Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority 2030 survey

Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority is undertaking this community consultation to help them work with the community to build a better future. The STCA wants to find out how you would like the region to develop over the next 20 years. They have chosen seven key areas and for each one are asking you to tell us what needs to be kept and what needs to be changed or improved to make Southern Tasmania an even better place to live. Please visit their website (http://stca.tas.gov.au/2030-survey/) and complete the survey to let them know where you would like to see Tasmania in 2030!

----- driveway market ------

...driveway market...

Here is the game plan:

...spread the word to all the people I know who make things, bake things, grow things, snow things, eat things, meet things. Then invite them to set up a table of their wares in our driveway (it's a big one), play some killer tunes, put the kettle on, spread out some rugs and hang out.
............. you should come, I reckon it will be fun.

Sunday May 1st, 10am - 3pm @ 71 Hill St, West Hobart
(near the train park..)

If you want to have a stall, trade stuff, demonstrate a skill, etc. just come along on the day. there is no stall fee or anything...

** GIANT Clothes swap, starts @ 11:00am!!!**
(bring clothes to add to the pile)

For more info, email brit.stewart@gmail

WH Map group meeting 23 March 2011

The walkers have finished surveying West Hobart, and have come up with a list of over 160 shortcuts /points of interest /issues of concern, together with their coordinates, which is very impressive. We had a visit tonight from Nick B., who has considerable experience with building maps for rogaining and orienteering. When we introduced him to our project, his view was that we would get the best results with the assistance of a professional mapmaker. Margaret and John will approach a mapmaker who Nick recommended, and get some samples of formats and overlays for the group to look at.

Meanwhile group members were asked to consider preparing some information on the history of West Hobart, and/or to describe their favourite walks (and why) for the obverse side of the map.

The high traffic levels encountered by parents taking children to Lansdowne Crescent School were discussed. There is a need for a "lollipop person" at the northern end of Lansdowne Crescent.

Margaret and Di will prepare a submission for funding for the Walking West Hobart map under the Community Development Grants of the Hobart City Council.

It turns out that the community consultations around the Jan Gehl liveable city plan will mainly be via community survey. However, the Council staff managing the project are available to come to community group meetings to discuss the plan. The group agreed WHEN should organise a community meeting focussed on the Gehl plan. Margaret to see if Waterworks and SH groups want to be involved in this.

LandShare

Seen on ABC TV tonight - a story about LandShare - an online meeting place for people who have land available for others to garden on, and growers who are looking for some land to put a vegie garden on. There might be some West Hobartians interested in using this network!!

Sustainable Transport Group Meeting, 2 March 2011

Meeting at Margaret's house, we discussed the progress of our surveys of the streets and our data gathering for the Walking West Hobart map. We have collected lots of information, and have lots of good ideas. We shared inspiring stories and sources of useful material, for example the excellent "Victoria Walks" website.

Our challenge is how to decide what to include, and then later, how to present it on a single map! After we had tossed round some ideas, Di suggested ordering the information into priorities, to help in our decisionmaking. Our priorities are:

1. Access (physical aspects); 2. Services (or the purpose of our walks); and 3. Enjoyment (celebrating the experience).

John H suggested collecting location information for the points of interest via GPS coordinates rather than by placing them on the Google MyMap we have created. This will assist the mapmaker to easily transfer the data into mapmaking software.

Di will create a spreadsheet to capture the data and we will each enter into it the items we have surveyed and their locations.

The Gehl report is now available and members of the group will source copies of it in readiness for providing a response to the Council.

Next meeting: 3 weeks' time, same time, same place.

Public Spaces and Public Life report

The long awaited report by Gehl Architects is now available from the Hobart City Council website. The bad news is that it is quite hard to print up. You need a colour printer that can print doublesided on A3, then you really need to trim it to a square and then (if you can) spiral bind it to make it easy to turn the pages!

My partner Robert tried to get one from the Council's counter and it wasn't available. When he rang up to get a copy, he got the impression that the request wasn't that welcome - and when he got the report it had clearly just been printed on the office printer and bound on the spot. It looks like funding wasn't available for commercial printing. Now that I'm reading it, it also looks like they couldn't afford an editor!

Anyway, enough of my whingeing, it's time to read the report!

Sustainable Transport Group Meeting, Wed. 9 Feb

This meeting's main focus was on developing the Walking West Hobart Map.  Here are Margaret's notes on our discussion:
Thank you to Helene and Di for entering the existing data on the web map.
1.  We decided we needed to gather more direct data and actually walk the West Hobart streets: 
Attached is the re-jigged letter-boxing map (thanks John H.) that now follows as closely as possible the official West Hobart
boundary (from the LIST).  John and I lost our nerve about allocating areas but Helene and Di had offered to do the 
northern patch  (A).  John Hunter is happy to do B.
I suggest we leave G (Knocklofty) for now.   Please feel free to claim another patch. Let me know.
Here are the items of interest that we agreed we should note: 
shortcuts, fruit trees (potential scrumping), views, bus stops, safe and dangerous street crossings, contours (gradients), 
bike paths, parks, seats, shelter, steps and non-pram-friendly paths,  picnic spots/tables, historic houses, toilets, 
points of interest, cafes, shops and services  e.g. doctor, plumber (the goods and services provided, 
not the actual business name), good 'park and walk' spots (ie not outside Margaret's house!),  play grounds and 
other good child-friendly spaces, art galleries.
And I guess anything else we haven't thought of!  We need to note an accurate location for all items. And take a camera.  
2. John C showed different icon styles – e.g. geometric shapes for different features, with numbers relating to notes,
pictographic icons such as those used by Green Maps, which we can use if we register as a Green Map ($100).
John C, are the maps left over from the Sustainable Living Expo at all useful for noting stuff on? If so, maybe we could 
collect copies from you.
3. Margaret had raised the possibility of doing a community information session on Peak Oil
with the assistance of Peak Oil Tasmania. It was agreed that Margaret should approach  Neighbourhood Watch to explore
 the possibility of this being one of the talks offered by them or alternatively use the newsletter as a publicity medium for 
our own event.  
4. Jan Gehl Report:
We agreed that we should make a submission on this, and that there may be scope to widen this to a community meeting
on planning issues, with a number of speakers.

Could electric bikes be Hobart's clean transport solution?

Come along to the Hobart Regatta Grounds on Monday 31 Jan at 6pm to find out. There'll be a range of electric bikes for people to test ride. Visiting from Sydney is Maurice Wells, one of Australia's leading electric bike experts. He will be able to give advice on what to look for in an electric bike as well as what is most appropriate for you. Find out how good electric bikes are on Hobart's hills! Maurice and his partner are about to ride their electric bikes from Hobart to Launceston via the Central Plateau. Thanks to the electric motor, they will cover this distance in just three easy days, taking hills in their stride and enjoying the wonderful scenery. No lycra, no sweat. Organised by eco-Bikes, a South Hobart-grown small business.

Changing the Dream Symposium

5 Feb, 12.30pm - 5.30pm, Philip Smith Centre, Hobart.

This one-day Symposium explores the current state of our planet from a new perspective, and connects participants with a powerful global movement to reclaim our future. Through dynamic group interactions, leading edge information, and inspiring multimedia, participants are inspired to reconnect with their deep concern for our world, and are empowered to make a difference.

If you are ready to be disturbed, inspired and moved to action, then join in exploring the most critical concerns of our times, and discover new opportunities to make a real difference in accelerating the emergence of an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, and socially just human presence on this planet!

Designed by The Pachamama Alliance with the collaboration of some of the finest scientific, indigenous and activist minds in the world, the next Tasmanian Symposium will be held at the Phillip Smith Centre in Hobart on Saturday, February 5th from 12.30-5.30pm. The cost for the day, including refreshments, is $40 waged, $20 unwaged. Although payment can be made at the door, people are required to register online at www.changingthedream.org.au, with a discount available for online payment at the time of registration.

For more information, or to register online, go to www.changingthedream.org.au , or contact Phil Everist,0413 383 206 , or phileverist@gmail.com

Solar Hot Water Heaters - Eco Tasmania

EcoTasmania is a Hobart-based company providing the Apricus evacuated tube solar hot water heaters. The company developed out of the bulk buying project of the Waterworks Valley Community, a sister group of WHEN. Their website has lots of useful stuff to help with your decisionmaking. Looks like the place to start when thinking about moving to solar hot water!

'A city with people in mind'

This evening in Sandy Bay, Jan Gehl (of Gehl Architects, who have been commissioned by the council to provide a development plan for the area directly surrounding the Hobart CBD) gave a public lecture on the fruits of the research conducted by his firm over the past year.

In it, he addressed many significant issues--from traffic and accessibility, to 'greening the urban' and sense of community.

Provide above is a link to the Hobart City Council website, from which the results of Professor's Gehl's research may be downloaded and digested.

It is our responsibility as members of the greater Hobart community to be aware, informed, and engaged in the process of transforming our urban center, so as to ensure harmony between our public spaces and our personal ethos.

Walk Score website

Found on the web:

Walk Score (www.WalkScore.com) is the leading measure of walkability. It works on any address and gives you a score and a map of nearby stores, restaurants, schools, parks, etc.

The designers of this website are clearly in touch with sustainability values. They say:

Walkable neighborhoods offer surprising benefits to the environment, our health, our finances, and our communities.

Environment: Cars are a leading cause of climate change. Your feet are zero-pollution transportation machines.

Health: The average resident of a walkable neighborhood weighs 7 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighborhood.¹

Finances: One point of Walk Score is worth up to $3,000 of value for your property. Read the research report.

Communities: Studies show that for every 10 minutes a person spends in a daily car commute, time spent in community activities falls by 10%.

The Walking West Hobart map group will take a good look at this tool to see how it can help with our project.

The Sharehood

The Sharehood was referred to us by new member Colin. This is what The Sharehood says it is about:

The Sharehood is all about sharing resources within your neighbourhood and helps you to meet and make friends with people in your local area. All sorts of things can be shared, such as sewing machines, vegetables, wheelbarrows, tools, cars, books and computers. Skills can be shared too: gardening help, bike fixing, accountancy, language skills, childminding, how to make wine or dance the tango.

Perhaps this might be a useful way for West Hobartians to connect and share goods and services etc with each other?

Green Traders

A new group has been set up to make it easier to share goods. Here's what they say:

Somewhere in the world, for a multitude of reasons, a fruit tree overburdened with deliciously ripe fruit rots and withers away, without a soul to eat it. Whilst somewhere in the world, for a multitude of reasons, someone goes hungry and cries, without a soul to help feed them.
We saw a void that we wanted to help fill and thus, Green Traders was born. In this world with ever increasing costs, everyday there are people that have to go without. Imagine how amazing it will be to trade green products such as fruit, vegetables, eggs, manure, seedlings and compost with others. This is Recycling at its very best and is a wonderful way to help the environment.
By reusing products that you do not need or want it will allow for less packaging and therefore less wastage. By giving away or trading what you do not use or want, you will be helping your fellow mankind. This will also give you a great sense of community, knowing that you are assisting people within your own neighbourhood.

This way of communicating and sharing could be very useful for getting (or getting rid of) gardening or household goods.... Check it out, at:

Green Traders

Walking West Hobart map project - update

The Walking West Hobart map working group has met again to look at several excellent maps provided by the Hobart City Council.

I have created a Google "My Map" which looks like a pretty accessible way for people to contribute ideas. Here is the link.

Walks in West Hobart

A collection of shortcuts and best walking paths in West Hobart. Blue lines are laneways, fine for prams. Red lines indicate there are some steps. Green bicycles indicate best bike routes.

Have a go, it's fairly easy to add shortcuts etc that you know about.

Current ideas are that perhaps this "My Map" could be the online version of the Walking West Hobart map, and that we could use the information gathered here to create a printed paper map for on the street enjoyment!

Also Maria and John have created a Tassie Urban Walks website to showcase urban walks

Take a short walk in your lunch hour or on a weekend, to discover some of the unusual places hidden in the heart of Tasmania's urban areas.

We can use this site to publicise particularly lovely walks around West Hobart. Please contribute ideas to this page too!

So, plenty of ideas, and your input is welcome.

Walking West Hobart map - Meeting 13 October 2010

Tonight Margaret convened a meeting of the Walking West Hobart Map working group, held at Anne's. Present were:  John and Maria, Helene, Di, John and Carol, and Suzanne.

Margaret and Di outlined some background of the project, and there was some enthusiastic discussion of the objectives of the project.  These include: to encourage residents to walk, to enjoy what West Hobart has to offer, to connect more with each other, to improve health, to reduce dependence on the car, to identify little known shortcuts and to publicise them.   Perhaps in summary it is about celebrating West Hobart and promoting  walking.

The group discussed the geographic scope of the project.  It was felt that it would be wise to focus on West Hobart in order to keep the project manageable.  When this is complete we may be able to extend the concept into Sandy Bay and Lenah Valley in the future.

Many good ideas about what to show on the map were thrown in, such as : shortcuts, walking times, fruit trees, views, bus stops,  safe street crossings, contours, shortest routes to (State Cinema, etc), bike paths, parks, seats, toilets, points of interest, coffee shops, "park and walk", alerts for steps or non-pram-friendly paths.   People had some good ideas for improved signage of shortcuts including adding signs to "No Through Road" signposts.  Quite a few shortcuts and rights of way have already been contributed by Paul and several were suggested tonight.

It is likely that we will make a version of the map available online, but printed maps will definitely be produced.  There will be some thinking to do about what size and shape the printed maps could be.

Where to next:
Margaret will see whether Hobart City Council's mapping department can provide large and detailed maps that already show some shortcuts and rights of way. She will also enquire as to what level of support they can offer towards graphic design and production.

The group will meet again on Monday 25 October to start mapping ideas directly onto a map, 7.30pm at John and Carol's.   Contact Margaret for details if you would like to come along.

There will be more meetings to refine the map and to consult with more residents to gather more ideas.  One idea is to showcase the map at the Back To West Hobart day in May 2011.

Green Moves Australia

If you want to sell or lease your home, you can list on the Green Property List as long as your house meets a sustainability test.   Read all about it at: Green Moves Australia.

Did you know Mandatory Disclosure is coming in May 2011?

This means you must disclose your home's energy efficiency at point of sale or rent from May 2011 onwards. This company also provides more information about what this is all about, and offers guidance on how you can improve your home's sustainability features.  

Solar Hot Water Forum 2008

From the WHEN archives:  We had a very worthwhile Solar Hot Water Forum in 2008 with about 75 people attending. Thank you very much to all who were involved in making the day such a success. Six suppliers attended the event and five of them have offered discounts to those who were there or who are members of WHEN. Please let them know that you are from the group if you contact them.

Here are the details of the offers (in alphabetical order).

APRICUS

Mark Rickard,
EcoTasmania

6224 0166

mark@ecotasmania.com

www.ecotasmania.com

I am happy to offer 5% discount off the quoted system prices to all WHEN members, and if 10 or more systems are ordered by members of your group, then I will rebate to you a further 5%. To get much more than 10% I would need to get a sizeable order - for maybe around 30 or so systems, I could give 15%. There's not that much margin in them, particularly as I already give 5% from each system to Eco Tasmania the not-for-profit, who use that money for lobbying, education, etc.

See: http://www.apricus.com.au/ for details about the Apricus systems.

 

ECOSMART

Neil Edney,
Ultimate Hot Water Pty Ltd

neiledney@bigpond.com 
www.ultimatehotwater.com.au

We can offer $100 off the installation price.  For orders of 5 we can offer a $200 discount off the RRP per system and this can be paid using our Easy Pay Plan or payment on completion.  For orders of 10 or more systems we can offer a discount of $400 per system with payment via cash, cheque, visa or mastercard only.

See : http://www.ecosmart.com.au/ for details about the Ecosmart systems.

 

HILLS SOLAR SYSTEMS

Mal Blood,
Sackett Services,
37 Derwent Park Road,
Derwent Park

6272 7776

mblood@sackettservices.com.au

I am offering a special price of $500 dollars off the normal system price for group members.

See : http://www.hillssolar.com.au/arbitrage/pages/Home for details about the Hills Solar systems.

 

SOLAHART

Aaron Sommerville,
CGA TAS Pty Ltd,
159 Main Road,
Moonah
62728188
aaron_cgatas@iprimus.com.au

Solahart is offering a $400 discount until the 30 September 2008. Also, if you can get at least a group of three people to buy and install three systems in one street within two days there can be savings of about $1000 per group off of the installation price.

See: http://www.solahart.com.au/default.asp? for details about the Solahart systems.

SUNPLUS SOLAR

Rob Manson,
Electricians Shed,
45 Burnett Street,
North Hobart

6231 0002

rob@electricians-shed.com.au

Yes, we can offer discounts for bulk purchases. Please have any one interested contact me via email or phone or come into our shop.

See: http://www.sunplussolar.com.au/ for details about the Sunplus Solar systems.

Remember the responsibility is yours to check out the pluses and minuses of the various systems. Please send me an email if you would like a copy of a sheet containing buying tips.

Regards,

John

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Making our Homes Sustainable

John Carpenter, convener (6231 6349)
Carol Graham
John Hunter
Cindy Hull
Tricia Viera
Justin Welch

The group welcomes new members. 

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As their next activity, the group is looking at running a demo home energy efficiency audit in someone's home and possibly doing another forum around rainwater tanks. If you would like to offer your home as the venue for the home audit or if you are interested in being part of the rainwater tank forum team, please contact John on 6231 6349. 

Peak Oil Community Workshop, 18 September 2010

Join us in a vibrant discussion with people of like mind.  Help strengthen our community response to Peak Oil and Climate Change.  Workshop on  Saturday, 18th September , Philip Smith Education Centre 1 - 4 pm .  Soup, bisquits, tea and coffee provided. Donations greatly appreciated.   RSVP info@sustainablelivingtasmania.org.au    or  phone 62345566 .

Sustainable House Day 2010 - Sunday, 12 September 10- 4pm

The Australian Solar Energy Society invites you to visit five sustainable homes in Southern Tasmania - in Acton, Howrah, Sandford, Lower Snug and Woodbridge. This is a good opportunity to see how other Tasmanians are tackling how to make their homes more energy conservative. You can see how it looks in practice and ask the owners how they did it!

Source Wholefoods Coop is also open on the day, to show off its strawbale construction and other features!

There are some details about these houses and information on opening times on www.sustainablehouseday.com