MAROONDAH
... raring to go!

by
Vivienne Fraser
Conservation Planner
Maroondah City Council

1998 promises to be a good year for sustainability in the City of Maroondah.

 

Schools in Maroondah have demonstrated a strong interest in being sponsored by Council and local business to participate in Schools For a Sustainable Future, and it's going to be difficult to pick the three most worthy!

Shortly after letters went out, in the week before Christmas, Council received five speedy responses, and most schools had already begun to embrace the waste minimisation ethic.  Many are recycling, composting and involved with restoring indigenous vegetation.  In addition, some are keen to have their Student Representative Council run the project to really gain a feeling of ownership amongst students.  All wish to expand their range of 'sustainability' activities where possible.

And the remaining schools still have until 15th February to respond!

Meanwhile, Worming into he Community continues at Luther College and Ringwood Heights Primary School.  Both schools are extending their recycling and waste minimisation programs, and will be involving the wider community in their projects in the coming year.  In particular, Ringwood Heights has a parent group called 'The Frog Group', which has played an important part in assisting the school with its sustainability projects.

One on the projects undertaken by participating schools, on behalf of the City of Maroondah, will be a survey of public attitudes regarding issues of sustainability.  We anticipate that this project will be of excellent educational value to students, as well as providing practical information which can be used for Council purposes.

Maroondah looks forward to trialing the Schools For a Sustainable Future project in 1998, and from the enthusiastic response we've had, obviously our local schools do too!