4 minute read
Council Sets its sights on attracting investment to Kogarah
Kogarah is geared for an economic boost, with the development of the Draft Kogarah Investment Attraction Strategy.
The strategy aims to leverage Kogarah’s competitive advantages to create a Kogarah Health, Education and Innovation Precinct (HEIP), and guides the expansion of investment and employment in the sectors of health, education and innovation, to ensure the precinct reaches its full potential.
The strategy provides a detailed analysis of Kogarah’s strengths and the opportunities that these present, and has identified a strong positioning for the development of a HEIP, based on Kogarah’s current health and education landscape and the area’s demographics.
The development of the strategy coincides with the opening of the $13.5 million Microbiome Research Centre in Kogarah on 9 August 2019. Considered an Australian-first, the centre, which is dedicated to studying gut health, is a collaboration between the St George & Sutherland Medical Research Foundation, University of New South Wales and the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District.
ENVIRONMENT
Community worm farmers embracing sustainability
Fran Smith and her daughter Kathleen recently attended a worm farming workshop presented by Council. With a passion for gardening, growing their own food and sustainability, Fran and Kathleen have used their knowledge to create an urban oasis.
Fran: “I’ve always grown things and am keen to increase the diversity in my garden and grow food for my family.”
Kathleen: “I'm gluten free and vegan, so it's nice to be in control of your own food and decide what to grow. It inspires you to be creative, try new foods and experiment more.”
That's what gardening is all about! Using all your senses.
Fran: “I find that I disappear into the task at hand when gardening, even weeding! Gardening requires my full concentration, and, like mindfulness, it takes you away from things that have been worrying you. When you enter your garden and see something has grown, it's wonderful. So rewarding! “We encourage moths, spiders and other insects to build their homes around ours. Our community of St Andrews Cross spiders are now residents of our property, living alongside us. The birds pick out the spiders from their webs and enjoy the nutrition drawn from our beautiful yard.”
You're really embracing the environment when you garden.
Kathleen: “Our little worms are very well fed. Everything goes in there - kitchen scraps and even paper. The plants flourish when they’re planted in a mix of our compost with a little bit of manure. Our compost is good quality - not too sandy or squishy.
“While creating homegrown fertiliser for your garden, composting means your rubbish just disappears! Gone is stinky garbage as there’s no rotting food sitting in the bin!” Fran: “Another piece of advice is to go to the bargain corner of your nursery and enjoy the satisfaction of resurrecting a sad looking plant. Be cheap and cheerful! Remember plants, are infinite. If something dies, try again or try something new! Don't be disheartened.”
Kathleen: “Grow what you eat! Don't grow random things that look really pretty, because you’ll become uninspired. Maybe start with herbs.
“Talk to your friends about what you’re growing - you might be able to get a cutting of something you’d like to try. People are craving that connection now, and more people are living in units without yards and gardens. That's why the community gardens are fantastic.”
I you’d like to learn how to make your own compost or create a thriving garden, come along to one of the workshops led by our Waste Education Officers.
Get inspired to create your own urban oasis.
OUR COMMUNITY
Graffiti removal
Community members joined forces for Graffiti Removal Day on Sunday 27 October 2019, to help combat the issue of illegal graffiti in the local area.
Matthew Bramston, who is employed by Council as an Operations Specialist, designed a preventative mural for the Carss Bush Park Public Amenities Block, which features tiles painted by local school children.
Council was delighted with the community support for the initiative, with hundreds of residents involved, and we’re thrilled to report that more than 500 children from Blakehurst Public School and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, and 75 kids from Council’s Childcare Centres took part in the mural’s creation.
Locals also helped put the finishing touches on the mural, and plant vegetation to ‘green up’ the amenities block.
Council is lucky to have its very own artist and professional painter, and it was fantastic to see so many people come together to help bring Matthew’s vision to life.
Graffiti Removal Day is a fantastic way to get the whole community involved in beautifying the Georges River area and fighting graffiti vandalism, and the new mural is a bright and colourful addition to Carss Bush Park. Get down there and check it out!
