Environment

Cat Curfew in Boroondara

Cats: cute, furry killing machines LWT Boroondara City Council will soon table a petition to consider introducing a cat-curfew. Boroondara hosts a wide variety of animals including birdlife, invertebrates, frogs, possums, bats, turtles and many more. Despite the breadth of scientific data explaining just how devastating cats (domestic and feral)…

Eastsider News21 February 2024

Planning Sustainability

Planning – environmental and neighbourhood protection

Box Hill Precinct Plan Vincent Mennilli JP and Greg Buchanan The state government’s planning vision for Box Hill is to consolidate the activity centre as a residential and employment hub with more people living close to public transport, jobs and other services. To achieve this Box Hill is earmarked for…

Eastsider News13 February 2024

Boroondara Climate change Local Government

Boroondara’s Climate Action Plan

An ambitious but underfunded Climate Action Plan Julie Mulhauser In 2021 Boroondara Council declared a climate emergency and adopted an ambitious Climate Action Plan. As part of this plan, it set several aspirational targets for the community to be carbon neutral by 2035. These included a target of 60% net…

Eastsider News24 November 2023

Sustainability

Rehome your hard rubbish

Boroondara Hard Rubbish Rehome A not-for-profit, volunteer-run community group. We promote and support reuse, repair, recycling, refurbishing, repurposing (upcycling) and replanting of pre-loved items through sharing, education, and events. Boroondara Hard Rubbish Rehome (BHRR) is for individuals, not for professional collection companies or professional collectors to use. We are inspired by…

Eastsider News23 January 2023

Sustainability

Sustainability – David Kennedy

Sustainability: What does it mean to me? David Kennedy Sustainability is a word we often hear in the media and our daily conversations, sometimes associated with recycling everyday materials (e.g., metals, plastics, water and clothing), but also including more generic constructs, such as sustainable farming practices, business models, social structures,…

Eastsider News1 December 2022

Climate change

Only one lifetime – a call for climate action

Only one lifetime Bob Ridley As I write we are alert for the birth of our first great-grandchild due tomorrow. What an exiting event. This child will be born into a family which will be welcoming and caring and excited to share his or her life. All four great grandparents…

Eastsider News19 October 2022

Boroondara Trees and natural surroundings: protection

Canopy Tree Cover – Ian Hundley

Reform of tree regulations is urgent as climate change takes hold Ian Hundley There are serious failings in regulation and administration both at state and local government levels which, together, are compromising the recovery of canopy tree cover in greater Melbourne, and especially in the City of Boroondara. To read…

Eastsider News4 October 2022

Climate change Whitehorse

Whitehorse declares a Climate Emergency

The Climate Was Right. Whitehorse declares a Climate Emergency Chris Trueman Whitehorse Council took an historic decision at its meeting on Tuesday 12 September 2022 when it declared a Climate Emergency. A motion to this effect was put forward by Cr Trudy Skilbeck, and seconded by Cr Prue Cutts, Cr…

Eastsider News27 September 2022

Level Crossing Removal Project Transport Trees and natural surroundings: protection

Railway Projects

Restore the Rail Corridor – Surrey Hills and Mont Albert Bruce Harvey The rail corridor running through Surrey Hills and Mont Albert, historically hemmed with peppercorn and gum trees, used to have a delightful rural aspect. It is now an industrial wasteland. Apparently, this was the price to be paid…

Eastsider News26 September 2022

Electric Vehicles

Safety Guidance for EV Drivers Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) RACV is encouraging EV drivers to adopt specific safety practices, as Victoria experiences continued growth in zero-emission vehicle ownership. Sales of Battery Electric Vehicles and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles reached almost 117,000 across Australia from April 2024 to end…

Eastsider News23 August 2022