Sustainable Neighbourhood News and Events
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Drawing the ReLeaf Tree Trail
Wednesday 11 January, 10-11.30am Booragul Create a nature journal inspired by the ReLeaf Tree Trail in the sculpture park at the MAC. Book your spot here |
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Celebration event
We enjoyed a relaxed lunch to celebrate our many successes in 2022. Each group spoke about their achievements, challenges, and plans for 2023. We also talked about successful strategies for engagement and recruitment. Read the summary |
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Green gifts
Looking for some thoughtful gifts that won't cost the Earth? We've compiled a list of diy projects that your friends and family will love. Find out more |
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Understanding bushfire
The Hunter HJO recently brought their Simtable to Toronto to help residents understand local bushfire scenarios. The Coal Point Progress Association wrote an excellent summary from the session and some helpful reminders to prepare for the upcoming bushfire season. Read the article |
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Follow the ReLeaf Tree Trail
Wander through the grounds of the Museum of Art and Culture yapang Sculpture Park and learn about ten beautiful specimen trees on the site. Visit the iconic site on the shores of Lake Macquarie to appreciate the variety of tree species and learn about their characteristics. We highly recommend visiting the site in person, but you can have a sneak peak of the trail here. |
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Tiny Forest webinar
The Lake Mac Tiny Forest is an innovative, community lead initiative which aims to protect and enhance our local environment and biodiversity. The project offers community members a unique and inspiring opportunity to collaborate on an educational and evidence-based greening project on community land. Learn more about the project and future opportunities to get involved. View a recording of the webinar here. |
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Annual Report 2022
We are delighted to present the 2021-22 Annual Report, summarising our key achievements in the last financial year. Last year we contributed more than 4000 volunteer hours for Sustainable Neighbourhood activities. That's estimated to contribute more than $1.2M to the economy! Read the Annual Report |
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The Bentley Effect - film screening
Date TBC
Regal Cinema, 4 Moore Street, Birmingham Gardens The Greater Charlestown Sustainable Neighbourhood Group is hosting a screening of The Bentley Effect - the extraordinary tale of a community who stood firm against the gas invasion, and won. This highly acclaimed film chronicles and celebrates one of the fastest growing and most creative social movements we have ever witnessed, and poses the question ‘what is truly valuable?’. Bookings essential at events.humanitix.com. |
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Join in at the Holmesville Community Garden
Share the joy of gardening with the friendly crowd at the Holmesville Community Garden. Share the workload and harvest from the communal garden beds for a small membership fee, or enquire about leasing a garden bed for your own use. Upcoming garden gatherings and work party dates Second Tuesday of the month, 9am Fourth Saturday of the month, 9am. CovidSafe rules apply for all activities. Find out more at sustainableneighbourhoods.org.au or follow them on Facebook. |
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Renewing Sustainable Neighbourhood Groups
Council and the Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance are strengthening and expanding the Sustainable Neighbourhoods program, and will be undertaking additional renewal activities this year. Find out more. |
Volunteer with us
Are you looking for a way to contribute to a better future? Make 2022 your year to volunteer!
Find out more about current volunteer opportunities.
Are you looking for a way to contribute to a better future? Make 2022 your year to volunteer!
Find out more about current volunteer opportunities.
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Help us tell our story
Can you take photos or videos at our events? Develop your experience and portfolio for an emerging career in commercial photography, or just send in some snaps from your smart phone. Find out more. 
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Past events
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Sustainable Neighbourhoods end of year celebration
Wow it's almost the end of 2022! You're invited to celebrate the year together with an informal lunch and catch up. All welcome. Sunday 4 December, 1-3pm Ulinga Park Community Hall, Cardiff South Find out more |
Sunday 4 December, various times - see below
Ulinga Park Community Hall, 1A Lodwick Lane, Cardiff South
Join the Cardiff Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group for a series of workshops to help you make your festivities fun, low waste and sustainable.
Ulinga Park Community Hall, 1A Lodwick Lane, Cardiff South
Join the Cardiff Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group for a series of workshops to help you make your festivities fun, low waste and sustainable.
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Wreath making, 9.30-11am
Make a Christmas wreath that won't cost the Earth. All materials provided. $10 Buy your ticket here. 
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Garden tool repairs and sharpening, 10am-1pm
Learn to sharpen, maintain and fix your garden tools. $10 Buy your ticket here. 
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Beeswax wraps, 11am-12.30pm
Make 4 reusable wax wraps to replace plastic food wrap. All materials provided. $10 Buy your ticket here. 
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Repair It Lake Mac
Join in our next Repair Cafe event where we come together to repair and give new life to our stuff! Connect with your community, reduce waste, share skills and build friendships. Expert volunteers from Repair It Lake Mac will be on hand to help repair your clothing, textiles, toys, small electrical items or small furniture. Drop in for a chat and a cuppa. Saturday 3 December, 10am-12.45pm Pasterfield Sports Complex, 18C Horizon Ave, Cameron Park Find out more at Repair It Lake Mac. |
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Create Christmas decorations from waste
Join Mardi from French for Tuesday for a free workshop to make your own Christmas decorations that looks great, uses a range of reclaimed materials and reduces the need to buy. Fun for adults and children from 8 years and up. Saturday 3 December, drop in between 10am-noon Pasterfield Sports Complex, 18C Horizon Ave, Cameron Park Find out more at humanitix.com. |
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Car boot sale
Enjoy a family morning in the park and get some Christmans shopping done at the Greater Charlestown Sustainable Neighbourhood Group and Kahibah Village Alliance's car boot sale. Grab a coffee or brunch from nearby Kahibah Village and find some great quality reused treasures. Saturday 3 December, 8.30-11.30am Memorial Park, Hexham Street, Kahibah Find out more at facebook.com/greatercharlestownsng. |
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Tree Trail launch
Join ReLeaf Lake Mac to celebrate the launch of the first Tree Trail of its kind in Lake Macquarie. The trail takes visitors on a tour of the MAC yapang Sculpture Park, showcasing ten beautiful specimen trees and the history of tree planting on this iconic site. Saturday 12 November, 1.30-3.30pm MAC: Museum of Art and Culture yapang, First Street, Booragul Register your spot here. |
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Planting preparation - Styles Point, Rathmines
The Rathmines Area Sustainable Neighbourhood group is looking for volunteers to help prepare sites, by spreading cardboard and mulch in Styles Point for their habitat planting project. Sunday 25 September, 10am Styles Point, Rathmines Please wear closed footwear, a hat and bring your gardening gloves. Please rsvp to Joanne 0408 862 994 for location details. |
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Car Boot Catch-Up
Meet your neighbours, have fun and put our reduce, recycle and reuse principles into practice. The Car Boot Catch-Up also aims to support local community groups and businesses to showcase their activities and services. There will be face painting and a drumming workshop, plenty of room to fly a kite and have a picnic. Find out more at the Facebook event. |
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Alliance Annual General Meeting
Members of the Lake Macquarie Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) Wednesday 2 November 2022 6.00 - 7.00pm Find out more and how to nominate to join the Alliance board. |
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Belmont Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Gathering
Here's a chance to be part of the Sustainable Neighbourhoods movement and create local sustainability projects in the Belmont area. We're inviting residents from Belmont, Belmont North, Belmont South, Floraville and Jewells to enjoy a relaxed gathering with your neighbours. Saturday 3 September, 2-4pm Find out more. |
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Sugar Valley Sustainable Neighbourhood gathering
Here's a chance to be part of the Sustainable Neighbourhoods movement and create local sustainability projects in the 'Sugar Valley' area. We're inviting residents from Cameron Park, Barnsley, Holmesville, Killingworth, Seahampton, Wakefield and West Wallsend to enjoy a relaxed gathering with your neighbours. Saturday 27 August Find out more. |
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National Tree Day, Blackalls Park
Get together with volunteers from the Five Bays Sustainable Neighbourhood group to help re-green an urban site in Blackalls park.
The project is part of the Sustainable Neighbourhoods ReLeaf Lake Mac initiative to increase urban canopy cover, support native wildlife and reduce urban heat impacts. Join in to help prepare the site on Sunday 24 July, or to plant a range of native plants on Sunday 31 July. Bookings essential. • Preparation day Sunday 24 July • Planting day Sunday 31 July |
Sustainable Neighbourhood Surveys in Belmont and Sugar Valley
We are working with community members to establish a new Sustainable Neighbourhood group in the Belmont area, and to help the West Wallsend District Sustainable Neighbourhood Group expand to include Cameron Park and Wakefield, known as the 'Sugar Valley' area.
In April 2022 we surveyed residents in these neighbourhoods to understand local attitudes about the environment, community priorities, and possible projects. We will use the survey results to inform the development of a Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan for each group.
Click on the images below to find out more.
We are working with community members to establish a new Sustainable Neighbourhood group in the Belmont area, and to help the West Wallsend District Sustainable Neighbourhood Group expand to include Cameron Park and Wakefield, known as the 'Sugar Valley' area.
In April 2022 we surveyed residents in these neighbourhoods to understand local attitudes about the environment, community priorities, and possible projects. We will use the survey results to inform the development of a Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan for each group.
Click on the images below to find out more.
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Plastic Free Cafes and Coffee Vans
We are encouraging our community to Choose Reusable alternatives over single use plastic items. Our reusable coffee cups are now available at participating cafes and coffee vans. We are offering good quality reusable cups at a subsidised price of just $2, thanks to a Community Environment Grant from Council. Join the thousands of Lake Macquarie residents who are making the switch away from single-use plastics. Find out more here. |
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Our Place Our Patches
Saturday 4 June, 9.30am-noon Meet at the playground, Allambee Park, opposite Valentine shops Learn how to build a thriving, diverse garden. Join the Valentine Sustainable Neighbourhood Group for a short garden walking tour of five gardens in old Valentine, followed by morning tea and a workshop to help you plan your own patch. Registrations essential at www.events.humanitix.com/our-place-our-patches. |
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Health and Safety training
Do you understand your responsibilities when organising and delivering Sustainable Neighbourhood activities? Learn how to manage risks and protect the health and safety of volunteers and participants in your activities. At least one representative from each Sustainable Neighbourhood group should attend this training. Wednesday 15 June, 5.30pm Please rsvp by Tuesday 7 June at humanitix.com. |
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National Volunteer Week celebration
We celebrated National Volunter Week with a gathering of Landcare, Sustainable Neighbourhood, and Community Ecosystem Monitoring volunteers. We learned all about seagrass with Landcarer and Community Ecosystem Monitoring volunteer, Janet White. Margo Smith showed us how to use the iNaturalist app to get help with identifying plants and animals. Sunday 22 May, 10.00am – 12.30pm Blackalls Park picnic shelter, eastern end of Blackall Avenue, Blackalls Park |
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Clean up at Marks Point
The Pelican Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group held their postponed Clean Up Australia Day event at the popular beach and foreshore at Naru Street Beach, Marks Point. Saturday 7 May, 9-11am Meet 9am at the beach car park situated at the end of Naru Street, Marks Point Register your participation at cleanupaustraliaday.org.au. |
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Seed saving techniques workshop
Learn practical ways to save and store seeds grown in your garden. Hosted by Lake Mac Seed Library, a community seed sharing initiative that allows members to ‘borrow’ various fruit, vegetable and flower seeds from the library, and return some seeds at the end of their crop for others to enjoy. Find out more and register for the workshop at library.lakemac.com.au. Saturday 7 May, 9.30-11.30am Cardiff Library, Main Road Cardiff |
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Make your own worm farm - SOLD OUT
Reduce your local food waste and create wonderful organic garden fertiliser. Join Lachlan Storrie from Treefrog Permaculture to make your own worm farm from reclaimed materials. This workshop will take you through the steps to create your own worm farm (including worms) to take home. All materials and worms are supplied. Please bring a pair of gardening gloves. Suitable for adults and supervised children aged 10+. Saturday 14 May, 10am-noon Sorry this event is sold out already. |
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Recycle your face masks
Do you have used face masks lying around the house, car, or the bottom of your handbag? For a limited time, you can drop them off at Warners Bay Coles or Bunnings Glendale for recycling, thanks to generous donation of TerraCycle boxes from the Warners Bay Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group and the Munibung Hill Conservation Society. The boxes are now full, and have been sent to TerraCycle to be safely turned into items such as outdoor furniture and decking boarding. |
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Make and mend with Repair It Lake Mac
Have you got any clothing pieces that need mending?Join Repair It Lake Mac for this free mini pop-up event and have items mended by our expert repairers, while learning new skills in a fun and friendly environment. Or simply come and chat about our major repair days around Lake Macquarie. Make a booking with a repairer and access to a machine, or drop in for a chat. Wednesday 23 February, 10am-1pm, Toronto Library Wednesday 23 March, 10am-1pm, Belmont Library Various sessions. Book a spot using the links above. |
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Sustainable Neighbourhood volunteers from around Lake Macquarie caught up for an afternoon in Feburary plan for a productive 2022.
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Waste to Art 2021
Did you miss the amazing 2021 Sustainable Neighbourhoods Waste to Art Exhibition? You can catch up on all the wonderful artworks with our online exhibition guide. Find out more. |
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Celebrate with us!
We enjoyed a relaxed picnic in the park to celebrate our achievements in another challenging year, and our ongoing progress towards a sustainable city.
We enjoyed a relaxed picnic in the park to celebrate our achievements in another challenging year, and our ongoing progress towards a sustainable city.
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Valentine Community Gathering
The Valentine community came together in November 2021 to meet their neighbours and identify local project ideas to inspire and guide our community across a range of sustainability topics. Find out more. |
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Help us celebrate a decade of Sustainable Neighbourhoods!
July 2021 marks the tenth anniversary of the Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance and our work to create a more sustainable Lake Macquarie City. Come along to one of our upcoming events to join in the celebrations. |
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MOTHERLOAD
Online screening and panel discussion More than 80 people joined Greater Charlestown Sustainable Neighbourhood Group’s online screening of MOTHERLOAD, and follow up panel discussion in October 2021. Find out more. |
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Annual Report 2021
We are pleased to present the Sustainable Neighbourhoods Annual Report for the 2020-2021 financial year. Find out more. 
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Celebrate National Tree Day
We teamed up with local Landcare groups to celebrate National Tree Day, with a series of events across Lake Macquarie City. We enjoyed a series of fun events with friendly volunteers, to help increase tree cover and improve our natural areas for people, wildlife and the planet. Find out more. |
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Sustainable Neighbourhood News
Subscribe to our monthly e-news to get the latest update direct to your inbox. Subscribe here. 
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Cake, conversation, and a Circular Economy
We learned about developing a circular economy in Lake Macquarie at our networking event in June 2021. Find out more. 
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Cardiff Pollinator Corridor Project aims to create a local habitat corridor for pollinators and small birds. Participants are supported to Spare a Square of their property to grow and maintain some pollinator attracting plants. Find out more.
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Frog pond and pollinator workshop
In May 2021, we showed our neighbours how to build an inexpensive backyard frog pond. Find out more. 
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Native plant giveaway
Find out how we are helping our neighbours support local pollinators through the Cardiff Pollinator Project. We gave away 400 local native plants in 2021. Find out more. 
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How's your governance going?
Good governance is essential to ensure transparency and give the whole community an opportunity to engage with your group. Here's a quick check for your group. 
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ReLeaf Lake Mac
Help increase tree canopy cover and green spaces across Lake Macquarie. Head over to ReLeaf Lake Mac and tell us your stories of bush champions, favourite trees, green spaces and community gardens! 
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Dudley Mural
Here's Susan and Indra from the Dudley Sustainable Neighbourhood Group, talking about the amazing mural they and the team created - What a great community asset!
Here's Susan and Indra from the Dudley Sustainable Neighbourhood Group, talking about the amazing mural they and the team created - What a great community asset!
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Plastic free cafes
How is your local cafe transitioning away from single use plastics? Find out where you can get a discount for bringing your own cup in Lake Macquarie, and how you can help your local cafe make the switch. Find out more. 
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Plastic free profile
Learn how this local business is reducing their use of single use plastics. Find out more. |
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Covid-19 updates
We are encouraging everyone in the community to take a measured and precautionary approach to prevent and slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus. For all Sustainable Neighbourhood events and activities we are regularly checking current health advice and restrictions at www.health.nsw.gov.au, and updating our event planning, risk management and project management protocols accordingly. |
Lake Mac Repair Cafe
Planning is underway for Repair Cafe events in 2021.
Keep up to date with upcoming activities by following the Lake Mac Repair Cafe Facebook page.
Find out more about the project here, or watch the video below, taken at our Repair Cafe event in March 2020.
Planning is underway for Repair Cafe events in 2021.
Keep up to date with upcoming activities by following the Lake Mac Repair Cafe Facebook page.
Find out more about the project here, or watch the video below, taken at our Repair Cafe event in March 2020.
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Pamper Care donations
You can donate personal care items, pantry food or gift cards to share with those in need through the Pamper Care Project. Find out more. 
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Year Planner
We've updated our year planner for 2021. Take a look to see what's coming up and help plan your year. 
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2020 Annual Report
We are pleased to present the Sustainable Neighbourhoods Annual Report for the 2019-2020 financial year. Find out more. 
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Get your hands dirty
Enjoy some good company, and the joy of gardening at a local community garden. We manage community garden projects in Dudley, Redhead, Holmesville and Charlestown. Find out more. |
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Marketing specialist
Looking for a short term project? Gain some practical experience and help us raise the visibility of Sustainable Neighbourhoods. 
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Become a Young Leader
We are looking for enthusiastic people to help us foster a more sustainable Lake Macquarie. Find out more 
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Are you following us?
Have you found our Facebook page yet? Get the latest updates and connect with Sustainable Neighbourhood activities around the city. We are at Sustainable Neighbourhoods Lake Macquarie Find out more. 
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Strategic Plan 2018-2023
Our Strategy details the direction and actions we are taking to ensure we continue to be an effective organisation that is focused on our vision: Neighbourhoods that are empowered to live sustainably. Find out more. 
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Alliance Board meeting minutes
Do you want to keep up to date with decisions and actions of the Alliance Board? The monthly meeting minutes are usually emailed to those interested the day after the meeting. Please let us know if you'd like to join that email list. The approved minutes are also available here. 
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Picnic in the Park
Sustainable Neighbourhood volunteers enjoyed a relaxed picnic in Blackalls Park to celebrate our achievements in a challenging year, and see each other face to face. Find out more. 
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Waste to Art 2020
Discover how our community transformed ‘rubbish’ into beautiful, fun and functional pieces for the 2020 Sustainable Neighbourhoods Waste to Art exhibition. Find out more.
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Caring for each other and keeping connected
Sustainable Neighbourhoods is fundamentally a strong network of caring community members, which is so valuable in times of uncertainty.
Our members have continued to stay active and connected with each other via online and other means throughout 2020 and beyond.
Sustainable Neighbourhoods is fundamentally a strong network of caring community members, which is so valuable in times of uncertainty.
Our members have continued to stay active and connected with each other via online and other means throughout 2020 and beyond.
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As restrictions have eased and continue to change, we are holding small face to face meetings and events again, with Covid Safe protocols in place.
These lessons from lockdown still remain important.
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Do you know where your cat is?
We have created a brochure to encourage residents to protect our local wildlife and responsibly care for our feline friends. Find out more. 
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Lake Mac Award winners 2020
We are proud as punch to have received two awards recognising the wonderful work of Sustainable Neighbourhood volunteers. Find out more. 
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Celebrate!
We enjoyed a relaxed afternoon catching up with Sustainable Neighbourhood volunteers, and learning about Council's tree Replacement Program at our afternoon tea and celebration event. Find out more. 
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Value our City's trees
We got together for a morning of creative fun back in August to create some homemade signs to encourage appreciation of our City's trees. Find out more. 
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Cake, conversation and Lake Mac's water quality
We learned all about water quality at the June Sustainable Neighbourhood networking event, with the Hunter Community Environment Centre and Council staff. Find out more. 
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Nature Play Forum
The forum in May explored opportunities for school-aged children to experience nature based learning, rich in nature time, movement, culture and community. Find out more. 
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Holmesville garden gatherings
Share the joy of gardening with the friendly crowd at the Holmesville Community Garden, on the first Wednesday and fourth Saturday of every month. Find out more. 
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Plastic free Toronto
Find out how the Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group are working to create a Plastic Free Toronto. Find out more. 
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Barks and recreation
We are calling on all dog owners to be mindful of their responsibilities, and have produced a brochure to help clarify and reinforce the rules about dogs in public places. 
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War on Waste toolkit
This excellent toolkit has been created as part of the ABC's War on Waste. Download the toolkit from the ABC website. 
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The psychology of climate change
This resource from the Australian Psychological Society discusses how to help people understand climate change, how to cope with it, and how to get involved in effectively addressing climate change. 
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Social media and website policy
We have updated our website policy to include guidelines for Sustainable Neighbourhood social media pages. Download the updated policy. 
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Community gardens
We are now able to oversee community garden projects that are managed by Sustainable Neighbourhood Groups. 
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Managing grant funding
We've developed a guide for Sustainable Neighbourhood groups about:
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