Environmental

Tweed Shire Council Leads the Way in Sustainable Practices

Published

3 months ago

6 February 2024

Liam

Solar farm in the tweed for the Council's Renewable Energy Action Plan

Tweed Shire Council Leads the Way in Sustainable Practices

Tweed Shire Council has achieved remarkable success in reducing its environmental footprint, with significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and electricity usage recorded in the latest Environmental Sustainability Performance Report for the 2022/23 financial year.

The report highlights a commendable 19% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, totalling 4,188 tonnes, showcasing the council’s commitment to emission reduction goals. This achievement can be attributed to a combination of factors, including improved energy efficiency, additional solar projects, and a return to pre-flood patterns of vehicle use.

Renewable Energy Action Plan flood clean up in the tweed

Army trucks and personnel supported the 2022 flood clean up in the Tweed Shire, unloading flood-damaged goods at the Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre. The latest performance results show that Council has now returned to pre-flood patterns of vehicle use last financial year and as a result, transport fuel use and associated emissions reduced by 48%, after peaking during the February/March 2022 flood response.

Key highlights from the report include:

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An 11% reduction in grid electricity consumption, driven by enhanced energy efficiency measures and expanded solar initiatives.
A notable 48% decrease in transport fuel use and associated emissions, following the peak during the February/March 2022 flood response.
A significant diversion of materials from landfill, with 55% of waste at the Murwillumbah Civic Centre diverted, aligning with the council’s ‘less to landfill’ focus.

Mayor Chris Cherry expressed satisfaction with the council’s progress, emphasising the significant strides made towards achieving the Renewable Energy Action Plan’s targets. With a 30% decrease in electricity-use emissions achieved to date, the council remains firmly on track to meet its ambitious goals.

Furthermore, Mayor Cherry highlighted the financial benefits of sustainability initiatives, noting that the savings accrued not only benefit the environment but also deliver long-term cost savings for ratepayers.

Despite the positive results, the report also sheds light on areas for improvement, including an 8% increase in printed paper use attributed to staff returning to work post-COVID, and a nearly 80% increase in water use in public parks due to decreased rainfall.

Tweed Shire Council staff stand proudly in front of the Tweed’s biggest solar array, housed at the Banora Point Wastewater Treatment Plant which became operational in August 2023. Although outside the reporting period, it represents the ongoing work of Council’s Renewable Energy Action Plan coming to fruition, which will provide benefits in future reporting periods. The 1,208 high-efficiency solar panels with a capacity of 604 kilowatts power one of Council’s most power-hungry facilities, the Banora Point Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Mayor Cherry reaffirmed the council’s commitment to transparency, pledging to report on performance, including both successes and challenges, to the community. She underscored the council’s dedication to minimising environmental impacts across its operations and encouraged community engagement with the sustainability efforts.

Tweed Shire Council’s recent achievements in sustainability include Mayor Chris Cherry’s recognition as the 2023 Climate Ambassador in the Cities Power Partnership Awards, full compliance with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy program, and securing a top score on climate action from the Climate Disclosure Platform.

For more information on the council’s Renewable Energy Action Plan, environmental performance and response to climate change, residents can visit here.

For more Tweed Shire news, click here.

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Environmental

NSW Government supports Northern Rivers green bin education

Published

1 month ago

17 April 2024

Liam

NSW Government supports Northern Rivers green bin education

North East Waste has received an $89,700 grant from the NSW Government to help educate Northern Rivers residents about what types of waste can and can’t go into FOGO (Food Organics Garden Organics) bins. The funding aims to ensure that food waste and garden waste such as plants stays out of landfill. It also aims to keep green bins free from contaminants like plastic.

Earlier this year, North East Waste and its member councils (Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Lismore, Kyogle, Richmond Valley and Tweed) announced that Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) bins should now only be used for food scraps and garden waste. This means that materials like paper, cardboard and teabags do not go into green bins as they can contaminate the final compost made from the organic content.

North East Waste Education Coordinator Linda Tohver said the assistance from the NSW Government would help councils to continue promote the right message and increasing awareness in the community.

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“The response from community has been positive so far, and we need to keep spreading the word,” Ms Tohver said.

“The messages are simple to follow and will help keep potentially harmful items out of our green bins so that we can create the best quality commercial compost from residents’ food scraps and garden waste.”

What CAN go in your green bin	What CAN NOT go in your green bin
Fruit and vegetable scraps	Fibre-based products (bamboo, cardboard, paper etc)
Meat and bones	Paper towels, serviettes, tissues, napkins
Seafood and shells	Compostable or biodegradable products (excluding AS 4736-2006 kitchen caddy liners )
Pasta, bread, rice and cereal	Vacuum cleaner dust
Eggs and dairy products like cheese	Washing machine and dryer lint
Loose tea leaves and coffee grinds	Pet poo and poo bags
Garden waste (leaves, clippings, weeds etc)	Tea and coffee bags
Council approved compostable kitchen caddy liners that comply with AS 4736-2006 and the paper used to wrap food scraps.	Treated wood and timber
	Plastic

For more information, visit here. The ‘Let’s Get our Scrap Together’ campaign is proudly supported by the NSW Government.

For more environmental news, click here.

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Environmental

Never bin your batteries – just B-cycle them

Published

2 months ago

27 March 2024

Liam

Community Recycling Centres (CRC) B-cycle

Never bin your batteries – just B-cycle them

Advertorial by Newaste

Batteries disposed of in bins are causing fires in waste trucks and facilities across the country, endangering workers, damaging equipment and wasting a valuable resource that could otherwise be recovered.

To prevent battery fires occurring – Never bin your batteries!

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Here’s how to dispose of batteries safely:

Remove from appliance
Tape terminals with clear sticky tape to prevent short circuiting
Place in ventilated glass container and drop off promptly at your nearest B-cycle drop-off point

One of Richmond Valley Council’s Community Recycling Stations, located at the Council Administration Office in Casino where small quantities of handheld batteries can be dropped off for recycling.

B-cycle drop off points are available at many large local high street retailers. To find your nearest, visit bcycle.com.au/drop-off/

Alternatively, you can drop them at one of the regions 8 FREE council run Community Recycling Centres (CRC) or for very small quantities drop them at one of the 30 small council drop off stations (CRS) spread across the region in libraries, community centres and council administration centres. To find out more contact your local Council or visit www.newaste.org.au/crc

Community Recycling Centres (CRC)

This project is a NSW Environment Protection Authority Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy initiative, funded from the waste levy

For more environmental news, click here.

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Environmental

LAND NEAR DRAKE VILLAGE SITE RETURNED TO ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY

Published

2 months ago

20 March 2024

Liam

LAND NEAR DRAKE VILLAGE SITE RETURNED TO ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY

The NSW Government will return a large parcel of land near Drake Village west of Tenterfield to the local Aboriginal community following a successful land claim.

A total of 104.4 hectares of Crown land across two adjoining blocks at the western edge of the village will be returned as freehold land to the ownership of Jubullum Local Aboriginal Land Council following the land claim by the NSW Local Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC).

Under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, Local Aboriginal Land Councils and the NSW Aboriginal Land Council have a right to lodge land claims on Crown land.

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Land claims must be assessed against non-discretionary statutory criteria in the Act, including whether the land was lawfully used or occupied at the time of the claim, or was needed for an essential public purpose.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said: “The return of this land to the Jubullum Local Aboriginal Land Council will ensure the future of this important site can be put to productive use for the benefit of the local community.”

“Returning land to Aboriginal people provides tangible economic, social and cultural benefits to Aboriginal and broader communities and we are pleased to see a positive resolution for this land.”

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:

“The resolution of land claims such as this is a key aspect of Closing the Gap, empowering Aboriginal people and communities.”

“It delivers on several Closing the Gap targets including supporting economic participation for Aboriginal communities and maintaining the connection of Aboriginal people to land and water.”

The NSW Government will return a large parcel of land near Drake Village west of Tenterfield to the local Aboriginal community following a successful land claim.

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said:

“With the return of this land, we pay our respects to the Traditional Owners, the Ngarabal people, alongside the Jukembal, Bundjalung, Kamilaroi, Githabul and Wahlubul peoples who share a connection to the area. We are proud and privileged to share a rich local history.”

“Through acknowledging the past and our local Aboriginal communities’ connection to Country we will all benefit from deeper cultural understanding, which forms a stronger foundation for a more prosperous future.”

Jubullum Local Aboriginal Land Council CEO Michelle Nagas said:

“The approval of this land claim is very exciting. It involves a substantial block of land close to Drake Village which provides strong opportunities.”

“We will have discussions with the land council and consultations with the community on future use of the site.”

NSW Aboriginal Land Council CEO Yuseph Deen said:

“The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) congratulates the Jubullum Local Aboriginal Land Council on the return of country to Aboriginal hands.”

“A key strategic goal of the NSWALC is pursuing economic self-determination, independence and prosperity for Our people.”

“Central to this is land acquisition and activation; securing the highest and best use returns and generating ongoing benefits fosters prosperity for Local Aboriginal Land Councils and Aboriginal communities.’

“This is particularly important in rural and remote areas of NSW.”

For more environmental news, click here.

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