Cr Diana Grima
As a mum and someone who has been heavily involved in the local community, I would like to share some council initiatives that may be of interest to people in the Wetlands area.
Following last year’s Pitch Your Idea budget submission process, council is offering Hobsons Bay parents up to $75 off the purchase price of reusable nappies. There is no doubt that disposal nappies contribute greatly to landfill and it is hoped this rebate will help reduce the upfront costs of reusable nappies and enable families to make a small change which will have a big impact for the planet. For details, visit www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/ResuableNappyRebate
For the broader community, council is calling for Laverton residents to join the Love Laverton Focus Group. The group will help drive the roll-out of the Better Places Laverton Place Guide, as well as identify activities and event that will bring key areas of Laverton to life. We have already seen some excellent results from Better Places with upgrades under way at Frank Gibson Reserve and starting soon at Dick Murdoch Reserve as part of the Love Laverton Parks project, with Henderson, Bladin and Cropley Crescent Reserves soon to follow. I’m particularly proud of Henderson Street Reserve design, which will include inclusive elements following further consultation with the nearby Western Autistic School. Register your interest for the Love Laverton Focus Group at participate.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/better-places-laverton before this Sunday, October 10.
Speaking of projects, council has installed solar panels on the building that houses social enterprise Mesh Mash. The building is one of the newest recruits to council’s Virtual Solar Energy Power Plant project, a network that will eventually cover 40 council-owned community facilities and generate enough energy to supply over 110 average Victorian households, saving approximately 642 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent each year.
Finally, nominations are now open for the Hobsons Bay Citizen of the Year Awards, a lovely opportunity to celebrate the people in our community who inspire us. To acknowledge the acts of kindness, both great and small, which bring us together, complete a nomination form at www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/citizenawards before December 10.
