Murrindindi Climate Network Inc. – Annual Report 2011
The Murrindindi Climate Network was formed and incorporated in early 2007 to address climate change related impacts at a local level and to provide the community and businesses with up-to date information on environmental technologies and services. Supported by a wide range of stakeholders, including individual residents and business owners, landcare & community groups, representatives of local authorities, DPI, DSE and the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, the Murrindindi Climate Network is able to draw on a large spectrum of professional expertise.
2007/08 – first year
· Setting up the organization, determining vision, objectives and activities, creating membership base of individual and corporate members, creating the part time position of a coordinator. Establishing a website, incorporation, fund raising
· Hosting a Federal Candidate Forum on Climate Change for the Ward of McEwen (federal elections) with results available as podcasts on the MCN website
· Logo competition involving school children from across the Shire and a panel of local artists
· First Murrindindi Sustainability Expo at Yea
· AGM 2008 of the first year with special focus on Food Miles and Local Food production.
2008/09 – second year
· “Changing the Dream Symposium” on sustainable life style choices and the underlying paradigm shift at the Acheron Mechanics Hall
· Two public candidate forums in the lead up to the Council Elections 2008 on climate change and general topics in Yea and Alexandra.
· Memorandum of Understanding with Murrindindi Shire Council (September 2008) to collaborate in promoting sustainable life style choices and actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
· Preparation in conduct of a new workshop series on “Climate Change, farming and natural resource management (NRM)”.
· “Sustainable House Day” held in Alexandra to present passive solar design principles and renewable energy technologies in use.
Since Black Saturday, 7 February 2009:
· In the wake of the bushfires in March development and implementation of a new “Sustainable Building workshop series” for the bushfire affected communities – Held at Marysville (9 May 09), Kinglake West (12 July 09), Taggerty (17 October 09) and Kinglake (13 March)
· AGM 2009 with focus on impacts of the bushfires on flora, fauna and biodiversity values.
2009/10 – third year
· Preparation and conduct of second Sustainability Expo held in Marysville
· “Managing your patch” workshop for landholders in bushfire affected areas
· Changing the Dream workshops
· Participation in film documentary by Vasili’s Garden Team on recovery from bushfires
· Preparation of grant application to EPA for joint project with the business and tourism associations of Yea and Marysville to develop a Voluntary Green Code of Practice and implement green business assessments.
· AGM 2010 with focus on Fair Trade
2010/11 – fourth year
· Treefarming and biodiversity workshop in January 2011 on a treefarm at Kanumbra, north of Yarck, focusing on the creating biolinks and the role of revegetation and agro-forestry for biodiversity. Presentations included Philippa Noble (DPI) explaining how plantations can assist some of our threatened species, Sacha Jellinek (Melbourne University) talking on his doctoral research looking at “Replanting: What landholders think but beetles and lizards show”, Kate Stothers (DSE) thinking about the need to find a new relationship with our land and how to make biodiversity work for us, and Cathy Olive (Euroa Arboretum and Upper Goulburn Landcare Network) discussing land management for steep hill country.
· The Community Garden project was a partnership between Murrindindi Climate Network Group, Murrindindi Shire Council, St John’s Anglican Church, Alexandra District Hospital, Berry Street and Rotary. Commencment of the on ground works began during Spring 2010 with significant community input including volunteers and donations/discounts from local businesses. The garden was established in autumn 2010, was oficailly opened on 15th April 2011, with plantings beginning in winter 2011. A grant secured through the Alexandra District Hospital allows for a series of 4 garden workshops to be conducted of which 2 have already been held. The ongoing management of the Community Garden is overseen by a Community Garden Collective (members of the community) on which Murrindindi Climate Network is represented.
· Special Event in May, on Climate Change – Science and Solutions, with Professor David Karoly (School of Earth Sciences, Melbourne University) talking on “What is needed to mimimise dangerous climate change” and Matthew Wright (Executive Director of Beyond Zero) talking on “Zero Carbon Australia – How to decarbonise and secure Australia’s climate and energy future”. Both speakers provided insight into the latest data on climate change and related impacts and talked about new exciting technical solutions available and currently tested overseas (e.g. in China and Spain), to make Australia 100% reliant on renewable sustainable forms of energy within 10 years without compromising our economy’s need for base-load power.
· The Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposiums continued this year focussing on sustainable life style choices and the underlying paradigm shift that is required to create an environmental sustainability, social justice and spiritual fulfillment on the planet. Participants are invited to consider in the face of the crisis what possibilities and opportunities they can create as individuals, in their communities or at a national or international level. Two examples of inspiration was the re-establishment of the Murrindindi Freecycle website – if you want or have something to give away a great way to clear out the shed or someone else’s! And secondly, the Community Harvest meet ‘n’ swap the first Saturday of every month, which is an opportunity to swap your excess fruit and vegetables, recipes, gardening tips and have a cup of tea.
· Start of EPA funded Voluntary Green Code of Practice program – pilot program for SME’s in the Yea and Marysville area with five training days held for the local Green Business Assessor Team through May and June 2011, covering energy efficiency and renewable energy, waste management, green procurement and non-toxic cleaning products and processes. The green business assessor team is currently conducting a series of test audits, including an audit for the Lake Mountain Alpine Resort. The green business assessor team aims at engaging with the business communities at several levels, by prarticipating and presenting at their events and by conducting audits for interested businesses living in the test areas of Marysville and district and Yea and district.
Selected Photos from recent MCN Activities
Sacha Jellinek presenting to his outdoor classroom on the benefit of different schemes of biodiversity plantings,
and Cathy Olive takes us for a show and tell walk about steep hill management
Climate Change Event, May 2011
Professor David Karoly speaking with members of the audience at the Alexandra Hall /
Professor Karoly and Matthew Wright taking questions from the floor
Community Harvest Meet ‘n’ Swap
Inspired by the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium, a group of local people coming together to swap their excess produce and have a cup of tea!Community Garden Program, 2010-11
Working Bee-Early days
A number of working bees throughout the year saw the transformation of a grassed lawn area into a productive garden. Layout, design, products, suppliers, delivery, assembly, coordination, project management, volunteers, cuttings, materials, grants, group collective, meetings all contributed to eight raised irrigated garden beds (16 plots). /
The planing of a lemon tree Friday 15th April 2011 was part of the offical opening of the Community Garden. Pictured are: Deputy Mayor Cr. John Walsh, Cindy McLeish MP State Member for Seymour and Project Coordinator George Evans.
Participant of the Cheviot Program, planting out one of the raised garden beds.
The Cheviot program supports socialisation and activities for the elderly and disabled through the Murrindindi Shire Council Community Services Department. / Reap what you sow. Enjoying the fruits of labour
How exciting to be able to grow and eat fresh produce!
Please feel free to look in on the Community Garden.
MCN Green Business Assessor Training,
May – June 2011
Right:
Peter McKernan, green business assessor and specialist in electrial engineering explains different types of lights and their physical properties / environmental suitability.
Below:
Green business assessor Ngaree Butterfield uses a luxometer to check the ambient light at a shopfront during a test audit.
Murrindindi Climate Network Inc. – AGM Program 2011
1.00 – 1.10 Arrival, Coffee/Tea, networking, signing up
1.10 – 1.15 Welcome to country, Introduction
1.15 – 1.20 Financial Status (Mary Hall)
1.20 – 1.35 Annual Report 2010/201 (Rita Seethaler, Sue McNair, Lee Coller)
1.35 – 1.50 Elections of office bearers (Doug Walter)
1.50 – 2.15 Coffee/Tea break
2.15 – 3.30 Presentation by Helen Tuton, horticulure and soil scientist
3.30 – 3.45 Questions to Helen Tuton from the floor
3.45 – 3.55 General discussion: Topics to address by MCN, upcoming events
3.55 – 4.00 Next steps and wrap up
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