Tag: water restrictions

North Ringwood Tennis Club – official opening of water tanks

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Like many aspects of our community, sporting clubs have had to adapt to climate change and water restrictions. It is imperative that our community groups focus on environmental sustainability to ensure that they can continue to remain viable into the future.

As a result, Maroondah City Council launched its Sustainability Fund in 2007 to provide sporting clubs with the ability to apply for grants to assist in improving their environmental sustainability.

North Ringwood Tennis Club was one of the successful recipients of this $10,000 grant which allowed for the installation of water tanks and court treatments when combined with a Commonwealth Government of $50,000.

This afternoon the North Ringwood Tennis Club officially opened the water tanks and I had the opportunity to congratulate the club on its foresight and emphasis on environmental sustainability.

It is fantastic to see that our sporting community is taking steps to reduce its environmental footprint and to ensure a sustainable future.

North Ringwood Tennis Club is based at 12/182 Warrandyte Road and for further information please visit www.nrtc.com.au.

Ringwood Bowls Club – Water Reclamation Facility Launch

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The Ringwood Bowls Club began 1929 and has had a long association with Ringwood. The club has recently focused on sustainability and embarked on a water reclamation project aimed to increase its water self-sufficiency.

The Club began the project two years ago, through securing Council, State and Federal grants for the installation of three water tanks and a pumping system to collect water from its roof, car park, greens and adjoining roadways.

The system was officially launched this morning and has a capacity of 280,000 litres and is anticipated to reduce mains water usage by approximately 1,500,000 litres.

The Ringwood Bowls Club is to be commended for its strong emphasis on future sustainability and for being one of the first bowls clubs to embark on a project of this scale. In addition, the club has further plans to reduce its water usage, including the conversion of one of its grass greens to a type that uses 30 to 50% less water.

I worked closely with the club over the past few years to assist in the application of grants and was invited to speak at the launch this morning.

Alex at the launch of the Ringwood Bowls Club Water Reclamation Facility

Please continue reading to view a copy of the speech delivered at the launch.

Continue reading “Ringwood Bowls Club – Water Reclamation Facility Launch”

Maroondah Leader: Push for Maroondah to go carbon neutral

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The Maroondah Sustainability Strategy has reached draft status and was endorsed for public exhibition at the last Council meeting. Public comments and submissions can be made about the strategy up to the 1st of December, whereby this feedback will be considered when the policy is finalised at a future council meeting.

The Maroondah Sustainability Strategy will guide the council’s approach to energy, water, transport and resource usage for the next four years and it is therefore critical that the document sets proactive environmental targets.

The Maroondah Leader has reported on the Draft Strategy, including its carbon neutral target of 2020:

Cr Alex Makin, who also voted to support the draft plan, said the council should set an interim target to ensure it reached its 2020 goal.

Currently there are no interim targets to measure council’s progress towards reaching carbon neutrality. While I personally believe that the target should potentially be brought forward to 2012, it is also imperative that interim goals are established to guide council budgets and to measure progress towards becoming carbon neutral.

Back in the year 2000 the then council set a target of reducing energy consumption by 20% by the year 2010. Unfortunately due to the lack of interim targets this was largely forgotten until public pressure along with myself, Jo-anne Taylor and Maureen forced the council to recommit to this goal.

It is therefore essential that any carbon neutral target includes appropriate interim goals to measure progress and keep council accountable for its performance in meeting this objective.

Maroondah Journal: 'No logging' call takes root

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The Maroondah Journal has reported community concerns over the logging of water catchments and requests for Maroondah to join neighbouring councils, such as Knox, Yarra Range and Whitehorse in calling on the State Government to stop this practice.

Cr Alex Makin said logging was a major issue and there was sufficient evidence to backup residents’ concerns.

“Logging erodes the water ability of our water catchment to retain water. It is my intent to secure a motion whereby Maroondah would call on the State Government to stop logging our catchment areas.”

A report on this issue will be produced for the May council meeting, where if successful Maroondah would join the growing list of councils raising their voice on this issue. The logging of water catchments is environmentally and economically unsound, since it reduces Melbourne’s supply of water.

I trust that councillors within Maroondah will recognise the importance of this issue.

Stage 3A Water Restrictions

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Melbourne has now entered Stage 3A water restrictions. The primary difference from stage three being that no evening watering of gardens is allowed.

Gardens may now only be watered between 6am and 8am for manual systems while automatic systems (which turn on and off automatically) can only be used between midnight-2am.

Even numbered houses can water on Saturday and Tuesday while odd numbered houses can water on Sunday and Wednesday.

Greywater can be used for gardens but to ensure high health standards it must be used within 24 hours of collection (unless it has been treated).

Water restrictions are also having an impact on local councils. The current regulations allow councils to water just one in four sportsgrounds, Maroondah is working sporting clubs to try and rationalise sporting facilities.

For more information please visit the Yarra Valley Water website www.yvw.com.au.

Improving stormwater quality and usage

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This morning I opened a training session on the use of rain gardens to improve stormwater quality. The training session was hosted at Maroondah City Council and was led by instructors from Clearwater, a not-for-profit program supported by Melbourne Water.

Rain gardens are designed to absorb excess rainwater run-off from buildings and paved areas, such as car parks. Plants within rain gardens include wetland vegetation, which filter run-off and thus improve stormwater quality, as well as providing the garden with a source of water.

Continue reading to view a transcript of the speech given at this training session.

Continue reading “Improving stormwater quality and usage”

North Ringwood Community House AGM for 2007

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The North Ringwood Community House is located at 120 Oban Road in Ringwood North, behind the Holy Spirit Primary School. The last twelve months have been especially significant for the community house with the introduction of several new courses, included the accredited Certificate IV in Disability Work.

While the City of Maroondah provides ongoing funding for its neighbourhood houses, it is also encouraging that the state government has increased its funding arrangements thus helping to ensure the continued viability of these essential community assets.

The AGM included speakers from Yarra Valley Water who discussed water conservation measures given continued water restrictions for metropolitan Melbourne and most of Victoria. Since Melbourne’s households consume 70% of the metropolitan water supply is crucial that households minimize water consumption wherever possible. Water efficient showerheads and installing a dripper system for gardens are just two examples of ways to reduce water usage. The inclusion of such a topical issue within the AGM demonstrates the community-minded nature of North Ringwood Community House

The North Ringwood Community House has a proud record of innovation and I’m sure this will continue to prove successful over the next twelve months.

Stage Three Water Restrictions

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Stage Three water restrictions have taken effect for Metropolitan Melbourne from the 1st of January 2007. The following restrictions apply (source Yarra Valley Water):

Watering days:

  • Even numbered properties can water on Saturday and Tuesday;
  • Odd numbered properties can water on Sunday and Wednesday;
  • Watering is not permitted on Monday, Thursday and Friday;

Where there is no number, the property is considered an even numbered address.

Lawns and Gardens:

  • Lawns cannot be watered by residents, businesses and local councils.
  • Spray sprinkler systems and spray watering systems cannot be used.
  • Manual dripper systems that you turn on or off by hand can only be used between 6am-8am and 8pm-10pm.
  • Automatic dripper systems that turn themselves on and off can only be used between midnight-4am.
  • Hand-held hoses fitted with a trigger nozzle can be used between 6am-8am and 8pm-10pm to water gardens on specified days.

Vehicles:

  • Hand-held hoses or high pressure cleaning devices cannot be used for vehicle washing.
  • A bucket filled from a tap can be used to clean windows, mirrors and lights.
  • Commercial car washes can be used.

Pools and Spas:

  • A new pool or spa cannot be filled.
  • Existing pools or spas of less than 2,000 litres may be filled with a bucket filled directly from a tap.
  • Existing pools or spas greater than 2,000 litres must not be filled except in accordance with a water conservation plan. (contact Yarra Valley Water for more information)

Stage three water restrictions apply to residents, businesses and councils alike. This means that unfortunately there will be an adverse impact on Maroondah’s sporting grounds and other facilities as we all strive to converse dwindling water supplies.

Mayoral Election and Committees for 2007

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Tonight Maroondah Council held its statutory meeting for the election of the mayor and council representatives on committees.

To increase the level of transparency an open election was held and Councillor Maureen Naylor lost the bid for mayor against Councillor Peter Gurr, with three votes versus four.

While I did vote for Councillor Naylor due to her commitment to increase transparency and accountability in the council chamber, I believe that Councillor Gurr will be able to provide he leadership to ensure that Maroondah City Council will meet the challenges that 2007 will present.

In particular, the possibility of stage three water restrictions and the need to advance the Ringwood Transit City, including advocacy for the redevelopment of Ringwood Station, are just two examples of the major challenges facing next year.

This mayoral election marked the first time in the history of Maroondah that an open election was held. This process demonstrates that there is strength in diversity with councillors able to express different opinions while still being part of a unified council.

As part of tonight’s meeting the council delegates for committees were voted upon. In 2007 I will continue my role as council representative for the Eastern Transport Coalition, Maroondah Partners in Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee and any Melbourne 2030 Committees (such as the Councillors Reference Group). In addition I will also be one of the councillor representatives on the Maroondah Tourism and Heritage Advisory Board.

Stage Two Water Restrictions

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Stage two water restrictions have taken effect today to minimise water usage within metropolitan Melbourne. Water is increasingly become a scare resource and stage two restrictions are necessary to preserve our decreasing supplies.

In particular, stage two restrictions include the following (source Yarra Valley Water):

Residential Gardens:

  • Manual watering systems (the kind you turn on or off by hand) can only be used to water gardens between 6am – 8am and 8pm – 10pm on alternate days.
  • Automatic watering systems (the kind you set to turn on and off automatically) can only be used to water gardens between midnight – 4am on alternate days.
  • Hand-held hoses fitted with a trigger nozzle can be used at any time to water gardens. Hosing down driveways, paths, concrete and paved areas is not permitted.

Public Gardens:

  • Manual watering systems (that you turn on or off by hand) can only be used to water gardens between 6am-10am and 8pm-midnight on alternate days.
  • Automatic watering systems (that turn themselves on and off) can only be used to water gardens between midnight-8am on alternate days.
  • Hand-held hoses with a trigger nozzle, a bucket or watering can may be used at any time on garden beds only.

Vehicle washing:

  • Hand-held hoses cannot be used any time for vehicle washing. A bucket, watering can, high pressure cleaning device or commercial car wash can be used.

Pools and Spas:

  • Before filling a new pool or spa of 2000 litres capacity or more, owners must submit a water conservation plan and have it approved by their government water authority.
    This plan must show how the volume of water required to fill the pool or spa will be, or has been, offset by water saved around the home.
  • A hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, a bucket or a watering can may be used to top up an existing pool or spa.
  • To fill or top up a new or existing pool or spa with a capacity 2000 litres or less, a hand-held hose with a trigger nozzle, a watering can or a bucket must be used.

Water fountatins: Only water fountains that recirculate water can be operated. A fountain must not be filled or topped up.

The watering of lawns is not permitted under stage two restrictions.

Further details:

Alternate days means odd numbered houses can water on odd dates of the month and even numbered houses can water on even numbered dates.

Both odd and even numbered houses can water on the 31st of the month. Where there is no house number the property is considered an even numbered house.

For further information please visit the Yarra Valley Water website (http://www.yvw.com.au/)