TASNG events a plenty

The TASNG team has started the year full steam ahead taking up the challenge with McDonalds to get recycle bins on site, (as most of their wrappings are recyclable), securing resources to tackle graffiti in the town centre, liaising with Council and Biriban LALC to have local hero Biriban more significantly recognised in the Foreshore Masterplan, supporting the very enthusiastic sewers of Boomerang Bags sessions at Toronto library (next session is 13/5/23) and hosting a Repair-It café at the Hub.

Happening at The Hub (97 The Boulevarde)

Repair-It Café at The HUB- Saturday 18 March 10am-1pm

Is it TOO GOOD TO WASTE? Do you have any clothing, textiles, toys, small electrical items, carpentry or small furniture in need of repair? Bring it along and see what it takes to whip it back into tip top condition. Free Tea/coffee and light refreshments too.

You can keep up to date with where the Repair -it crew are by connecting with the Repair-It Facebook page. More info about Repair-it is on the Sustainable Alliance's website

Plant and Garage Sale- Saturday 25th March 8am-noon

Textile Tasters- Learn a textile craft - Wednesday 12 April 

Wet Felting and Sashiko textile crafts $18/session and all materials provided. More info at https://www.amandadonohue.org/workshops

Pamper Care

February was a HUGE month for Woodrising Neighbourhood Centre (WNC) and Pamper Care. While the Centre was operational for 20 days in February, Pamper Care had 25 people in need of pantry food assistance. This is up from last February by 35%.

Your continuing support is greatly appreciated. Pantry items can be dropped at WNC, 80 Hayden Brook Road, Woodrising. Open Monday - Friday

Financial donations are also welcome directly deposited to: Lake Macquarie Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance | BSB 637 000 | Account number 724181724 | Description - “Pamper Care”.

Sustainable Neighbourhoods Gathering -
Saturday 1 April, 2-4pm

Landcare & Sustainable Living Centre, umali barai-ku, 80 Toronto Rd, Booragul

Get together with Sustainable Neighbourhood volunteers from around Lake Macquarie for an afternoon to catch up and plan for a productive 2023.

Hear about what other Sustainable groups are planning, identify and develop our projects and priorities for 2023.Get together face to face for some cake and conversation.

All welcome. RSVP essential by 29 March. https://events.humanitix.com/sustainable-neighbourhood-gathering-april2023

Sustainable Neighbourhoods in Lake Macquarie

Sustainable Neighbourhoods is a unique, Council-supported but independent community network which has been operating since 2010. Council provides Secretariat and funding support.

The Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance provides governance and supports local Sustainable Neighbourhood groups (SNGs) across the City. This includes:

• supporting the network and mentoring new groups;
• communicating between groups and sharing information, tools, case studies, connections, project plans etc; and
• providing advice and advocacy on sustainability-related issues and making submissions on strategies and plans to all three levels of government.

A key initiative of the Alliance has been to foster City-wide projects. One of these is ‘ReLeaf Lake Mac’ which aims to promote urban greening for mitigating climate change and to educate the public on the multiple benefits of trees. Another is ‘Repair cafes’ which aim to teach residents how to reuse goods and recycle materials (clothing etc.). A third is the promotion of alternatives to the use of plastics, especially single-use bags.

There are 12 active SNGs across the City. They take actions to:

• reduce our resource consumption (energy, water and waste);
• increase community involvement in protecting and caring for environment and place;
• increase our capacity to respond effectively to environmental threats, and;
• increase community wellbeing and pride in our local areas.

Our local group is the Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group (TASNG). The TASNG has a close working relationship with the CPPA, the Five Bays SNG and the community garden at the HUB, Toronto. The Chronicle regularly features TASNG updates.

Current projects include: promotion of bamboo take away cups for cafes and coffee vans, maintenance of the small native garden on Awaba Road, phasing out single-use plastics in Toronto, rehabilitation of the foreshore near Fennel Bay bridge, advocacy for better cycling and walking infrastructure and monitoring improvements to Toronto’s foreshore.

More information can be found at
http://www.sustainableneighbourhoods.org.au/

We invite you to consider becoming a member of TASNG. We are always looking for new ideas. If you would like more information please email torontoareasng@gmail.com or phone 0418 967 158 or http://www.sustainableneighbourhoods.org.au/toronto-area.html

Nico Marcar- Alliance Chairperson and TASNG Secretary.

Sustainable Neighbourhood Showcase

On Saturday 22^nd August from 2-4pm tips and lessons learnt from Sustainable Neighbourhood projects will be showcased at the Toronto Fire station where a tour of the Fire Retardant Garden will be on offer, just in time for gardening ideas for summer. Also being shared will be how the Redhead Sustainable Neighbourhood group created a series of murals. Bookings are essential to the Sustainable Neighbourhood alliance on 4921 0117 or admin@sustainableneighbourhoods.org.au

Sustainable Neighbourhood Update

Lake Macquarie City Council’s Sustainable Neighbourhood program is going from strength to strength with many local groups now making progress on their pet projects and the community driven umbrella organisation, Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance up and running. The Board of the Alliance is calling for nominations to fill the position of Secretary and upto four ordinary Committee members.
The Board seeks to:
• Provide support and assistance to member Sustainable Neighbourhood Groups in Lake Macquarie City;
• Act as a point of communication between Sustainable Neighbourhood Groups in Lake Macquarie, including collecting and distributing relevant information;
• Provide Council staff with guidance, advice and feedback on community engagement and empowerment issues relating to the Sustainable Neighbourhoods Program;
• Reduce duplication through identifying and addressing common issues for multiple Sustainable Neighbourhood Groups;
• Undertake other general activities associated with peak body responsibilities;
• Undertake activities to develop sustainability initiatives in Lake Macquarie City; and
• Support the formation of sustainable communities in areas of Lake Macquarie.
If you’re interested in finding out what is involved contact Dot Seiffert, Chair, Lake Macquarie Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance Contact: 0409 788 684, chair@sustainableneighbourhoods.org.au
Nominations are due by Friday 13th April.