Sustaining Liverpool Summer 2022-23

Welcome to the summer edition of our Sustaining Liverpool newsletter.

To many people, summer is the highlight of living in Australia.

The weather is hot, the beaches are inviting, the skies are mostly clear - and backyard cricket becomes a national sport.

To make summer even better, it includes Christmas. Australian Christmases are contrary to the way much of the world welcomes Christmas with snow, snowmen, icicles, sleighs and warm clothes. But, like the rest of Australia, the Liverpool community enjoys every minute of our special Christmas.

The only downside in Liverpool is that summer’s brilliant landscape is scarred by selfish people who allow litter and rubbish to spoil waterways.

In Liverpool’s case the waterway being disfigured is our wonderful Georges River.

I’ve outlined my ideas in the past about reinvigorating the George River. The $28 million NSW Government funding to upgrade Light Horse Park is part of those plans but we have to protect and maintain our river as well.

That’s why Council supports the NSW EPA Litter Prevention Strategy (see page 5) of 60 per cent litter reduction by 2030 and 30 per cent reduction of plastic litter by 2025.

In other words, don’t litter. Clean up rubbish before you leave a park and put it in a bin.

In review 2022 3

Be Asbestos ready 4

Georges River Catchment Litter Prevention Strategy 5 Zero Litter 6 Plastic Ban 7

Great Sydney Landcare Network – Creating canopies 8 Order of Liverpool Awards 8

WOW Children's Festival Amelie’s Ecology Bug Orchestra and Bee Workshop 8 Natural Skincare Workshop 9 Holiday Season Waste Food Avoidance 10 Liverpool Community Recycling Centre –Holiday Season Hours 11

What’s on 12

We welcome

ideas - email us erp@liverpool.nsw.gov.au!

Mayor Ned Mannoun

Liverpool City Council

What would you like to see more of in Sustaining Liverpool?

your

Despite another challenging year, Council and the community have continued to work together to improve the local environment.

Volunteer

after COVID-19

BE READY ASBESTOS

Asbestos is found in 1 in 3 homes across Australia

If you’re renovating a home built before 1990, it may contain asbestos. Asbestos is dangerous when damaged, disturbed, or deteriorating so you shouldn’t remove it yourself. Four times more people die from asbestos related diseases annually than on our roads. If you’re working on a property, discuss with your client a plan to protect your health, avoid delays and cost blow outs if asbestos is found.

Before you begin a renovation, follow these three simple steps -

1. Think ahead: Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos-related diseases in the world, including cancer. So, if the home you are working on was built before 1990, remember that asbestos might be found.

2. Plan ahead: Asbestos is dangerous when disturbed, so you shouldn’t remove asbestos yourself.

3. Get a licensed asbestos professional: They will provide advice on how to proceed safely.

For more information on asbestos safety, visit asbestos.nsw.gov.au

GEORGES RIVER CATCHMENT LITTER PREVENTION STRATEGY

Georges Riverkeeper has been working with member councils, including Liverpool City Council and NSW Corrective Services, to collect large amounts of litter from over 200 sites, including parks, foreshores and industrial areas in our local area.

It supplements Council’s litter collections, which include street sweeping, maintenance of gross pollutant traps, servicing of public bins and litter picks of public places. Despite these efforts on multiple fronts, large amounts of litter are still found in the river, the riparian area and the environment.

The priority for the NSW EPA is to move beyond clean-ups towards litter prevention. With new state targets of 60% litter reduction by 2030 and 30% reduction of plastic litter by 2025, prevention of litter at scale is key.

To help achieve that, Georges Riverkeeper is working with its member councils and community groups on a Litter Prevention Strategy.

For more info visit georgesriver.org.au/learn-aboutthe-river/litter-preventionstrategy

Please email us at contact@georgesriver.org.au

This project is an NSW Environment Protection Authority WasteLess Recycle More initiative funded from the waste levy.

Picnic rubbish can blow into our precious waterways, harming wildlife.

Do you know an organisation who should be involved?

Georges Riverkeeper is looking for organisations that may be interested in learning about litter prevention and potentially implementing it within the local community.

Z E R O litter

Local primary students from Wattle Grove Public School are taking their anti-littering messages to the street as part of the ‘Zero Litter in Georges River’ program developed by Georges Riverkeeper with support from Council and funding from the Australian Government.

The program aims to provide environmental education, aligned to the NSW curriculum, about stormwater pollution, and encourages students to look for solutions to reduce litter flowing to the Georges River.

As part of the project, students from Wattle Grove Public School created designs for artworks to be painted on local footpaths near storm drains as well as a campaign video educating the community on the importance of anti-littering.

Mayor Ned Mannoun said, “It’s fantastic to see our future generation of Liverpool residents voicing their opinions on issues that they believe in.

“We are delighted to be a part of this project and ensure the future children of Liverpool will continue to enjoy our parks, streets, and waterways for many years to come. Well done to the participating students from Wattle Grove Public School for helping to make Liverpool a better place to live, visit and work.”

The street art developed for the campaign features the innovative use of augmented reality technology which allows passers-by to scan a QR code to interact with a virtual long-neck turtle called ‘Zero’, one of the native animals found in the river that is threatened by pollution.

Georges Riverkeeper Program Manager Scott Reyes said, “Most of the pollution in the Georges River flows there through a network of connected stormwater pits and pipes, so we need to stop waste, litter and pollution from ending up in street and carpark gutters and drains.”

‘Zero Litter in Georges River’ lessons were developed in collaboration with Georges River Environment Education Centre and are available for any school to access for free via the project website: zerolitter.georgesriver.org.au

The colourful street art in Liverpool can be seen outside Wattle Grove Public School, near the playground at Wattle Grove Lake and at Harris Creek Reserve.

PLASTICS ban

Forming a key part of the NSW Government's NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041, the NSW Plastics Action Plan outlines a comprehensive suite of actions to spotlight plastic at all points of its lifecycle, from production and consumption to disposal and recycling.

While plastic is a versatile and useful product, it’s also an increasing threat to our natural environment. Once in the environment, plastics take many years to degrade, often breaking into smaller parts which can kill our wildlife.

NSW generates 800,000 tonnes of plastics every year, with only 10% being recycled. We recognise plastic's impact on our natural environment and human health, which is why we need a comprehensive and bold response to this important issue.

The NSW Plastics Action Plan sets out the first six actions to achieve four long term outcomes to better manage plastic and reduce the impact it has on the environment.

GREATER SYDNEY LANDCARE NETWORK CREATING CANOPIES

In September, the 100,000th tree was planted at Liverpool's Discovery Park as part of our Creating Canopies project. Despite the rain, it was great to have volunteers show up and plant almost 1000 trees in the park!

There was a free BBQ for all the volunteers as well as free plants to take home. The Planting Seeds group were also there to talk all things creating habitat in backyards.

ORDER OF LIVERPOOL AWARDS

The Order of Liverpool Awards are presented annually to citizens who have made outstanding contributions to our community. Our environment volunteer Simon Changson received the award this year.

Simon has been volunteering in Liverpool since 1978. As well as being a long-term member of bush volunteer groups, he is also an avid environmental photographer. He has won prizes with his photo submissions depicting the liveliness of the environment. He respects the indigenous people who once lived in Liverpool and have consistently supported them with photos and art.

WOW CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL

ECOLOGY BUG ORCHESTRA & BEE WORKSHOP

Children had a great time joining performer Amelie Ecology and Council educators to learn about bees through games, music and art in the garden at Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre. The bug orchestra was a hit with catchy tunes and wraps to entertain the young crowd.

Simon has volunteered with the following environmental groups:

Casula

Hoxton Park

Moorebank

Wattle Grove

Voyager Point.

Photo: Chantel Bann

Simon Changson pictured with Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun.

SKIN CARE workshop Natural

As part of our Sustainability blitz workshop, residents joined Moss House’s Margaret Mossakowska for a natural skin care workshop on how to make cold cream that’s good for the environment and our health.

For further information on Mosshouse Workshops

Margaret Mossakowska mosshouse.com.au info@mosshouse.com.au /moss.house.au

Homemade

Cold Cream

(based on Galen’s recipe; makes 200g of cream)

1/4 teaspoon borax

1/4 cup distilled water (or boiled rainwater)

1/2 cup of a carrier oil that is liquid at room temperature (such as Almond oil)

14g (by weight) grated beeswax (or just a little over two tablespoons)

1. Dissolve the borax in the water in a glass cup (for microwave use) or stainless-steel pot (if using a stove). Set aside.

2. Add together the oil and beeswax in a larger glass cup (for microwave use) or stainless-steel pot (if using a stove).

3. Heat the oil/beeswax mix in a water bath or a microwave until the beeswax is melted and the mixture is clear. (Start with 30 seconds at a time).

4. Heat the borax/water mix in a microwave for a minute – almost to boiling.

5. Slowly pour the borax/water mixture into the oil/beeswax mixture, using an eggbeater or a stick blender to mix as you pour. Beat well until the mix is glossy white and thicken. Add essential oils when the cream is warm to touch.

6. Pour the warm cream into jars with lids.

7. Let it cool to room temperature before using.

HOLIDAY SEASON

FOOD WASTE AVOIDANCE

In Liverpool and across New South Wales generally, households throw away a lot of food. Nearly half the contents of the average general red-lid rubbish bin are food materials, including some that could have been eaten but for whatever reason ended up in the bin instead.

An EPA survey estimates the average New South Wales household is throwing out $1,036 of wasted food each year, a staggering amount. About 800,000 tonnes of household food waste is disposed of across the state every year, not counting restaurant and industry contributions.

As we head into the holiday season, we tend to over cater and end up with a large amount of left-over food, a significant portion of which ends up as rubbish.

How much is food waste costing you?

This holiday season, avoid tossing food in the bin by taking these steps

• Planning is key - try not to over prepare food; instead try to prepare “just enough”:

• Plan a menu

• Create a guest list

• Create a food budget and shopping list

• Take stock of what you already have and limit your food shopping to items you need for the number of guests you are expecting

• Stick to your list

• Encourage friends and family to take leftovers home.

• Use good practice and appropriate containers when storing food, zip lock bags and sealed containers are the best options.

• Store leftovers in the freezer to enjoy as another meal.

• The NSW EPA’s ‘Love food, hate waste’ website has some easy recipes of how to turn left over food into tasty meal ideas.

Click here to find out more.

Community Recycling Centres

The right place for your problem waste

WHAT PLANTS FOR MY GARDEN?

SUSTAINABLE GRANT ROUND 2

APPLICATIONS OPEN 22 FEB 2023

Join the Plant Sure team on Saturday 25 February and find out how to plant responsibly in your garden. Get a free plant when you attend the tea and talk session at Carnes Hill Community Centre. Bookings are essential and places are limited so get in quick!

Email erp@liverpool.nsw.gov.au

If you need to dispose of hazardous household chemicals, please do it safely by dropping them off at our next Chemical CleanOut event on:

The Sustainable Environment Grant Program helps schools and community groups to reduce their impact on the environment and implement environmentally sustainable actions.

Key funding priorities fall under the categories of natural environment, sustainable gardening, sustainable water use and waste minimisation or recycling.

Up to $5000 in grants is available. Applicants who demonstrate a commitment to the project through either financial or volunteer support will be considered favourably.

Applications open 22 February to 2 April 2023

Click here for more information

Centre, 99 Rose Street, Liverpool www.cleanout.com.au Motor oils, fluids and fuels Fluoro lights

Pool  chemicals Paint

CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY

Liverpool City Council You can drop off for free: Only household quantities accepted (20L or 20kg), except paint. Up to 100L (in 20L containers) of paint accepted. Turnover for dates and locations.

Garden chemicals Batteries Poisons Gas bottles Fire extinguishers Smoke detectors

25 FEBRUARY 2023 Sunday 29 January 2023, 9am – 3.30pm It’s time for a Chemical CleanOut. For more information call the Environment Line on 131 555 or visit www.cleanout.com.au @NSWHouseholdProblemWastes

Garden chemicals Batteries Poisons Gas bottles Fire extinguishers Smoke detectors

Household cleaners Hobby chemicals

Pool  chemicals Paint

You can drop off for free: Only household quantities accepted (20L or 20kg), except paint. Up to 100L (in 20L containers) of paint accepted. Turnover for dates and locations.

Garden chemicals Batteries Poisons Gas bottles Fire extinguishers Smoke detectors

Household cleaners Hobby chemicals

It’s time for a Chemical CleanOut. For more information call the Environment Line on 131 555 or visit www.cleanout.com.au @NSWHouseholdProblemWastes

Pool  chemicals Paint

Pool  chemicals Paint

Motor oils, fluids and fuels Fluoro lights

Household cleaners Hobby chemicals Only household quantities accepted (20L or 20kg), except paint. Up to 100L (in 20L containers) of paint accepted.

It’s time for a Chemical CleanOut. For more information call the Environment Line on 131 555 or visit www.cleanout.com.au @NSWHouseholdProblemWastes

You can drop off for free: Only household quantities accepted (20L or 20kg), except paint. Up to 100L (in 20L containers) of paint accepted. Turnover for dates and locations.

Household cleaners Hobby chemicals

Motor oils, fluids and fuels Fluoro lights

Garden chemicals Batteries Poisons Gas bottles Fire extinguishers Smoke detectors

Motor oils, fluids and fuels Fluoro lights

You can drop off for free: Only household quantities accepted (20L or 20kg), except paint. Up to 100L (in 20L containers) of paint accepted. Turnover for dates and locations.

It’s time for a Chemical CleanOut. For more information call the Environment Line on 131 555 or visit www.cleanout.com.au @NSWHouseholdProblemWastes

HOW WILL YOU STEP UP? For over 30 years, residents, schools, individuals, communities and businesses have volunteered in their thousands to clean up and get rid of plastic and glass, with the focus on preventing waste and removing it from the environment. Be part of the movement with thousands of other Aussies. To join a local clean up event near you, see www.cleanup.org.au/ events and remember, every day can be clean up Australia day.