Banyule Climate Action Now - BCAN

https://www.facebook.com/61554941717454/posts/122144156456164723/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Climate action, humanitarian action. Well done Banyule Palestine Action Group and the good folks of Banyule for standing up for justice.
https://www.facebook.com/61554941717454/posts/122141979344164723/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Very important petition that affects all citizens, residents and taxpayers in Australia especially those that care about human rights and our environment. When you sign, be sure to check your email and click on the link to verify your signature. https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN5997
Be sure to share it too.Thank you

e-petitions e-petitions

Weapons manufacturers destroy people and they destroy our environment. Sign and share.
https://www.facebook.com/61554941717454/posts/122137221290164723/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Signatures! Lets add some zeros onto this petition demanding our government cancels contracts with Israeli weapons and killing business Elbit! Please share far and wide.
Find a link to the petition in our bio or at www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN5997 Or by Googling "Elbit petition EN5997 Parliment of Australia". After signing the petition YOU MUST go to your email account and respond to the link in the email that confirms your signature.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02sykm2SfKYQGTeWj9CFr8EuunCTTYNoDX4PBjFChMXd7bbd1Q14ireXuFwQEQ2JRxl&id=100064868040308

Excellent fact filled article by BCAN Secretary and academic Gideon Polya
https://www.facebook.com/61554941717454/posts/122132694614164723/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

🇵🇸Exposing 10 Major West-backed Zionist Lies Re Jewish Israeli-imposed Gaza Genocide 🇵🇸
A very fact filled and informative read for any of us looking to get some talking points up our sleeves.

Author: Banyule resident and academic Gideon Polya

View the original article here: https://countercurrents.org/2024/03/exposing-10-major-west-backed-zionist-lies-re-jewish-israeli-imposed-gaza-genocide/

https://www.facebook.com/61554941717454/posts/122127067832164723/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

🇵🇸Banyule Palestine Action Group Pre-Rally Statement - 23rd February 2024🇵🇸 

“Banyule City Council has refused to accept a petition requesting that it pass a motion that supports a permanent ceasefire in Palestine. At this time, none of Banyule's nine councillors—including the Greens members, whose party supports a ceasefire at a state and federal level—have offered to get behind it.

In less than 6 weeks, our petition has received in excess of 1000 signatures.

From 6pm on  Monday, Feb 26th, we will rally outside the Heidelberg Town Hall in Ivanhoe to voice our concerns at a council meeting. Our petition should have been accepted at this meeting however the CEO and Mayor rejected the views of the community entirely and are refusing to even table the petition.

Banyule Palestine Action Group condemns Banyule City Council for its ongoing active support of Israel and America’s genocide of Palestinians, and bombings of Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen.  Their decision to “not cause division” by ignoring our petition shows their priorities in defending perpetrators of systemic violence and displacement, rather than acting for peace and human decency. This is not in line with our community’s values.

Banyule Palestine Action Group has been running kite events and community stalls at shopping precincts across Banyule to raise awareness, to take solidarity action, and to gather signatures in support of a ceasefire in Gaza. Our diverse community has worked hard together and many lasting and meaningful friendships continue to be made along the way.

If you support an end to Israel and America’s genocide of Palestinians, join us next Monday evening in demanding that Banyule council table our petition at the next council meeting and to ensure any motion it passes is meaningful. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved and support our upcoming actions and events, and we invite all ideas and collaborators as we escalate our actions for the liberation of Palestine and us all.

We are continuing to collect petition signatures here:  https://me.getup.org.au/petitions/banyule-council-solidarity-with-palestine”

Important message from Mayor Peter Castaldo regarding North East Link
Dear Lid the Link Supporter,
Please find below Banyule Council’s concerns regarding North East Link Plans (Northern Section)
REMINDER: Residents have until October 29 to have their say on plans for the northern section of North East Link
Current plans for the northern section of North East Link MUST be changed to enhance amenity, improve connectivity and make better use of land.
Watsonia is the only section of the 28 kilometre freeway where 18 lanes will be squeezed hard up between a shopping village and residential area with limited green spaces or trees to soften the landscape.
Design for this section of road is significantly LESS appealing than any other section of North East Link and, in Council’s opinion, does not meet the guidelines that the State promised would be delivered for the Watsonia community.
Failure to cover the trench at Watsonia as advocated for by Council, our community and Watsonia traders will result in less connectivity and reduced amenity and further divide the community.
This once in a life time opportunity to build infrastructure that provides an accessible, sustainable and thriving community for the future has not been embraced.
Furthermore, the delayed release of plans the Watsonia Station area makes it hard to assess just how poor the accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists into the Watsonia shopping centre precinct will be.
Banyule Council believes the plans for the northern section of North East Link fail in three major ways:
Amenity
The opportunity has not been taken to cover the North East Link trench at Watsonia resulting in less connectivity and amenity and further dividing the community.
Plans show 18 lanes between Watsonia Road and Elder Street. No other residential community along North East Link will experience such a massive loss of amenity.
Plans show minimal treatments to reduce noise, heat or pollution along the Watsonia section of the freeway.
Continuation of the Greensborough Road Boulevard with large canopy trees has been omitted from the plans.
Connectivity
The land bridge at Elder Street is narrow and provides a pedestrian/cycling connection on the south side only. Currently you can cross from both sides at Elder Street.
The land bridge at Watsonia Road, whilst providing open space, is suitable for landscaping only and not community use with a pedestrian/cycling path only provided on the north side.
There remains no direct pedestrian/bike path delivering residents from the east to west side of North East Link, with cycling paths weaving up and around to get from one side of the freeway to the other.
The proposed off-road Shared User Path on the western side of the Greensborough Bypass has been changed to an on-road cycling connection along Sellars Street.
The proposed off-road pedestrian/bike path on the eastern side of the Greensborough bypass from Nell Street up to the Watsonia Town Square development has been replaced with an on-road cycling route along Ibbottson Street.
Land use
Maximising the opportunities for land use at Watsonia Neighbourhood Centre has not been realised.
Plans do not promote and support local traders with a focus on a thriving Watsonia precinct.
Significant opportunities to improve Watsonia Station precinct remain unanswered now that this section of works has been removed from public exhibition.
Watsonia Station
Council believes the station needs upgrading and these works need to coincide with the North East Link construction phase so as not to further inconvenience Watsonia Traders. Works should include:
Improved amenity, safety, accessibility and vibrancy of the Watsonia Station precinct.
Development over the rail line with accessible station design.
Underground multideck carpark with restaurants, community services and housing above to activate the precinct 24/7.
Integrate future development with the new Watsonia Town Square.
Develop more affordable and key worker housing in station precinct.
Advocacy
Council continues to advocate for a better design for North East Link and will include these in our response to the plans on public exhibition.
We encourage our community to also make a submission during the public exhibition period and to make use of the information above to support your submission.
To make a submission you must visit the Engage Victoria Website by 29 October 2023.
Peter Castaldo
Mayor
Banyule City Council

https://www.lovetoride.net/banyule/

Love to Ride Love to Ride is all about getting more people enjoying and discovering how easy and fun riding a bike can be. Whether you ride all the time, or you're new to riding, join the Love to Ride community, help grow cycling, make our neighborhoods more bike friendly, have some fun with your friends and win...

Healthy Futures is excited to announce that we will have a stall at the Electrify Boroondara Expo.

This free, family-friendly event features keynote speakers, live demonstrations, themed panel discussions and hands-on opportunities to educate yourself about:

• Improving your home’s energy efficiency
• Rooftop solar and batteries
• Induction cooktops and electric hot water
• Electric vehicles and e-bikes
• How to get off gas
• Financing options, subsidies, and rebates
• Eco Chats - 1:1 chats with experts

So come along and have a chat with us about our latest campaign, enjoy everything the expo has to offer!

💡🔌💡 REMINDER: All eligible Victorian households can apply for a one off $250 Power Saving Bonus (one per household) - CURRENT ROUND CLOSES 31st August 2023.💡🔌💡

If your household has NOT already applied in this current round (commenced 24th March 2023), ensure you do before 31st August 2023.

The Bonus is available to all Victorians households who visit the Victorian Energy Compare website (https://compare.energy.vic.gov.au/) or engage with an energy affordability service through a participating community outreach partners.

Recognising First Nations people in the constitution is an important step. You can get one of these signs installed for free through https://www.yes23.com.au/jagajaga_for_yes

Banyule council offers a number of affordable bike related courses for its residents. This is a link to the bike maintenance course but if you scroll to the bottom you can see the other courses on offer too

Banyule: Hands-on Bike Maintenance Workshop This 2.5-hour workshop is an interactive, hands-on bike maintenance experience. Includes demonstration and explanation of bicycle maintenance essentials, including changing a flat tyre, adjusting brakes, and cleaning and lubing the drive-train; with opportunities for participants to practice on thei...

Come along to Rattray Reserve, Montmorency on Saturday to join our Park Rangers and Friends of Montmorency Bushlands.

We’ll be planting locally indigenous species such as Sweet Bursaria to expand potential habitat for the Eltham Copper Butterfly and handw**ding annual grassy w**d.

📅 Saturday 5th August 2023
🕙 10am-12pm
📍 Rattray Reserve, Montmorency. Access via Rattray Road

Herbs from Buna Garden ☺️

Sometimes all a Winter soup needs is some herbs from the garden! Try adding Bay Leaf and Rosemary to your potato and leek soup and a garnish of parsley 🌿 you can chuck the rosemary and bay in whole pieces and remove once it’s all cooked up.

Chop up your leek, potatoes and fry in olive oil (or whatever you have on hand) briefly in your pot, then add water, some veggie stock powder if you have some, salt, pepper, the rosemary and bay and remove before blending (blending is optional) and garnish with a sprig of parsley or some finely chopped parsley 🍲

OAE will be running a great new program for 10 weeks, Thursday 9.30-1pm starting 12th of October at southern 233 Southern Rd.
‘Growing food at home’ focuses on growing all year round in small urban spaces. Very affordable concession rates.

New community bus stops spotted around our area.

The service is free for all residents, and it will directly benefit:

-older adults
-residents living with a disability
-people with limited access to transport
-people from diverse backgrounds
-people experiencing financial hardship
-young people from disadvantaged communities.
Tell your neighbours. More details here:
https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Community-services/Free-community-bus

RCH is looking for a Sustainability Officer

Sustainability Officer Job in Parkville, Melbourne VIC The Sustainability Officer will provide expertise to support the RCH & the Melbourne Childrens Campus partners in reducing impact on the environment

Applications for Council's Better Score Program grants are open 3- 9th of July.

Please sign the petition to stop the destruction of the is wonderful tree.
https://bv1ivhdaoqp.typeform.com/to/vUJ0DR85

La Trobe University has announced this week that they will be removing the old River Red Gum at the front of the AgriBio Building. This individual is a pre-European tree that we suspect is up to 400 years old and is a critical habitat tree with many hollows. We also know that many species inhabit this tree, including sugar gliders, ringtail possums, rainbow lorikeets, and more. It's a little ecosystem of itself...

As such the Botany and Plant Ecology Society of La Trobe University strongly disagrees with the decision and urges the building manager, Honeywell, a US based company, to seek a second opinion before removing this significant tree and to seek an alternative option to remove the whole tree.
Please help us petition against this decision before this magnificent tree is destroyed and we lose yet another old-growth tree.

Accessible transport now!

Pressure grows for accessible tram stops in Sydney Road Rally will be held later this month to campaign for improvements.

https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au

The Victorian Government’s Gas Substitution Roadmap does not go far or fast enough to protect people’s health. Gas is a harmful, polluting and expensive form of energy, and should be replaced with renewable electricity as soon as possible.
Please sign our open letter calling on the Victorian Government to take action and commit to no new gas connections to homes by 2025
You can sign the letter here: https://www.healthyfutures.net.au/vicgas
And please forward on to your networks and colleagues.

Sign the Open Letter Join us in calling for gas-free, healthy homes in Victoria. If you work or study in health, sign our open letter to VIC Govt calling for no new gas connections by 2025 & support for vulnerable households to transition to renewable electricity.

https://tinyurl.com/yc3uejet?fbclid=IwAR0YuhgGDt_kkazYI6NxJqI_mMb0T82jFPXHPxy0AEVxNZKE2NRpvnfUAoM

Yes23 Fundraiser: Together for an Indigenous Voice, Thornbury, Sun 21st May 2023, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm AEST | Humanitix Join us for a fundraiser supporting the Yes23 campaign on Sunday 21 May 1pm-5pm at the Thornbury Bowls Club. We are aiming to raise $30,000 to support the Yes vote in this year’s Voice to Parliament Referendum. These funds are essential to support the Yes campaign across Australia and counter the ...

Get ready for electric excitement! Join us at events filled with practical tips and solutions to help you transition to an all-electric home. 🌿

Learn about cheaper heating, cooling, hot water and cooking. Follow the link to book your spot at an event near you.
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/electrify-everything-64392885883

Friends of Banyule member's letter the AGE, published on Friday 28th April
Gongrats John, now if only the State Govt would listen!!

Wrong priorities

The Andrews government is putting much-needed public transport measures such as the Airport Rail Link and the highspeed train to Geelong on hold. Melbourne Airport opened in July 1970 and, much to the delight of the airport car park operators and Transurban, still does not have a rail link. Even the privatised airport corporation recognises this is unsustainable with travellers missing flights due to congestion.

The ‘‘Big Build’’ has the wrong priorities. Instead of building mega destructive freeway projects like the North-East Link, the money should be spent on public transport including rail and less ‘‘trophy’’ projects such as bus services in car-dependent middle and outer suburbs.

John Young, Blackburn North

Active Mornings: Mini Riders | Yarra Plenty Regional Library Our Mini Riders program aims to introduce children to bike riding from 18 months to 4 years of age. We will use balance bikes in a range of activities to encourage the little ones to enjoy cyclin...

The free $250 Power Saving Bonus for energy that was offered by the state government for all energy account holders last year runs out tonight 23rd at midnight.
There is another $250 that can be claimed from 24th March. it’s very simple to do: just log onto https://compare.energy.vic.gov.au/ and upload your latest energy bill.
This is a legit, no strings attached offer of $$$ from VicGov and gives us all an opportunity to reassess our energy providers and ask questions like, are they doing the best by our household and the environment?

compare.energy.vic.gov.au