EMRC E-Newsletter - July 2016
CEO's Message
We are over half way through the year and looking back on the year so far the EMRC has achieved a lot that the region and our member Councils can be proud of.
Highlights for this month include the #ride2market program winning the 2016 TravelSmart Innovate Award at the end of June and in conjunction with our annual Staff Tree Planting Day, where staff planted 1,200 trees, the EMRC raised over $350 for Breast Cancer Care WA.
The annual Avon Descent Family Fun Days are back in August and with plenty of activities and great viewing of the race I encourage you to enjoy the collaborative efforts of the Town of Bassendean, Cities of Bayswater and Belmont and the Shires of Northam and Toodyay at these fantastic winter events.
The Resource Recovery Project is progressing with the construction of the Commercial and Industrial Plant at the Hazelmere Resource Recovery Park due for completion in the upcoming months and the Wood Waste to Energy Plant construction will be commencing, having received a works approval in June. I look forward to keeping you updated with the progress of the Resource Recovery Project.
PETER B. SCHNEIDER
Chief Executive Officer
EMRC Rides to Success
At the TravelSmart Awards which were held on 29 June 2016 at Fraser's Kings Park, EMRC received the 2016 TravelSmart Innovate Award for the #ride2market program.
#ride2market is a series of companion events supporting and enhancing existing local farmers and hawker markets in Perth's Eastern Region by providing bike valet services and market voucher incentives to encourage cycling for transport.
The biennial TravelSmart Awards recognise the success and achievements of organisations and individuals in promoting TravelSmart programs which encourage Western Australians to choose active and sustainable travel modes more often. The 2016 award categories were: Achieve, Innovate and Champion. The Innovate Award received by the EMRC recognises organisations that implement innovation in promoting TravelSmart initiatives.
#ride2market was also highly commended in the 'Major Bikeley Award' category for the 2016 Bikeley Awards, which is the category for 'the Bike Week event that best promotes and celebrates cycling for transport and attracts new riders to the cycling community'.
The EMRC has been involved in the TravelSmart program, in partnership with our member Councils since 2012 and is in a great position to deliver and coordinate region wide TravelSmart initiatives. The events were part of Bike Week 2016 and were made possible through a Bike Week grant from the Department of Transport, WestCycle and in collaboration with the Kalamunda Farmers Markets, Maylands Hawker Markets, Mundaring Sunday Markets, Old Perth Road Markets and Stirling Square Markets.
For more information on the #ride2market program, please contact Philip Taylor, Senior Strategic Projects Officer, on (08) 9424 2206 or email Philip.Taylor@emrc.org.au
Photo 1 EMRC Chairman, Cr David Fardig (R), and EMRC CEO, Mr Peter Schneider (L),
with the 2016 TravelSmart Innovate Award
White-water Fun for the Whole Family
The annual Avon Descent Family Fun Days are back for 2016! With a range of family-friendly events scheduled from Friday, 5 August to Sunday, 7 August 2016 there will be plenty of fantastic activities, entertainment and food with great riverside viewing of all the race action.
The events are a great opportunity for community to come out and support the competitors as they tackle this incredible challenge. With five events spread along the124km of river foreshore and a huge range of on-shore activities this is the best weekend to get outdoors with family and friends this winter.
The Avon Descent Family Fun Days are a collaborative effort between the Town of Bassendean, Cities of Bayswater and Belmont and the Shires of Northam and Toodyay, in partnership with the EMRC and proudly supported by Lotterywest.
For more information about the events scheduled please visit http://www.perthtourism.com.au/ or contact Catriona McNaughton, Communications Coordinator, on (08) 9424 2255 or email Catriona.McNaughton@emrc.org.au
Figure 1 Avon Descent Family Fun Days
Transport Community Engagement Survey
The results of a transport community engagement survey project undertaken by the EMRC in March and April 2016 are now available.
The purpose of the survey was to receive community input on road safety, active transport and public transport in Perth's Eastern Region.
Survey responses were gathered at local hawker and farmers markets and online during the two month period.
The top three road safety issues identified were:
- Driver distraction
- Safe passing / distance / merging
- Speeding.
The top three initiatives to encourage bicycle riding were:
- Improved relationship between road users
- More recreational bike trails to improve my riding skills
- More bicycle parking rails at the local shops and cafes.
The survey also found that many people believed they would benefit from information and encouragement to use their local public transport network and local sporting clubs, recreation centres and fitness groups to improve their physical activity levels.
The survey results will provide direction for future projects such as Active / Public Transport and Regional Road Safety Awareness campaigns.
For more information on the 2016 Transport Community Engagement Survey, please contact Philip Taylor, Senior Strategic Projects Officer, on (08) 9424 2206 or email Philip.Taylor@emrc.org.au
Sustainability for Schools
The EMRC has developed a 'Sustainability for Schools' resource package which contains a poster and accompanying webpage (www.emrc.org.au/sustainabilityforschools.html) in consultation with the City of Bayswater and Shire of Mundaring as part of the Sustainability and Environmental Education Program.
The poster lists resources available to schools in the region which support education in the topics of Biodiversity, Energy, Waste, Water and Sustainable Living. The webpage provides more details on the individual resources which include classroom activities, information on excursions and incursions, school programs and professional development opportunities. All of the resources contain contact details and web links to the source of the information.
The poster was delivered to all schools in the City of Bayswater and Shire of Mundaring for display in their staff rooms.
For more information on the Sustainability for Schools Resource or the Sustainability and Environmental Education Program, please contact Renee D'Herville, Environmental Projects Officer, on (08) 9424 2248 or email Renee.DHerville@emrc.org.au
Figure 2 The 'Sustainability for Schools' poster
Maylands Mapped Out
The EMRC joined forces with the Maylands Business Association to coordinate development of the Maylands Activity Centre Guide. The guide, which was launched on 24 June 2016, showcases unique local businesses and the transport options available to residents and visitors wishing to experience Maylands.
Maylands is a community hub and a fantastic, eclectic area of Perth's Eastern Region, offering a mix of culture, heritage and boutique shopping. With its proximity to the Perth CBD, range of easy public transport options, growing business and community activity and a growing business association, Maylands was the perfect location to develop the first activity centre guide for Perth's Eastern Region.
The Maylands Activity Centre Guide will be distributed by the Maylands Business Association to selected hotels and is available online at http://www.perthtourism.com.au. For more information on the Maylands Activity Centre Guide please contact Philip Taylor, Senior Strategic Projects Officer, on (08) 9424 2206 or email Philip.Taylor@emrc.org.au.
Staff Dig Deep
Over 1,200 native trees were planted by EMRC staff last month at our annual Tree Planting Day as part of the Red Hill Waste Management Facility's rehabilitation program. Environmental sustainability is a high priority for EMRC and the Tree Planting Day is one of many ways we promote the long-term rehabilitation objectives of the waste facility.
To further show community support, EMRC raised over $350 for Breast Cancer Care WA with the planting day coinciding with Purple Bra Day.
For more information on environmental management at the Red Hill Waste Management Facility, please contact Rachael Lovegrove, Manager Environmental Operations, on (08) 9424 2249 or email Rachael.Lovegrove@emrc.org.au.
Photo 2 The EMRC Executive Team at the 2016 Staff Tree Planting Day
Schedule of fees and charges
The EMRC's fees and charges for the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017 can be found online on our Fees and Charges page.
Council and committee meeting dates
Meeting dates for 2016 are available online:
EMRC Council
EMRC Committees