RECYCLING UPDATE

GEELONG NATURE FORUM

The Geelong Nature Forum returns in 2020 with an expanded, multi-faceted program of events that will showcase the region’s natural wonders. Held from 28 March–3 April, the Cityled Geelong Nature Forum will focus on the animal and plant life of our rivers, creeks and wetlands.

With a theme of ‘Where The Rivers Run’, the forum includes a week-long series of nature-based activities, an art exhibition, presentations and displays. The program includes:

• Talks and presentations

• A children’s art exhibition, the Alphabet Bird Project, at the National Wool Museum • Displays by local community environment groups and

• Field-based expeditions and school holiday activities.

For more information or to register visit bit.ly/geelongnatureforum2020

National Wool Museum 28 March – 3 April 2020

Recycling is back

LET’S GET SORTED! Find out how: www.thinkrecycle.com.au

Put these items in the recycling bin and give them a second life.

RECYCLED ROADS FOR GEELONG

Clean paper and cardboard

Clean steel food cans, aluminium cans and foil (with labels still attached)

Clean, empty glass bottles and jars, with lids placed in the recycling bin separately

Keep it clean! Leave these out of your recycling bin.

These items cause contamination of the recycling bin. This means that material that should be recycled and made into new products will instead go to landfill. What goes into your recycling bin matters now more than ever.

The City is literally taking recycling to the streets with a new form of asphalt made with a Fulton Hogan recycled plastics product.

Three sections of Roslyn Road, Moorabool Street and Purnell Road will receive the PlastiPhalt treatment in the City’s first trial of the product. The combined 1.1km of road surface will save the equivalent of 3,500kg of plastics going to landfill.

The initial cost is approximately 10 per cent higher than standard asphalt, however, testing of PlastiPhalt indicates the product is more durable and offers a higher resistance to rutting.

The roads will be refurbished between January and March.

Soft plastic packaging such as plastic bags, bread and frozen food bags*

Plastic toys Electrical items

Nappies Polystyrene packaging Metal pots and pans

Bagged material –put your recycling in loose

Clothing and footwear

SMART.NODES FIT FOR A SMART CITY WORKS

In November 2019 eight smart street poles (SMART.NODEs) were installed along the Geelong Waterfront to replace outdated, cluttered and disconnected street poles.

The innovative design of the SMART.NODEs ensures they blend in, rather than stand out, as the technology is housed within the pole to maintain our attractive public spaces.

Technology includes energy efficient LED lights, free public Wi-Fi, USB charge facility, and plugin power and high-speed internet access for improved events. Data analytics on use of space are collected by SMART.NODEs’ pedestrian counters, and will be available on the open data platform, Geelong Data Exchange, to be used for research, and gaining knowledge and understanding of social, economic and environmental trends in our City.

This is one way we are fulfilling our Clever and Creative Vision to become a leader in developing and adopting technology.

Smart.Nodes are making it easier to get connected.

GHERINGHAP DRAIN COMPLETE

Project works on the Gheringhap Street drain were completed in December 2019.

The 450m stormwater drain was built along Gheringhap Street into Corio Bay, to greatly reduce the frequency and impact of flooding in the CBD.

The drain was constructed using a high-tech ‘micro-tunnelling’ technique that provided the greatest cost-benefit, and allowed the project to be completed quickly with as little disruption to the community as possible.

A gross pollutant trap will capture large pieces of litter before it enters Corio Bay. Through the Geelong City Deal, the Australian and Victorian Governments, together with the City of Greater Geelong, $370 million in investment will be delivered to the region, supporting Geelong’s continued economic diversification, growth of the visitor economy and a thriving city centre.

Please be mindful of ongoing restrictions to landscaped areas to enable new plants and grass to flourish along Gheringhap Street.

SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON STORMWATER

Laid end-on-end, the City’s network of stormwater assets would stretch from Geelong to Alice Springs.

The City’s network of pipes, open drains, flood levees, wetlands and other assets are worth more than $600 million.

We want to share more information about this service and learn what the community values most when it comes to stormwater.

Improvements to the service will have many benefits, including:

• Enhancement of public parks, streets and gardens • Partnerships with water agencies leading to preservation of drinking water supplies • Protection of bays and waterways, including those of international significance and • Reduction of dangerous flooding and stormwater pollution. Residents are currently invited to comment on the draft Stormwater Services Strategy 2020–2030.

There will be information posts across the region in February and March, and feedback forms available online.

For more details, visit geelongaustralia.com.au/ yoursay