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BUILDING RESILIENCE FOR BUSHFIRE AFFECTED COMMUNITIES IN NOOSA SHIRE THE University of Southern Queensland has partnered with Zero Emissions Noosa Inc., Noosa Council and Noosa Environmental Education Hub (Noosa EEHub) in a project designed to improve emergency evacuation shelter experiences for future evacuees. In the 2019 bushfires, thousands of Noosa Shire residents were forced to evacuate their homes. Many residents sought refuge at emergency evacuation shelters at The J and Noosa Leisure Centre. University of Southern Queensland’s Dr Carina Anderson is leading the project. “Australia is facing more natural disasters due to climate change and an increase in extreme weather events,” Dr Anderson said. “In 2019, we had the Noosa bushfires, and then more recently the major flooding in Queensland and New South Wales. “More natural disasters will mean an increasing reliance on evacuation centres.
“Our project aims to make evacuation centres physically and psychologically safer places to stay during times of natural disasters.” Annie Nolan Carbon Reduction Project Officer from Noosa Council said: “As part of this project, two battery systems supplementing the existing solar arrays will be installed: one at The J and one at the Noosa Leisure Centre. “It is important to have sustained power to evacuation shelters. “During natural disasters such as bushfires, electricity from the grid may be cut and the batteries provide emission free power rather than having to bring in a diesel generator at the evacuation shelters. “These battery systems will secure an ongoing power supply to the evacuation centres during emergencies.” Zero Emissions Noosa president Anne Kennedy explained “This project will
help to reduce emissions in the Noosa Shire. “The battery systems will be installed on Noosa Shire Council community buildings, so it’s a win for the community and a win for the environment.” Noosa EEHub managing director Dalia Mikhail said “Giving students a real-life application of their curriculum through this project is an exciting opportunity for our local students.” The Building resilience for bushfire affected communities in Noosa Shire project is made possible thanks to funding from the Australian Government for the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program.
Anne Kennedy, Zero Emissions Noosa Inc., Dr Carina Anderson, Uni. of Southern Qld, with Annie Nolan, Noosa Council
Supporting permaculture projects IN February this year, Permaculture Noosa hosted the legend Morag Gamble for club night. She spoke to a full house about permaculture as a lifestyle - a lifestyle of regenerative thinking and not accepting the destructive ways of the extractive paradigm. She said, “Permaculture is a revolution dressed up as gardening.” Morag works with the Ethos Foundation which supports permaculture projects in refugee camps in Africa. The club raised $1500 on the night for this cause. Recently Morag sent this letter to Permacutlure Noosa: I want to thank you so very very much for organising such a wonderful fundraiser that has made a huge difference in the lives of many people in the camps of Kakuma and Kalobeyei Refugee Settlements in north western Kenya. Our friend and collaborator, Sakina Kiriba, is a graduate of the Permaculture Education Institute’s permaculture design course (PDC) and Permaculture Teacher Certificate. Together we work to offer free PDCs to vulnerable
youth in the camps with the aim of them to build their regenerative livelihoods and being able to create food security gardens build a circular economy. for their families, and also create a small I had a great meeting with our African livelihood in the process. team this week. They are all doing amazing Sumaili and Sakina are the PDC teachers. things across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Sumaili was taught by Sakina and is the key Sakina is keen to start another course and Permayouth music maker. introduce a new young woman leader to the Together they were able to teach a PDC teaching team. Morag class for 20 youth (mainly girls) with the funds gathered. We have been connecting Sakina with information, helping her to get a library started. Pictured is one of the gardens the young people were able to get started with some quick-growing greens - like amaranth. They are experiencing major drought up there, so only the toughest things grow. One of our future projects is to establish mushroom houses at permayouth hubs (pictured above right). We are looking to help five new mushroom houses to be built and One of the gardens started with some quick-growing greens local training to take place, as a way
Sumaili and Sakina - the PDC teachers
‘We genuinely give a SHED!’
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