E

of
tivities.

Energy with energy

Sustainable

Living Armi-

dale's Energy Group is one

els on the roof of the town swimming pool. The intent

was that the savings generat-

several action groups, who've had lots of energy

ed from the first installation

be used to frrnd a second installation, then those savings combined to firnd a third, and so on. When Council was

since their inception a few years ago, with a variety of

submissions, projects and ac-

@ry
f-lvln# &rrvt$d*ie
tively involved. SLA Energy is half way through a two-year program
called I Can Do it, thanks to a

The Energy Group have

submitted comments on various State and Federal government papers and proposed

awarded federal government infrashucture funding, it was

Susfmirtnh$m

regulations including to IPART on Solar Feed-in-Tariffs, the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme, energy efifrciency, and wind farms, voicing our concems from a regional and

decided that panels on the roof of the Visitors'Information Centre would be more visible and create awareness - a great message to visitors as they drive into Armidale from the north. The group were there at

The Electric Elephants workshop held recently at Kent House as part of the I Can Do lt proiect.
save money. Thanks to the grant, it has been free to the public, showing people how

successful grant application

to the NSW Environmental

Trust. This has involved a se-

save energy and therefore

people want to know real actions they can take to make a

come and encourage new

members - meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the

local community
tive.

perspec-

the beginning of the

cur-

ries of hands-on workshops

(curtain and pelmet making, energy use), public forums, and a house tour, to show people how they can reduce their environmental footprint,

SLAproposed to Council some years ago that, with the help of SLA fundraising, they should install solar pan-

rent Community Wind Farm project, New England Wind, including preparing and reviewing the survey. Several

they can do

recent

even

if

it

difference. The program will be running again in 2013.

themselves,

SLA Energy Group is

keen

they rent. The most

forum-workshop,

on more projects that will cal community. They wel-

to

continue working

Electric Elephants, filled

Kent House, reinforcing that

make a difference to the lo-

SLA members are still

ac-

month at the SNELC offices in the East Mall from lpm to 2pm. Contact Energy Convenor, Mahalath Halperin on mh@mharchitects. com. au, or www.slaati.org.

Help paint the picturel0pening set

for Uralla Greek eco walk

of sustainabilty 2025
At their next monthly forum, Sustainable Living Armidale
venes SLA's Heart and Soul
group.
I

Story: Gary Fry

Uralla's Creek walk and the area's waterway rehabilitation efforts are continuing
to progress.

(SLA) will be inviting

community

dreams about a sustainable Armidale and together paint a picture of what the commu-

to

the

share their

"Communities are taking charge of their future around the world, and there are now

Over $400,000 has been invested into the project over the past 10 years. An official opening ofthe Uralla Creek Walk will be incorporated into this year's Thunderbolt Festival, October 26-28, wtth the firnction to include a moming tea. Volunteer hours and frrnds for the Uralla Creek walk and resotoratin projecthave from the Uralla River Care Group

nity might look like in2025. SLA (and Armidale and

indeed the whole planet)

over 1800 initiatives ranging from small villages or institutions such as universities to entire cities (e.g. Transition London) and beyond.

i I

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