by GreenSkills | Jun 9, 2017 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit
The Denmark Tip Shop and Recycling Centre was established by Green Skills in 2001, at the Denmark Waste Transfer Station with the approval of the Shire of Denmark.
The Tip Shop diverts materials from landfill to reduce resource consumption. It is based on the understanding a large percentage of that material can be reused without any processing.
In its first year of operation, the Tip Shop diverted 100 cubic meters from landfill. Since that time, the Tip Shop has become a major feature of the Denmark town and community. The Tip Shop has diverted more than 3,000 cubic metres of materials from landfill to date.
Toxic substances, such as car batteries are collected and recycled for their lead content. Aluminium and copper are also recycled. Materials collected and sold at the Tip Shop include household and garden furniture, books, clothes, toys, tools, crockery, and building materials.
The Tip Shop provides a social as well as environmental service to the local community through supporting lower income families and individuals. Finances generated through sales at the Tip Shop have enabled the Recycling Centre to become self sustaining and able to employ five people on a part time basis, and run a volunteering and disability employment program.
Improvements are happening all the time at the Tip Shop. In 2016 and 2017 new sheds have been built, the car park bitumised and a new tractor and truck acquired.
by GreenSkills | Jun 9, 2017 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit
The 2017 Festival of Birds in March was another wonderful and entertaining celebration of the unique and beautiful bird fauna of the south coast of Western Australia.
The main event was the Festival of Birds Symposium at the WA Museum – Albany, featuring very well regarded speakers including Professor Steve Hopper, Nic Dunlop, Sarah Comer, Boyd Wykes, Keith Lightbody, Amellia Formby and others.
Other events in Albany and other South Coast locations in 2017 include:
- School based Education activities
- Bird outings and walks
- Talks at the Albany Library
- Spectacular bird photography
- Field trip
- Workshops
- Bird Identification
- Film Night
- Albany Kite Fiesta
by GreenSkills | Jun 9, 2017 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit
This innovative demand management program all began in 2007 with a major disruption to the electricity supply to Denmark and neighbouring Walpole, with a severe impact on the tourism industry.
The wider community called for Western Power, the state network utility, to substantially upgrade transmission lines. Local environmental groups initiated a different response aimed at reducing energy demand and increasing local renewable energy generation. The Green Town Denmark Walpole project arose from a partnership led by Western Power and the local community and including the relevant Local Governments, Chambers of Commerce, the Denmark Community Windfarm group, environment groups, Great Southern and South West Development Commissions, a local solar business and interested community members.
Over a six year period, this partnership developed a range of initiatives aimed at reducing the peak load and deferring the major line upgrade, reducing overall energy consumption, developing local jobs in the renewable energy production and reducing carbon emissions. The initiatives included:
- Research and Demonstration: Energy appliance inventory, an efficiency program aimed at the largest consumers, research and development on battery storage options and a trial of Energy Monitoring Units.
- Efficiency Improvements: including minor upgrades to lines, smart meters and homes and business audits.
- Education and Awareness: including market stalls, banners on town entries, workshops with rewards and free advice.
- Fuel Switching: including Solar Hot Water subsidies and private installation of PV solar.
The Green Town project was very successful, going beyond the original goals of a 10% reduction in peak demand, to achieve a 14% reduction and overall energy demand reduction. This was achieved for the two communities, Denmark and Walpole that were already energy efficient with an average consumption of 2.8kW per home at the peak.
by GreenSkills | Jun 9, 2017 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit
Since 2011 Green Skills has conducted an extensive program of activities to assist an enthusiastic network of bird conservationists in raising the issues affecting migratory shorebirds.
An annual survey of shorebird populations has been undertaken since 2011, culminating in a conservation report, plus seminars and workshops.
A range of awareness raising activities and events have also been developed – such as installing signage, distributing newsletters.
Since 2013, an annual South Coast Festival of Birds has been a major community involvement program.
Key Reports
by GreenSkills | Jun 9, 2017 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit
Balijup Farm in Tenterden is a special place, with over three quarters of the 921ha property consisting of remnant bushland and wetlands.
It is an extremely important link between the Stirlings Ranges and the Forests area. The wetlands scattered across the property are all part of the Unicup Suite of wetlands in the Kent River Catchment. These wetlands have been identified as ‘significant’ on a national database and play a significant role in providing habitat for some of the international migratory wader bird species.
Green Skills has worked with the owners since 2010 to assist with fencing off all the bushland on the property, to undertake biological survey and ecological mapping, undertaking feral bee colony surveys and eradication, and wetland assessments.
The latest key project at Balijup Farm is the creation of the Fauna Conservation Enclosure. The fenced enclosure of 110ha provides a major focus for native fauna conservation and community education in this part of the Gondwana Link.
The enclosure will establish breeding populations of Quenda (Southern Brown Bandicoot) and other species for eventual relocation on other properties throughout the Gondwana Link. The project is guided by an extensive scientific and technical committee and an ongoing citizen science program.
On 10th August 2017, Green Skills installed 15 Phascogale nesting boxes within the Balijup Fauna Sanctuary near Tenterden.
You can read more about the project here:
