Category Archives: news

Fawkner Leisure Centre saving energy, reducing carbon footprint

A new video by the Climate Commission features Moreland Council taking action on energy consumption and climate change resulting in reduced carbon emissions and substantial dollar savings for ratepayers.

In the video produced by the Climate Commission Stuart Nesbitt, the Climate Change Technical officer with Moreland council, explains in particular how putting in place energy efficiencies and optimisation has resulted in a better managed aquatic centre that reduces it’s energy consumption and carbon footprint while saving taxpayers money.

Continue reading

Moreland Residents urge Replacing Hazelwood with clean energy

Kelvin Thomson MP receiving the signed letter

Local Moreland residents presented a signed letter to Federal MP Kelvin Thomson urging the Federal Government to conclude negotiations to replace Hazelwood coal fired power station with clean energy. I attended from Sustainable Fawkner and photographed the event.

Read the report by John Englart published in Moreland Leader User contributed news section:
Continue reading

No extension of Zone 1 to Gowrie Station in Baillieu 2012 budget

Time for Gowrie Station to become Zone 1

Upfield train approaching Gowrie Station

Gowrie Station remains as a zone 2 station after the State budget was handed down on May 1. Local residents of Fawkner and Hadfield have been pressing for Gowrie Station to be changed to Zone 1 status in a campaign over the last year.

In January Bronwyn Halfpenny, the local State member for Thomastown who represents Fawkner in State parliament, called on Transport Minister Mr Terry Mulder to tell Fawkner residents why “they must pay zone 2 public transport fares from a rail station that should clearly be in zone 1”. She explained in a news article in January 2012 in the Moreland Leader that Gowrie’s zoning is an anomaly and an inequity to local residents.
Continue reading

Thumbs up to new bikepath through Charles Mutton Reserve

Bill Cawte, Cycling activist and regular commuter through Fawkner gave his thumbs up to a new bikepath constructed by Moreland City Council through Charles Mutton Reserve. The previous informal path was likened to a hippopotamus wallow according to Bill Cawte’s tweet on April 18, 2012 (see below).

Continue reading

Earth Hour 2012 in Fawkner

Break out the candles for Earth hour 2012

Break out the candles for Earth hour 2012

Earth Hour 2012 has grown from one city – Sydney – in 2007 to a 5,251 city strong global movement, last year reaching 1.8 billion people in 135 countries across all seven continents.

And it is here in Fawkner in 2012:
When: Sat 31 March, 8.30pm – 9.30pm
Where: Your place, or why not bring a candle and meet your neighbours in CB Smith Reserve outside the Leisure Centre and enjoy a (hopefully) starry night for an hour.

Hundreds of millions of people around the world across borders of race, religion, culture, geography and society will unite in a single moment of contemplation for the planet and celebration of their year-round commitment to protect it. Register your support on the Earthhour Australia website or just do it and switch off your lights for an hour and think of ways you can continue to reduce energy, and become more sustainable.

Continue reading

Victorians want Baillieu Government to act on climate change, clean energy

Most Victorians want less coal-fired power, and more renewable energy

Most Victorians want more action on climate change and renewable energy from the Baillieu State Government according to a new public opinion survey commissioned by Environment Victoria.

The survey was conducted in late December 2011 and early January 2012 involving a series of questions to over 1000 people in Victoria conducted by Essential Media, a professional market survey company. The primary results show that 76 percent of Victorians expect the State Government to take action to reduce greenhouse pollution rather than leaving tackling climate change to the federal sphere of politics. There is also massive support for the implementation of renewable energy and energy efficiency programs, and just 22 per cent believe the 2km wind farm veto is fair.
Continue reading

Moving Planet – 350 day

Anyone care to join us at 11.45am this Saturday at the Merri Creek Path at the end of Jukes Road, to cycle down to Ceres to join the ride to Docklands and the Moving Planet event? The more the merrier.
John
============
I’m from Climate Action Moreland, and we’re part of a ride for 350 day which is this Saturday 24 September 2011. 350 day is a global day of action that calls for bringing the CO2 in the atmosphere down to a safe level: 350 ppm, and this year the theme is ‘Moving Planet’.

Hopefully you’re members already know about it, but CAM and some other Moreland environment groups are meeting at CERES at 12.30pm on Saturday, and then meeting up with Darebin Climate Action Now for a ride to the Docklands, where we are making a huge human sign in the shape of a bike.

Not only are bikes great low emissions transport (which you know) but the theme of the day is ‘Moving Planet’ we need to get moving to a safe climate, and what better vehicle to take us there but a bike?

It would be great if you could circulate this to your members. More details are available at http://climateactionmoreland.org/, or http://www.moving-planet.org/events/au/melbourne/337.

Hope to see you there,

Ellen Roberts
Co-convenor
Climate Action Moreland

Fruit show and tell in Fawkner – News

From the Moreland Leader, 21 July 2010

THE appearance of an exotic apple aroused the curiosity of the new Fawkner-based food swap group this month.

The group meets monthly to swap home-grown produce including fruit and vegetables, eggs and jams, at CB Smith Reserve in Jukes Rd.

Launched in June, Fawkner Community House’s Sustainable Fawkner project is designed to encourage local response to climate change and build connections between local gardeners.

Manager Meredith Lawrence said about 15 people braved rain and wind to share the community spirit at this month’s swap on July 12.

“Everyone put everything on the table, and people stood around chatting and having cups of tea,” Ms Lawrence said of the convivial atmosphere at the swaps.

“There was quite a big variety of produce: there was grapefruit, lemons, cabbage, broccoli, eggs, silverbeet. I was a bit surprised by some of the things, like the yacon (a Peruvian ground apple favoured by permaculturists).

“It looked a bit like a horseradish, or a dark thin carrot. Other than the woman who brought them. no-one had ever seen it before, people were asking lots of questions.”

The group meets every second Saturday. New members welcome. Details: 9357 4631.

Sustainable Fawkner on Environmentality

Brian Bainbridge and Judd Bovell from Sustainable Fawkner appeared on North West FM 98.9 Environmentality show . The show was aired Wednesday 9 June 2010 at midday.

Read about their appearance on the show, and even have a listen to the podcast.