Transition Town Boroondara film night 24 Nov 2009

Transition Town Boroondara is providing a a film night to be held at 7.30-9.30pm on Tue 24 November at the Hawthorn Bowling Club, 1 Wood Street, Hawthorn, Vic, 3122. Melway 2H, K6.

ESPG is an active and enthusiastic local group promoting sustainable living, with an emphasis on producing food locally, reducing energy use, and sharing.

ESPG meets once a month to discuss, share and learn about all aspects of sustainable living. Our meetings often feature a guest speaker or video on hot topics as diverse as organic food growing, food preservation, worm composting, bee-keeping in the suburbs, ethical investment, climate change, and more.

We tour members' gardens, which can include fruit trees, vegies, chooks, recycled materials, rain/greywater use, worm farms, or solar hot water systems; we share a meal, often of home-grown seasonal produce; and we share knowledge, ideas, books, garden equipment, seeds and seedlings.

Between meetings, members keep in touch via an on-line forum, group visits to plant nurseries and permaculture properties, and help each other in our gardens.

You can join the ESPG email group using the link below

• Eastern Suburbs Permaculture email group

Boroondara low carbon strategy open for consultation

Adam Hall, Michaela and Svenya provided a presentation on the proposed Boroondara Low Carbon Strategy. We provided some  feedback on this interesting and promising initiative. 

The policy is available via download from the Council's website at the link below.

• Have your say! Our Low Carbon Future Draft Strategy

You can also make a submission on the draft strategy; closing date is 

5pm on Friday 12 June, 2009

A public information session will be held from 7.15pm to 8.15pm on Tuesday 9 June 2009 in the Acacia Room at the Camberwell Municipal Offices.  You can book for the session from the above link.

Boroondara Environment Demonstration Centre

Peter Hardy from GHD consulting provided us with a presentation on and discussion of the proposed Boroondara Environment Demonstration Centre on 29 April 2009.   We provided Peter with feedback from our group. 

You can download a copy of the proposal and provide feedback on it from this link.

• Have your say! Eco Living Centre Key Findings and Recommendations Report Community Consultation

The closing date for feedback is 5pm on Friday 12 June, 2009

Council is also holding an information session where residents are invited to come along to find out more and provide feedback on the proposed centre.

The session will be held on from 6pm to 7pm on Tuesday 9 June 2009 in the Acacia Room at the Camberwell Municipal Offices. You can  register for this session using the above link.

Boroondara Sustainability NetworkBoroondara Sustainability Network 29 April 2009

Wednesday 29 April 2009

Peter Hardy from GHD consulting provided us with a presentation on and discussion of the proposed Boroondara Environment Demonstration Centre.  We provided Peter with feedback from our group.

Venue: Blackwood Room, Municipal Precinct, Inglesby Rd., Camberwell

Boroondara Sustainability Network meetring 21 Jan 2009

Minutes of January 2009 Meeting

The first meeting of 2009 was held on 21 January , 6-9pm; Fountainview Room; Municipal Offices City of Boroondara, Camberwell.

In attendance: Ray Walford (RW), Liz Burton (LB), Ken Coghill (KC), Julia Thornton (JT), Graham Ellis (GE), Velda Ellis (VE), Razia Ross (RR), Caroly Ingvarsons (CI), Peter Campbell (PC), Torrey Orton (TO, facilitator), Heinz Kreutz (HK)
Apologies: Tony Hodgson (TH), Roslyn Kelleher (RK), Anna Mezetti (AM), Karen Tillman (KT), Bob Stensholt (BS)

The meeting concentrated on drafting an finalising the
a)    mission/vision of the BSN
b)    structure/function of the BSN
c)    a list of achievable projects for the short- and mid-term future.

Draft versions of a) –c) were the subject of several email exchanges between group members and have been posted on the BSN website at www.sustainableboroondara.org. Please see PC’s emails Fri/Sat 23/24 January about how to access the member’s area and add/edit texts.

Action:         Members to check and agree on final version by Wednesday 28 Januar

Following a broad discussion about the BSN’s purpose, function, potential scope, mission etc., there was unanimous agreement at BSN should be formally established and a motion to that effect was passed (Moved KV, seconded PC). In addition, there was consent that RW, LB, HK, KC, JT, GE, VE, RR, CI, RK, TH were to be recorded as the founding members of the BSN. It was also agreed that the BSN should become incorporated. While admin and organisational matters are to be kept as simple as possible, incorporation has a number of practical advantages which ought to be pursued (e.g. community grant applications, donations).
Action:         HK to write draft constitution. (n.b.: first version circulated to several group  members on Sat 24 Jan; feedback to be incorporated by Wed 28n Jan.)

In view of the fact that under Victorian legislation an association, in order to become incorporated, must hold a meeting of which all members are given notice at least 21 days notice, it is proposed that a notice be sent out by no later than 4 Feb 2009 to all BSN member. This will achieve the 21-day notice requirement for the next scheduled meeting on 25 February.

Action:        HK to finalise constitution and distribute agenda February a minimum of 21 days prior to the next scheduled BSN meeting on 25  Feb 2009.

BSN membership, advertising and recruitment were also raised. It was agreed that the Sustainable Living Festival (20-22 Feb 2009) would provide a good opportunity to promote the BSN. It is also proposed to contact local media (Progress Leader) to advertise the BSN.

Action: HK to organise BSN presence at the SLF (further info re SLF see below.). HK and others to draft media release after incorporation on 25 February 2009 and get in touch with local journalist.

Sustainable Living Festival:
The BSN has been successful in registering a table at the forthcoming SLF and will be located in the same marquis as the CEN and the BZE group.
Action:HK to complete and return stage-2 documentation (‘exhibitor questionnaire’) required by the SLF organisers by 30 January 2009.
HK and others to communicate to existing Boroondara CAGs and community based environment action groups (EAGs) the option of making available promotion material at the SLF.

Climate Summit:
HK will be attending Australia’s Climate Action Summit in Canberra (ACAS) 31 Jan – 3 Feb 2009. Other Boroondara groups and individuals will also be attending (e.g. Families facing Climate Change) and have contributed, either directly or indirectly (e.g. via CEN) to the ACAS’ draft policy position paper on climate change.
Action:        HK to circulate ACAS’ policy position paper (draft 2) and pre-poll from to BSN members and seek feedback on the paper by Thu 20 Feb a.m.