Three Living Smart Groups
Three groups have got together in the Nambucca Valley to commit to the Living Smart program of four to six workshops about sustainable living. They are at Taylors Arm, Eungai Creek and Scotts Head and held their first meetings about Energy Efficiency and Solar Power recently. Each group has 15 members who very happily took away their energy efficiency showbags on the day. We shall see how the thermometers, shower timers and remote control power points contribute to lower electricity usage in these homes.
The groups have also decided which focus they would like to take for the remaining workshops in the core part of the program and which of the optional workshops they would like to do. Native plant identification, car-sharing models and rainwater tank maintenance are most popular.
Information sessions for more people interested in the program and for those who may like to get a group of their own together will soon be announced for the main centres in our region.
Bike Racks for Macksville & Nambucca
Our Living Coast is encouraging the use of bicycles in two ways: The production of bicycle and walking maps for the three shires and the installation of bike racks. The most recent installations were made in Macksville and Nambucca at the Council chambers and the libraries. They have also been put up in Bellingen at the providore shop, the IGA supermarket and the Council chambers. Coffs Harbour already had a number of racks in public places.
Bicycle racks allow for bikes to be 'parked' standing up and to be locked securely against a solid object and they are placed in convenient locations.
Bellingen Sustainable Businesses
Ten small businesses in Bellingen have registered with the Our Living Coast Sustainable Business Program. Most of them have now been assessed for Energy Efficiency and are in the process of discussing the recommended changes to their premises or practices that would save energy and cost for their business. Once finalised, the Our Living Coast website will have a register of these businesses and the sustainability measures they have taken.
The Bellingen Shire Sustainable Business Alliance (BSSBA) was born recently at a meeting in Bellingen. The presidents of the Dorrigo and Bellingen Chambers of Commerce, Council staff and a number of other business representatives discussed ways to promote the sustainability changes local businesses have made, to develop a sustainable business strategy that can feed into the Bellingen Shire Community Plan and how to work towards the big picture for the Bellingen Shire - setting up community-owned energy generation systems and encouraging more sustainability businesses to the shire.
Australian Native Fruits and Nuts
The recent Our Living Coast visit to the 'Valley of the Mist' was fully booked and people enjoyed a sunny day amongst the Davidson Plum trees in full production. Dennis Ryan tells a very good yarn about his personal interest in aboriginal native medicines and was able to show the group a number of native medicinal plants on the farm. Dennis also told of his quest to source the best specimen to establish his orchard, the travels and risks he took to find the plant stock that best suits a commercial approach and promises good returns.
'Valley of the Mist' incorporates extensive wetlands that have been well studied and are home to a large number of birds and water-loving wildlife. These wetlands are considered an important asset to the property and business and have been placed on the list of nationally significant wetlands in Australia.
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