: Janice Bendeich
Secretary: John Gill
Assistant Secretary: Hellen Slott
Treasurer: Era Wellsmore

If you’d like to be put on the contact list for any of these groups Sarah Jordan, Sustainability Engagement Officer is the go to person. Phone 4921 0333, Email kwood@lakemac.nsw.gov.au

The Future’s so bright I got to wear shades

There are quite a few opportunities available at the moment to input into the future of our local community and the City as a whole.

The Sustainable Neighbourhood action planning workshop is a great process to get ideas for the future, recognize the wealth of opportunities that exist and create the place we want to live. The workshop is a well thought out, tried and tested process and will be a fantastic opportunity for all who want to contribute to have their ideas heard.

If you’ve ever thought wouldn’t it be great if we could … this workshop is just the place to see if it can become a reality. 

Hopefully everyone has received the invitation to the Sustainable Neighbourhood Community Action Planning Workshop to be held at Coal Point School Hall on Tuesday 16^th August 5.30-8.30pm.

Don’t forget to book on 4921 0333 or email sjordan@lakemac.nsw.gov.au

What happened at the WEEC?

I would like to thank the Progress Association for supporting me to attend the recent World Environmental Education Congress in Brisbane. The international gathering aimed to share learning and experiences in environmental and sustainability education.

It was both an overwhelming and inspiring affair. The Congress started with the science of climate change, 98% of scientists agree that human induced climate change is happening. In a session entitled ‘Creating Hope’ we heard that Himalayan vegetation is shifting 1.5-3.4m/year in altitude, the Rhododendrons are blooming a month earlier, glaciers retreating and bird distributions diminishing…I wasn’t feeling too hopeful by the end of the session.
It was also explained that the assumption that increased awareness will change attitudes and behaviors IS NOT supported by research.  It is people’s worldviews and belief systems, philosophical and political positions which shape their interpretations and understandings…this was where being over-whelmed kicked in.
Some things seemed obvious, people learn and act as social beings, but in the context of sustainability it meant that goals should be framed democratically-empowering learners as individuals and collectives, just like the Sustainable Neighbourhood approach in our own backyard… hope was returning
Many speakers commented that at this point in history we’re in a predicament but we need to remove the doom and gloom, restore the fascination with nature and empower people to create a positive vision for the future.
Some of the workshops were about using our natural spaces to reconnect people with the nature around them. Thoughts of toddler trails through our local reserves, paths through the bushland that everyone could safely navigate seemed like real solutions.
A significant section of the congress was dedicated to empowering people, especially youth. There was a recognized skill gap towards empowerment but the Australian Youth Climate Coalition http://aycc.org.au/  is set on a path to build a generation of sustainable leaders…more hope.
Even Early Childhood Educators agreed that active participation and action taking was necessary and that children need to be recognized as change agents within their community.
The take home message for the attendees was that the mass media are not going to be much help in moving people towards sustainability. It is the role of educators to understand where people are at, to engage people in a process that creates a dialogue to determine a common vision for a world where our children will live in happiness and with hope.
The really hopeful bit was there is an opportunity to do just that with the Sustainable Neighbourhood workshop on Tuesday 16th August at Coal Point School.
If you would like to read the other notes and thoughts that I gathered at the WEEC they’ll be posted on the Progress blog.
All the best Suzanne Pritchard
P.S I am the person who writes the Chronicle each month and the President of the Association for the past 16 years.

Toronto, Kilaben Bay, Carey Bay Coal Point Sustainable Neighbourhoods

There was a 13% return rate on the recent Sustainable Neighbourhoods survey, the results of which will be used to inform the discussions, directions and actions the newly formed group will undertake.

Workshop 2 will be held at the Diggers Club in August. If you are interested in attending check with Kelly Wood, the Senior Sustainability Engagement Officer on 4921 0104 for the timing and details.

The event will be put on this blog too...another good reason to come back.

Sustainable Neighbourhoods Snapshot

The Sustainable Neighbourhood process is moving along with monthly meetings being held by the steering group and council's facilitator. 

A very interesting survey seeking our thoughts about where we live will be delivered to our letterboxes by Easter which will feed in to the local community workshop proposed for Late May or early June.

At the April meeting the idea of having a community forum to better understand the Development Application process was touted and received support by those present. 

THE SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBOURHOODS PROGRAM Toronto, Carey Bay, Coal Point and Kilaben Bay

Lake Macquarie City Council understands that residents have a strong connection and commitment to their environment and in response has established the Sustainable Neighbourhoods Program. After success in many other areas of Lake Macquarie, the program is now in the early stages of its development in Toronto, Carey Bay, Coal Point and Kilaben Bay.

Through the Sustainable Neighbourhoods Program Council is committed to working with residents to help them to develop local plans and actions that will protect and enhance the natural features of neighbourhoods, reduce their ecological footprint, and build their capacity to respond to relevant environmental issues and events.  

Involvement in the Sustainable Neighbourhoods Program also builds strong community relationships as citizens embark on a journey together to discover the values and strengths of their neighbourhood, uncover the wealth and depth of existing community assets, develop their local plans, and work alongside their neighbours on projects that they decide will enhance their neighbourhood amenity.

As part of the program development process, all residents in Toronto, Carey Bay, Coal Point and Kilaben Bay will receive a Sustainable Neighbourhoods survey in their mailbox toward the end of April 2011. 

By completing and returning this survey, residents can share their views about what is important in their community. Surveys completed and returned by the date specified on the survey will also go into the draw to win one of three Crest Earth Smart power boards valued at $120 each. On average, the power board reduces household power use by around $50 per year.

Once survey results are collated, a Sustainable Neighbourhood community workshop will be held in the local area.  Residents who have indicated on the survey that they would like to know more about the program will be invited to the workshop.  From here, residents are able to choose how they would like to be further involved in the program.  

If you would like to know more about the program please contact Kelly Wood, Lake Macquarie City Council, on 4921 0333 or email kwood@lakemac.nsw.gov.au.

Coal Point & Carey Bay to join LMCC's Sustainable Neighbourhood Program

LMCC's Sustainable Neighbourhood project for Toronto has expanded its local reach to include Coal Point and Carey Bay. A mini-workshop and community survey will be conducted locally to gather the values and issues within the community and then an action plan developed to progress local ideas. The Sustainable Neighbourhood program aims to build grassroots connections to Council to help communities lower their  ecological footprint.

The next Sustainable Neighbourhood Meeting for Toronto will be held 5pm Wednesday 16th March at the Toronto Library. If you think you may be interested this meeting will discuss how the program will proceed now that the sustainable neighbourhood includes Coal Point and Carey Bay and potentially Kilaben Bay.