|
|
 |
Page Last Updated:
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
|
| |
|
|
|
Home>Council Services>Environment>Getting Involved in your Local Environment
Community members are taking responsibility for their natural environment and being actively involved in making their part of the world a clean and healthy place to live, now and for future generations.
There are many ways that you can get actively involved in your local environment and in the community. Below are just some of the ways that you can help to make a difference to your environment.
|  |
 Friends Groups in Knox
Gardens for Wildlife
The Greenleaf Project
Native Plants and Bushland
Knox Wildlife Atlas - report native wildlife sightings in Knox
National Tree Day 2009
Clean Up Australia Day 2009
Conserving Energy and Water
Reducing your Rubbish
What about your own ideas to make a difference
| Friends Groups in Knox | | Community commitment to local conservation has always been strong in the Knox area. However, the general community has become more aware of environmental issues in recent years and this has prompted people to discover ways to become more actively involved in local bushland reserves.
To find out more about Friends Groups in Knox and how to get involved, click on the following link: Friends Groups in Knox  Top
| |
| Gardens for Wildlife | | | ‘Gardens for Wildlife’ is a program designed to encourage you, as the owner or occupier of an average or small size suburban block, to set aside a special area in your garden for locally threatened wildlife. This can be done by providing habitat planted with locally indigenous, other Australian plants or suitable exotic species. For more information on becoming involved in this program, please click on this link: Gardens for Wildlife Program Top
| |
| The Greenleaf Project | | The Greenleaf project seeks to establish an ongoing partnership through which individuals, businesses, schools and Council can work collectively to reduce our combined impacts upon the environment. The project seeks to engage the different segments of the community by providing simple, practical and affordable solutions to sustainability issues in a way that suits individuals.
The Greenleaf project focuses on five key environmental themes:
- Energy
- Water
- Biodiversity and Sustainable Gardening
- Waste Minimisation and Green Purchasing
- Green Cleaning
For more information, click on the following link: The Greenleaf Project.Top
| |
| Native Plants and Bushland | | The City of Knox is fortunate to have many bushland reserves and creek corridors remaining in the municipality. These bushland area's provide valuable habitat for many native animals that also live in Knox.
Planting indigenous plants and removing environmental weeds is a perfect way to help. This can be done in your own garden or by joining forces with Knox City Council in local bushland reserves (ie. Friends of Knox). Council organises various activity days throughout the year and includes events such as National Tree Day and Environment Day.
For further information on Friends of Knox activities, click on the related link at the bottom of this screen.Top
| |
| Knox Wildlife Atlas - report native wildlife sightings in Knox | | Here in Knox we are lucky enough to have some of the most amazing flora and fauna, most of which is found nowhere else on Earth. Whilst there are many common species found in Knox, the diversity of fauna in Knox is enhanced by our close proximity to the Dandenong Ranges.
The Knox Wildlife Atlas is designed to record the native animals that live in and move through the municipality.
All interested community members (not just experts) are encouraged to submit their sightings of native animals for entry into the database.
This information is important as currently, there is a gap in our knowledge regarding native animals that live in Knox. The data will then assist us in making decisions that may affect wildlife in our municipality.
Click here to register the details of your native animal sighting.
Top
| |
| National Tree Day 2009 | | Did you know that planting a tree can help combat global warming, as a single tree will absorb one tonne of carbon dioxide over its lifetime? Native trees provide food and shelter for local wildlife as well as much needed shade and beauty.
National Tree Day is Australia's biggest community tree planting event and was first started in 1996 by Planet Ark to help tackle some of our country’s serious environmental problems.
This year’s National Tree Day was held on Sunday 2 August 2009 with community plantings held at three sites within Knox. The day was once again a huge success with over 180 people joining to plant over 6,000 locally indigenous plants, despite the constant threat of bad weather.
Blind Creek Billabong in Ferntree Gully - 50 people put 1,500 indigenous plants in the ground
Egan Lee Reserve in Wantirna South - over 50 people planted over 2,000 indigenous plants
Ferny Creek Reserve in Ferntree Gully - over 80 people planted 2,500 indigenous plants
What a fantastic result - well done and thank you to everyone who participated in National Tree Day 2009!!
Top
| |
| Clean Up Australia Day 2009 | | The community contribution and committment to local conservation has always been strong in the Knox area and Clean Up Australia Day is one of the many ways you can get involved in your local environment and make a difference.
This year's Clean Up Australia Day was held on Sunday 1 March 2009. Thank you to everyone who participated in Clean Up Australia Day 2009! In excess of 200 people participated across Knox including school groups, Scouts and Guides, church groups and members of the general public.
The rubbish collected was sorted with 6 skips of general rubbish and 8 x 240litre recycle bins being filled with aluminium cans, bottles and cardboard. In addition, another 40 bags of general rubbish and 20 bags of recyclables were picked up. Amongst the items found were car tyres, shopping trolleys, chairs, car batteries and a trampoline!
Clean Up Australia Day provides an opportunity on the first Sunday in March of each year for local and surrounding residents to participate in clean up sites around the municipality.
If you are interested in co-ordinating your own clean up site in 2010, please contact the Knox City Council Sustainability Department on 03 9298 8125 or email knoxcc@knox.vic.gov.au
For further information about Clean Up Australia Day you can also contact Clean Up Australia on 1800 024 890.Top
| |
| Conserving Energy and Water | | | Local residents can make a difference by reducing their energy and water usage. For tips on conserving our valuable resources, click on the relevant link at the bottom of this screen. Top
| |
| Reducing your Rubbish | | Apart from using the recycling program offered by Council, residents can further reduce the amount of waste going to landfill by composting, creating a worm farm, not using plastic shopping bags and by purchasing recycled products.
Plastic bags are an established part of Australian shopping habits, with approximately 6.9 billion plastic bags used by Australian consumers each year. Plastic bags are very well suited for this purpose because they are lightweight, inexpensive, strong and functional. They do however have some major environmental impacts thanks to their litter effect, and capacity to injure wildlife, particularly in the marine environment. These impacts are increased due to the plastic persisting in the environment due to its lack of biodegradability.
Reusable shopping bags can be purchased from local supermarkets and from Planet Ark.
For more information about plastic bag use, reducing your waste and litter prevention at home and in the community, click on the relevant links at the bottom of this screen.Top
| |
| What about your own ideas to make a difference | | | People have been approaching Council with great ideas to make a difference to their street, neighbourhood, local park, etc. If you have ideas on how to improve your neighbourhood, your street or your community, why not chat to your neighbours, see what they think and then contact Council. Top
| |
| |
|