Sustaining Liverpool Winter 2020 by Liverpool City Council

SUSTAINING LIVERPOOL

There are several pathways around the lake for bike riding, walking and birdwatching.

WINTER 2020

In this issue Living a simpler life Plastic Free July

Sunrise at Chipping Norton Lake. Photo by: Joe Vella joe.vella.61 www.wiremoon.com

Post fire at Voyager Point Bushland Meet our new Volunteer Group Supervisor How to get involved SUSTAINING LIVERPOOL WINTER 2020

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

In this Issue

Living a simpler life 3 Energy savings for small business

Plastic Free July

Welcome to the Winter edition of Sustaining Liverpool.

No-dig gardening 6

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, many of us have had to reassess and get back to basics while we are forced to stay at home.

Bush tucker in our backyard 8

People are going back to baking, planting a veggie patch, taking more local walks and spending more time with their family. For others, it has been a stressful time and has come with loss and hardship. Despite the challenges, we have all been able to reflect and gain an appreciation for our local surroundings and the importance of buying locally. We have seen unprecedented levels of spending and panic buying which resulted in supermarket shelves stripped bare of essential items. On pages 4 and 5 of this issue, we feature recipes for essential products such as deodorant, body and face scrubs, toothpaste and cleaning products that are cost effective, easy-to-make and environmentally friendly. Public concern around the spread of the pandemic has resulted in an increase in purchasing pre-packaged items. We need to be more eco-conscious to limit, if not eliminate, the use and purchase of plastics that are harmful to our environment. On average, Australians use 130 kilograms of plastic per person each year. Only 12 per cent of that is recycled and up to 130,000 tonnes of plastic end up in our waterways and into the ocean. With this in mind, why not take up the Plastic Free July challenge? You can read more about what you can do on page 5.

Wild foraging 7 Post fire at Voyager Point Bushland 9 What’s On and Apps 10 Welcome Melanie – Environment Volunteer Supervisor 11 Sustainability Workshops 12

RECEIVE YOUR NEWSLETTER VIA EMAIL Your edition of Sustaining Liverpool can now be sent to your email address. If you would like to receive it electronically rather than printed, email: lcc@liverpool.nsw.gov.au

Grevillea sericea

In times of uncertainty, our dependency on in-store purchases for food, water and essentials is heightened which is why it is a great time to learn about more traditional methods of sustainable living through gardening and foraging. You can find more information about foraging on page 7 with naturalist and artist, Diego Bonetto who runs foraging tours in Casula Parklands. Be sure to keep abreast of ‘Dates for your Diary’ on page 10 and look for ways you can live more sustainably and help to protect our local environment. Until the next issue, stay safe and keep well.

Customer Service Centre Ground Floor, 33 Moore Street, Liverpool NSW 2170

Mayor Wendy Waller Liverpool City Council

All correspondence to Locked Bag 7064 Liverpool BC NSW 1871 Call Centre 1300 36 2170 Email lcc@liverpool.nsw.gov.au Web www.liverpool.nsw.gov.au NRS 13 36 77 ABN 84 181 182 471

SUSTAINING LIVERPOOL WINTER 2020

simpler life LIVING A

This year we have battled mega bushfires which have burnt through approximately a fifth of Australia’s bushland; a pandemic that has challenged every aspect of our lives. Amidst the panic buying, quarantine and worrying about our loved ones, we have had an opportunity to reflect on the way we live our lives and question what is important and how much we consume. In this edition of Sustaining Liverpool, we look at alternative ways to consume - the way our ancestors did things, ways that traditional custodians of our land survived, ways to save

and become more self-reliant, by using everyday items that won’t harm the environment. Many of our everyday essentials can be made with things you already have in your cupboard or pantry and will cost a fraction of what you would normally pay for them. You can also cut down on the amount of chemicals you use on your skin or to clean your home. We hope you will be inspired to form new habits that are healthy for you, your family and the environment.

ENERGY SAVINGS FOR SMALL BUSINESS

Are your energy costs soaring? This is your chance to get FREE, independent energy advice tailored to your business. Energy costs are impacting on businesses and Business Australia is delivering the Business Energy Advice Program (BEAP) to help you. What can BEAP do: • Audit your businesses energy consumption; • Suggest potential energy-saving opportunities; • Give you access to helpful information on sustainability and; • Help you to access government grants. Who: Small businesses with 6-20 employees. Save on your bottom line and get started on your path to more energy savings. This is an Australian Government initiative.

Call 1300 415 224 SUSTAINING LIVERPOOL WINTER 2020

PLASTIC FREE CAN BE ALMOST FREE! ‘Plastic Free July’ is a challenge that makes us aware of our dependency on plastics and ways we can reduce it. Plastics only came into production in the 1950s, but did you know that every piece of plastic will be present for at least another 400 years? Help reduce the use of plastics by taking part in the challenge. Visit plasticfreejuly.org to learn more. Try out these easy-to-make eco-friendly products and be sure to check out our Plastic Free July Survival guide on page 5.

Natural deodorant

Multi-purpose cleaner

Natural bleach

Ingredients • 1 spoon of bicarbonate soda • 2 spoons of arrowroot powder (can be replaced with bicarb if not found) • 3 spoons of coconut oil • Essential oil of choice (for fragrance)

Ingredients • Orange peels • White vinegar (can be purchased in a large glass bottle or made at home)

Did you know that lemons can be a natural bleach?

Let orange peels steep in vinegar for two weeks in an airtight jar, ensuring the orange peels are completely covered. Strain liquid, add water and place in a spray bottle.

To whiten clothes or sheets (white materials only): • 1/2 cup of lemon juice • 5 litres of hot water

Mix together until you get a paste like consistency. Place in a small tin or jar and use a wooden ice-cream stick to scoop out. N.B. some people may be sensitive to bicarbonate soda. Do not apply immediately after shaving and only apply to clean skin.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

SUSTAINING LIVERPOOL WINTER 2020

For antibacterial properties, use lemon peels along with the orange peels. Extra tip: Freeze orange peels so you can use them when they are not in season.

The added benefit here is that no harsh chemicals are being washed down the drains.

Mix lemon juice into the hot water and soak for a few hours. Wash as usual and hang to dry in the sun.

PLASTIC FREE JULY SURVIVAL GUIDE CHALLENGE Plastic free alternative

Saves

1 reusable water bottle

20-30 plastic bottles and $60*

Reusable shopping bags

28 plastic bags and $4.20*

Use plates to cover leftovers

30 pieces cling wrap and $4*

Reusable container or prepare your own lunches

30 plastic containers*

Reusable cutlery or bring your own from home

60 pieces of disposable cutlery*

Shampoo and conditioner bars

2 bottles of shampoo and conditioner *Estimates based on approximate monthly usage

Face Scrub

Body Scrub

Toothpaste

Ingredients • 11 grams oatmeal • 110 grams full cream milk Powder • 15 grams of flower mix e.g. calendula, chamomile, elder, herbal teas.

Ingredients • 1 part sugar • ½ part oil of your choice (olive oil and almond oil work well)

Ingredients • 2 tablespoons of coconut oil • 2 to 3 tablespoons baking soda • 1/4 teaspoon sweetener (e.g. stevia) • A few drops of peppermint essence for flavour

Grind herbs and oatmeal to a fine powder or you can use a food processor. Add the milk powder. Mix and store in a sealed container. To use: Mix 1 teaspoon of the scrub with just enough rosewater or boiled water to make it into a paste and apply to the face in a circular motion.

Face and body scrubs are a huge problem for the marine environment due to the millions of tiny plastic microbeads in most commercial scrubs. Mix ingredients together and enjoy an exfoliating body cleanse.

Mix together until well combined and place in a small jar or container.

You can also add coffee grounds or lemon zest for extra invigoration.

SUSTAINING LIVERPOOL WINTER 2020

MAKE A VEGGIE PATCH FROM SCRATCH USING NO-DIG GARDENING During periods of uncertainty, growing your own vegetables may provide a sense of control, even if the vegetables produced are a small supplement to your diet. The garden sits above the ground and can be established in small spaces.

Use these four simple steps to get started: Select your area Select a sunny patch in your garden that is relatively level with good drainage.

Gather your materials What you will need: • Old newspapers or cardboard – one large piece per square metre. • Bales of lucerne hay – one bale per 2-3m². You can also use sugar cane. • Bales of straw - free of seed (be careful with pea straw or oat straw) – one bale per 2m². • Quality fertiliser or chicken manure (Dynamic Lifter or equivalent) – one bag per 2m². • Quality compost – one bag per 2m². • Optional - consider a 15-30cm high border for your no dig veggie garden. • If using cardboard – you will need water for soaking cardboard. • Watering can or hose. • Vegetables and herb seedlings to grow.

How to build your new garden To build your new garden: 1. Cover the area with 5-6 sheets of newspaper, making sure sheets overlap. Dampen if necessary. 2. Cover the newspaper heavily with the fertiliser. 3. Divide the lucerne into bats and add a layer about 15cms thick. Do not tease out the bats they need to be thick and solid. 4. Lay light sprinkle of fertiliser – half as much as the first layer. 5. Lay the straw - about 30cms thick. 6. Use compost to make “nests” or holes in the straw that reach down to, but not passed the lucerne layer. Add compost into the holes. 7. Plant individual seeds or preferably seedlings. 8. Add water.

1. Dig hole 2. Fill with compost

3. Plant up

Straw Manure and compost Straw Manure and compost Lucerne Newspaper

SUSTAINING LIVERPOOL WINTER 2020

4. Water in

WILD FORAGING WANT TO LEARN MORE? Register for our FREE No-Dig Gardening online workshop in June (see page 12 for more details).

Did you know that you can supplement your diet with nutritious plants that already grow in your backyard? Prior to the days of strict social distancing, wild forager Diego Bonetto took us for a journey around Casula Parklands and told stories of how people across Europe foraged for their food and medicine. Many common weeds can be used in teas, soups, stir fries and salads, adding nutritional benefits and interesting flavours.

Enjoy eating your own vegetables The benefits of a no-dig garden: • Fresh produce • No transport miles • Home grown • Affordable Vegetables like bok choy, romaine lettuce, celery and green onions all regrow from stumps being placed in some water in a sunny position.

COOL SEASON PLANTING

For example, dandelion leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, while the roots can be ground to make caffeine free coffee. The leaves of Farmer’s friend, also known as Cobbler’s pegs or bidens are high in protein and vitamin A and can be used just like spinach or lettuce leaves. However, before you go out foraging, it is very important to ensure you can correctly identify plants and ensure you know the conditions in which they have been grown.

For more information, you can visit diegobonetto.com or follow Diego on instagram @theweedyone

Cauliflower Purple and green sprouting broccoli Tuscan kale Broadbeans, peas Red cabbage, green cabbage Spinach, lettuce Coriander, parsley Chives, beetroot and carrots Marigold for pest control

SUSTAINING LIVERPOOL WINTER 2020

BUSH TUCKER IN OUR BACKYARD The Cabrogal Clan of the Dharug Nation (also accessed by the Tharawal and Gandangara Nations) were the first custodians of this land and survived in harmony with the land for tens of thousands of years. We draw upon their extensive knowledge to share some of the edible plants that still grow in our bushlands today.

Saltbush Einadia hastata A salty shrub. The leaves can be boiled to remove excess salt and used in salads or stir fries. The small berries can also be eaten.

Scurvy weed Commelina cyanea An edible vegetable. The leaves contain vitamin C and were used by early settlers to treat scurvy, hence the name.

Warrigal greens Tetragonia tetragonioides The young leaves can be boiled and used like spinach.

Rocky scrambler Hardenbergia violacea The leaves can be boiled to make a tea.

Blue Flax Lily Dianella revoluta A sweet fruit that can be eaten or added to a dessert.

Mat rush Lomandra longifolia The seeds can be collected and ground to make flour.

SUSTAINING LIVERPOOL WINTER 2020

Destruction at Voyager Point Bushland after the bushfire came through

THE GREEN RETURNS POST FIRE AT VOYAGER POINT BUSHLAND

Regeneration three months after the bushfire

On 5 January 2020, some 40 hectares of natural bushland were ablaze as bushfires swept through Voyager Point Bushland Reserve.

thick, but the heat of the fire will crack the capsule open, allowing the seed to be exposed and germinate with the right conditions.

The area was left blackened and devoid of life, with the skeletal remains of larger trees the only reminder of the native vegetation that was once there. A haunting scene which left locals and staff pondering if this was the end of the beautiful bushland that held so many wildflowers during spring.

Some species of plants are only seen after fire as they rely on the widespread disturbance to provide open areas where they are not outcompeted for sunlight by other plants. This gives them the chance to flower, set seed and then eventually disappear, leaving their seed in the soil until the next fire comes along.

While fire is a destructive force that destroys everything in its path, it also brings new life. Like the myth of the Phoenix rising from the ashes, our landscape has adapted to fire, and native vegetation has developed various traits to regenerate after disturbance.

In the months following the fire, weather conditions have been ideal for regeneration, unlike the extended drought conditions in the period that preceded it. Regular rainfall and warm weather have encouraged growth of the bushland and it is now on the way to recovery.

Some gumtrees have an ability to resist heat, and during times of stress put out new growth quickly after fire, which allows them to recover. This flush of new foliage, called epicormic growth, occurs from buds protected beneath the bark of the tree. The trees also have lignotubers - masses of swollen tissue storing food that develop at ground level in young eucalypts, allowing new growth to sprout if the tree is damaged.

Fire has become an essential component for some Australian vegetation communities and necessary for the long-term survival of many plant species. Voyager Point Bushland Reserve is a good example of the resilience of our native plants in the face of destructive events such as bushfires.

A number of native plants have hard woody capsules as fruit to protect their seeds, often requiring fire to open. The capsules are hard and

SUSTAINING LIVERPOOL WINTER 2020

DATES FOR YOUR

Plastic Free July 1 – 31 July 2020

National Student Volunteer Week 10 – 16 August

A global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities. Visit plasticfreejuly.org to join the challenge and refuse single use plastic.

A week of events, activities and campaigns that promote student volunteering led by higher education providers and schools across Australia. Visit nationalstudentvolunteerweek.org.au to get involved.

Chemical Clean Out 19 July 2020 | 9am – 3.30pm 99 Rose Street, Liverpool

National Science Week 15 – 23 August 2020

Drop off your household chemicals - paint, gas bottles, batteries, oils, fluorescent lights and smoke detectors to be safely disposed of for free. Visit www.liverpool.nsw.gov.au/chemicalcleanout to find out more.

Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology. Thousands of individuals get involved, taking part in science events across the nation. Use the official app to find out how to get involved or follow the conversation #scienceweek. For more details, visit www.scienceweek.net.au

National Tree Day 2 August 2020

Keep Australia Beautiful Week 17 – 23 August 2020

National Tree Day is Australia’s largest tree planting and nature care event. It is an opportunity for everyone to put their hands into the earth and give back to the community. Visit treeday.planetark.org to get involved.

This week aims to raise awareness about the simple things we can all do in our daily lives to reduce our impact on the environment and encourage action. Visit kab.org.au to learn more.

NEWS AND

Apps

Get on top of your weeds! Look out for weeds and stop the spread, as there are many popping up and in flower after the recent rains. If you need help with weed identification, download the NSW WeedWise app or check out the WeedWise website: weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au

SUSTAINING LIVERPOOL WINTER 2020

Remote camera monitoring of animals Set up a camera trap for wildlife surveys. If you have a camera and the space, set up to see who’s visiting your property. This video has a good overview of the types of remote cameras and how to set them up to detect both native and pest animals, or you can read the manual here. Be sure to report any pest animal sightings and activity to FeralScan.

WELCOME

Melanie!

ROLE:

Environment Volunteer Supervisor How did you get into Bush regeneration? As a fresh university graduate in 2013, I was like most graduates looking for employment. Having no work experience in the field, (I studied human sciences) I stumbled upon the Green Army, an opportunity to work outdoors to develop skills and undergo training in conservation and land management – it sounded like a great opportunity to stay fit and try something new. This is where my passion for the environment and my love for working outdoors blossomed.

What has been your most memorable moment in the field? There have been so many memorable moments, it’s hard to pinpoint one! I can remember my first time seeing a funnel web spider and being completely in awe of it. Or working on a remote island and needing to take a boat to site – that definitely felt like an adventure. I’ve seen powerful owls which can be up to 65cm tall, and spoonbills that look like they’re from Alice in Wonderland. The best part is that every day in the field is different and unexpected.

What do you like most about your job? The most rewarding aspects of this job include collaborating with like-minded individuals, whether it be passionate volunteers or my dedicated colleagues, there is a shared mindset of protecting and restoring the natural local environment. In this regard, I am able to mentor people of all ages and also learn so much from their experiences and hear their stories on what connects them to the land. What are you looking forward to most?

Our environment groups are currently on hold to keep our community safe. However, if you would like to get involved in regenerating Liverpool’s amazing bushlands, please send your expression of interest to erp@liverpool.nsw.gov.au

I am excited to create a fresh approach to the volunteer groups that focuses on the strengths and interests of the volunteers and includes a variety of activities to build their skills. I am particularly hoping to include some fauna spotting and some native plant identification activities to showcase the diversity of the Cumberland Plain Woodland (critically endangered ecological community). I’m open to their new ideas and ready to listen. SUSTAINING LIVERPOOL WINTER 2020

COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING Our regular community tree planting days are currently on hold however, our teams continue on our mission for a green city by planting trees and maintaining our parks and reserves. More updates on this coming shortly.

PHOTO COMP! Do you have photos of nature or local wildlife in your neighbourhood that you would like to share? Send it to erp@liverpool.nsw.gov.au for a chance to be featured in the next edition of Sustaining Liverpool. Please include your name, a brief description of the photo and the place the photo was taken in Liverpool.

NATIONAL TREE DAY Sunday 2 August, 9am-12pm, Fassifern Park. Meet at Elouera Nature reserve, corner of Willan Drive and Permian Place, Cartwright. Subject to health advice.

SUSTAINABILITY WORKSHOPS Participants must register to attend and have access to a computer or phone with good internet connection. Register by email to: erp@liverpool.nsw.gov.au with your name, suburb and the name of the workshop.

NO-DIG GARDENING ONLINE WORKSHOP

LIVE WITH LESS ONLINE WORKSHOP

Free workshop available in June only

Friday 12 June | 12-1pm

Take the stress and back-ache out of gardening and construct a no-dig garden instead. Join us online and learn the benefits to no-dig gardening and how to set it up.

Need help with reducing the clutter in your life? Join us online and get tips from a professional organiser on how to de-clutter and live with less mess.

HANDMADE SKINCARE ONLINE WORKSHOP

ENERGY SAVINGS ONLINE WORKSHOP

Saturday 11 July | 10-11.30am

22 August | 10-11.30am

Join Margaret Mossakowska of Moss House online and learn how to create your own eco-friendly skincare range with common pantry items that are better for your skin and will reduce the impact of plastic packaging waste.

There are plenty of things you can do to cut down your electricity usage and your power bills. Get tips on how to save money on your electricity bills. SUSTAINING LIVERPOOL WINTER 2020