NOVEMBER 2021
Homeless roadshow
Lost Bird Found flies again
Noosa Council, Queensland, will host a Housing and Homelessness Roadshow for residents impacted by the housing crisis.
A flock of birds will fly free next month, when North Sydney Council runs its popular and powerful Lost Bird Found project.
Mayor Clare Stewart, said, “The event will connect Noosa residents who are struggling to find accommodation with a wide range of agencies that can help – all in one place. “With the housing issues affecting so many local residents, we’re pleased to be working with Sunshine Coast Housing and Homelessness Network, Youturn and a host of other agencies to make sure this event goes ahead in Noosa.” As well as linking people in need with a wide range of different services, the roadshow aims to raise community awareness about homelessness. Coast2Bay Housing Group, St Vincent de Paul Noosa, Integrated Family and Youth Services,
Youturn, QSTARS (a free independent advice and referral service for all Queensland renters), Services Australia (Centrelink) and Rent Connect are among the organisations that will be represented on the day. Council’s Community Development Officer, Kylie Finigan, said residents could also enjoy a free breakfast, get a free haircut, collect clothes and toiletries from the Vinnies pop-up shop, and participate in the ‘Hidden Voices Of Our Town’ community art project. “we’ll be holding the roadshow in conjunction with our usual Social Services Hub at Tait-Duke Community Cottage, with more giveaways and engagement activities.”
Youturn Chief Executive Officer, Dr Tanya Bell, said homelessness was reaching new levels, with many people who’d never before been homeless suddenly left with nowhere to go. “Over the last year, our Sunshine Coast-Noosa community has seen low rental stock, skyrocketing rents and fierce competition for housing and we are finding that many ‘working poor’ long term local people, needing support for the first time. “Youturn’s frontline supports are in demand to ensure young people and young families pushed to the fringes of our community can rebuild their connection.”
For eight years community members having been making the beautiful birds. A tag is attached to the birds with information on the project and how to access mental health information and support. The birds are set free and hidden in parks and public spaces in the North Sydney area (or as far as their makers take them). If a bird is found, the fi nder gets to keep it! Finders can then share their precious birds on social media for others to enjoy, and to spark conversations and boost awareness about mental health. The handcrafted birds may be even more special this year, as both those who make them and find them will have a deeper understanding of the impacts of mental health, following our current experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Birds are a symbol of freedom, hope and wisdom. North Sydney Mayor, Jilly Gibson said the importance of community, human interactions, and social connections
North Sydney’s Lost Bird Found project opens conversations about mental health.
had been highlighted over the course of the pandemic. “This is one of my favourite Council projects and the joy it creates is threefold. The happiness starts with the individual who makes the bird and flutters through to the person who is lucky enough to find one. “When a bird is found and posted on social media, the whole community can see it and share in its delight.
“Of course, the biggest win is the conversations we are having in the community because of these birds, especially about how important it is to take care of our own mental health.” Lost Bird Found is the perfect craft project for all ages. Council is encouraging everyone to get out their knitting needles, paint brushes and carving tools to join in and make some birds.
Building an urban forest together Hobsons Bay, Victoria, is launching a campaign to encourage residents, businesses, and industrial areas to help build an urban forest. Haig from Youturn takes delivery of meals from Good Shepherd Lutheran College students for the emergency relief program.
Disaster dashboards shared New online disaster dashboards will provide real-time information to help residents and visitors to the Lismore, Richmond Valley and Kyogle areas of New South Wales, be aware of, prepare for and respond to local emergencies. From road conditions and closures, to power outages and river heights, the disaster dashboards were designed as a one-stop-shop for disaster events, providing links to emergency news and contacts as well as a direct feed from the Bureau of Meteorology’s weather warnings. The Northern Rivers Joint Organisation (NRJO) successfully secured funding for the disaster dashboards through Stream 2 of the Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience fund, which is facilitated through the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. NRJO Chair, Councillor Danielle Mulholland said the grant meant all six councils within the NRJO would soon feature a disaster dashboard on their websites. LGFOCUS.COM.AU
Richmond Valley Council’s Recovery Manager, Kelly Moroney said the disaster dashboards were an essential source of information in emergency events. “Over the past 18 months, our resilience has been mightily tested by drought, bushfires, flooding rains and the COVID pandemic.” Lismore City Council Local Emergency Management Officer, Scott Turner said it was only natural for people to experience stress during a flood or other disaster and the new disaster dashboards would help communities better access information during times of natural disasters. “The disaster dashboards are an online warehouse of real-time, local emergency information supported by Resilience NSW’s Regional Disaster Preparedness Program
and rolled out to 27 councils across the State, including Lismore, Richmond Valley and Kyogle councils.” Kyogle Council Local Emergency Management Officer, Tony Lickiss said the amount of real-time data available on the dashboards would help ensure that residents focus on the right things before and during a disaster. “Delivering real-time, actionable information on current conditions, emergency orders, and disruptions allows everyone to have shared situational awareness to do their part and work collectively to resolve the crisis as quickly as possible.” The Regional Disaster Preparedness Program, coordinated by Resilience NSW, works with local governments to build their knowledge of disaster risks and ability to respond in an emergency.
As part of Council’s Urban Forest Strategy, the community is invited to plant a virtual tree where they would like to see a real one. The draft Urban Canopy Delivery Plan maps out recently planted trees and those to be planted over the next 10 years. The draft plan prioritises areas that currently have a minimal tree canopy, have high heat vulnerability and high pedestrian activity such as around schools, parks, playgrounds, kindergartens and libraries. ‘Harder to plant’ locations, such as shared paths, carparks, asphalt and commercial and industrial areas, will also be part of our future urban forest through water sensitive urban design that can harness new technology to passively water trees. As well as the draft Urban Canopy Delivery Plan, Council’s Urban Forest Strategy consultation identified the Lagunaria patersonia species (commonly called Itchy Bomb Tree or Norfolk Hibiscus) as an unsuitable urban tree species which commonly causes skin irritation and is now regarded as an environmental weed.
Residents can now nominate for an Itchy Bomb Tree to be replaced. Mayor of Hobsons Bay, Jonathon Marsden, said, “The draft Urban Canopy Delivery Plan is the next step to bring the highly popular Urban Forest Strategy to life. Through last year’s Urban Forest Strategy consultation, we know Hobsons Bay values trees and sees the benefits – improved air quality, reduced ground temperature, enhanced live-
ability and more shade on buildings and open spaces. “Not all trees are equal and the right trees for each street, park, reserve and private property will do wonders for our streetscapes, bringing economic benefits, creating wildlife corridors and cooling our streets. The Urban Canopy Plan ensures the right trees are going in the ground, where they are needed the most and provide the best return on investment.”
The Urban Forest Strategy invites the community to plant a virtual tree where they would like to see a real one.
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