Now is the season of Djilba (Aug & Sept), the second rains, or first spring, season of conception.
Djilba is a transitional time of the year, a mix of very cold, clear days and warmer, rainy days, plus the occasional sunny day or two. Lakes and waterholes fill, and the weather begins to warm.
Djilba is also the start of a massive flowering explosion that happens throughout the South West, starting with yellow flowering plants such as the Acacias. You may also start to see and hear the first of the newborns with their proud parents out finding food, or being guided through foraging tasks.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology and Derbal Nara. |
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10 sustainable tips to combat inflation rise Sustainable living habits help combat the harsh impacts of the current increasing inflation rate. Reducing energy use in the home can reduce your carbon emissions and your utility bills, a win-win! By making some simple changes around your home and how you function inside this winter can help you save, some simple tips are; Save on heating costs by only heating just one area of your home, instead of heating your whole house Acclimatise to the season and pop on a jumper. Turn off the heater all together, and head to bed early with a good book and a hot water bottle/heat pack. Block gaps and stop draughts in doors, floors and add clear film to your windows to stop heat escaping. Invest in insulation in your roof, walls, floors to keep the energy your bringing into your house in your house! When heating with reverse cycle air-con, every 1C degree above 20C will add 10% to your bill. Look at how you heat your water and reduce how much hot water you are using. Water efficient appliances will reduce amount heated. Check the temperature setting is not too high. Switch off at power point – up to 10% of electricity bill are things on stand by. Look at 24 hr appliances, your extra fridge, freezer, pool pump. Buy food in season. Choosing to buy fruits and vegetables that are out of season demands extra infrastructure like glasshouses or transportation and all of this is reflected in the price you pay. Go meat free, even for one meal will reduce your grocery bill and reduce the methane impact from animal farming and the carbon dioxide emissions from transport. |
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Turtle nesting season is almost here!
Every year from in spring and summer (peaking Sept-Nov) our turtles are on the move, leaving their watery homes to look for a place to lay their eggs.
If you've ever spotted a turtle and wondered what it was doing or how you can help, then come along to our community information session or sign up to be a Turtle Tracker and help protect this near-threatened species.
Turtle Nesting Info Session & Morning Tea - Saturday 13 August. 10-11.30am.
Learn more about these turtles, why they are threatened, what the City is doing to conserve them and how you can help!. With talks from Murdoch University PhD Candidate Anthony Santoro, WA Wildlife (formerly Native ARC) and guest appearance from Tommy the Turtle.
Light refreshments provided, funded by the Rehabilitating Roe 8 Project.
Registrations are essential.
Calling all Turtle Tracker Volunteers! The City is currently accepting applications from volunteers to participate in the 2022 Turtle Tracker program. Volunteers are required to commit to a regular morning or afternoon patrol twice a week and be on call for any mass nesting activities. All you need is a love for turtles, and the outdoors!
If you would like to be involved in this years citizen science program contact the City on 9411 3444 or email environmentaleducation@cockburn.wa.gov.au
To find out more about the program go to the City's website here. |
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Children's Book Week 2022 - Nature Storytime Trek, 22 August 1.30-3.00pm
Get involved this Children's Book Week with two competitions, Colouring In and Look and Find, attendance at a Children's Book Week session gets you an extra entry into the Look and Find competition.
Talk, sing, read, write, & play every day.
Join us for a story, nature trek, and craft at the Wetlands Centre.
You’ll need good shoes, a full water bottle, and weather/sun protection. |
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Living Smart Course - starts 8th September
Living Smart is a 4-week course (plus an additional field trip) that will inspire you to make sustainable changes in the area of waste in your own home with your family. The course is designed with the needs and interests of participants in mind and can include topics such as composting, reducing single use plastic, preserving, green cleaning and more.
Thursday 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th Sept 2022
This course will be facilitated by the team from Ecoburbia - Shani Graham and Tim Darby, the most experienced Living Smart facilitators in Australia. This course is only $10 and all residents and non-residents are welcome. |
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Winter Waterwise verge giveaways!
Winter rainfall is most valued by our local plants. Rainfall and thunderstorms bring digestible atmospheric nitrogen to plants, which encourages strong healthy plants.
The City supported by the Water Corporation is offering residents the essentials to get the verge area into a nutrient rich native plant hot spot to utilise the winter rain. This year you can pick from the following giveaways (or take them all!): 15 native seedlings as tube stock 1 bag of Bentonite Clay 1 bag of Soil Improver 1 bag of soil wetter Up to $250 rebate Simply send in your application form and complete your verge works before 30 September. |
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Sustainable September Port Coogee
This September join us in celebrating all things sustainable right near the ocean at Port Coogee. Packed with fun and inspiring activities, workshops and other events for the whole community to enjoy. Run in collaboration with Frasers, Port Coogee Community Association and the Port Coogee Marina.
There is something for everyone, so hope to see you there! Registrations are essential. Community Clothes Swap Thursday 1 September 6-8pm A Plastic Ocean Documentary Screening Thursday 7 September 6pm Coogee Community Garden Tour, Talk & Tea Sunday 11 September 9.30am A Day in the Life of the WA Wildlife Centre Wednesday 14 September 6pm Beach Discovery Day Sunday 18 September 8.30-11am Seabird Rescue Stories & Screening Wednesday 21 September 6pm Port Coogee Pedal Power Saturday 24 September 9am |
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Sustainability Art Exhibition - at Spearwood Library
Heading towards a more sustainable world requires action on all levels, from the global to the individual. It asks us to think cooperatively, laterally and creatively.
Students from the Global and Regional Sustainability Unit at Murdoch University have put together creative works that explore a complex sustainability problem.
This exhibition showcases problems but the hope is that it will inspire an awareness of how necessary and effective our own personal participation can be in creating a sustainable future.
On display at Spearwood Library until 16 August. |
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Modern Cloth Nappy Workshops Are you thinking about using modern cloth nappies and don’t know where to start?
Join Kam Andrews 'The Nappy Guru' to learn about using and maintaining cloth nappies. Kam will demonstrate different cloth nappies available and explain the benefits of each.
Residents who attend the workshop get up to 60% subsidy to try cloth nappies using the Nappy Guru’s library service, or a $50 rebate for new cloth nappy purchases. Registrations are essential.
August Workshop
Saturday, 13 August 2022. 9-11am.
October Workshop
Thursday, 6 October 2022. 6-8pm. |
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Worm Farming Workshops Worms are a great way to convert your kitchen waste into fertiliser. They convert the waste into both liquid fertiliser and castings that are great for plants. You will learn all about the art of worm farming with a hands-on demonstration.
This workshop is part of the Home Waste Compost Subsidy program. You can purchase a subsidised worm farm for $95 at the workshop or simply join us to learn more about recycling organic waste at home.
Registrations are essential.
August Workshop
Saturday, 20 August 11am-1pm
September Workshop
Sunday, 11 September 11am-1pm |
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43,000 seedlings planted this winter! Thanks to all those who attended one of the three planting events to plant 3,700 seedlings. In total 43,000 seedlings have been planted in the Roe 8 corridor this winter!
Also, thanks to all who attended the RR8 Community Open Day, there was a great atmosphere.
Djilba is a season of recuperation and planning this year, but we will have some events coming up soon. Keep an eye on our events page. |
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WA Youth Mental Health and Climate Change Survey Are you aged 10-25 and live in Western Australia, or know someone who is? We would love to hear about how climate change affects your wellbeing, and how children and youth services can better respond to these impacts.
The survey will ask about how you feel about climate change, and if you are involved in any actions to address climate change.
The organisations involved in this project include Edith Cowan University, Telethon Kids Institute, Australian National University, Youth Affairs Council of WA, Climate Justice Union, Aboriginal leaders, and young people involved in climate advocacy. |
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Sustainability News All the latest news from Cockburn on everything Climate Change, environment, sustainability, waste and recycling.
Turtle Tracker program expanding across WA - Ahead of the 2022 nesting season, Lotterywest has announced a grant of $131,000 to the South West Corridor Development Foundation to help roll out the program in other local government areas across the state.
Rehabilitating Roe 8 held annual Community Open Day - Over 70 people came through the doors including City of Cockburn’s Mayor Logan Howlett, councillor Philip Eva, Fremantle Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge and many local residents that reconnected and remembered their time together years ago during No Roe 8 protests.
$200k in grants, donations and sponsorships invested into local community projects - This round’s funding included Sustainability and Environmental Grants of $47,932, including $4,000 for Coogee Community Garden WA to expand their community garden network.
Verge collections to be revamped in 2024 - The City's Verge Collection Service will be improved and converted to a pre-booked system commencing July 2024. |
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