Issue 56 – August 2016
Welcome to the August issue of Sustainable Shellharbour. This month features exciting return of
our popular Exploring Windang Island walks, the opening of the Small Environmental Projects
Fund for application and more - keep reading for details!
Upcoming workshops and events
Exploring Windang Island
Come and explore this unique coastal environment on a guided nature walk from 9:30am – 12:30pm on
Sunday 14th August or 10am – 1pm on Monday 29th August. Located at the entrance to Lake Illawarra and
linked to the mainland by a sand spit, Windang Island has high conservation significance and a fascinating
history. Hear about the threatened grasslands, talk about the geology and history of the island, see the
wheels and rails remaining from a failed attempt at making a harbour in the 1890's and spot life in the rock
pools and surrounding beach area. Bring your binoculars if you have them and we will take some time to
look for whales and sea birds from the great vantage point at the end of the Island.
This is an easy walk but you must have a good level of fitness and agility as it involves walking on wet
rocks, stair climbing and walking on sand. Children aged over 12 years are welcome if accompanied by an
adult. Places are limited and bookings are essential, call Council on 4221 6111 or email
[email protected].
Fridge Buyback
With energy prices rising by 1.5% on 1 July, Fridge Buyback’s rebate increase to $25 per appliance
couldn’t have come at a better time. A residential energy efficiency program, Fridge Buyback’s professional
removalists will collect, degas and recycle your energy guzzling second fridge or freezer. And as long as
the removal does not involve going up or down more than six stairs, you will receive a $25 rebate too. Call
Fridge Buyback on 1800 708 401 to book your free collection.
Council
Collections
GHG t CO2
Est Resident
Savings (All
Phases @
$300/yr)
Est CFCs in kg
(All Phases)
Est Me
Recycle
tonne
FY 2015/2016
Shellharbour
78
470
$23,400
6.2
6.9
Total
Shellharbour
943
7,390
$282,900
75.4
83.9
Small Environmental Projects Funds
Is your school, child care centre or community group keen to start a kitchen garden, create a habitat garden
for wildlife, encourage composting and recycling or run some other environmental education initiative?
Shellharbour City Council’s Small Environmental Projects Fund helps fund on-ground works and/or
environmental educational projects that benefit the environment, encourage people to learn about
environmental issues and adopt positive environmental attitudes and behaviours. Community
groups/organisations and educational institutions can apply for grants of up to $2,500, with a total of
$10,000 available in 2016/2017.
Applications opened on Friday 29th July 2016 and close 4:30pm Tuesday 6 September 2016. Successful
applicants must undertake the project between November 2016 and 1 June 2017.
To find out more, see examples of past projects and download the application form go to
http://www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/default.aspx?WebPage=1598. For more information contact Council's
Environment Officers on 4221 6111 or email [email protected].
<insert SEPF photo>
Sustainable Events Policy
Council’s Sustainable Events Management Policy and associated guidelines were recently updated
following a period of public consultation. Version 2 of the policy was adopted on 31 May 2016 and ensures
that sustainability is considered for all events held in the Shellharbour Local Government Area. Event
organisers are required to submit a Sustainable Event Management Plan to council which outlines how the
event organisers plan to minimise the environmental impacts of their event across a range of sustainability
areas including waste minimisation, resource recovery, greenhouse gas abatement, energy conservation
and water conservation.
You can view the updated Sustainable Events Management Policy visit Council’s website at
http://www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Council/Policies/Sustainable-events-managementpolicy.aspx
Alternatives to balloon releases
Recently Shellharbour Council’s Sustainable Events Management Policy was amended to prohibit the
release of balloons at all events on public land or at those events conducted by Shellharbour City Council
(the use of balloons is allowed, just not the release). LINE ABOUT WHY? Link to alternatives flier?
Talking Rubbish
INSERT FOGO BANNER JPG
The story of FOGO Shellharbour started in 2007 when Council adopted to implement a best practice waste
collection service.
In 2008 Council introduced the fortnightly kerbside collection of waste, recycling and garden organics.
In 2010 Council adopted its new Waste Strategy which involved recovering food organics from the kerbside
and Improving operations at the Dunmore Recycling and Waste Disposal Depot
This also started Waste Services on a journey to align all collection and processing contracts to allow the
diversion of food organics and garden organics from landfill into a reusable compost material.
Funding was secured through the EPAs Waste Less, Recycle more initiative for the FOGO reprocessing
building and the new collection service.
The FOGO Community Education Program commenced in March 2016. And the food organics and garden
organics collection service started four months later on 1 July 2016.
During this period, with the help of our FOGO partners over 2000 residents were engaged at 59 events
explaining how to use the new FOGO service.
To assist residents to divert their food scraps from the kitchen to the FOGO bin, over 25,000 kitchen
caddies were delivered to households currently paying for a waste service.
The education program included advertising in the paper, radio, TV and the local cinema. To date we have
reached over 90,000 people with educational material about FOGO Shellharbour.
In addition, people were encouraged to downsize their existing 240L waste bin to 140L this would save
money and accommodate the shift of 40% of waste into the new FOGO bin.
The below picture represents the material collected from 500 FOGO bins located at Mt Warrigal with less
than 0.5% contamination. Our load by volume of food product was down but none the less look like we are
off to a fantastic FOGO start.
INSERT PHOTO OF SECOND FOGO LOAD JPG
Still not sure on what to put into your FOGO bin call the FOGO phone on 4221 6300. Want to downsize
your waste bin call Remondis on 1300 121 344
Earthworks Courses – receive a free compost bin, worm farm or bokashi bucket!
If you are a resident of Shellharbour City and would like to start home composting or would like to
know how to build your own worm farm or set up a Bokashi Bucket, book into a free Earthworks
course today!
Upcoming dates are Tuesday 23 August 1pm – 4pm and Saturday 10 September 9am – 12 noon.
Bookings are essential. Call 4221 6111 to sign up now and secure your spot!
New Illawarra Food Hub project launched
Fighting Waste Feeding People is what has driven the coordinated efforts of local agencies and
charities to successfully apply for nearly $400,000 in grant funding for the Illawarra Food Hub
project. Provided by the NSW Environmental Trust as part of the NSW EPA’s Waste Less,
Recycle More initiative, the infrastructure that will be gained through this project will unite food aid
services, increasing efficiencies and optimising the collection and distribution of good food
destined for landfill in the Illawarra.
The grant application was supported by fourteen project partners including Healthy Cities
Illawarra, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Hope Centre Food Barn and the Illawarra
Joint Organisation. To support the new infrastructure and the increase in services and capacity,
the three local Councils covering the region of this project (Shellharbour, Wollongong and Kiama)
will jointly fund a food hub coordinator for the first 12 months.
The Illawarra food hub uses a regional approach to bring together local agencies, charity
organisations and businesses involved in the donation, rescue and distribution of food. By working
collaboratively, the project will increase the food rescued in the region from 33 tonnes per week to
58 tonnes per week, providing more than 2600 sit down meals, 2500 food hampers and 2100
outreach meals. Overall, this project will result in the delivery of more than 7000 meals each week
to families in the Illawarra region.
Plant in the Veggie Garden now
It surprises some to know that even in the midst of winter we can be growing veggies here on the coastal
plain of the Illawarra. Seedlings to put in now include:




Lettuce
Radish
Rocket
Peas
If you're keen to add some veggies and herbs to your garden, head on into Council's Nursery on River Oak
Place, Oak Flats, or contact them on 4221 6191 or [email protected]. They're open
Monday to Friday 7.30am to 3.45pm (except public holidays), with special Saturday opening hours
throughout the year. Everyone is welcome, not just Shellharbour City Council ratepayers.
For more food gardening ideas check out Council's Grow Local Illawarra Edible Garden Guide at
http://www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Live/My-Environment/Grow-local-Illawarra-edible-gardenguide.aspx or pick up a free hardcopy from Shellharbour Council's Nursery or the Council administration
building located on Lamerton Crescent, Shellharbour City Centre (behind the Stocklands shopping
complex).
BushCare and LandCare
Volunteers at Shellharbour Council's BushCare and LandCare groups provide an incredible
service greening our city and improving the local environment. Why not join in a working bee and
see what it's all about?

Oakey Creek BushCare, Oak Flats. Meets fortnightly on Wednesday, this month will be
3rd, 17th and 31st of August, 9am-12pm. Contact Council on 4221 6111 for details.

Tullimbah LandCare, Albion Park. Meets at Elizabeth Brownlee Reserve (end of Digby
Close). Meeting on Saturday the 27th of August from 9am – 12pm,. Contact Ruth Jenkins
on 4256 2684.

Currambene Reserve BushCare, Flinders. Meets fortnightly on Saturday 6th and 20th of
August, 9am - 12noon. Contact Council on 4221 6111 for details.

Deakin Reserve BushCare meets on the 3rd Saturday of the month, they will meet on
Saturday the 20th August, 9-12 noon.

Blackbutt BushCare will meet on Sunday 21st August, 9am -12 pm, meeting at the end of
Blackbutt Way. Contact Tony Hepworth on 4297 6490 for details.

Mt Warrigal BushCare will be the last Saturday of the month on the 27th of August, 9-12
noon meeting at the end of Rowland Ave. Contact Council on 4221 6111 for details.

Koona Bay BushCare, will be meeting in September. Contact Council on 4221 6111 for
details.

FIG - Foreshore Improvement Group, will meet at Boonerah Point on Sunday the 7th of
August at 8.30am. Contact Council on 4221 6111.
If you are keen to start a BushCare group to help look after your local patch, we'd love to hear
from you. Please call Council's Bush Regeneration team on 4221 6111.
Lovin' Local Animals
Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoos – report your sightings
Have you spotted some Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos in the Illawarra recently? There is concern
these majestic birds with their distinctive, loud cry are declining on the NSW east coast. You can
help contribute to a study investigating Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo movements being
undertaken by the University of New South Wales, Botanic Gardens & Centennial Parklands by
reporting
details
of
your
sightings
on-line
at
https://www.ecosystem.unsw.edu.au/content/conservation-practice/threatened-species/foragingand-habitat-ecology-of-the-yellow-tailed-black-cockatoo. Though the study is Sydney focused,
reports from the Illawarra are welcomed, and collecting this information is important for the longterm conservation of the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo population.
Photo - This beautiful Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo was photographed and details of its sighting
were submitted to the study by Heather Taferner while it was visiting her bird-friendly backyard in
the Illawarra.
Lovin' Native Plants
Broad-leaved Hakea (Hakea dactyloides)
You can make our local Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos happy by planting this local hakea - they love eating
hakea seed-capsules. The Broad-leaved Hakea is a vigorously growing shrub that can reach 4 metres in
height. It’s suited to gardens here in Shellharbour on the flat coastal plain between the escarpment and the
sea and has creamy white flowers emerge in the spring.
To find out more about great local native plants to add to your garden, check out Council’s Grow Local
Illawarra Native Garden Guide
http://www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/FileData/PDF/GrowLocalIllawarraNativeGardenGuide.pdf
In the neighbourhood
August

Jeans for Genes Day(link is external) - 5th

International Day for World Indigenous Peoples(link is external) - 9th

International Youth Day(link is external) - 12th

National Science Week(link is external) - 13th to 21st

World Humanitarian Day(link is external) - 19th

Keep Australia Beautiful Week(link is external) - 22nd to 28th