Earthcare
News
August 2000
I do what I can, where I
am
THE
ECOHOUSE PROJECT REPORT August 2000 By Jo Samuel-King
The Ecohouse project is
transforming an environment centre in the St. Kilda Botanical gardens into
a model sustainable building. This
building will provide education and inspiration to the wider community acting
as a seed for further change.
The
Ecohouse will:
Be a beautiful nourishing
environment
Supply its own energy and
be energy efficient
Collect all its own water
and transform its wastewater into a resource
Be transformed, using
non-toxic, local and recycled materials
Promote environmentally
sound living practices.
The Ecohouse working group has conducted
environmental audits of the building and developed a masterplan, outlining the
changes the project will involve. This masterplan was presented the mayor of
the City of Port Phillip as well as the local member, John Thwaites on World
Environment day.
Further
funding has been secured from the Reichstein foundation ($10,000) and Central
Equity ($5,000). The City of Port
Phillip has purchased solar panels for the project (value: $17,000) and
SolaHart has agreed to donate a Solar Hot water system to the project (value:
$3,200). Melbourne Water has recently
expressed interest in funding the project.
The
working group is currently in the process of negotiations with Council. It
plans in the next six to twelve months to go through a process of community
consultation, host an Open Day and Educational Working Bee, progress through
design development and planning applications and secure further funding for the
project. We plan for the actual
building works to occur mid 2001.
For
more information contact Josephine Ph 9534 5751 or email mjsk@vicnet.net .au
Planting at the
Canterbury Urban Forest
Saturday 19th
August
10am - 2pm
Meeting at Armstrong St
Please your own hat, gloves and sunscreen.
Lunch, tea and coffee and some tools will
be provided
Contact Jo-Anne for more details 9533 8707
Don't be late,
the last two plantings we finished early!
The Sustainable House Workshop
The Sustainable House
is a two day workshop designed to introduce participants to the potential
savings and feelings of empowerment which may come from adopting sustainable
energy practices in your home, be it rented or owned, an apartment or suburban
residence. This course investigates sustainability under four key headings:
Energy, Water, Waste,
Working towards an ecologically sustainable neighbourhood.
Your tutors...
Michael Mobbs was once
a Sydney solicitor, he set about converting his terrace house in inner Sydney
to be almost entirely self-sufficient. Michael has since written a book about
his experience and now works as a consultant to others. His topics will cover
an overview, water treatment options and dealing with builders, architects and
councils.
Alan Pears is an
engineer who knows lots of facts about energy consumption of household
appliances, lighting, heating and cooling systems. He will introduce participants to a home energy audit exercise.
Peter Zwack is a power
industry specialist who will give an industry overview and also assess results
of the home energy audit.
Bill Pemberton is
qualified in biotechnology and consults with urban clients on how to make their
houses more environmentally sensitive and energy efficient. His area of expertise is in composting and
recycling.
Tony Gardner is a
permaculture and garden consultant who will demonstrate the role of the garden in
a sustainable house.
Convener Neil Blake is
the coordinator of the EcoCentre and he will finish off the course with a dusk
tour to the St Kilda Breakwater Penguin colony – emphasizing the need to
preserve our neighbourhood ecology.
Course details
2 sessions Sunday 20 & 27 Aug 2000, 9.30am – 4.30pm
Code:
DGH06502
Fees:
$214.50 (includes GST) includes morning and afternoon
tea on both days.
BYO picnic lunch.
Venue: Port Phillip Ecocentre,
Botanical Gardens, St Kilda.
Registration: CAE 9652 0784
Whats On
17th August, Friends of Sandy Rail
meeting, Speaker Bruce Evans (Bayside Trains) 7.30pm The Ecocentre
17th August, Greening Aust. Training Day -
Identifying Characteristics of the Environment. 10am-4pm. Cost $15.
Contact Kate Stothers for details 9457 3024
19th August, Planting at Canterbury Rd,
10am-2pm Meeting at Armstrong St.
Contact Jo-Anne Ph 9533 8707
20th August, Planting Riddell Parade
Elsternwick, 10am contact Rob 9534 2599 for details
20th & 27th August,
Sustainable House Workshop, The EcoCentre see above for details
24th August, Ecocentre AGM. 6.30pm The
EcoCentre. Contact Emma 9209 6491
26th August, Greening Aust. Our Ancient
Soils - the Determining Factor. 9.30am-4pm. Lake Reserve, Lake
Grove (off Murray Rd), Coburg. Cost $15. contact Kate
Stothers 9457 3024
31st August, Earthcare meeting, Speaker
Michael Norris - Wildlife Conservation in The Bayside Area.
7.30pm at The Ecocentre
3rd September, Water Quality Testing at
12.30pm, Cowderoy Creek, West Beach, corner Pier Rd
and
Beaconsfield Parade.
3rd September, Penguin Research, 6.30pm St
Kilda Pier. Contact details Angela 9527 8334
9th September, Greening Aust. Landscaping
with Indigenous Plants. 9.30am-4pm 10 Buckingham
Drv
Heidelberg Cost $30 Lunch provided. Register with Kate Stothers by 7th
Sept. 9457 3024
13& 14th September< Greening Aust.
Environment Research Forum $200. Kate Stothers above
17th September, Friends of Sandy Rail,
Planting at Hotham Street Bridge at 10am. Contact Rob 9534 2599
28th September, Earthcare meeting, The
Federal Australian Democrats respond to Your concerns
Michael Norris , from Friends of Native Wildlife in Bayside
will speak on the topic of
-
Wild life
Conservation in Bayside -
at the next Earthcare meeting
31st August, 7.30pm
The Ecocentre
Corner of Blessington and Herbert St. St Kilda
HAVE YOUR SAY IN THE FUTURE OF THE
PORT PHILLIP ECOCENTRE.
COME TO THE INAUGURAL ANNUAL GENERAL
MEETING
WHEN: THURSDAY
24TH AUGUST 6.30PM
WHERE: Port Phillip
EcoCentre. 55A Blessington Street, St Kilda Vic 3182
The
Port Phillip EcoCentre is a Council and community partnership, a City of Port
Philip initiative that promotes and supports environmentally-friendly living.
The EcoCentre provides meeting space, office facilities, advice, grant
auspicing and opportunities for self-promotion and networking to individuals
and community groups. The EcoCentre also has a growing library and resource
centre covering a range of environment-related subjects, and an informative
website.
We
are seeking enthusiastic people to continue the vision and implementation of
the EcoCentre's goals and objectives by becoming members of the Management
Committee. You will have your own area of responsibility, and will report
progress and get direction and support from the Committee at the 2-hour monthly
meeting. You will work closely with the EcoCentre Coordinator.
Being
part of the EcoCentre Management Committee gives you opportunities to meet
like-minded people, have fun, broaden your skills-base with hands-on experience
and training, and make a difference.
The
various and interesting positions of President, Vice- President, Secretary,
Treasurer, Resource Centre Manager, Volunteer Co-Ordinator, Special Events
Co-ordinator, Community Gardens Officer and Ecohouse Project Representative are
all up for grabs. Interested?
TO NOMINATE FOR ANY OF THESE POSITIONS or IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE
INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT BY 22nd AUGUST:
EMMA HESS, THE ECOCENTRE COORDINATOR, (available Monday to Wednesday at the Port Phillip
EcoCentre, cnr. Herbert/Blessington Streets, St. Kilda) Ph: 9209 6491 or email:
EHess@portphillip.vic.gov.au
KAY MCKENZIE, (Acting President) Ph: 9534 5905 or email: kmckenzi@enternet.com.au
Situations Vacant
Babysitter
needed to attend Earthcare and
Earthcare Committee meetings. Must be able to look after more than one child.
Wages negotiable.
Publicity
Officer needed (unfortunately
unpaid, but responsible for a small budget) To be in charge of Earthcare
publicity. Duties include press releases and other profile raising activities.
Tempting? Call Alison Strachan, 9532 4138 or
another committee member.
|
|
Seirei (Dragonfly)
Seirei no Kai. Bulletin no.
20000624
(1)
Water
Purification Test Plant
(2)
Bamboo
Charcoal Making
(3)
Replanting
of Water Hyacinth
Collection of bamboo
– as a lot of rain falls during this time of the year, the bamboo
was heavy
The kilns reach
temperatures of approx. 300℃, with the roasting process taking close to
11hours.
Once the roasting process has finished the
bamboo is left to smolder for 3days, before being removed from the kilns.