EcoUpdate: October 2022

Dear members, friends and supporters,

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who took part in our Sustainable Futures Festival held last month. Too many to mention here – but you are all still featured on our festival page.

To the stallholders, speakers, musicians and dancers – you created a wonderful atmosphere and we appreciate the personal time and effort you all put in to help us bring sustainability to Port Stephens.

To our sponsors, including the venue St Philip’s Christian College – thank you for putting your trust in EcoNetwork to deliver this event, we could not have done it without your support.

To our volunteers, those through the planning stages and all those with sore feet on festival day. What a team, what an achievement! Not too many large events are 100% organised and run by volunteers.

And last but not least – to all the beautiful people who came along to look, listen, learn – and have fun!  You are the reason we organised it and we thank you for supporting our first festival. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.

Here is the usual smorgasbord of tasty articles from our contributors. Do let me know what you’d like to read about in EcoUpdate – I’ll be planning next year’s content soon.

Ewa Meyer
Editor, ecoupdate@econetworkps.org

Here are previous editions of EcoUpdate, most content is still current. Please forward this edition to anyone you like (or don’t like) and they can sign up to receive it directly.

Out and about in nature – Spring

Welcome to Spring! Liesl Colyer from Living Strong Nature Journaling takes us on a nature discovery. Spring is when the fireflies begin to find a mate and their glow can be seen in the forest flickering across the darkness of the night.

Spring is when plants sprout, flowers bloom, birds lay eggs and animals give birth. Spring is the time that nature is reborn … Read More

Picnic For Nature – Sunday 16 October 2022

11am – 2pm at 109 Foreshore Drive, Salamander Bay.

Join EcoNetwork and Mambo – Wanda Wetlands Conservation Group at this special event as part of a celebration of nature by local communities across NSW. It’s a chance to get together and talk about our passion and responsibility for the environment.

There will be music, displays, a BBQ and good company. BYO chair. Bring signs and placards to show your support and to be a force for nature. Enquiries, please contact Kathy Brown. Read More

Un-Pleasant Reality

Either coal is dead, or we are. Does that seem a bit dramatic?

Paul McGuire shares his opinion on why the Mount Pleasant Mine expansion should not go ahead. How can we stop it – or can we?

In July, the Environment Council launched a legal intervention calling on the Australian Government to examine the climate impacts of 19 coal and gas projects up for federal approval.

Mount Pleasant is one. Read More

Festival was the First for our Sustainable Future – but not the last!

Our Sustainable Futures Festival was held on 11 September at St Philip’s Christian College, Salamander Bay. Over 1000 people attended and enjoyed the first sunny day in weeks!

Watch the special slideshow featuring the all the fun of festival day with photography by Henk Tobbe.

Winners of the aRRRRRt Awards were announced! Read the post festival media release.

Renew – a new community group

Meet EcoNetwork’s newest affiliate group – the Hunter Region Branch of Renew, some of you met them at their first ‘public appearance’ at the Festival. Renew is a member-based non-profit organisation providing independent advice and sustainable solutions to households, government, and industry.

We now have a branch based in Port Stephens and we are looking for opportunities to connect the Hunter’s regional communities with the expert advice and support for us to learn to live in a sustainable and healthy way. Why not join us? Find out more

Saving money and energy at home – living sustainably in comfort all year round.

This was one of the most popular presentations at the Festival by Dr John Shiel, Christine Rogers and Brian Tehan.

If you missed it, see the original powerpoint presentation available on our website. Look it up today

Get Involved: Differences of opinion

Hearing a phrase like ‘We had a difference of opinion’ can make you think about worst case scenarios. Situations involving conflict can be emotionally charged and lead to the breakdown of group work.

Alison Rogers continues her series on volunteering and suggests it does not necessarily have to be this way. Read More

TRRA Update

The Tomaree Ratepayers and Residents Association has again been busy dealing with various planning matters. Council policies, finances and transparency have all been under the spotlight.

We are very fortunate to have a community watchdog like TRRA looking after residents’ interests. Read More

Habitat for squirrel gliders

In the EcoUpdate June edition we introduced a new project from our friends at the Hunter Community Environment Centre. The team is enhancing squirrel glider habitat and promoting awareness of this threatened species. Last week, they installed nestboxes in Newcastle and monitoring will commence soon.

If you missed the original article or would like to join in, here is more information about the project

EcoExtras

What’s on

• Sunday 16 October 11am – 2pm Picnic for Nature 109 Foreshore Drive Salamander Bay
• Saturday & Sunday 15-16 October 2022. Migratory Shorebird workshop and bird spotting. Learn about shorebird migration and ecology and how to identify and help to conserve these astonishing long-distance travellers. More information and bookings. Organised by Hunter Region Landcare Network, University of Newcastle, Hunter Local Land Services and Hunter Bird Observers Club.
• 17-23 October. Aussie Backyard Bird Count. All it takes is 20 minutes!
• Tuesday 18 October 6:30 – 8:30 pm webinar: Sustainable Design 101: The basics of building materials.
• Saturday 26 November, Newcastle. Electric vehicle drive and information day.
  

Mostly Good News:

• Survival of the cutest and fluffiest? Do people really prefer charismatic megafauna? The results might surprise you. Researchers analysed 670 wildlife images posted to Instagram. They recorded the number of ‘likes’ the image received in proportion to each organisation’s follower count. Read More
• Did you know that Lillipillies evolved in Australia and now form the largest genus of trees in the world. (And yes I know the spelling’s a bit weird!) Show a bit of love for the Lillipilly.
• This good-news story gives an excellent overview of the environmental, social and financial benefits for Australia in the transition from a dirty-fuel supplier to a potential green superpower from a  global perspective. Thanks for this one, Kassia. Mega-polluter Australia is finally becoming a green superpower
• Plan for Climate Action after landmark win by bushfire survivors
• Almost 200 nations are set to tackle climate change at COP27 in Egypt. Is this just a talkfest, or does the meeting actually matter?