CEO Megan Houghton's update  

The year is rolling

Well, never a dull moment in Queensland that's for sure!  Disaster recovery, politics, carbon tax or direct action - so many potential impacts on businesses and an exciting time for the green agenda.  CitySmart is looking forward to developing and implementing more initiatives with our corporate partners and working with new Lord Mayor Graham Quirk to support one of his top priorities to make Brisbane the cleanest and greenest city in Australia.

Since the CitySmart partners' workshop last October, our team has been investigating further emissions reducing project opportunities. This includes expanding the EzyGreen program to target more Brisbane residents and get a greater call to action from our 48,500+ members and help them reduce the cost of living.  As well as developing a program to target the larger Brisbane emitters and help these businesses to reduce their greenhouse emissions through energy efficiency, renewable energy, building retrofits and sustainable office practices. It’s exciting times at CitySmart and your input is welcome, so please contact us if you would like to discuss these ideas further. 

Our events team has been busily working to deliver the next major Green Heart Fair at Seventh Brigade Park at Chermside on Sunday, 15 May. Many of our corporate partners, including sponsors Ingenero and NAB, are involved and I thank you in advance for helping make this a great day.  Please let your team know to mark the date and come along and get their free native plants, check out the sustainability ideas on offer, visit the kids’ hub, enjoy cooking demonstrations with former MasterChef winners, meet Broncos and Channel 10 personalities, be entertained by Nova’s street team, a free concert with Daryl Braithwaite and more. It’s a great family day.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Regards

Megan Houghton

CEO CitySmart 

 

The Good Guys zero waste

EzyGreen partner, The Good Guys Capalaba, has introduced an expanded polystyrene recycling program which will result in over five tonnes of waste being saved from landfill each year.

After identifying that polystyrene product packaging accounted for 75% of their waste, The Good Guys Capalaba, with funding from the Queensland Government, commissioned the development of a specifically designed expanded polystyrene packing recycling machine through Polystyrene Recycling Queensland.

This state of the art machine is revolutionary in its design features of size, energy efficiency and operating features.  The core purpose of the machine is to compress the expanded polystyrene into a new and useful form that could be easily exported overseas to make homeware products such as photo frames and coat hangers.

The program includes three other The Good Guys stores in Toowoomba, Carseldine and Loganholme, and will account for 26 tonnes of waste being recycled each year. This recycled material can then be used to make 260,000 5 x 7 photo frames.

The Good Guys is becoming known as a leader in retailer sustainability and a destination for the sale of energy and water efficient electrical products by consumers seeking out true sustainability point of difference. 

James Brockhurst, proprietor of The Good Guys Capalaba and winner of the 2010 Premier’s Award for ClimateSmart Leadership, believes that we all need to play our part in providing a wider solution to a path of sustainability.  "Tackling climate change requires a collaborative effort between the government, business sector and the broader community,"  James said. 

 

Saving money the green way 

CitySmart would like to thank our partners for helping spread the word about EzyGreen's new GreenPower offer, and if you haven't signed up yet here's what you're missing: 

• You could be saving $75 or more per year off your electricity bills
• Receive free 10% GreenPower valued at $50
• A bonus energy-saving powerboard valued at $180, limited to the first 5,000 people to take up the offer.

CitySmart is committed to making a sustainable difference in our community and you can do your part by signing up to EzyGreen and taking advantage of the many energy-saving offers, including a GreenPower offer through our partner Powerdirect, a fully owned subsidiary of AGL.  There are two GreenPower offers now available:

1. 20% GreenPower at no extra cost OR
2. 10% GreenPower at no extra cost with a 5% discount on your energy usage charges. This could save you around $75 per annum off your power bill.

As a bonus, EzyGreen is offering a free energy-saving powerboard valued at $180 to the first 5,000 people to make the switch to one of these two great offers.

With the average Queensland home creating over seven tonnes of CO²each year from electricity use alone, choosing GreenPower is an easy way to do your part to help the environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Visit www.ezygreen.com.au  to sign up today.  If you are already an EzyGreen customer, select ‘Signed up Already’ once on the website and complete the form. The EzyGreen team will then put you directly in contact with Powerdirect to complete your switch to GreenPower.

CitySmart is delivering the EzyGreen energy-reduction program, an initiative of Council in partnership with the Queensland Government, and other corporate partners that makes it easy for you to save money and save on your household energy use. 

 

Green Heart Fair - Sunday, 15th May - Chermside

SUSTAINABILITY DISPLAYS. ENTERTAINMENT. ACTIVITIES. MARKETS

FREE community event. Bring the family. Bring your friends.

Put aside Sunday, 15 May 2011 and join us at the Sustainability Green Heart Fair from 10am – 3pm at 7th Brigade Park, Murphy Road, Chermside.

This free community event, organised by CitySmart on behalf of Brisbane City Council, has something for everyone.

Kids can enjoy free entertainment on the main stage, wildlife presentations, giveaways and non-stop free activities within the Northside Honda Kids Hub including a jumping castle, rock climbing wall, animal farm and face painting.

For the adults, there will be more than 40 sustainability exhibits, celebrity and MasterChefs at the NAB Cooking Demonstrations, gourmet food stalls, entertainment on the Ingenero Stage including a concert featuring Daryl Braithwaite, the Peter Hackworth Group markets and free plants.

At the same time, come and learn simple and practical tips to save money in and around your home while reducing your environmental impact.

When:          Sunday 15th May, 2011

Where:         7th Brigade Park, Chermside

Time:            10am - 3pm

Entry cost:    Free!

Attractions include:

• FREE event for the whole family
• FREE entertainment including a Daryl Braithwaite concert on the Ingenero Stage
• Sustainable-living exhibits, presentations and workshops
• Northside Honda Kids Hub with free children's entertainmentand activities including a ‘paint a car’ activity, jumping castle, rock climbing wall, reptile show, animal farm, face painting and more
• Free native plants (while stocks last ) at 10:40a.m provided by Brisbane City Council
• NAB Cooking Demonstrations with MasterChef series 2 winner, Adam Liaw and Junior MasterChef twins, Isabella and Sofia Bliss
• Broncos football workshop
• Games, competitions and activities with Nova’s Street Team
• Meet Channel 10 personalities
• Gourmet food stalls and the Peter Hackworth Group markets
• More than $30,000 in prizes and giveaways.

Catch a bus, walk or cycle there. We look forward to seeing you there!

Brisbane City Council’s Green Heart Fair is proudly supported by Northside Honda, Ingenero, NAB, Channel 10, Nova 106.9FM, Quest Community Newspapers and ourbrisbane.com. 

 

CitySmart and the Queensland Reconstruction Authority 

CitySmart chairman Jim McKnoulty has been appointed to the board of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, which could represent opportunities ahead for CitySmart partners through sustainable and resilient rebuilding programs.

The Authority is led by Major General Mick Slater and CEO Graeme Newton (former Coordinator General of Queensland) who together provide military precision coupled with skills in logistics and project management.

The initial estimate of $6Billion to reconstruct Queensland gives some idea of the scale of the recovery and reconstruction projects ahead of Queensland.

The Authority's mission is to reconnect and rebuild a stronger, more resilient Queensland, its communities and economy through 'The State Plan - Operation Queenslander'.

Jim McKnoulty says that the Authority has two main strategic objectives. "The Authorities main objectives are to maintain self confidence in Queensland and build a resilient Queensland and support resilient Queenslanders to enhance preparedness and disaster mitigation for continued implementation of Q2: Tomorrow’s Queensland."

The reconstruction effort, which is several months ahead of its original schedule, is focused through six lines of reconstruction each of which will in turn focus on desired outcomes for the people of Queensland: 

1. Human and social
2. Economic
3. Environment
4. Building recovery
5. Road and Transport
6. Community liaison and Communication.

This will be undertaken in three phases: 

1. Recover – January to June 2011
2. Reconstruction – June 2011 to February 2013
3. Transition – December 2012 to December 2013.

The authority will require resources from local private enterprise to rebuild resilient communities. Sustainable methods will be encouraged and CitySmart partners are advised to keep an eye an on the following website for progress on Operation Queenslander and what resources are required.

www.queenslandreconstruction.org