Keeping waste from landfill

I am very pleased to say that our local Council is now looking at ways of improving our waste management at events! And also letting the community know how well we are doing.

The Council sponsers a number of large public events each year, such as the Natuzzi The Parade Food Wine and Music Festival, the Adelaide Fashion Festival, Magill Road Alive and St Peters Fair. These events generate waste, and the community should be able to have confidence that as much of that waste as possible is diverted from landfill.

I put forward a motion at the recent Council meeting on Monday 4th April 2011, asking that the Council Staff investigate how we can set targets and improve our outcomes at all our public events, in keeping with the Council's objective of reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill. The motion also asked that once the Council has decided on targets and strategy, the outcomes be published each year in the Annual Report, so that the community can see that the objective is being achieved.

The motion can be seen in the Council Minutes 4/4/11 

This is the first motion I have submitted to Council, and I am very happy to say that it passed easily, with several other Councillors speaking in support.

Sustainable waste management is a key issue for me - ultimately I would like to see less waste being generated in the first place, and all organic waste being composted and returned to soil, as locally as possible. NPSP Council is already working with Zero Waste SA to establish kerbside collection of organic waste. I will continue being active in finding ways that the Council can support residents and local businesses in following the Waste Management Hierarchy -  the most important element of the Hierarchy is AVOID producing waste! Followed of course by Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, Treat, Dispose.

Building Community - the One Planet Market

On Saturday 19th February, I attended the inaugural One Planet Market at the Payneham Community Centre. It was a great success! Very heartening to see so many people in the old hall, animated and engaged.
The market is presented by Sustainable Communities SA, and will be held on the 3rd Saturday morning of each month.
The aim of the market is "to encourage local production and local economy; and foster community relationships, resilience and self-reliance."

I brought along some peaches to exchange, and my clarinet to play a bit of background music. It was also a good opportunity to chat to local people. Other stalls included a toy swap, produce swap, morning tea cafe, natives plants, handmade cards, free-cycle second-hand books and LETS - Local Exchange Trading System.

See some great photos here on the Sustainable Communities website.

Well done everyone! 

How Green Are We?

I have been receiving emails from residents recently who are concerned about the waste management practices of the Council when it runs its flagship event, the Natuzzi The Parade Food Wine and Music Festival.

An event like this is an ideal opportunity for the Council to seek to improve its waste management practices. At an event where a large amount of waste is generated, residents want to know how much is being recycled and diverted from landfill, and what is being done each year to improve the outcome.

I have been following up this issue, and below I have posted a copy of the email I sent out to the concerned residents last week, Wednesday 10th February.

*****************

Good morning....

...At the Council meeting on 17th January, I raised the matter in "Other Business", as this was advised to me previously as the best opportunity to do so. I explained that I had received emails from a number of residents who were concerned that waste management practices of previous Parade Food Wine & Music Festivals were not very effective at diverting waste from landfill, as seen from the Veolia Report from the 2010 Festival. I said that residents wanted to know what would be done to improve this outcome for the upcoming 2011 Festival and future Festivals.

Lisa Mara (Manager, Governance and Civic Affairs) responded to my question, and explained that a number of improvements for waste management had been put in place for the 2011 Festival. She read these out, and I was satisfied that these did indeed represent an improvement.

I then asked if these improvements could be made available to the public prior to the 2011 Festival via the Council website. She replied that she would consider this.

I did not feel the need to move any motion at this point.

At the Council meeting on 7th February, I raised the matter in "Questions Without Notice". I said that I was still receiving emails from residents. I asked if the waste management improvements had been made available on the Council website, and if not, could that happen prior to the 2011 Festival, as our residents had an interest in seeing that this year's Festival would in fact be more effective in diverting waste from landfill than previous years.

Lisa Mara replied that although she would not make specific operations procedures public, she would make available the list of improvements to waste management for this year's Festival on the website.

These interchanges do not appear in the Council Minutes. As far as I am aware, only decisions which are made by the whole Council voting will be recorded in the Minutes. The Minutes do not record discussions.

I intend to continue following the matter of sustainable waste management. I would like the outcome of this year's Festival waste management practices to be made available to the public, so that there is full accountability and transparency from the Council and the public can see how effectively Council is managing this issue and how good the outcomes are, and therefore how we can continue to improve.

I would like to see the Norwood Payneham and St Peters Council demonstrating their genuine commitment to sustainability practice and design into the future. Environmental sustainability is one of the four Outcomes of the City's Vision as outlined in the CityPlan 2030 (See link for information on CityPlan 2030 http://www.npsp.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1707#objectives)

It is important and, I believe, appropriate for the City's residents to expect accountability and transparency regarding this Outcome.

Sustainable waste management goes well beyond the one-day annual event that is the Natuzzi The Parade Food Wine and Music Festival, but it is clear that this is a flagship event for the Council that provides an ideal opportunity to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to best practice in conserving resources and energy in the light of the environmental challenges that we face on a global and local scale.


Regards, 


Sophia MacRae

TDU Norwood Start

Here are some photos taken by Jeremy Miller from the Norwood Start of the 2011 Tour Down Under, on Friday 21st January.

Featuring the famous Mr Lance Armstrong, local star Jack Bobridge, a lot of colour, and a very big bicycle with the words "Norwood Payneham and St Peters" prominently displayed!

Speaking of displays, the Norwood Cycling Into History exhibition is now on in the Foyer of the Norwood Town Hall, featuring memorabilia on loan from Nino and David Solari. Open until Tuesday February 1st.

It was a great day. Well done to everyone involved in putting on such a big event with everything going smoothly and a huge happy vibe.

Photos of 2011 TDU Norwood Start, by Jeremy Miller.

Essential Edibles

I attended the Essential Edibles urban food swap on Sunday 5th December. Essential Edibles started up last September and takes place on the first Sunday of every month from 9am-11am at Joslin Reserve, between 3rd and 4th Avenues in Joslin.
You don't need to bring any produce to swap - just bring yourself and share what you can! In my case, I shared my music. Miriam and Andrew Yip from Environmental & Science Media were there filming the occasion, and Steven Marshall MP, who is a keen supporter of this community initiative, was also there chatting to folks.

Lots of good photos here on the Sustainable Communities SA website.

Public Talk

This is a reminder about my public talk this Wednesday 20th, 6pm-7pm at the Maylands Hotel.

I'll be talking about my experience up in Far North Queensland at the 10th Australasian Permaculture Convergence. Permaculture is a systems design method that is based on ecological principles, that started with agricultural applications in the 1970's in Tasmania, but is now practiced all over the world, and includes urban design applications that are very relevant to areas such as Norwood Payneham & St Peters.

No RSVP required, and the Maylands serves a good meal if you wish to stick around.

Hope to see some of you there.

BISA Community Ride for Adelaide's Future

Sunday 17th is the day of the inaugural BISA Community Ride for Adelaide's Future. The event is both a celebration of all that is good about riding a bike, and all that is good about our city, as well as an opportunity to meet local government candidates and bring the need for safer cycling infrastructure and policies to the attention of all levels of government.

When you use a bike, even for a short trip or a relaxing Sunday pastime, you are part of a system that is moving you around, increasing health, doesn't create pollution or cause damage to the road, and increases overall enjoyment of life. If you are able to use a bike, and feel safe and confident doing it, it is such a great feeling.

I have been part of the organising committee for this event, and I am very proud of my colleagues for all the work they have done in engaging both the general community, and council candidates from around Adelaide.

We may have some special guests there too.

Bring a picnic in your panniers or backpack. Hope to see you there.

Non parlo molto italiano, pero lo sto imparando!

Today, Wednesday 13th Oct, I attended the Festa Dell'Anziano at the Fogolar Furlan in Felixstow. This event for the Italian community's elderly was put on by the Co-ordinating Italian Committee (CIC Inc.)

This was an opportunity for me to meet some of the older people in our community, and to practice my italian!

A good number of people were recognised with a ceremony and gift for their volunteering contributions to the Italian community.

My running mate in this election, Teresa Dall'Acqua Leonardi, was present as a special guest, in recognition for all the work she does, in particular for the elderly. Local State and Federal MPs were also in attendence.

I enjoyed very much the opportunity to be at this event, sharing some delicious food and having my eyes and ears opened to the richness of our area's Italian heritage!

molto bene!

Mullet Youth Arts Festival

The Mullet Youth Arts Festival was wrapped up on Friday 8th October with the Gala Short Film Festival Screening - I did feel a bit special as I walked up the red carpet, and got greeted by a collection of glamorous girls who were obviously loving the showbiz play element of the night. I must hasten to add, I was not the only one being greeted so enthusiastically - everyone entering the Norwood Concert Hall was made to feel special.

About 24 short films were shown, all made by young local artists aged from 12-25 years, some of whom had attended the 4 day Mullet Short Film Boot Camp held at the Payneham Library.

The quality was outstanding.

I must say the same for the Visual Arts Exhibition which ran from Saturday 25th to Wednesday 29th September. I got to see it on the very last day as I came back from Queensland that morning. I loved it so much that I bought an artwork! I was lucky enough to meet the father of one of the artists, whose work had just been purchased by Norwood Payneham & St Peters Council for display. Needless to say, he was very proud!

The artwork I chose for myself, "Wonder in the Woods" by Katrina Ortega

I am very impressed by the creativity of young people in the area, and very pleased to see that the Council is giving them the opportunity to develop their talent and ideas with the input of professional artists. By supporting young artists now, they will give back a thousand-fold to the cultural vitality of our community.

Adelaide PARK(ing) Day

Friday 17th September was a great day for reclaiming a bit of public space and engaging with the community through art and fun. I took part in the inaugural Adelaide PARK(ing) Day with Bicycle Institute of South Australia's "Bicycle Workshop". BISA is hoping to open up the "Adelaide Community Bicycle Workshop" as soon as we can find a home... perhaps in the council area of Norwood Payneham & St Peters? On the day, we rented our space for $2.40 an hour outside the Law Courts on Gouger St.

BISA, through the ACBW, wants to make owning, using and maintaining a bicyle fun and easy, helping people to be able to work on their own bikes and meet up with other folks who love tinkering, designing, riding and hanging out.

The Adelaide PARK(ing) Day was organised on a volunteer basis by a group of young local architects and urban planners, based on the international movement started a few years back in San Francisco. From the Adelaide PARK(ing) Day website:

"PARK(ing) Day is all about:

• Calling attention to the importance of urban public spaces
• Rethinking the way we use our streets
• Creating diverse conversations about design and how we make sustainable cities

"PARK(ing) Day aims to cultivate your civic pride and invites you to consider the role you- the citizen- play in conceiving, building and improving your local urban environment" Rebar 2009

I had a great time being involved with this community event, and I would like to see more community events taking place in Norwood Paynehanm & St Peters, building on the vibrant festival tradition that we have.

Photos by Jeremy Miller