Projects

The Boroondara Sustainability Network worked on the following priority projects during 2009.

Sustainable Living Open Home Scheme

Residents whose homes have been converted along Ecologically Sustainable Living (ESL) principles would offer open days and make available their experience and expertise to a broader public.. The scheme could take a similar approach to the established Open Garden Scheme, with a more or less formalised annual roster and leaflets promoting the scheme.

Sustainable Living and Design Award

Promote ESL principles and action through an annual award offers to residents who engage in best practice.

Community Gardens

We will enter into dialogue with Council and explore the possibility of creating at least two more community gardens in the City of Boroondara.

Urban Forest Project

In collaboration with Council’s Parks and Gardens Department the BSN will lobby for a pilot study exploring the benefits of increased canopy tree plantings on Boroondara’s public open spaces. 

Solar Panels Project

In collaboration with Council’s Environment and Sustainable Living Department, the BSN will promote and lobby the gradual introduction of PV for public street lighting on Council-own road networks, path lighting in Boroondara’s parks and gardens, and council owned buildings, such as pavilions and neighbourhood houses.

Boroondara Transition Towns

Support the Transition Town Boroondara initiative.  Transition Towns is an approach to getting small communities to work together to make sustainable solutions to problems. One member is training in this approach and would envisage tapping into the BSN to find communities in Boroondara that might trial it.

Boroondara Carbon Neutral Project

A study is underway for Boroondara Council to determine the costs and options for Boroondara to go "carbon neutral".  BSN members will provide input to Council on strategies and actions for this.

Spreading the message - half hour presentations for local groups.

Each person in BSN will have many groups to which they belong,(networks) (eg music, art, plants, animals, parks, church, charity, rotary, women, professional associations, political parties etc.) The climate crisis which is  a fundamental driver of sustainable living, impacts everyone, so even though many of these groups are about other things, people care about their community and their planet and will make time to hear - if someone offers, especially someone from their group. There is already a useful power-point tool and assistance with public speaking so members could be trained to give half hour presentations to their groups. (BSN to make a list of actual groups to which they might have entree through members.)
 

Garden visit program

Program of visits to people’s gardens to demonstrate how to transform to vegetable growing, use of native plants, and return of animals like skinks.
 

Riverbanks and railway reserves revegetation

Return riverbanks and railway reserves (old and current) to native vegetation and swamps, by collecting information on sites and making submissions to VEAC and Council.
 

Work with local golf clubs on sustainability

Work with local golf clubs on sustainability- water, grass, swamps, plants, animals,
and how to make additional use of these valuable resources of land.
 

Fruit and nut trees on nature strips

Look at possibility of planting fruit and nut trees on nature strips.
 

Self maintenance of the network

Setting up a process for handling the material between groups. Work out how to grow to the network.
 

Engage with Council

Engage Council on budget, planning and strategic issues.