LIVE GREEN NEWS HUME CITY COUNCIL - Winter 2020
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HUME CITY COUNCIL LIVE GREEN NEWS Hume’s Sustainability Newsletter Winter 2020 hume.vic.gov.au/livegreen
Hume cuts greenhouse emissions
with renewable energy
Hume City Council is well on the way to sourcing 100 per cent of its electricity needs from
renewable energy.
Council buildings and street lights will transition to The largest of these agreements is a 10-year Power
renewable sources of electricity by 1 July 2021, avoiding Purchase Agreement with Alinta Energy. Alinta Energy
more than 17,500 tonnes (carbon dioxide equivalent) of will initially be sourcing renewable energy from the Bald
greenhouse gas emissions per year. Hills wind farm south of Leongatha.
This is an important move as part of our commitment to Entering into a long-term agreement gives Council
climate change action and reduction of greenhouse gases a secure supply of more affordable electricity from
within our operations. Victorian renewable energy generation and supports
Victoria’s growing renewable energy industry.
Under new electricity supply agreements, smaller Council
buildings and street lights will switch to 100 per cent GreenPower is a government-managed scheme that
GreenPower-accredited renewable energy on 1 July 2020, enables Australian households and businesses to displace
while larger buildings including our leisure centres and their electricity usage with certified renewable energy,
Hume Global Learning Centres will switch on 1 July 2021. which is added to the grid on their behalf.
Avoiding emissions through the purchase of renewable Hume residents and businesses can switch to renewable
energy is a significant environmental contribution, energy by choosing to buy GreenPower, available through
equivalent to removing 4,375 average Australian cars most electricity retailers.
from the road per year.
For more information visit greenpower.gov.au.
Let’s Stay Connected Fund
The Victorian Government is helping communities to stay connected during the
COVID-19 pandemic and beyond with the Let’s Stay Connected Fund.
The fund provides grants between $5,000 and $200,000 to support community-led initiatives that build connection,
reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation and can be implemented quickly – providing much-needed support across
the state. It will also support existing initiatives that can be rapidly scaled up to a local, regional or state level –
delivering innovative and practical solutions that will benefit communities as soon as possible.
Victoria Together, an online platform to help build cohesion and connection, will also be made available to host
digital content as appropriate.
Initiatives could include helping community groups continue to operate by adapting the way they deliver programs
or events, through online forums or to improve digital skills to provide new ways for people to continue volunteering
within their communities while maintaining physical distancing requirements.
For more information and applications visit djpr.vic.gov.au and search Let’s Stay Connected Fund.
2 LIVE GREEN Hume City Council
Are you getting your nature therapy?
During this time of uncertainty, one of the most important
things we can all do is to look after our mental health
and wellbeing. Connecting with nature is a rewarding and
beneficial way to do this and is now sometimes known as
nature therapy or ecotherapy.
You’re no doubt doing it already to some extent but may not have recognised
Sustainable face
the new label! Nature therapy enables you to unwind, feel more grounded masks
and explore your relationship with nature. Research indicates that having
interactions with nature can be beneficial, leading to improvements in The Victorian Government has
your mood, cognition, and health (see Frontiers in Psychology article - The advised that the use of face
relationship between nature connectedness and happiness: a meta-analysis masks when outside of the home
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4157607). is compulsory until further notice.
Nature therapy activities include: While disposable masks are the only
■■ Gardening – there’s been a ■■ Bird Watching – do you have a option for healthcare workers and medical
gardening renaissance during copy of Birds of Hume? Visit a local professionals, reusable cloth masks are a
the pandemic as people have or regional park to see how many sustainable alternative for day-to-day wear
more time at home and value the birds you can identify. Or spend and are proven to be effective in reducing
opportunity to get outside. If you five minutes with your eyes closed the transmission of COVID-19 when used
haven’t tackled the garden yet and listen to the sound of the correctly. Repurpose fabric from clothes you
it’s not too late – start small with birds. Birds of Hume is available no longer wear for your sustainable mask.
some pot plants near a doorway, on the Council website or call
It is recommended that three layers of fabric
weeding one area or preparing a 9205 2200 for a hard copy.
are used: an outer layer of water-resistant
small vegie plot and see if it grows ■■ Animals – go for a walk with fabric such as used in exercise clothing or
from there! your dog or spend quality time shopping bags, a middle layer of a blend
■■ Exercise – notice how walking, with your pets. Spending time such as polyester/cotton, and an inner layer
jogging or cycling, in your local with animals can reduce stress and of a water-absorbing fabric such as cotton.
or regional park can be more change your mood positively. Follow these easy steps:
rejuvenating than the same ■■ Meditation – spend some time
exercise through the streets. If you observing, learning and being in 1. Cut
are exercising in the streets look touch with nature. If you have a
out for gardens and bird life you yoga or meditation practice, try it
can still enjoy! outdoors.
2. Fold and stitch 3. Fold and stitch
4. Thread and tie 5. Wear and be
elastic or laces safe!
Hume City Council LIVE GREEN 3National Schools Tree Day
National Tree Day is Australia’s biggest community tree-planting and nature care event.
It is an opportunity to recognise the hard work of communities around Australia and
celebrate their ongoing commitment to the environment.
Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, Hume’s National Another eight primary schools in Hume are participating in
Tree Day activities have been cancelled this year. However, a special Schools for Nature project, where they are being
schools around the country acknowledged Schools National supported by Council to plant wildlife habitat gardens. With
Tree Day on Friday 31 July, and we hope our readers found Caring for Our Local Environment funding from the state
a way to spend some time in nature or plant a new tree in government’s Department of Environment, Land, Water and
your garden. Planning, Council has been able to provide $1,500 grants to
each of the schools, along with $500 worth of seedlings.
Council has an annual Seedlings for Schools program,
which donates indigenous seedlings to primary schools and Each of the 1,425 students involved in the project will receive
secondary colleges in Hume. Since the program began in three butterfly attracting wildflowers to plant at home,
2013, schools have received over 25,000 seedlings, with along with copies of the Birds of Hume and Fauna of Hume
more than 80 per cent of the schools in Hume involved. field guides. The schools will also be able to contribute to
19 schools applied in the latest round, with 3,780 seedlings Schools National Tree Day efforts with 350 seedlings to
donated in total. Schools choose to do a planting either be planted at each school, with on-ground support from
in May or for Schools National Tree Day, which 14 schools Council staff. Long term, the students will get involved in
have opted to do with their students. citizen science to monitor their garden and its wildlife.
4 LIVE GREEN Hume City CouncilInterpreting your
energy bill
Need an interpreter to
help with your energy
consumption?
To help customers in Melbourne’s
North, Jemena have created
information sheets and audio files in
Left: Liz Turner from Hume’s Sustainable Environment Department running an online
the following languages .
webinar from the Cooper Street Grasslands, Merri Creek on World Environment Day*. ■■ Arabic ■■ Punjabi
Right: Sanjay Bose interviewing fauna expert Caitlin Potts from Biosis*.
■■ Greek ■■ Turkish
■■ Italian
Celebrating World Environment Day Visit jemena.com.au/help-and-
On Friday 5 June Hume celebrated World Environment Day with advice/covid-19/jgn-covid-19-
an online workshop for the Teachers’ Environment Network and information-in-other-languages
for more information.
others: Fantastic Fauna And Where To Find Them.
Fauna expert Caitlin Potts from Biosis provided a fabulous presentation, acknowledging
increased fauna sightings during the COVID-19 period, with less human activity, less
traffic and less pollution. Caitlin drew attention to Citizen Science apps, such as Aussie
Bird Count, Frog Census, Frog ID and Questagame. These apps are a great way to
capture information about our native wildlife.
Join Council’s Environment Advisory Committee
Hume’s Sustainability Taskforce is made up of community members who volunteer their time
to advise Council on environmental issues facing the municipality.
If you are interested in helping influence Council’s environmental policies and programs, and can attend six meetings
per year, we’d love you to express interest. Members bring experience from different cultural backgrounds and from
many walks of life including teaching, business, science, advocacy, planning and Aboriginal land management.
Send an email to environment@hume.vic.gov.au for more information.
Pictured: Hume’s Sustainability Taskforce in 2019*.
* Images taken prior to stage 4 restrictions.
Hume City Council LIVE GREEN 5It’s book
Virtual tour of the Sunbury rings review time!
As a part of Reconciliation Week celebrations, Hume City The Burning Case for
a Green New Deal
Council hosted an online tour of the Sunbury Rings Cultural
by Naomi Klein
Landscape with Uncle Bill Nicholson Jr, Cultural Education Author of the New York
Manager with the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung. Times bestseller,
This Changes Everything
This event was streamed live to the Hume Environmental Champions Facebook
page and viewed by over 130 people. Naomi Klein is an author
who for many years has been
Uncle Bill performed a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, before
documenting the transition of
outlining some of the history and formation of the Rings. There are five of these
the world’s climate crisis, from
Earth Rings in Sunbury. Three are located near Jacksons Creek and have been
our future threats to our burning
included on the Register of the National Estate.
emergencies.
It is estimated that the rings are around 1000 years old and were created by
Naomi was among the first
continual scraping back of earth and grass from the circles centre. The Wurundjeri
to make the case for what is
now own the freehold land title to the Sunbury Rings Cultural Landscape.
called the Green New Deal –
Uncle Bill described how the Rings were probably used in cultural ceremonies and the proposal to convert our
shared stories and knowledge about artefacts, language, culture and song lines. economies to fight climate
breakdown and uncontrolled
For more info, visit wurundjeri.com.au/services/natural-resource-management/
inequality at the same time.
management-of-wurundjeri-properties-significant-places
Naomi argues that in times of
rising seas and rising hate, only
courageous action has a chance
of stimulating humanity to fight
for life on earth. Naomi views
the global climate crisis as a
philosophical political test and
as a creative one.
This is a strong cry for
transformation, recognising that
we can rise to the challenge of
change, but only if we are willing
to change the systems we have in
place that have been producing
this climate crisis.
Clockwise from left: Joe, Liz, Sanjay and Uncle Bill, ceremonial fire,
stone tools found in Sunbury, one of several Sunbury rings.*
6 LIVE GREEN Hume City CouncilReducing food waste at
home
While we’re all spending more time at home,
you may notice your bins filling up more
quickly than they usually would! Food waste
still makes up a significant portion of Hume’s
overall waste to landfill.
Above: Vanessa, Kayla and Jo greening it up Youth Central*. There’s now a plethora of online blogs, apps and
websites with advice on innovative ways to reduce your
Planting at youth centres food waste.
Tips for reducing food waste at home include:
The courtyard at Youth Central Broadmeadows
■■ Have a weekly leftovers night where you make a new
has been brought back to life with some dish using leftovers
attention from Hume staff.
■■ Plan your meals and buy only what you need
Jo, Vanessa and Kayla have planted succulents and a variety ■■ Create compost and start a garden bed
of other plants in several wicking beds. Jo has also done some
■■ Purchase a Green Waste bin for kerbside collection
extra planting next to Craigieburn Youth Centre. We can’t wait
to see how the wicking beds are going to look in a few months! of lawn clippings and organic waste
See hume.vic.gov.au/waste for further information.
What is a wicking bed? A wicking bed is a large ‘self-watering
pot’ that is designed to draw water up from a reservoir below
directly to the roots of the plant.
Wicking beds have both environmental and horticultural
benefits. They are a great way to provide consistent water
to your plants while being water efficient. You don’t have to
water as frequently so you can be confidant that your vegies
will survive if you’re away from home for a week or more. And
consistently moist soil can result in higher crop yields.
DIY project: If you’re interested in making your own wicking
bed check out our online Fact Sheet: Build a Wicking Garden
Bed. This can be a fun project for you and your family to do
together. For this and other gardening information visit
hume.vic.gov.au/livegreenfactsheets.
Integrated Water Management Plan 2020-2025
Hume’s Integrated Water Management Plan 2020-2025, adopted in March 2020, outlines
Council’s approach to key and emerging issues in the water industry and beyond.
Integrated Water Management is a collaborative approach to planning and managing all elements of the water cycle to
deliver social and environmental outcomes. Key actions of the plan include:
■■ increasing the use of non-drinking water for the irrigation of sports grounds to at least 65 per cent by 2030
■■ investigating and implementing stormwater harvesting schemes for watering open space and sports facilities
■■ trialling passive irrigation of street trees to determine the effectiveness on stormwater treatment, urban cooling and
tree health and maintenance implications
■■ working in partnership with other organisations to ensure that new developments are waterwise and to protect the
health of Hume’s waterways.
* Images taken prior to stage 4 restrictions.
Hume City Council LIVE GREEN 7Hume City Council Grants
All year round community grants Conserving our Rural Environment grants
Hume City Council offers four grant categories open for Council offers incentive schemes to support rural
applications all year round (or until funds are exhausted). landowners improve our rural land and conserve the
Categories include: natural environment on private rural property. Small
grants online applications open 1 July 2020.
■■ Individual Development Grant
■■ Quick Response Grant Educational Scholarships Fund
■■ 3064 Community Support Fund Grants
This fund supports families who have children starting
■■ Defibrillator Grant. secondary school. Educational scholarships help with
education and provides cost assistance for those young
Sports Aid Grants
people starting secondary school.
Council recognises the financial sacrifice involved with
competing at an elite athlete level and has allocated funds Environmental Scholarships
to help local athletes pursue their there dream on the
These scholarships support those who live, work and
sporting field. The Funding pool is now open.
volunteer in the Hume community to create positive
environmental change by providing financial assistance
toward environmental education.
For further information on Hume City Council grants visit
hume.vic.gov.au/grantsandawards
Energy Simplified
Now more than ever, we all rely on energy to run our homes and keep them comfortable.
Energy Simplified is an award-winning program helping people to understand and take
control of their energy bills.
Taking the complexity out of energy
Book in for this FREE webinar and gain:
■■ insights into the four effective steps that you can take to reduce the cost of your bill
■■ information on the support that’s available to you if you have trouble paying your bill
■■ answers to your questions with a live Q and A at the end of the webinar.
For dates, times, and to register visit:
events.humanitix.com/take-control-of-your-energy-bill-webinars
For more energy information materials visit:
energyinfohub.org.au
Hume City Council recognises the rich Aboriginal heritage within the municipality and acknowledges the Gunung Willam Balluk of the Wurundjeri
as the Traditional Custodians of this land.
ouncil embraces Aboriginal living culture as a vital part of Australia’s identity and recognises, celebrates and pays respect to the existing family
C
members of the Gunung-Willam-Balluk and to Elders past and present.
To help save paper, let us know if you would like to receive Live Green
News by email only. Feedback and contributions are welcome and can
be emailed to environment@hume.vic.gov.au or call 9205 2200.
hume.vic.gov.au/livegreen
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