Community Sustainable Opportunities

Get into Nature is a series of Council workshops, guided walks and events designed to connect people with their natural surroundings.

The Get into Nature events are run by Council’s Bushcare Team allowing local residents and visitors to experience the amazing plants and animals in Parramatta’s bushland reserves in a safe,  friendly and engaging way.

Details on upcoming events can be found on our Liveable Parramatta Facebook page.

Not on Facebook? Please contact Council’s Bushcare Team for more details:

Phone: (02) 9806 8280

Email: bushcare@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au 

Please not that these events are highly popular and places are strictly limited, so please register to avoid disappointment.

Developed following years of research and successful pilots, the ClimateClever platform brings together the most effective components to create an innovative, data-driven App, consisting of three interactive online tools. The App enables schools, businesses, and residents, to: 

• easily calculate and track their carbon footprint; 
• conduct an audit of their buildings; and 
• create personalised action plans to reduce consumption, costs, and carbon emissions across all utilities (electricity, gas, water and waste)

Energy advice you can trust

Council has partnered with the Australian Energy Foundation to provide you with simple energy advice you can trust.

The energy advisors at the Australian Energy Foundation can help you work out exactly what you need to do to make your home energy-efficient. From solar to pool pump controllers, they can provide advice on all areas of your home, helping you make an informed decision.

They can also connect you with reliable suppliers for everything you need to make your home energy-efficient. They conduct a rigorous procurement process so that you can buy with ease and confidence.

Areas they can help with include:

• solar panels and battery storage
• insulation and draught proofing
• LED lighting
• hot water heat pumps
• reverse cycle air conditioners
• home energy assessments
• pool pump controllers
• window films

Visit the Australian Energy Foundation website to learn about all the things you can do in your home.

Contact one of their energy advisors on 1300 23 68 55 or email advice@aef.com.au

Get a quote for your home

About the workshops:

With climate change being identified as the biggest threat and disruptor of our times, how can we
help mobilise community action aligned with scientific targets? How do we inspire change while not
alienating or intimidating people along the way? Our safe climate workshops aim to look at the most
effective environmental and social actions to enable climate action and strong community networks. 

REDUCING EMISSIONS (FOR GOOD) 

How are greenhouse gasses created and how we residents take up an emissions reduction target in
their area? In this workshop we'll cover what we mean by "Greenhouse Gas Emissions", how
emissions are created and ways we can do better.
 

Unlocking the local solutions which will decarbonise our communities
We know net zero is coming, but what transition does it really require of everyday people? This
workshop will unpack what net zero means in reality for residents of a community and facilitates a
conversation about how each of them can align their efforts with a local, state or federal government target.
 

Creating resilient networks in a changing climate
When climates are changing, so must we, but what does it mean for our neighbours? This workshop
unpacks the fundamental aspects of resilience by managing the acute risks of climate change and
who is affected. By looking at the safety of our most vulnerable, we can work with solidarity to
ensure the best outcomes for all.
 

Reduce your impact and save money by making simple changes
Reducing our power usage isn't just good for the planet, with rising living costs, it's more important
than ever to help households manage . Learn how household changes really add up when it comes
to saving power
 

Have you noticed food prices continuing to go up? Have you considered growing some of your own food?

To help you get started, City of Parramatta is supporting the GOOF series again this Autumn.

GOOF – Grow Our Own Food – is a 5-week, online workshop series based on nature’s cycles. The series is presented by knowledgeable Northmead locals who practise the ethics and principles of permaculture in their own homes. You will learn how to make healthy soil, care for plants, save and sow seeds and grow food all year long!

About the workshops:

The circular economy represents an immense opportunity to decouple economic growth from finite
resources. Join us in this series of up to 4 circular economy workshops, as we unpack the challenges,
opportunities and tools to change how we design, use and manage resources. From exploring ways
we create waste, through to understanding how circular economies may shape our relationships
with consumption.
These workshops are designed to help participants:
● Understand the basic principles and business models of a circular economy
● Recognise the barriers and opportunities of a circular economy for citizens, industry and
Government.

RETHINKING 'WASTE' (FOR GOOD)

An introduction to the circular economy
How can we incorporate the circular economy into your community? We'll cover the state of waste
and litter in your area, the circular economy: what it is and how it works.
 

Setting up for recycling success

It’s easy to be a good recycler when you’ve got the systems to make it easy. In this workshop
attendees will unpack simple, effective hacks to set up home for success from the start. Covering the
common waste items, how to sort them and handy tips to make sure our waste ends up in the right
place.
 

Welcome to the world beyond kerbside

Just because something isn't kerbside recyclable, doesn't mean it's not valuable or made for reuse.
We'll explore the world of recycling drop-off services outside our streets. From CRC's to CDS's,
stewardship schemes, in-store collections to social enterprise solutions. We'll unpack what's around
and some tips on how to close the loop.
 

How communities are making space for ‘waste’

The global push to create localised places to remanufacture, repair and reconnect is here! We'll
unlock how to embrace circularity and why local is key. From what a community hub is or could be,
through to how to cultivate and support it's longevity, we'll show what it takes to build something
good.
 

A program that encourages residents to learn about native gardening and how improving local biodiversity helps pollinators, especially native stingless bees. Participants also learn how to build hives and split them for regeneration each year.

Naturally, native bees live in tree hollows, branches, or natural overhangs. Much of their habitat is lost in our suburbs and combined with the increase in herbicide and pesticide use, they are in decline. Having native bees in your garden greatly improves the health of your garden and improves the yields of your veggie patch.

Through this program, we will offer you different opportunities to hear from speakers from universities and from industry, as well as existing hosts who are keen to share their experiences. Residents will also learn how to build hives and how to split them for regeneration each year and become part of a growing network of hive hosts.

To be eligible for this program we ask for a commitment to eliminate pesticide and herbicide use on individual properties. It is also encouraged to plant more native species whenever possible and Council will offer native plant seedlings throughout the year to improve property biodiversity.

Each year the existing hives will be split. Depending on availability these could be offered as opportunity to become a host for a live-working native beehive.

Program currently full - wait list available

Join the contact list by emailing your name, address, contact number to enviroed@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au or call 02 9806 8292.

Sunday 9th October, 9:30-11am at Burnside Gardens Community Centre, 3 Blackwood Place, Oatlands.

https://www.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/living/booking-a-venue/burnside-gardens-community-centre

Close to bus stops on Pennant Hills road or parking onsite.

Introduction to City of Parramatta’s Hive & Seek Program. Come along and learn about our program and how you can encourage native bees into your garden. 

Learn about the latest research in Native Stingless Bees.
Have you taken the chance to look at nature recently? Caitlyn Forster is a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney studying pollinator behaviour. She will be speaking about stingless bee and honey bee pick flowers, and how you can appreciate the pollinators in your garden.

Save Power Kits for loan

The Save Power Kits includes power monitoring equipment to help you identify where you are using power and where you can be saving power (and reducing your greenhouse gas emissions).

There are two types of kit you can borrow:

Save Power kit contains range of practical tools including a power monitor to work out how much power your appliances are using, an infrared thermometer to check for drafts and a thermometer to test heating and cooling as well as a stopwatch and compass

Power Mate kit has a single energy meter to measure how much energy your appliances use. It can also tell you how much your electricity costs for each appliance. Even when an appliance is on standby it can draw power, adding extra costs to bills unnecessarily.

Kits are available to adult library members for 1 week and must be returned in person.

A program to help people save power and money is now available for loan at City of Parramatta Library and its branches as part of the NSW Government’s Home Energy Action Program.

This program supports a network of local schools and community groups to collect and share heirloom organic seeds to create a self-sufficient seed bank which decreases the need to purchase commercial seedlings each season.

Through this network, Council provides free seedlings for local primary schools for their food gardens, as well as free training in seed harvesting and storage.

To find out more details or to register please contact Council’s Sustainability & Waste Team:

Phone: (02) 9806 8292

Email: enviroed@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au

The Compost Revolution program is a fun way to learn about composting and worm farming from the comfort of your own home.

People from all over Australia are joining the revolution and finding out how to create their own soil and fertiliser while reducing the rubbish they send to landfill.

First step is to complete the quick tutorial to learn about how to use and look after a worm farm or compost bins. Then you can claim your discounted worm farm and compost bin. Council will then approve the order and your items will be delivered to your door within a few weeks.

Can't get solar panels on your roof because you're renting, moving, or it's just too shady? 
We hear you! So, we are on a mission to bring you as many options as possible to ensure you can choose renewable energy and get the savings.

Join us for a free webinar hosted by Haystacks Solar Garden on Thursday 1st December from 7pm. 
You'll learn how you can invest in a solar panel system of your very own - just not on your roof.
 

Moving towards a more plant-based diet is one of the best decisions you can make for the environment and the lives of animals. A plant-based diet can also give you all the nutrients you need to be healthy. It can lower your chances of developing health problems, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Fiona's plant-based eating workshop will help you learn how you can make a plant-based diet work for you with practical nutrition tips and advice. 

a.    3rd Eco-friendly eating: Thursday 3rd November
b.    10th Food waste: Thursday 10th November
c.    19th Meal planning: Saturday 19th November
d.    3rd December: Shop sustainably

The Garage Sale Trail is a great way to make or save money by buying or selling your pre-loved stuff, whilst also minimising your impact on the planet.

As an Australia wide initiative there are numerous ways to be involved in the Garage Sale Trail both online and in the real world. This year's event looks set to be bigger than ever so expect heaps of money making, treasure hunting and planet saving fun.

Garage Sale Trail happens with the support of local council partners across the country and over ten years has grown to a nationwide event which sees over 3.5 million kg of items sold and saved from landfill.

Every garage sale has a unique style and gets a sale page that provides clues to who's involved, what’s on offer and anything else that’s going down. It’s like a treasure map to second hand greatness. Likewise, shoppers can search for sales, items of interest and make their own Trail of favourite sales to checkout.

Registrations open September 2021.