ACTIONS
Renewable Energy
It is time to put climate action first and take responsibility for our actions – our planet and ecosystems need help! By monitoring and reducing our energy consumption we can make changes to our habits to reduce our need for electricity produced from coal and gas. Using renewable energy instead reduces our net emissions of greenhouse gases.
Our Village is a centralised business centre with the space and capacity to produce and store renewable energy (mainly solar) for local consumption.
Energy efficiency: Let’s support our community members to build awareness of the energy they currently use through energy audits. Let’s provide guidance and solutions on how to reduce current emissions.
Electrify everything: According to Saul Griffith, if we electrify the whole world economy we will need less than half of the primary energy we currently use. By electrifying, we can achieve the same amount of work but do so with far fewer carbon emissions.
Solar: Solar energy is one of the cleanest and most cost-effective sources of energy available. Solar panels don’t use any water to generate electricity, they don’t release harmful gases into the environment, and the source of their energy is abundant, and free.
Community battery: A community battery is a suburb precinct-scale energy storage unit that allows locals to access and store renewable energy, whilst greening and stabilizing our suburban network 24/7. Community batteries seamlessly absorb and store excess energy from local rooftop solar and release it during peak times when it is needed most. Community batteries ensure uptake of lots of neighborhood solar panels will be effective long term and bring us to a net zero emissions - a really exciting goal!
village zero sandringham
Waste
Reducing our waste is one of the most powerful personal actions we can take to help protect the environment. Aside from the environmental reasons for making these changes, there are financial benefits in reducing the waste we produce and how we process it.
By reducing, repurposing, repairing, reusing and recycling, we are building a cleaner future for generations to come. We have limited natural resources on this planet and limited capacity to process waste. It’s important to do our part each day towards a better future.
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Waste assessment: help the community understand their current waste behaviour which will lead to identification of solutions.
Waste reduction: Avoiding packaging, reusing and repairing is the simplest place to begin to reduce our waste impacts. Based on the waste assessments, support to the community will be provided.
Waste processing: There are many community-based opportunities to redirect and significantly reduce our waste. By working with you to identify and implement these opportunities, support will be provided.
Education: awareness is the most effective way to bring about change. Tips, tricks and education will help build commitment to thriving waste solutions for the village.
village zero sandringham
Green Spaces
In Sandringham Village we have the opportunity to add to green spaces, nurture and regenerate existing planting to maximize the positive effect of nature both the built environment and community life. Initiatives include:
Connecting green and open spaces to surrounding pollinator corridors, to promote biodiversity and support local ecosystems. This could include planting native flowers and shrubs, and creating habitats for bees, butterflies, and birds. This includes investigating the viability of green infrastructure, such as creating green roofs, and vertical gardens for apartment buildings.
Increasing access to green and open spaces, maximising flexibility of spaces for multiple uses and users, in accordance with Bayside Council’s “Open Spaces” policies. Prioritize accessibility for people living with disabilities, youth and the elderly in the design and development of green and open spaces. This could include incorporating features such as raised garden beds, wheelchair-accessible pathways, and age-appropriate playground equipment. Improved accessibility will interface with other infrastructure initiatives such as crossing improvements at Abbott Street, across Station Street, and Beach Road
Tree planting: Coordinating with the community to increase the uptake of Bayside Council’s tree-planting commitment for nature strips.
Increasing community enjoyment of streets, open and green spaces through community building events and activities
Aligning with and enabling other partners in supporting and nurturing green spaces.
Engaging the community in the planning, design, and maintenance of green and open spaces. This could include activities such as community clean-ups, volunteer gardening days, and educational workshops.
Creating and connecting community gardens and orchards, which allow for community members to grow their own produce and educate the community on sustainable food production and consumption.
VILLAGE ZERO SANDRINGHAM
Transport
Transport is Australia’s third largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and has the highest growth (Climate Council, 2017,2022). Low carbon travel involves using human power (walking and bicycling) for short trips and, for longer trips, electric powered and shared motor vehicles. We acknowledge that people have a diversity of travel needs and need to use a variety of modes. Village Zero’s vision for transport involves increasing the convenience and safety of low carbon travel.
Walking: Choosing to walk for short journeys, instead of habitual travel by car, avoids noise and pollution, means people end up with more money to spend, and, in the longer term, provides significant health benefits. Walking can be encouraged by improving safety (reducing traffic danger), providing priority at crossings and improving amenity (e.g., more tree cover).
Bikes: Many people in Bayside own bikes but only a few ride regularly for transport because of fear of traffic and fear of theft of their bikes when left at destinations. Bike access, compared to walking, greatly increase (e.g., almost 30 times) the catchment area for any centre.
Electric vehicles: EVs provide an opportunity for significant carbon emissions reduction as we transition from petrol cars. This applies to many areas beyond the household car:
- Small personal electric vehicles (bicycles and scooters) smaller vehicles with lower carbon footprint over their life cycle.
- Private electric cars and motorcycles – though we must consider their significant ‘whole of life’ carbon footprint.
- Shared electric vehicles - can be considered as they can make more efficient use of parking space.
- Public transport – buses, taxis and hire cars, when electrically powered have significant environmental benefit (low noise and low pollution).
- Delivery vehicles - when electrically powered have significant environmental benefits. The potential for shared loading and unloading bays, with charge points, could be explored with industry.
Trains - the train is a great asset for the Village. Access to and from Sandringham Station, which is also the bus interchange, should be enhanced.
VILLAGE ZERO SANDRINGHAM
Water
Water is our most precious resource. We drink on average four litres a day and it is an irreplaceable element of our industry and agriculture. Indeed, it is at the very heart of our existence, but it is a finite resource. Currently, we are using more water than what rainfall alone can provide, meaning the drinking water we have available today, may not be available tomorrow. By protecting our water supply we ensure our village remains a great place to live and prepare ourselves for tomorrow, and generations to come.
Responsible usage: Climate change and population growth are challenging the resilience of Melbourne’s water supply. It’s essential that responsible usage and awareness of water management is a priority to maximise overall water security.
Storage: Rainwater tanks are one way to make best use of water available to us. These can be used for gardens, flushing toilets and reducing the strain on stormwater drainage systems.
Water drinking stations: Public water stations can provide a way to hydrate the community and reduce the need for plastic bottles. It’s a convenient way for the community to refill their water bottles when they are on the move.
VILLAGE ZERO SANDRINGHAM
Art
Art is a powerful vehicle to help community connect with complex issues. It can provide hope, optimism and beauty during a time when climate change ignites fear amongst many of us. Visual messaging and beautiful art that provides hopeful messaging that gives people ideas for change plays an important role in driving this movement forward. Art allows for a way for people to connect with emotional aspects of climate change while also aligning with scientific facts.
Murals: art provides such a powerful messaging opportunity to the local community. Sandy Street Art Project are a passionate and active group who have worked hard to turn blank walls into works of art within Sandy Village. Two new works will be commissioned on blank walls to create artworks that display positive climate change messaging for all to enjoy and draw inspiration from.
Sculptures: Art as part of a circular economy, is central to this part of the Village Zero Project, making practical and aesthetic use of recycled objects such as - but not restricted to - plastic, clothes, metal, shredded magazines, labels, wires, electronic waste; thereby encouraging the public to question the sustainability of our lifestyles, as well as the prioritised importance of bronze, wood or stone from an artistic perspective. Two sculptures will be created as part of a 12-piece sculpture walk planned along the Sandringham foreshore.
Battery art: working with local artists to create artwork for the planned community battery celebrating this local source of renewable energy.
VILLAGE ZERO SANDRINGHAM
Culture
Culture is the piece that binds all other elements together. It refers to the patterns of human activity and symbolic structures that give activities such as: arts, beliefs, codes of manners, language, religion, rituals, norms of behaviour, morality, food, customs and laws significance and importance. The elements of culture are constantly in flux, with the systems of symbols and meanings interacting and competing with one another.
In general our knowledge of the Indigenous presence and first contact around Sandringham village is limited and not incorporated into the village structure. The Sandringham and District Historical Society has a wealth of resources with regard to Sandringham Village’s establishment and change, however there are many remembered stories from those whose families have lived around Sandringham for many years. These oral stories should be captured. Additionally with the assistance of a researcher we should seek information widely, from for example Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, individuals, historical groups and universities.
We will grow and benefit through curiosity and discovery, giving another dimension to belonging by connecting to country, and understanding the past in order to give soul to a reconciled future.
