May 2013 Fawkner Food swap and news

Gourmet basil and bags of persimmons at May Food Swap

Gourmet basil and bags of persimmons at May Food Swap

As autmun leaves change colour, and temperatures start to drop for winter, come and join our merry band at the Sustainable Fawkner food swap. Saturday is forecast to be a fine day, so take a walk or ride a bike to see us at the Fawkner Community House, just behind the Fawkner Leisure Centre.

We set up on Saturday at 10.30am at Fawkner Community House with excess produce from our gardens to share.

Update: Lots of garden produce, lots of people, lots of friendly chatter. See below for images and details.
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Money for East west link, but no cash for surfacing Merlynston Station carpark

Merlynston Station (Photo: Wiki Commons)

Merlynston Station (Photo: Wiki Commons)

The State Government has just handed down it’s 2013 budget. As expected, there is little for public transport, or meeting it’s own environmental election promises. Instead we see more support for brown coal which contributes to climate change, and to major road projects like initial funding for the east west link which will result in a public-private partnership and a privately managed tollroad which you and I will pay to travel on. The Metro rail tunnel and other badly needed rail network extensions have been effectively shelved by the current Government.

It hurts even more when the State Government ignores basic maintenaince and simple upgrades which benefit public transport commuters. Melbourne’s inner middle northern suburbs residents are calling out for existing station car parks to be resurfaced, at the cost of several thousand dollars, to avoid injuries such as broken ankles sustained from potholes in the gravel carpark surface.
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Funding urged for Upfield Bikepath extension to Western Ring Road

City skyline view over Wetlands & drainage basin where Upfield Bikepath meets the Western Ring Road

City skyline view over Wetlands & drainage basin where Upfield Bikepath meets the Western Ring Road

Extending the Upfield bikepath from Box Forest Road near Gowrie station to the Western Ring Road is a major missing link in Melbourne’s offroad shared bike path network. Christine Campbell (@CCampbellMP), State Labor MP for Pascoe Vale raised the following Notice of Motion in Parliament on 18 April 2013 urging the State Government to kick in funding to complete this major bikepath missing link in Moreland’s north.
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Local MPs agitate for Rezoning Moreland’s north for public transport fare zone 1

Upfield train approaching Gowrie StationBoth local state MPs, Christine Campbell representing Pascoe Vale and Bronwyn Halfpenny representing Thomastown (which includes Fawkner), have moved motions this year in State Parliament to rezone Moreland’s northern suburbs to be entirely within public transport zone 1. This is a particular inconsistency which often affects local residents on short public transport trips in the north of the municipality.
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Cut the $10billion fossil fuel subsidies

Climate Action Moreland stall

Climate Action Moreland stall

Climate Action Moreland will be outside the Mechanics Institute on Sydney Road in Brunswick canvassing for reduced fossil fuel subsidies and asking what you would like this money spent on. If your in the area, call in and have a chat.
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Moreland Community Conversation: Our Changing Planet

With the current extreme heatwave a lot of people are talking about climate change and what we can do to adapt to a changing climate and how we can act to prevent greater impacts of global warming in the future. Even President Obama is saying action on climate change needs to escalate to provide a future for our children.

On the 100th anniversary of the installation of the first electric light in what is now Moreland, we can reflect on how we can work collectively for a sustainable future. The session includes guest speakers Anna Rose, founder of Australian Youth Climate Coalition and Sam Scholten, a high school student about the power of the people in combating climate change.

Tuesday 5 February, 6 – 9 pm
Fawkner Senior Citizens Centre, Jukes Road, Fawkner

This event is one of a series for a Community Plan for Moreland – a place for the future.

Watch Anna Rose being interviewed on Network 10 in December 2012:

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Moreland Community Conversation: Live, play and work in the future

Moreland Council has started planning for the next 12 years and have launched a series of themed Community Conversations. The first will be held in Glenroy and is called ‘Live, play and work in the future.’

Council ask us to envision what life might be like in 12 years time.

“With only so much space, how can we ensure that we meet the needs and desires of a growing community? Hear from place-making professionals enlocus, how public input is so important to making community spaces, well used and most interesting.”

Tuesday 29 January, 6 – 9 pm
Glenroy Senior Citizens Centre, Cromwell Street, Glenroy

This event is one of a series for a Community Plan for Moreland – a place for the future.

More information from Moreland Council website

RSVP by emailing communityplan@moreland.vic.gov.au or by ringing Jacinta DaSilva on 9240 2372. Please tell us the date(s) of the community conversation(s) you will be attending and if you will be bringing children, have any special needs including an interpreter. We’d appreciate a phone number or email in case we have any questions that would make it easier for you to participate.

Merri Creek Bird Survey November

bird of prey over Bababi Djinanang (Jukes Rd Grasslands)

A bird of prey over Bababi Djinanang (Jukes Rd Grasslands)

Fancy yourself a budding scientist? Or just enjoy a walk along Merri Creek parklands identifying the numerous bird species that live or frequent the area?

The November Merri Creek Bird Survey, the 4th survey for the year, will take place next Sunday 11 November, 8.45-10.30am. The survey is undertaken at several locations up and down Merri Creek, and at Lake Edwardes including at Bababi Djinanang (Jukes Road grasslands), Fawkner.

Come along. No need to book. Just turn up at 8.45am. Bring binoculars if you have them, a sunhat and closed-in shoes. Leave dogs at home.
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Moreland Council gets a shakeup in 2012 election results

Congratulations to the successful candidates elected to Moreland Council from North East Ward: Micheal Teti (ALP member), Lenka Thompson (Greens), Rob Thompson (Liberal Party Independent), and Sue Bolton (Socialist Alliance). They reflect the diversity of our community and will represent us in the (hopefully) good governance of our local city council.

Significantly, three of these candidates – Sue Bolton, Lenka Thompson and Rob Thompson – responded to a questionnaire on sustainability and environmental issues sent to candidates by Sustainable Fawkner. I phoned to chase up a response from Michael Teti and left a message. He returned my phone call, but did not submit any written response to the survey.

Several hundred people visited this article prior to the election and I have no doubt the information on the page helped people decide who to vote for to represent them on council. I can’t understand candidates not wanting to respond to such a survey by a local community group to outline their positions to electors.

ALP members Stella Kariofyllidis and Anthony Helou, who have represented north east ward on successive terms were unsuccessful.
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Fawkner Festa fun for 2012

Fawkner Festa

Head onto the streets and community centres of Fawkner this week to help celebrate the Fawkner Festa. The festival is organised by Moreland City Council to bring arts and culture and entertainment to the streets.

The festival runs from Monday 29 October and culminates with the Festa on Bonwick street next Saturday 3 November from 11.30am to 2.30pm.

Events of particular note include:

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