Sustainable Dunedin City

SDC Committee Meeting Agenda

5:30 pm Thursday 21 May 2010

Community Church, cnr Filleul and St Andrew’s

Present: Jocelyn Harris, Bob Lloyd, David Tucker, Maureen Howard, Jinty MacTavish, Nick Holmes, Janet Brady, Paul Young, Mark Jackson.

Apologies: Phil Cole, John Cocks, Tracey Willmot, Suze Keith.

Minutes 22/4/10 & business arising

Ø Bob reported that he has been asked by the DCC Community Sustainability Panel to produce a Peak Oil report with Susan Krumdieck, a companion report to the Fitzharris report on Climate Change. The final draft will be due by the end of August.

Ø David Tucker’s attempts to find an auditor have not come to fruition. Jocelyn brought up whether SDC really does need auditing, because it was expensive to do. (John Cocks later clarified by email that SDC does need to.) Bob suggested we put the cost against Vodafone account, but Nick pointed out that his project expenses can’t be used for baseline operating costs. However, since it is specifically having the Vodafone grant that has put SDC’s income over the threshold for needing auditing, there maybe a case for this money to cover the cost.

Ø Jinty to find out who Volunteer Otago use as an auditor. A call for suggestions for an auditor to be included in the newsletter for suggestions.

Secretary’s report: This month’s correspondence: Feedback on renewal online from a member, Donald Geist, and a thank-you note from Enviroschools to SDC, and Nick Holmes in particular, for help with their recent Regeneration event.

Treasurer’s report: Tabled.

Tracey is standing down as Treasurer. Will advertise in the newsletter for a replacement.

Minute of Appreciation for Tracy: All agreed that Tracey has done a stellar job as Treasurer and her work has been much appreciated.

Community Sustainability Panel Update:

Ø There hasn’t been another meeting since the last SDC meeting as the DCC have been busy with their annual plan.

Ø The next one is scheduled for the 4^th June. Anything to be brought up at the next meeting needs to send it to Jinty by mid next week.

Ø Unfortunately Jinty will not be able to attend, but Phil Ker suggested that Nick represent SDC instead so he could talk to them about his work. (Nick wants to propose DCC find a bit of waste land for the 22 Youth garden project. Phil Ker was keen to support this proposal. )

Ø Jinty to pass on that SDC are really pleased that the CSP has asked Bob Lloyd and Susan Krumdieck to produce the Peak Oil report.

Futures Forum Update: Jocelyn said she has now met with Carolyn Burns of the University Sustainability Council, and she’s fully supportive of the proposed forum.

Ø Jocelyn to solicit further support from other key people.

Hands Up Applications: Progress Update:

Ø John, Jocelyn and Nick met and discussed questions to ask the applicants in their interviews. John had a template from MWH that was useful. All agreed that, to be fair, both applicants be asked the same questions.

Ø Nick talked to Vaughan’s manager (one of the business plan applicant’s) as a reference for Vaughan.

Ø Need to think about what sort of long term plan SDC wants, including levels of expectations required.

Ø Need to set up interview with speaker phone. Polytech’s video conferencing facility was suggested. Nick to find out about using this.

Ø The second branding position is still being advertised but there have been no applicants as yet.

Vodafone World of Difference Programme: Update:

Ø Nick pointed out there was now a well stocked bookshelf at the back of the church with books on sustainability for his 22 Youth participants to borrow, or for others to view while in the church.

Ø Nick reported that the Centre for Sustainable Practice at Polytech are launching new certificate and diploma courses in sustainable practice in September, and that these could possibly link in with his project.

Ø Recent activities with the youth group include learning sustainable local food production skills, and as such they have visited various permaculture gardens, such as Jason Ross’. They are still looking at potential sites to set up their own garden which would act as an ongoing classroom for teaching food-growing skills to young people.

Ø Nick to post his Vodafone WoD blog on SDC’s website.

Ø A blurb to be included in the next newsletter to tell members that they can now find out about Nick’s activities in the form of a monthly blog.

Report on submissions to DCC:

Ø The report included references to the recent US Military’s Joint Operating Environment Report projecting peak oil in 2012; the US government’s Energy Information Administration’s 2009 graph showing projected dropping off of oil supplies between 2011 -2015.

Ø At the oral submissions, Jinty said she focussed on the front page of SDC’s submission and reiterated SDC’s concerns that the council was basing its decision–making on a number of assumptions (about the ongoing availability of cheap oil, about the proximity of the impacts of climate change, about the need to mitigate climate change, etc).

Ø A number of questions were asked. Dave Cull asked about the potential positives for Dunedin if the city became really proactive about sustainability initiatives.

Report on Green Drinks:

Ø Maureen reported that last month’s drinks with Hendik Koch, of the Shetland Street Community Gardens, drew about 20 people and generated a good discussion afterwards.

Ø Next month: Waitati Edible Garden (WEGies) will talk about growing and eating pumpkins, potatoes and garlic in ways that don’t contribute to GDP.

Ø As Maureen will be away in June, Bob volunteered to host the drinks. Bob to book Filadelfios for the next two months and Jinty to send out email reminders for both June and July drinks.

Membership: How to get people to renew subs?

Ø Bob said Ted Trainor, who had done a critique of the Transition Towns movement was to speak at the university soon. Maybe SDC could invite members to this talk?

Ø Jinty pointed out that the promotion of the intended community grants would help raise SDC’s profile.

Community Grants:

Ø It was agreed we need to make a visually attractive advertisement for the awards in the next couple of months so it can be advertised three months in advance.

Ø It was suggested approaching the Star to promote the awards and 10/10/10. Advertising the awards in the Star would help raise awareness of the 10/10/10 work day event, and vice versa. There is scope for articles about the nominees and their proposed projects, and follow up articles on completion of the projects.

Ø General agreement with idea of specifying separate award categories for School, Community, and Business.

Ø Next steps: Jinty to draft some branding around the awards and will approach the Star about partnering with SDC on the awards, prior to the next meeting.

Website training: Mark gave instruction on posting to the website for interested committee members.

Other Business:

Ø David has been attending the Business for Change Group’s monthly meetings. So far they’ve had Tim Bishop reporting on projects, Steve Henry talking about a biodiesel programme and the problems of implementing it in Otago; and Peter Morrison on a method of taking all types of waste plastic (1-7) to make building blocks. David feels the group is starting to make some progress.

Ø David also reported hearing rumours about the local supermarkets boycotting products that are being sold at the Otago Farmer’s Market, and wondered whether SDC wants to do something about this? Needs to be verified.

Meeting closed: 6.41pm

Next Meeting: 17^th June.

Dear Members,

Just a little shameless self-promotion – congrats to SDC Committee Member and First Ever Employee (through the Vodafone Word of Difference Foundation) – Nick Holmes – who has, alongside his classmate, Guy Ryan, had their movie, Carving the Future, selected for a ‘newcomers’ award at the WildScreen Festival.

The WildScreen Festival was established with the aim to celebrate, applaud and encourage excellence, and responsibility, in wildlife and environmental filmmaking - films which increase the global viewing public’s understanding of the natural world, and the need to conserve it.

Carving the Future is a powerful film and an educational resource to inspire young New Zealanders to take action in their schools and communities. The film explores the future challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation through the lives of four inspirational young characters leading change - each engaged in positive action to build resilience in their respective communities across New Zealand.

Carving the Future was produced in 2009/2010 by Guy Ryan & Nick Homes as the final year project for their Masters in Science Communication at Otago University.

Check out more about it at http://www.carvingthefuture.com/index.html

Read on!

1. Upcoming Sustainability Events and Courses

i) ON NOW! July 6 - 11- New Zealand International Science Festival, Dunedin

ii) TOMORROW Wednesday 7 July, 7.30pm - John Wilson Ocean Drive Meeting, Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club clubrooms, 3 Young St, St Kilda

iii) July 7 – 15 - Orokonui Ecosanctuary School Holiday Activities, 600 Blueskin Rd, Waitati

iv) Monday, July 12, 5am – 5pm – Harbour Cone Open Day

v) Saturday, 17 July, 7 pm – ‘Shared transport for stronger communities’ - public transport meeting, Rolfe Room (opp PC Library), Port Chalmers

vi) Saturday 17 July, 10am - 1pm - Cadbury Chocolate Carnival Experience Our Peninsula

vii) Enrol now for August - Sustainable Living Classes, Port Chalmers, North East Valley, City

2. Dunedin Sustainability in Action!

- Let’s Grow Native Garden Competition

3. Food for Thought

- An Historic Day – Julia Guillard & GetUp

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1. Upcoming Sustainability Events and Courses

We’d love to advertise your sustainability-related event or course - please send contributions in to dk.sk@xtra.co.nz.

i) ON NOW! July 6 - 11- New Zealand International Science Festival, Dunedin

The programme looks fabulous - the 2010 festival, themed “food for thought” will stimulate your senses, inspiring discussion on the intersection between food and science. From farm to fork, topics such as food production, nutrition and consumption will be on the menu. Be prepared to be challenged.

Check out the Festival’s website for their programme - http://www.scifest.org.nz/.

ii) Wednesday 7 July, 7.30pm - John Wilson Ocean Drive Meeting, Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club clubrooms, 3 Young St, St Kilda

Dunedin City Council is currently reviewing the management of John Wilson Ocean Drive. One of the stated objectives is to protect “opportunities for non-motorised recreation”. Spokes Dunedin and Living Streets Dunedin are hosting a meeting in South Dunedin at 7:30pm Wed. evening, 7th July, to allow the local residents and other interested people to find out more and express their opinions on the proposal, with the opportunity to make a submission if they wish. DCC counselors will be invited to attend as well.

Spokes and Living Streets are both strong advocates of active transport and healthy recreation. John Wilson Ocean Drive has been a marvelous safe venue over the last few years for all generations to walk, cycle and generally enjoy the outdoors. It’s a misnomer to say it has been ‘closed’, it has been accessible to walkers and cyclists and we would like to see it remain that way.

If you can’t come, consider making a submission on the management plan here

http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council-online/public-consultation/consultations/partial-review-of-the-ocean-beach-domain-management-plan/_nocache

Contact Judy Martin, Living Streets Dunedin 465 8437 for more information.

iii) July 7 – 15 - Orokonui Ecosanctuary School Holiday Activities, 600 Blueskin Rd, Waitati

* July 7 - Taoka Tucker

Learn what our native birds, lizards and insects need to survive in the forest. Dr Ian Jamieson from the Zoology Department and Ecosanctuary staff. Time: 2pm-3pm. Cost: $5

* July 8 - Forest Survival Skills

Learn how to create food and shelter from the New Zealand forest with Tahu Mackenzie. Time: 1pm – 3.30pm. Cost: $19.90 per family

* July 9 - Nice and Natural Native Nibbles

Revitalise your cooking with native NZ delicacies. Learn how to identify edible native plants and taste for yourself innovative recipes with Tahu Mackenzie. Time: 1pm – 3.30pm. Cost: $19.90 per family

* July 11 - Fabulous Ferns

An illustrated talk and field excursion looking at fabulous ferns with John Steel from the University of Otago Botany Department. Time: 10am – 3pm. Cost: $39

* July 12 - 15 - Freddo Frog Holiday Programme with Cadbury

Various frog frolics at Orokonui during the week with lots of prizes. Gala Day 11th July at Edgar Centre.

* July 21, 2.00pm - Orokonui orchids

Angus McMillan of Kaka Point, a lover and grower of exotic orchids, will introduce us to the much tinier, more discreet native varieties the observant walker can find in Orokonui and elsewhere in the New Zealand forest. Time 2pm-3pm. Cost $5

iv) Monday, July 12, 5am – 5pm – Harbour Cone Open Day

Explore the Hereweka Harbour Cone property and learn how it contributes to the Otago Peninsula now and in the future.

http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/events/garden-and-environment/harbour-cone-open-day

v) Saturday, 17 July, 7 pm – ‘Shared transport for stronger communities’ - public transport meeting, Rolfe Room (opp PC Library), Port Chalmers

Public transport is of major importance to our communities’ wellbeing.

At the moment it is difficult to live a low carbon lifestyle in Port Chalmers and other communities ‘up the line’, given the high cost and infrequent times of the bus service. The Port Chalmers Transition Town group therefore plan to put in a submission to the ORC about these issues, and is starting the process through our public meeting on the 14th of July.

We see this as the start of a bigger conversation about a new vision for Otago that puts bikes and shared transport (bus, train, tram, ferry) at the centre, not individual cars.

Please come along and join in!

Nicky Chapman for Transition Towns Port Chalmers

vi) Saturday 17 July, 10am - 1pm - Cadbury Chocolate Carnival Experience Our Peninsula

You can visit Dunedin’s most iconic peninsula attractions for a fraction of the normal price! Hop on one of the shuttle services operating from the Portobello Village Market to the surrounding attractions. David Bellamy has described Otago Peninsula as “the finest example of eco-tourism in the world”.

vii) Enrol now for August - Sustainable Living Classes, Port Chalmers, North East Valley, City

This interactive eight-week course will assist you to learn and share practical tips that make a difference and can save you money, meet others in your community who are interested in living more sustainably, gain support for introducing lifestyle changes you want to make. Facilitated by Dr Maureen Howard, c/o Water and Waste Services, Dunedin City Council.

All courses are free but a Donation is requested ($30 recommended). Courses are restricted to a maximum of 14 people. Registration is essential: Registration or enquiries before 17 June to Maureen 4739967 or email mhoward@slingshot.co.nz . After this date please register with the Dunedin City Council 4774000. Your place on the course will be confirmed during the week beginning July 26th.

The Sustainable Living Programme is brought to you locally by the Dunedin City Council.

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2. Dunedin Sustainability in Action!

This section is about some of the inspirational things happening in our community, as well as ’sustainability’ volunteer opportunities in and around Dunedin. If you’ve got a project you need more hands for (or even a project that needs hands to get started!), or a group you think our members may like to join, send me a paragraph…and don’t forget your contact details. And if you’re doing something inspirational, or know of someone that is, let me know (dk.sk@xtra.co.nz).

- Let’s Grow Native Garden Competition

To celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity, the Dunedin City Council is running a garden competition as part of its ‘Let’s Grow Native’ campaign. This competition is open to all Dunedin schools, not just homes and businesses.

The competition is open now and, now that the planting season has started, it’s the perfect time to get planning and planting. The competition doesn’t close until the 20th October 2010 so you have got the next 6 months to get your garden ready.

For further competition details go to www.dunedin.govt.nz/biodiversity or contact Renee Gordon on rgordon@dcc.govt.nz or p 4774000.

The Let Grow Native programme will be updated with additional events throughout the year. For more information see http://www.countdown2010.net/year-biodiversity or contact Fliss Butcher fbutcher@dcc.govt.nz.

3. Food for Thought

Do you know of an amazing podcast everyone should listen to? An article or a blog or a site that would be of interest to all SDC members? Send me a short explanation and the link (dk.sk@xtra.co.nz), and we’ll add it in here. Links preferable to attachments, because they tend to fill up everyone’s inboxes.

“I believed that a good Government was losing its way” — Australia’s new Prime Minister, Julia Gillard.

Dear Jocelyn,

It’s an historic day in Canberra, as Australia gets its first female Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. It’s a great symbol for young girls growing up in Australia that anything is truly within their grasp.

We all hope that Prime Minister Gillard will be a new start: a bold leader on climate change, a compassionate voice on refugees, and a force for a fairer, more progressive Australia.

But we know that our politicians only ever soar as high as we demand. As Julia Gillard seeks out the trust and support of the Australian people, it’s a perfect opportunity to tell her what you expect of her as Prime Minister–to show her and the Government the way forward:

www.getup.org.au/campaign/WelcomeWritLarge

The pundits and commentators have had plenty to say already on the politics, but we know its the principles that the new Government will stand for that matter most.

As the new Prime Minister and her staff check their email to see what the public is saying, make sure that your message is front and centre.

What’s your message to the new PM? Talk to her about the people who need help the most: from those struggling with ill mental health, to the refugees languishing in Curtin detention centre. Tell her about the uncertain fate of our children, without action on climate change. Share with her the issue or person that is closest to your heart, in your own personal welcome message:

www.getup.org.au/campaign/WelcomeWritLarge

Importantly, in all the fracas around Canberra today - our huge mental health petition has been delivered to the new Prime Minister: the first to land on her desk.

Over 85,000 Australians have joined in the call for mental health reform in just two days - it’s our fastest growing petition ever! Australian of the Year, Prof. Patrick McGorry, was in Parliament House to deliver your petition today, and all 2,413 pages of it have been personally delivered to the new Prime Minister’s office.

But will she move to take action? You can make it a priority for the new PM:

www.getup.org.au/campaign/WelcomeWritLarge

As the media report on the political machinations in Canberra, we know what really matters. This election it’s up to us to refocus all sides of politics on the issues that matter most, the people in greatest need and the values that make us proud to be Australians.

Thanks for all that you do,
The GetUp team

P.S. We got the ball rolling today with a message for the new PM from a GetUp member: a small plane (carbon offset, of course) flew over Parliament House today with a simple message–Aim Higher on Climate Change. What’s your message?

You may wish to join in. Here’s what I’ve written:

“Brilliant to see a woman in the job! I’m a New Zealander, but our PM looks to Australia. So PLEASE take action on climate change and peak oil, both to mitigate its effects and to adapt to its consequences. Carbon tax, emissions trading, alternative energy. Especially SUN when you have so much of it.

Good luck, and welcome,

Jocelyn Harris, Co-Chair, Sustainable Dunedin City

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Tēnā koutou katoa,

Suze Keith (SDC’s newsletter compiler)

dk.sk@xtra.co.nz

Janet Brady (SDC’s secretary)

secretary@sustainabledunedincity.org.nz

Sustainable Dunedin City Inc.

PO Box 8061, North East Valley, Dunedin

Dear Members,

Welcome to the longest night / shortest day. While the dark draws you to the couch with a hot chocolate and a roaring fire, there is so much on in the next fortnight that you just won’t have time.

Read on!

1. Upcoming SDC Events and Projects

i) THIS Thursday, June 24 from 5.30pm, GREENDRINKS Dunedin, Front Room of Filadelfios at the Gardens

ii) Nick Holmes World of Difference June Update

2. Upcoming Sustainability Events and Courses

i) TOMORROW! Monday June 21, 10am – 3pm – Warm Up A Tree, the Octagon

ii) THIS Thursday, June 24 - End of the Line, Rialto Cinema

iii) THIS Saturday, June 26, 5.30pm - Dunedin Midwinter Carnival, the Octagon

iv) Monday, July 5, 7pm – Screening of The Cove by Dunedin Sea Shepherd, Bill Fraser Lounge, Macandrew Road

v) July 6 – 11 - New Zealand International Science Festival, Dunedin

vi) Monday, July 12, 5am – 5pm – Harbour Cone Open Day

vii) August - Sustainable Living Classes

viii) 12 - 13 November 2010 - Signs of Change National e-Conference

3. Food for Thought

- Environmental Defence Society have released a recent e-book - Managing the Coastal Environment: An EDS Community Guide

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1. Upcoming SDC Events and Projects

SDC is driven by member ideas and volunteer man-power, so if you have an idea for an event or project you’d like SDC to run, or you’d like to run under the SDC umbrella, please let us know secretary@sustainabledunedincity.org.nz. This section also signposts who to contact if you’re keen to help out with a particular event/project.

i) THIS Thursday, June 24 from 5.30pm, GreenDrinks Dunedin, Front Room of Filadelfios at the Gardens

GreenDrinks Dunedin provides an opportunity for everyone interested in sustainability and the environment to meet in a relaxed setting. It is organised in Dunedin by the Sustainable Dunedin City Society and is part of GreenDrinks International, a social networking movement.

We meet on the last Thursday of each month from 5.30pm at Filadelfios. Each month a different community group hosts a theme. Everyone interested very welcome. Please bring a friend!

THEME THIS MONTH: Low-cost retrofits in homes and flats!

GreenDrinks Dunedin is hosted this month by Solar Action, who will host a discussion about experiences of these low-cost retrofits and the improvements they make to temperature and energy efficiency. Bring your own experiences and ideas to share, or come ready to be a sponge!

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About Solar Action

Solar Action is the New Zealand Renewable Energy Society. Solar Action promotes sustainable use of energy, including reducing the need for energy. Solar Action was founded as a volunteer society in Wellington in 1979. Download past issues of the Solar Action Bulletin at www.solaraction.org.nz .

About GreenDrinks Dunedin

GreenDrinks is an international movement to support informal networking among people who work in the environmental field. To find out more about GreenDrinks International go to www.greendrinks.org.

About Sustainable Dunedin City

GreenDrinks Dunedin is organised by Sustainable Dunedin City. SDC is made up of persons who are interested in the issues of climate change, declining energy security and sustainability, as they affect Dunedin city. The society is not affiliated with any political party and aims to facilitate a positive, secure and sustainable future for Dunedin in the face of challenges posed by climate change, declining energy security, and unsustainable resource use.

For more information or to join go to www.sustainabledunedincity.org.nz or email secretary@sustainabledunedincity.org.nz. To get on the GreenDrinks Dunedin elist - or to host a GreenDrinks - please contact Jinty on jintymactavish@gmail.com.

ii) Nick Holmes’ World of Difference June update

“There ought to be a word for that very real feeling of satisfaction, achievement and self-worth that comes from doing. Be it baking a tasty multigrain loaf, fixing that wonky kitchen draw, climbing to the top of a mountain, or watching a crimson sunset fade with some friends. There is a word for it, though not likely one you’d expect”.

Read more at http://foundation.vodafone.co.nz/richy-filth

2. Upcoming Sustainability Events and Courses

Another good calendar for sustainability-related events around Dunedin can be found at http://dect.org.nz/modules/extcal/calendar.php. We’d love to advertise your sustainability-related event or course - please send contributions in to dk.sk@xtra.co.nz.

i) TOMORROW Monday June 21, 10am – 3pm – Warm Up A Tree, the Octagon

Donated wool squares will be joined together and used to wrap the plane trees in the Octagon during the morning of June 21st as a colourful, fun-filled, guerrilla knitting project. The serious purpose behind the event is to raise awareness of biodiversity and the council’s Let’s Grow Native programme by warming up some trees on the shortest and probably coldest day of winter. The blanket wraps will be taken down at the end of the day, deconstructed back to squares and re-sewn into proper wool blankets and donated back to the community.

People are also needed to help us sew the blankets up and wrap the trees up as quickly as possible to make a big creative arty splash! Please contact either Renee Gordon rgordon@dcc.govt.nz or Debbie Hogan dhogan@dcc.govt.nz Ph 477 4000.

The Warm up a Tree project is one of the many events happening during 2010 as part of the Dunedin City Council’s Let’s Grow Native programme. Booklets outlining the full programme can be collected from DCC Customer Service Centre and DOC, and are downloadable from www.dunedin.govt.nz/biodiversity.

ii) Thursday, June 24 - End of the Line, Rialto Cinema

The world’s first major documentary about the devastating effect of overfishing premiered at Sundance Film Festival

Imagine an ocean without fish. Imagine your meals without seafood. Imagine the global consequences. This is the future if we do not stop, think and act.

Filmed across the world – from the Straits of Gibraltar to the coasts of Senegal and Alaska to the Tokyo fish market – featuring top scientists, indigenous fishermen and fisheries enforcement officials, The End of the Line is a wake-up call to the world.

Also see screenings as part of the NZ International Science Festival (http://www.scifest.org.nz/).

iii) Saturday, June 26, 5.30pm - Dunedin Midwinter Carnival, the Octagon

Over 5,000 spectators will swarm Dunedin’s city centre to watch a spectacular Lantern Procession to celebrate the longest night and shortest day. The lanterns are a symbol of the returning light, of creativity and of community.

This year the Lantern Procession has a ‘Creatures of the Sea’ theme. Spectators will be enchanted by a glowing stream of over 700 people, 250 hand-made lanterns, 10 giant lanterns, costumed dancers, stilt walkers, musicians, and fire-works.

iv) Monday, July 5, 7pm – Screening of The Cove by Dunedin Sea Shepherd, Bill Fraser Lounge, Macandrew Road

Please find attached a flyer regarding the screening of the Sea Shepherd film ‘The Cove’. Someone from the Sea Shepherd will be there to answer questions and we will have tea and coffee. BYO popcorn!

v) July 6 - 11- New Zealand International Science Festival, Dunedin

The 2010 festival, themed “food for thought” will stimulate your senses, inspiring discussion on the intersection between food and science. From farm to fork, topics such as food production, nutrition and consumption will be on the menu. Be prepared to be challenged.

Orokonui Ecosanctuary are one of the hosts of ISF events – see what they have on at - http://www.orokonui.org.nz/content/seminars.php

ODT carried a story about keynote speaker Tim Jarvis last Saturday - http://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/magazine/110166/man-mission - check out the Festival’s website for their programme - http://www.scifest.org.nz/.

vi) Monday, July 12, 5am – 5pm – Harbour Cone Open Day

Explore the Hereweka Harbour Cone property and learn how it contributes to the Otago Peninsula now and in the future.

http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/events/garden-and-environment/harbour-cone-open-day

vii) Enrol now for August - Sustainable Living Classes

Enrol now for ADULT COMMUNITY SUSTAINABLE LIVING CLASSES in NORTH EAST VALLEY, PORT CHALMERS and the CITY: This interactive eight-week course will assist you to learn and share practical tips that make a difference and can save you money, meet others in your community who are interested in living more sustainably, gain support for introducing lifestyle changes you want to make. Facilitated by Dr Maureen Howard, c/o Water and Waste Services, Dunedin City Council.

COURSE CONTENT: Introduction - Sustainability in the home. Making changes; Energy - Efficiency and conservation, Renewables; Waste - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; Composting Shopping - Making better choices. Making your own cleaners; Gardening - Attracting wildlife. Growing your own veggies; Water - Conservation, collection, reuse and keeping waterways clean; Transport - Traveling more sustainably; Final - Community Focus

UPCOMING COURSES:

PORT CHALMERS - Evening Course (8 Weeks)

Start Date: Tue 3rd August; Each Tuesday: 6.30-8.30pm

Venue: Port Chalmers School

NORTH EAST VALLEY - Daytime Course (8 Weeks)

Start Date: Wednesday 4th August; Each Wednesday: 10am-12 noon

Venue: 248 North Road, NEV Community Development Project

CITY - Evening Course (8 Weeks)

Start Date: Wed 4th August; Each Wednesday: 7-9pm

Venue: Space2B, corner Filluel and St Andrews Sts

All courses are free but a Donation is requested ($30 recommended). Courses are restricted to a maximum of 14 people. Registration is essential: Registration or enquiries before 17 June to Maureen 4739967 or Email mhoward@slingshot.co.nz . After this date please register with the Dunedin City Council 4774000. Your place on the course will be confirmed during the week beginning July 26th.

The Sustainable Living Programme is brought to you locally by the Dunedin City Council.

viii) 12-13 November 2010 - Signs of Change National e-Conference, Christchurch, with local live connections to venues in: Dunedin, Wellington, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Auckland

This Call for Signs of Change is going out to networks of people who might want to join together and have a discussion about new directions. I am pleased to announce a first-of-a-kind national conference that will feature evidence from all walks of life that there is a choice about the future and that some are making it.

We are launching our conference website www.signsofchange.org.nz and invite you to visit and consider if you would like to attend your closest local node, or if you could report on change you have seen or been a part of that provides a model of what the future we hope for might look like. Please pass on to anyone you think might be interested.

Best Regards,

Susan

Dr. Susan Krumdieck

Associate Professor

Department of Mechanical Engineering

University of Canterbury

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4. Food for Thought

Do you know of an amazing podcast everyone should listen to? An article or a blog or a site that would be of interest to all SDC members? Send me a short explanation and the link (dk.sk@xtra.co.nz), and we’ll add it in here. Links preferable to attachments, because they tend to fill up everyone’s inboxes.

Kia ora koutou,

For those of you who were unaware, the EDS have a recent e-book ‘Managing the Coastal Environment: An EDS community Guide’ by Raewyn Peart and Kate Mulcahy.

This resource is available on-line and will be useful for groups and individuals who are engaging in coastal conservation projects.

http://www.eds.org.nz/eresources/e-books.cfm

Jim Fyfe
Coastal/Marine Ranger
Coastal Otago Area, Department of Conservation

If you’d like to learn more about the Environmental Defence Society please go to http://www.eds.org.nz/

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Tēnā koutou katoa,

Suze Keith (SDC’s newsletter compiler)

dk.sk@xtra.co.nz

Janet Brady (SDC’s secretary)

secretary@sustainabledunedincity.org.nz

Sustainable Dunedin City Inc.

PO Box 8061, North East Valley, Dunedin

Dear Members,

Inspiration is the theme this fortnight – just check out the Dunedin Sustainability in Action section – some awesome goings on in our neighbourhood.

Read on!

1. Upcoming SDC Events and Projects

i) Position vacant

2. Upcoming Sustainability Events and Courses

i) THIS Wednesday, June 9, 12 – 12.45pm - Plants on a High, Benham Seminar Room, Zoology Department

ii) Thursday, June 24 - End of the Line, Rialto Cinema

iii) Saturday, June 26, 5.30pm - Dunedin Midwinter Carnival, the Octagon

iv) Monday June 21, 10am – 3pm – Warm Up A Tree, the Octagon

v) July 6 - 11- New Zealand International Science Festival, Dunedin

vi) August - Sustainable Living Classes

vii) August 10 – 13 - 4th Australasian Hazards Management Conference, Te Papa, Wellington

3. Dunedin Sustainability in Action!

- Resourceit

- From Waitati Energy Project (Blueskin Power) – an invitation to join Community Turbine planning team

- Save the Otago Peninsula - Key actions and achievements for 2009-2010

- Sponsor wanted for 6000 diapers

- Lets Grow Native Garden Competition

- Adopt A Spot

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1. Upcoming SDC Events and Projects

SDC is driven by member ideas and volunteer man-power, so if you have an idea for an event or project you’d like SDC to run, or you’d like to run under the SDC umbrella, please let us know secretary@sustainabledunedincity.org.nz. This section also signposts who to contact if you’re keen to help out with a particular event/project.

i) Position Vacant

We’re a nice bunch of people – join us! We’re looking for a treasurer and an auditor to help us to continue to drive environmental sustainability in Dunedin. Not a huge amount of work in either role, but it needs to be done. No member can act as the auditor, but if you know someone who can do this important task for us on a voluntary basis, please contact Jocelyn Harris at jocelyn.harris@otago.ac.nz.

2. Upcoming Sustainability Events and Courses

Another good calendar for sustainability-related events around Dunedin can be found at http://dect.org.nz/modules/extcal/calendar.php. We’d love to advertise your sustainability-related event or course - please send contributions in to dk.sk@xtra.co.nz.

i) THIS Wednesday, June 9, 12 – 12.45pm - Plants on a High, Benham Seminar Room, Zoology Department

Plants on a high? The use of New Zealand living roofs to camouflage buildings, create sustainable buildings and enhance biodiversity. Robyn Simcock, Landcare Research, Auckland

New Zealand living roofs are introduced using case studies that show the key reasons for construction: camouflage, aesthetics, insulation, cooling air temperature and reducing stormwater runoff.

Three living roofs studies in a joint Landcare Research and University of Auckland School of Engineering research programme provide some data sets and highlight the tension between plant performance and light weight (cost). Finally, the manipulation of two of the roofs to enhance invertebrate habitat is discussed - do results support our dream of introducing threatened native lizards and invertebrates to these mammal-free zones?

Contact Janice Lord at janice.lord@botany.otago.ac.nz or on 479 5131

ii) Thursday, June 24 - End of the Line, Rialto Cinema

The world’s first major documentary about the devastating effect of overfishing premiered at Sundance Film Festival

Imagine an ocean without fish. Imagine your meals without seafood. Imagine the global consequences. This is the future if we do not stop, think and act.

The End of the Line, the first major feature documentary film revealing the impact of overfishing on our oceans, had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in the World Cinema Documentary Competition. Sundance took place in Park City, Utah, January 2009.

In the film we see firsthand the effects of our global love affair with fish as food. It examines the imminent extinction of bluefin tuna, brought on by increasing western demand for sushi; the impact on marine life resulting in huge overpopulation of jellyfish; and the profound implications of a future world with no fish that would bring certain mass starvation.

Filmed over two years, The End of the Line follows the investigative reporter Charles Clover as he confronts politicians and celebrity restaurateurs, who exhibit little regard for the damage they are doing to the oceans.

One of his allies is the former tuna farmer turned whistleblower Roberto Mielgo – on the trail of those destroying the world’s magnificent bluefin tuna population.

Filmed across the world – from the Straits of Gibraltar to the coasts of Senegal and Alaska to the Tokyo fish market – featuring top scientists, indigenous fishermen and fisheries enforcement officials, The End of the Line is a wake-up call to the world.

iii) Saturday, June 26, 5.30pm - Dunedin Midwinter Carnival, the Octagon

Over 5,000 spectators will swarm Dunedin’s city centre to watch a spectacular Lantern Procession to celebrate the longest night and shortest day. The lanterns are a symbol of the returning light, of creativity and of community.

This year the Lantern Procession has a ‘Creatures of the Sea’ theme. Spectators will be enchanted by a glowing stream of over 700 people, 250 hand-made lanterns, 10 giant lanterns, costumed dancers, stilt walkers, musicians, and fire-works.

REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR LANTERN WORKSHOPS - CLICK HERE TO BOOK ONLINE

iv) Monday June 21, 10am – 3pm – Warm Up A Tree, the Octagon

DCC are looking for people to donate wool and/or knit, crochet or weave 20cm (approx) wool squares. The squares will be joined together and used to wrap the plane trees in the Octagon during the morning of June 21st as a colourful, fun-filled, guerrilla knitting project. The serious purpose behind the event is to raise awareness of biodiversity and the council’s Let’s Grow Native programme by warming up some trees on the shortest and probably coldest day of winter. The blanket wraps will be taken down at the end of the day, deconstructed back to squares and re-sewn into proper wool blankets and donated back to the community. The woolly squares need to be delivered to DCC Customer Services Centre no later than 19th June 2010.

People are also needed to help us sew the blankets up and wrap the trees up as quickly as possible to make a big creative arty splash! Please contact either Renee Gordon rgordon@dcc.govt.nz or Debbie Hogan dhogan@dcc.govt.nz Ph 477 4000

The Warm up a Tree project is one of the many events happening during 2010 as part of the Dunedin City Council’s Let’s Grow Native programme. Booklets outlining the full programme can be collected from DCC Customer Service Centre and DOC, and are downloadable from www.dunedin.govt.nz/biodiversity.

v) July 6 - 11- New Zealand International Science Festival, Dunedin

The 2010 festival, themed “food for thought” will stimulate your senses, inspiring discussion on the intersection between food and science. From farm to fork, topics such as food production, nutrition and consumption will be on the menu. Be prepared to be challenged.

Ticket Sales Online Now!

You will not want to miss the events in store for 2010. Online Festival Programme now available here and the printed programme for this year’s NZISF will be released on June 24.

One of the keynote addresses on the programme is by Tim Jarvis called Water Water Everywhere?

Saturday 10 July, 7 – 8pm, St David Lecture Theatre, Cnr St David St & Cumberland St Dunedin

Drawing on his extensive work in developing countries Tim Jarvis will discuss the issue of water availability for the 21st century focusing on the challenges and solutions.

As a global explorer of the Arctic and Antarctica regions, Tim has viewed some of the most dramatic effects of climate change. As an environmental scientist, Tim is committed to finding pragmatic solutions to major environmental issues facing us all. Join us as Tim shares his passion for exploring together with his concern for the future of our globe – not to be missed!

$10 per person Book Here

On a slightly lighter note – the NZISF is also running the Ultimate Southern Cheese Roll Competition which closes Friday June 25 at 5pm.

The hunt is on for the best southern cheese roll! What makes the perfect cheese roll? Do you think you have it?

The winning cheese roll will be analysed by the University of Otago’s Food Science Team, who will provide an insight into what makes the ultimate taste sensation!

Cheese rolls are a fantastic fundraiser and, in conjunction with MOJO Cafe, the winning cheese rolls will be sold during the week of the NZ International Science Festival 2010. You, the winner, get to choose what fundraising group or charity the profits will go to!

See more at http://www.scifest.org.nz/what-s-on/2010-festival/competitions

vi) August - Sustainable Living Classes

Enrol NOW for ADULT COMMUNITY SUSTAINABLE LIVING CLASSES in NORTH EAST VALLEY, PORT CHALMERS and the CITY. This interactive eight-week course will assist you to learn and share practical tips that make a difference and can save you money, meet others in your community who are interested in living more sustainably, gain support for introducing lifestyle changes you want to make.

Facilitated by Dr Maureen Howard, c/o Water and Waste Services, Dunedin City Council.

COURSE CONTENT:

Introduction - Sustainability in the home. Making changes; Energy - Efficiency and conservation, Renewables; Waste - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; Composting Shopping - Making better choices. Making your own cleaners; Gardening - Attracting wildlife. Growing your own veggies; Water - Conservation, collection, reuse and keeping waterways clean; Transport - Traveling more sustainably; Final - Community Focus

UPCOMING COURSES:

PORT CHALMERS - Evening Course (8 Weeks)

Start Date: Tue 3rd August; Each Tuesday: 6.30-8.30pm

Venue: Port Chalmers School

NORTH EAST VALLEY - Daytime Course (8 Weeks)

Start Date: Wednesday 4th August; Each Wednesday: 10am-12 noon

Venue: 248 North Road, NEV Community Development Project

CITY - Evening Course (8 Weeks)

Start Date: Wed 4th August; Each Wednesday: 7-9pm

Venue: Space2B, corner Filluel and St Andrews St

All courses are free but a donation is requested ($30 recommended). Courses are restricted to a maximum of 14 people.

Registration is essential: Registration or enquiries before 17 June to Maureen 4739967or email mhoward@slingshot.co.nz. After this date please register with the Dunedin City Council 4774000. Your place on the course will be confirmed during the week beginning July 26th.

The Sustainable Living Programme is brought to you locally by the Dunedin City Council.

vii) August 10 – 13 - 4th Australasian Hazards Management Conference, Te Papa, Wellington

Committee member John Cocks has noticed there is one session that refers to climate change and oil supply risks. Please let us know if you intend on going so we can borrow the notes!

http://www.hazardseducation.org/conference/2010/2010index.php

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3. Dunedin Sustainability in Action!

This section is about some of the inspirational things happening in our community, as well as ’sustainability’ volunteer opportunities in and around Dunedin. If you’ve got a project you need more hands for (or even a project that needs hands to get started!), or a group you think our members may like to join, send me a paragraph…and don’t forget your contact details. And if you’re doing something inspirational, or know of someone that is, let me know (dk.sk@xtra.co.nz).

- Resourceit

www.re-sourceit.co.nz is a locally created website with the key focus of waste minimisation. It is the hub that hosts waste minimisation products, services or community groups that currently exist in Dunedin. We offer numerous alternatives to the disposal of unwanted resources to landfill by encouraging the public to look at their waste as a useful resource. Remember your waste is another persons want.

Re-sourceit was conceived out of the ‘Waste as a Resource’ workshops at last year’s International Science Festival. This site has been made possible with funding from the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology and the New Zealand International Science Festival.

So ‘check re-sourceit before you rubbish it’.

- From Waitati Energy Project (Blueskin Power) – an invitation to join Community Turbine planning team

Dear all,

Following the ‘Blueskin Power’ community turbine feasibility study and the WEP meeting on the 5th of May a clear need has emerged to plan for the proposed community consultation event, the big community turbine day with speakers, maps, experts and answers.

I was buoyed by the enthusiasm and depth of thinking evident at the last WEP meeting and want to ensure we can run an event that is deeply informative. It will be the first big public opportunity to explore the community turbine in rich detail.

WEP volunteer planning and assistance will be required. I am seeking offers of assistance to ensure another great event. Tasks will include:

1. Brainstorming and planning exactly what we want and what is required

2. Preparing and organising props

3. Contacting and hosting our experts

4. Doing the do prior, on and post the big day (funding and logistics).

While we’ve had big meetings recently, we haven’t had a big event like this since the 2008 Energy Expo and those of you who were involved or participated will recall the fun and success of that event. If you haven’t been involved before or want to contribute just a little, then please get in touch with me, and please be sure to let me know if you can help as part of the community planning team.

I’m grateful to all the expert assistance so far provided by the University of Otago (Otago Energy Research Network and linked researchers) and am excited by the line up of speakers we have already.

I was looking back recently at early presentations and bids to assess where the WEP has come from and came across a proposal discussed in 2007 to create a ‘Waitati Energy Board’ (or ‘WEB’). In the end, the Waitati Energy Project was born and later supported by the Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust. The BRCT provides governance, WEP meetings are where issues are openly discussed and strategic directions explored, but we almost need a small strategic body to ensure that the WEP vision of an integrated approach to an energy resilient system is kept up to date. Renewable Generation and the community turbine is the big exciting story at present and I do want to be mindful that this is more than an end it itself: if successful it will potentially be the vehicle to a truly integrated energy community, in control of our own resources and choices. This is a thought I’d like to bring to the community turbine planning team as well.

Please get in touch over the next fortnight (by the 14th of June) so we can get things rolling.

Best,

Scott Willis

Project Manager

Waitati Energy Project (Blueskin Power)

www.transitiontowns.org.nz/waitati

03 4822048

0274888314

- Save the Otago Peninsula - Key actions and achievements for 2009-2010

Submissions

* Otago Regional Council Long Term Community Plan
* Dunedin City Council Community Plan
* Resource Management Amendment Bill
* Draft Okia Reserve Management Plan
* DCC Parks and Reserves Strategy
* DCC Three Waters Strategy
* Minister of Conservation - Review of Conservation Funds (rejected because no allowance for submissions)
* Walking Access Commission’s draft guidelines
* DCC Coastal Dune Reserves Management Plan
* Dunedin City Council Draft Annual Plan

Projects

* NGL Reserve – sheep in. Many working bees to fell mahoe, mulching, planting kanuka, removing long grass around Coprosma. Some funding from DCC Biodiversity Fund.
* Student studying effect of rodent numbers on gecko numbers. Control of mahoe, ngaio and broom with herbicide. Marketing students are bagging up wood for sale.
* Broad Bay slip site – lots of work by John Langley and Helen Clarke. Memorandum of understanding signed with the Dunedin City Council and descriptive sign put up at the site. Sycamores taken out.
* Jewelled gecko work – Department of Conservation gave STOP responsibility for managing $2000 of the money donated by Setpoint Solutions. A magpie trap has been bought. STOP also financed a gecko searching spotlight for Carey Knox. Geckos translocated to Orokonui doing well and have had babies. Strong opposition from STOP to proposed public display of 2 male geckos at Orokonui. Mandy Tocher has kept us updated on the status of the translocated geckos. STOP involved in advising on monitoring of geckos at the ecosanctuary. In December 2009 we welcomed Liz Sherwood and David Agnew from DOC to discuss with STOP the Jewelled gecko/Moko-kakariki management plan (draft): a community-based plan for Otago Peninsula (October 2009). STOP contributed to DOC’s jewelled gecko workshop on 10 April 2010.
* The Pyramids – Coprosma propinqua planted at the Big Pyramid.
* Harbour Cone – fencing and planting on Peggy’s Hill. Lots of planting days. STOP wrote a supporting letter for Rhys Millar, for purchase of plants, to the DCC Biodiversity Fund. Concerns about subdivision of the property as set out in Hereweka / Harbour Cone: development and management options : summary report prepared by Rhys Millar, Forest Environments Ltd and Mike Moore, Landscape Architect. STOP hosted Debbie Hogan, senior planner, and Rhys Millar at our March 2010 meeting to talk through the various development options for the Harbour Cone block.
* Bayfield Inlet roost – STOP managed the funding applications for Jill Hamel’s project. The completed roost is a great success.
* Portobello Peninsula reserve – main problem has been sheep getting inside the fence. Our contract with the DCC expires this year.
* Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group – STOP wrote a letter of support for their activities.
* Morris covenant at Peggy’s Hill – tackling Darwin’s barberry.
* Raupo Swamp – plants partially funded from Honda Tree Fund.
* Sea Week 2010 – STOP did beach clean up around Portobello Peninsula.
* Weed control - control of Darwin’s barberry and Chilean flame creeper has been done around Pukehiki and the Harbour Cone block. As well as STOP, the Conservation Corps and Taskforce Green have helped with this.

- Sponsor wanted for 6000 diapers

To whom it may concern,

My name is Bridie O’Leary. I am a 3rd year student completing the final year of my Visual Arts Degree at the Dunedin School of Art at Otago Polytechnic.

I am looking for help with funding my final exhibition work for the end of the year SITE show. In this work I will raise awareness about our wasteful use of disposable diapers. I believe that we have workable alternatives using reusables (as I have recently practiced on a stay to the United Stated as an Au Pair). In an infant’s ‘diaper life’ she will use just over 6000 nappies. Manufacturers and a lot of mothers justify the using of disposables with the idea that the amount of water and time invested washing reusables is far worse for the environment than the use of disposables. For years people all over the world have managed fine doing regular household laundry. Even the ‘compostable’ brands of disposables take much longer than their stated time to break down. The Green Party stated in 2004 that normal supermarket diapers take between 75 and 500 years (!) to decompose in our landfills ‘… babies are the ones who will reap the greatest consequences of adult’s current wasteful behavior’ (Green Party)

My project, which is loosely named ‘go disposable’, will visualise the craziness of this practice, which we are all so used to. I will recreate washable household items like clothing (see attached photo) and bedding out of disposable diapers, then ‘market’ the idea that it is all right to throw away these items after single use (which of course it is not). To give this project the full impact it will be important to use the whole amount of 6000 nappies. For me as a student it is very hard to fund all these so I am asking you for support in either donating some nappies or money for my project. Right now I am going for 2000 (which is a year’s worth for a baby) and looking for help to top me up to 6000 (the full time period amount of a baby in diapers).

I would be thankful for any donations or leftover diapers you might have around. Any small amount (of money or diapers alike, would be very handy. At present I have 450, so still a long way to go. I can mention all sponsors in my documentation and I will provide photos at the end of the project.

Thanks for your consideration.

Kind regards,

Brides

bridie.rose@gmail.com

- Lets Grow Native Garden Competition

DCC’s feature event celebrating the International Year of Biodiversity is the Lets Grow Native Garden Competition. It’s now open for entries from schools, businesses and the home gardener within the Dunedin district. Entries need to include 1 or 2 photographs of the garden (digital photos in jpeg format 2MB max), and should describe the garden by answering a few questions listed on the entry form. Entry forms are available from DCC Service Centre and at

http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/services/biodiversity

Entries can be posted or emailed, by October 20, to: Dunedin City Council Let’s Grow Native Garden Competition, Po Box 5045, Moray Place, Dunedin 9058 or dhogan@dcc.govt.nz

- Adopt A Spot

Keep Dunedin Beautiful is reinstating this popular programme and encouraging groups and individuals to adopt a spot to keep clean and beautiful. The amount of time you dedicate to it is up to you. Brochures and more information are available from KDB at dethomso@dcc.govt.n

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Tēnā koutou katoa,

Suze Keith (SDC’s newsletter compiler)

dk.sk@xtra.co.nz

Janet Brady (SDC’s secretary)

secretary@sustainabledunedincity.org.nz

Sustainable Dunedin City Inc.

PO Box 8061, North East Valley, Dunedin

May 27, 2010
5:30 pm	to	7:30 pm

Thursday 27th May from 5.30pm in the Back Room of Filadelfios at the Gardens

GREENDRINKS Dunedin provides an opportunity for everyone interested in sustainability and the environment to meet in a relaxed setting. It is organised in Dunedin by the Sustainable Dunedin City Society and is part of GreenDrinks International, a social networking movement.

We meet on the last Thursday of each month from 5.30pm at Filadelfios. Each month a different community group hosts a theme. Everyone interested very welcome. Please bring a friend!

THEME THIS MONTH: Potatoes, Garlic and Pumpkins: Growing and eating them - in ways that don’t contribute to GDP!

GreenDrinks is hosted this month by Waitati Edible Gardens. Derek Onley from Waitati Edible Gardens will share useful, delicious and planet friendly tips for growing and eating your autumn pumpkins and spuds - and for growing great garlic. Join in the conversation - bring growing tips and your recipes to share.

About Waitati Edible Gardens (WEGgies) The Waitati Edible Gardeners group (nicknamed “the WEGgies”) are a group dedicated to addressing the challenges of post peak oil and climate change, by strengthening our community in the immediate future through food production, with emphasis on domestic scale growing.
Our Aim: To empower local people from the grass roots up, to establish local food sovereignty or semi-autonomous food production.
Our Tool Box: We use Community networking, Local knowledge, Hands on learning, Local/free natural resources, and Volunteered time and labour.
We Provide: Workshops, Garden tours, Market site for local barter and trade, Support for the Waitati school kitchen garden, a Network of local growers as a knowledge base/source who can be put in touch with people who need help, Information updates, A Question and answers column and Planting calendar in the Blueskin News, A Community vegetable growing space for bulk crops.
For more information contact Lynnaire Johnston:
Phone: (03) 482 1364 or email waitati.edible.gardeners@gmail.com

_____________________________________________________________________________

About GreenDrinks
GreenDrinks is an international movement to support informal networking among people who work in the environmental field. To find out more about GreenDrinks International go to www.greendrinks.org.

About Sustainable Dunedin City

GreenDrinks Dunedin is organised by the Sustainable Dunedin City Society and is made up of persons who are interested in the issues of climate change, declining energy security and sustainability, as they affect Dunedin City. The Society is not affiliated with any political party and aims to facilitate a positive, secure and sustainable future for Dunedin City in the face of challenges posed by climate change, declining energy security, and unsustainable resource use.. For more information or to join go to www.sustainabledunedincity.org.nz or email secretary@sustainabledunedincity.org.nz. To get on the GreenDrinks Dunedin elist - or to host a GreenDrinks - please contact Maureen on mhoward@slingshot.co.nz.
Thanks, Maureen Howard, Sustainable Dunedin City Committee Member

Dear Members,

One of our helpful, newly renewed, members has just pointed out to us that it only tells you at the bottom of the form that you can renew online. It’s easy – just go to http://www.sustainabledunedincity.org.nz/?page_id=174 – we welcome your support.

There is no need to print the form – simply do it from the luxury of your keyboard!

And while you’re thinking things SDC -

POSITION VACANT!

SDC invites YOU to become our treasurer. This is a chance for you to get involved with all the new developments that are taking place this year. Not a huge amount of work, but it needs to be done. We are extremely grateful to Tracey Willmott for all she has done, and wish her well with her vital waste and water work at the DCC.

And while we’re talking money, CAN YOU HELP? Under SDC’s constitution, our accounts have to be audited. No member may act as auditor, but if you know someone who would be willing to act as SDC’s auditor on a voluntary basis, or if you are interested in becoming our treasurer, please contact Jocelyn Harris at jocelyn.harris@otago.ac.nz.

Read on!

1. Upcoming SDC Events and Projects

i) DCC Proposed Subdivision & Development Code – SDC Submission

ii) THIS Thursday May 27, 5.30pm - GREENDRINKS Dunedin, the Back Room of Filadelfios at the Gardens

2. Upcoming Sustainability Events and Courses

i) THIS Saturday, May 29 & Sunday, May 30, 3pm – Amazing Animal Adaptors, Otago Museum

ii) THIS Sunday, May 30, 1 - 4pm – Volunteer session for the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival

iii) Friday June 4 – Hort Talk - Everyday Herbs – ancient applications for modern use

iv) Sunday, June 6, 10.30am(usually) - Celebrate Arbor Day with the Yellow Eyed Penguin Trust. Okia Reserve, Dick Road

v) Saturday, June 19 - Community Orchard – 1000 Fruit and Nut trees – Transition Valley 473, Chingford Park 10am – 12pm, Wilkinson Street, Pine Hill 12.30 – 2.30pm

vi) Monday June 21, 10am – 3pm – Warm Up A Tree, the Octagon

vii) Applications for funding due June 30 - Community Groups who care for the earth are invited to apply for funding from the Methodist Church of NZ Prince Albert College (PAC) Trust Fund allocation for 2010.

viii) July 6 - 11- New Zealand International Science Festival, Dunedin

ix) August - Sustainable Living Classes

x) August 10 – 13 - 4th Australasian Hazards Management Conference, Te Papa, Wellington

3. Dunedin Sustainability in Action!

- From the Get the Train Group

- Join Shac 11

- The Sustainable Business Network

- Living Streets Aotearoa

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1. Upcoming SDC Events and Projects

SDC is driven by member ideas and volunteer man-power, so if you have an idea for an event or project you’d like SDC to run, or you’d like to run under the SDC umbrella, please let us know secretary@sustainabledunedincity.org.nz. This section also signposts who to contact if you’re keen to help out with a particular event/project.

i) DCC Proposed Subdivision & Development Code - Submission

Please find attached a PDF of the submission prepared and written by co-chair Phil Cole on behalf of SDC for the Proposed Subdivision and Development Code being consulted on by the DCC.

For those not too familiar with the above - Sustainable subdivision and development - it could be a useful cure for insomnia!!!

ii) THIS Thursday May 27, 5.30pm - GREENDRINKS Dunedin, the Back Room of Filadelfios at the Gardens

GREENDRINKS Dunedin provides an opportunity for everyone interested in sustainability and the environment to meet in a relaxed setting. It is organised in Dunedin by the Sustainable Dunedin City Society and is part of GreenDrinks International, a social networking movement.

We meet on the last Thursday of each month from 5.30pm at Filadelfios. Each month a different community group hosts a theme. Everyone interested very welcome. Please bring a friend!

THEME THIS MONTH: Potatoes, Garlic and Pumpkins: Growing and eating them - in ways that don’t contribute to GDP!

GreenDrinks is hosted this month by Waitati Edible Gardens. Derek Onley from Waitati Edible Gardens will share useful, delicious and planet friendly tips for growing and eating your autumn pumpkins and spuds - and for growing great garlic. Join in the conversation - bring growing tips and your recipes to share.

About Waitati Edible Gardens (WEGgies)

The Waitati Edible Gardeners, nicknamed “the WEGgies”, are a group dedicated to addressing the challenges of post peak oil and climate change, by strengthening our community in the immediate future through food production, with emphasis on domestic scale growing.

Our Aim: To empower local people from the grass roots up, to establish local food sovereignty or semi-autonomous food production.

Our Tool Box: We use Community networking, Local knowledge, Hands on learning, Local/free natural resources, and Volunteered time and labour.

We Provide: Workshops, Garden tours, Market site for local barter and trade, Support for the Waitati school kitchen garden, a Network of local growers as a knowledge base/source who can be put in touch with people who need help, Information updates, a question and answers column and planting calendar in the Blueskin News, a community vegetable growing space for bulk crops.

For more information contact Lynnaire Johnston

t 482 1364 or e waitati.edible.gardeners@gmail.com

About GreenDrinks

GreenDrinks is an international movement to support informal networking among people who work in the environmental field. To find out more about GreenDrinks International go to www.greendrinks.org.

2. Upcoming Sustainability Events and Courses

Another good calendar for sustainability-related events around Dunedin can be found at http://dect.org.nz/modules/extcal/calendar.php. We’d love to advertise your sustainability-related event or course - please send contributions in to dk.sk@xtra.co.nz.

i) Saturday, May 29 & May 30, 3pm – Amazing Animal Adaptors, Otago Museum

Amazing Animal Adaptors exist in every corner of the globe – from the barren wastelands to frozen seas and fierce desert storms. All over the world animals have adapted to thrive in every known environment. As the landscape of our world changes, what new Amazing Adaptors lie waiting to be born?

Sponsored by Natural History New Zealand

ii) THIS Sunday, May 30, 1 - 4pm – Volunteer session for the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival

The carnival organisers are looking for volunteers to help run our annual lantern making workshops. Anyone can learn to make a lantern and its lots of fun. This year’s theme is ‘Creatures of the Sea’. If you would like to volunteer, come to the training workshop at the crypt at St Paul’s Cathedral.

iii) Friday June 4 – Hort Talk - Everyday Herbs – ancient applications for modern use, Otago Polytechnic. Presented by Sandra Clair, MA (Berne), Grad Dip Health Science (New England); Managing Director ARTEMIS Herbal Medicine.

Using proven 500-year-old wisdom, Sandra will discuss handy herbal hints for staying well or recovering from illness. For more information, please go to: http://www.otagopolytechnic.ac.nz/schools-departments/natural-resources/events.html

iv) Sunday, June 6, 10.30am - Celebrate Arbor Day with the Yellow Eyed Penguin Trust, Okia Reserve, Dick Road

Join the Yellow Eyed Penguin Trust as members and friends continue their plantings of native trees and shrubs on the Okia Reserve.

You will be helping create homes and breeding sites for generations of rare Hoiho.

Please contact us for the exact time.

www.yellow-eyedpenguin.org.nz, www.dunedin.govt.nz or yeptrust@gmail.com

v) Saturday, June 19 - Community Orchard – 1000 Fruit and Nut trees – Transition Valley 473, Chingford Park 10am – 12pm, Wilkinson Street, Pine Hill 12.30 – 2.30pm

Fruit and nut tree planting for Northeast Valley and Pine Hill residents. Jason Ross from Sutherland Nursery will show us how to correctly plant the trees that have been selected. Holes have been prepared during our recent ‘digging’ working bees, mixing in horse manure and removing stones.

vi) Monday June 21, 10am – 3pm – Warm Up A Tree, the Octagon

We are looking for people to donate wool and/or knit, crochet or weave 20cm (approx) wool squares. The squares will be joined together and used to wrap the plane trees in the Octagon during the morning of June 21st as a colourful, fun-filled, guerrilla knitting project. The serious purpose behind the event is to raise awareness of biodiversity and the Dunedin City Councils Let’s Grow Native programme by warming up some trees on the shortest and probably coldest day of winter. The blanket wraps will be taken down at the end of the day, deconstructed back to squares and re-sewn into proper wool blankets and donated back to the community. The woolly squares need to be delivered to DCC Customer Services, Civic Centre no later than 19th June 2010.

We also need people to help us sew the blankets up and wrap the trees up - there are 16 of them - as quickly and on mass as possible to make a big creative arty splash!

The Warm up a Tree project is one of the many events happening during 2010 as part of the Dunedin City Council’s Let’s Grow Native programme. Booklets outlining the full programme can be collected from DCC Customer Service Centre or at www.dunedin.govt.nz/biodiversity. Other events are being added to the programme as the year evolves with the feature event being the Garden Competition judged late November with guest celebrity judge Jim Mora.

2010 is a great year to explore and celebrate Dunedin’s wonderful biodiversity. The year has been declared an International Year of Biodiversity by the United Nations to recognise the commitment to halt the loss of biodiversity worldwide. Whether it is your own backyard, parks and reserves, waterways or the coast, this year provides a great opportunity to enjoy and discover what biodiversity means to Dunedin. While the focus is upon plants and animals that are native to New Zealand, all biodiversity contributes including the Plane trees in the Octagon that have been a bit poorly this year and need a little TLC!

Fliss Butcher

butcher@earthlight.co.nz

vii) Applications for funding due June 30 - Community Groups who care for the earth are invited to apply for funding from the Methodist Church of NZ Prince Albert College (PAC) Trust Fund allocation for 2010.

Preserving, enhancing and caring for the earth has been enthusiastically picked up by many in New Zealand. In 2010 the Distribution Group is seeking to work in partnership with and enable some of these projects, which care for creation.

There are no application forms. Rather we invite you to tell us about the project for which you are seeking funding. It makes it easier to process if such stories are clear and concise. We also need financial information about your organisation, that is: a statement of income and expenditure, a statement of financial position, and a copy of the audit/review certificate if available and how the funding will help make the project possible.

Each year the PAC endowment of the Methodist Church makes grants available to the Church and also to community groups. This year’s theme is: “Being Connected - Strengthening connections within our Church and with the whole of Creation.”

10% of the interest earned each year from the fund is available to groups outside the Church. (The total amount available for distribution to such groups nationally, will therefore be approximately $80,000 )

These need to be submitted to the General Secretary, Methodist Church of New Zealand, PO. Box 931, Christchurch 8140, by 30 June 2010. Grants will not be made for salaries or wages. Go to www.methodist.org.nz for more information.

viii) July 6 - 11- New Zealand International Science Festival, Dunedin

The 2010 festival, themed “food for thought” will stimulate your senses, inspiring discussion on the intersection between food and science. From farm to fork, topics such as food production, nutrition and consumption will be on the menu. Be prepared to be challenged.

You will not want to miss the events in store for 2010!

http://www.scifest.org.nz/whats_on/

ix) August - Sustainable Living Classes

Enrol NOW for ADULT COMMUNITY SUSTAINABLE LIVING CLASSES in NORTH EAST VALLEY, PORT CHALMERS and the CITY. This interactive eight-week course will assist you to learn and share practical tips that make a difference and can save you money, meet others in your community who are interested in living more sustainably, gain support for introducing lifestyle changes you want to make.

Facilitated by Dr Maureen Howard, c/o Water and Waste Services, Dunedin City Council.

COURSE CONTENT:

Introduction - Sustainability in the home. Making changes; Energy - Efficiency and conservation, Renewables; Waste - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; Composting Shopping - Making better choices. Making your own cleaners; Gardening - Attracting wildlife. Growing your own veggies; Water - Conservation, collection, reuse and keeping waterways clean; Transport - Traveling more sustainably; Final - Community Focus

UPCOMING COURSES:

PORT CHALMERS - Evening Course (8 Weeks)

Start Date: Tue 3rd August; Each Tuesday: 6.30-8.30pm

Venue: Port Chalmers School

NORTH EAST VALLEY - Daytime Course (8 Weeks)

Start Date: Wednesday 4th August; Each Wednesday: 10am-12 noon

Venue: 248 North Road, NEV Community Development Project

CITY - Evening Course (8 Weeks)

Start Date: Wed 4th August; Each Wednesday: 7-9pm

Venue: Space2B, corner Filluel and St Andrews Sts

All courses are free but a donation is requested ($30 recommended). Courses are restricted to a maximum of 14 people.

Registration is essential: Registration or enquiries before 17 June to Maureen 4739967or email mhoward@slingshot.co.nz. After this date please register with the Dunedin City Council 4774000. Your place on the course will be confirmed during the week beginning July 26th.

The Sustainable Living Programme is brought to you locally by the Dunedin City Council.

x) August 10 – 13 - 4th Australasian Hazards Management Conference, Te Papa, Wellington

Committee member John Cocks has noticed there is one session that refers to climate change and oil supply risks. Please let us know if you intend on going so we can borrow the notes!

http://www.hazardseducation.org/conference/2010/2010index.php

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3. Dunedin Sustainability in Action!

This section is about some of the inspirational things happening in our community, as well as ’sustainability’ volunteer opportunities in and around Dunedin. If you’ve got a project you need more hands for (or even a project that needs hands to get started!), or a group you think our members may like to join, send me a paragraph…and don’t forget your contact details. And if you’re doing something inspirational, or know of someone that is, let me know (dk.sk@xtra.co.nz).

- From the Get the Train Group

Hi Everybody

We are still trying to attract funding for a commuter train for Car Free Day. The DCC can’t do it but the Transportation Planning Dept has given $2000 towards a feasibility study for a train. We will meet with Sarah from the DCC Transport Planning Dept in June. This is wonderful news and a real step forward for the train. If anybody would like to be involved, please ring Danielle on 482 1233.

Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust has agreed to be the umbrella organisation for Get The Train and we thank them very much for welcoming us into the fold!

So we will continue to search for funding for Car Free Day.

If anybody has relevant material or data that may contribute to a feasibility study, could you call Danielle on 482 1233.

Thank you,

Danielle

- Join Shac 11

SHAC challenges teams to build or retrofit a more sustainable house, building, office, classroom or community hall. Form a tertiary, industry, or community-led team, and work collaboratively, involve young people and communicate widely about your designs.

http://www.shac.org.nz/

- The Sustainable Business Network

In collaboration with green-living site Ecobob.co.nz, bring you Greenlist.co.nz – the world’s first online directory of green products and services where listings are compared against basic principles of sustainability. Sponsors NZI and EECA are thrilled to be behind a website that aligns with its own sustainability efforts. Suppliers provide special offers when they list their products or services. They then rate themselves against six principles of sustainability: CYCLIC, SOLAR, MEGA-EFFICIENT, SAFE, SOCIAL, CERTIFIED.

Check out this comprehensive website on: www.greenlist.co.nz

- Living Streets Aotearoa

This is the national organisation promoting walking-friendly communities. You can find out more about them at www.livingstreets.org.nz. The NZ Walking conferencewill be in Wellington on 2/3 August with more information on the Living Streets website this month. The Golden Foot Walking Awards will be presented to winners during the conference. More information about how to nominate for an award will be available from the website.
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Tēnā koutou katoa,

Suze Keith (SDC’s newsletter compiler)

dk.sk@xtra.co.nz

Janet Brady (SDC’s secretary)

secretary@sustainabledunedincity.org.nz

Sustainable Dunedin City Inc.

PO Box 8061, North East Valley, Dunedin