Surf Coast Times Dec 21

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Surf Coast Times Tuesday 21 December 2010

VOL 8. No 51

www.surfcoasttimes.com.au

FREE WEEKLY

Santa Claus paid an early visit to Torquay last week to celebrate twilight trading hours. With the help of the local CFA unit, Santa grabbed a lift and had some admirers in (from left) Angela Cherry, 7, Daniel Ramuta, 4, and Silena Phitanong, 4, who are all waiting for another visit from the man in the red suit this weekend. Photo: PETER MARSHALL

LOVE IT LOCAL Launch of new shopping brochure to boost local producers while reducing carbon footprint

BY NATHAN HALE THE PUSH to reduce our carbon footprint and in the process support local business is set to reach a new level tomorrow with the launch of a Live Local, Shop Local brochure. The initiative – eight months in the making – outlines more than 30 local businesses which have come on board to support Transition Torquay in its push for a sustainable future through sustainable shopping. Apart from the obvious environmental benefits, the Live Local, Shop Local initiative will provide benefits for businesses throughout the community with added exposure and information readily available to the wider public. The brochure – which is also available online – will be launched at a special Christmas Twilight Farmers’

Surf Forecast

Market at Torquay Central tomorrow evening. The markets will be held from 5pm-8pm at Bristol Road, Torquay, with Transition Torquay co-ordinator Julia Brangwyn describing tomorrow night’s launch as a win-win for local shoppers. “We wanted to showcase what is available in our region,� she said. “The idea is that when people shop in their own locality it not only supports local businesses and boosts the local economy, but also reduces carbon emissions from transport and encourages local resilience. “The Torquay Central Farmers Market, which happens every Saturday morning, seemed the logical place to launch the brochure.� The idea for the brochure was first publicised in the Surf Coast Times in April this year and has been produced by local group

Transition Town Torquay, with help from the Surf Coast Shire and Torquay Community Enterprise. The brochure includes a sustainability star-rating based on responses to questions around energy efficiency, water use, materials, labour and waste disposal. Many of the businesses listed score highly and have put a lot of thought into how they make their product. “We decided to add sustainability ratings – where we asked a series of questions to each business and they supplied answers,â€? Brangwyn said. “So the ratings are based on their responses and come down to each producer’s honesty‌ they can be used as a guide for shoppers. “There is a lot of scope to develop the brochure and the ratings further – the whole idea is that this is

just the start. “We want to get people thinking about how they shop and where they get their produce from. “I just had another email this morning with another business who wanted to be in‌ so hopefully we can continue to build.â€? While the brochure has just over 30 businesses listed, the online database – which can be found at www.transitiontorquay.org – has more than 60 businesses and will continually be updated. “The idea is to keep updating and adding businesses and to improve the rating system so it is not a static thing,â€? Brangwyn said. “We have great coverage of the region – we have people in the Otways, on the Bellarine and even in Inverleigh. “We want people to support local producers as much as we can.â€?

WED 2ft clean N 21° THU 1ft small SW 21° FRI 2ft+ building SE 18° SAT 1-2ft inconsistent E/NE 23°

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