Tag: sustainability

Sowing the seeds for a biodiverse future

Environmental degradation and climate change are two of the largest environmental issues facing our planet, and our younger generations will be the most affected by the challenges they bring.

Creating a more sustainable world now and for future generations depends on education, awareness and being readily available to take action. Poseidon Primary School is achieving this for its students, teachers, and parents through many great initiatives, such as its participation in Murdoch University’s Miyawaki Forest Program.

Miyawaki Forests

Miyawaki forests are small, densely planted forests comprised of endemic plant species. These forests encourage biodiversity, maturing rapidly to provide habitat more quickly than using traditional methods. These forests also help reduce urban temperatures, improve mental and physical well-being, and help to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The ‘Miyawaki Method’ was developed in the 1970s by Japanese botanist Professor Akira Miyawaki as a method to help reforest degraded and industrial landscapes. An adaptation of the method involves densely planting endemic species (determined through a species survey of local forests/bushland) in a small area, usually the size of a tennis court. A typical Miyawaki forest has approximately three to five plants per square metre, with around 30 or more endemic species. Due to this planting method, Miyawaki forests can grow into mature ecosystems in just 20 years, up to ten times faster than using traditional reforestation methods.

After the first two to three years, most Miyawaki forests require no maintenance and can provide up to 18 times greater biodiversity than using traditional planting methods.

Poseidon Primary School’s Pocket Forest

Poseidon Primary School was invited to participate in the Miyawaki Forest Outreach Program developed and led by Dr Grey Coupland from the Harry Butler Institute at Murdoch University, who receives funding for forest planting activities from Carbon Positive Australia. The scientific and educational outreach program is funded by the Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University. The program is recognised as one of UNESCO ‘Green Citizens’ programs outreach programs for 2022 and was a finalist in the Australian Museum’s Eureka Awards for “Innovation in Citizen Science.”

The program offers a practical, hands-on learning experience where children can plant and monitor their own forest as it matures. Students also investigate the local wildlife that enjoy the forest area. Dr Coupland runs formal lessons on topics including urban sustainability and rewilding as part of the program, which complements the school curriculum.

Poseidon Primary School’s pocket forest was planted by students in August 2022. The forest covers an area of 100m2 and contains 300 plants from 31 locally native species. Species such as Tar Bush (Eremophila glabra) and Red and Green Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos manglesii), among others, were densely planted to grow fast with little maintenance required.

Coupland designed the forest to include access for the children and a central yarning circle where students and teachers can use the forest as an outdoor classroom.

  

From turf to biodiverse: Poseidon Primary School’s Miyawaki forest transformed a turfed area into a beautiful biodiverse forest consisting of over 300 locally native plants.

The biodiverse forest has attracted lots of different fauna species, such as native bees, lizards and birds. The forest is only 18 months old and has already shown rapid growth and is thriving in the small space.

Eddystone Primary School and South Padbury Primary School are also involved in the Miyawaki Forest Program with their established and thriving pocket forests, while Ocean Reef Primary School’s pocket forest is scheduled for planting in 2024. There is also a Miyawaki forest planted in partnership with Statewide Services (Department of Education) in Padbury, and it forms part of the Statewide Services Bush Classroom program linked to their Two Way initiative.

Growing environmental knowledge

Not only does the school’s Miyawaki forest benefit the environment and wildlife, but it also acts as an educational resource for students to learn about environmental science both inside and outside the classroom.

The first step for students getting involved in the program was setting up a compost system. Students learned to reduce their food waste by composting their recess and lunch scraps, and they also received green waste and organic waste from local businesses. The turf was then removed and the soil at the forest site was improved by digging in the student’s compost, along with coconut coir and a special compost tea created by Dr Coupland added to the soil’s surface.

Year 4-6 students from Poseidon Primary School helped with the planting of over 31 locally native species in the Miyawaki Forest.

 

Students from Year 4 to Year 6 planted the forest under the guidance of Dr Coupland and the Murdoch University Miyawaki Forest team. Once planting was completed, the forest was covered with a thick layer of mulch to protect the soil, retain moisture and save water.

Miyawaki forests mature up to 10 times faster than traditional planting methods. The Poseidon Primary School Miyawaki forest was planted in August 2022.

Whilst preparing and planting the forest provided a beneficial educational experience, the Miyawaki Forest also provides an ongoing educational experience for students. Each month, students work with Murdoch University team to monitor their forest. Students learn to record data on aspects including plant survival and, growth and biodiversity.

The students have learned about the urban heat island effect caused by existing hardstand surfaces and how to measure surface and air temperatures to track the cooling effect of their forest. They learned how to use scientific equipment and how to write scientific reports about their findings. They also learned about weed species and weed management, frequently helping to weed their forest to ensure it can continue to grow strong.

Benefits of nature-based learning

The Miyawaki Forest program at Poseidon Primary School provides so many benefits to students’ wellbeing, learning, and overall school experience. The students enjoy being outdoors and working in their ‘outdoor classroom,’ and they have become more engaged with environmental science activities and have a genuine curiosity and interest in the forest. Their knowledge of local native animals has improved significantly during the program, as has their ability to collect and record data. Students often visit the forest during their break times, and some also meet there before and after school. For many students, the forest is a relaxing and calming safe space.

Students’ focus, attention, and academic performance have likely improved as well. Access to nature and a view of trees has proven to increase literacy and numeracy results, alongside improving student’s stress levels, concentration, and intrinsic motivation. Tree cover is strongly linked to student’s academic performance and classroom engagement across all subjects.

The Miyawaki Forest program not only provides students with a unique, hands-on learning environment, but also bring so many cognitive development benefits for a holistic learning experience for all students at the school.

Teaching sustainable living

In addition to the Miyawaki Forest and the composting system, Poseidon Primary School incorporate teachings about the environment and sustainability into their curriculum in many ways.

“Sustainable practice has been alive and growing at Poseidon Primary School. What started many years ago as one teacher’s passion, has now grown into numerous environmental projects and initiatives that complement our student’s learning,” explains Associate Principal, Erin Ibister.

The school has a Sustainability Team which overlooks the students’ Worm Farm. ‘Worm wizz’ and worm castings are used around the school’s gardens and sold to the local community. The school also has chickens, and their eggs are sold to the community to recoup feeding costs. Year 6 students run a recycling containers program, where students place their recyclable containers into specially labelled bins at the end of recess and lunch.

The dedicated Sustainability Team are also keen gardeners who plant new trees and shrubs a few times a year, donated by local politicians and businesses in the community.

Poseidon Primary School students with, from left to right, Melissa Guy (Poseidon Primary School Principal), Emily Hamilton (MLA for Joondalup), Louise Tarrier (CEO of Carbon Positive Australia and Dr Grey Coupland (Harry Butler Institute at Murdoch University).

These great initiatives from our schools teach students the importance of living waste-free and sustainable lifestyles to protect our precious environment and prepare them for climate change.

Further reading and resources:

Subscribe to the City of Joondalup’s Sustainability eNewsletter to stay updated about environmental news, stories, and events.

Waterwise Demonstration Garden

Lawns are often used in home gardens and public open spaces for amenity and aesthetic reasons, however, with a warming climate and the increasing need to conserve water and cool down our streets, many people are opting to transform their lawned areas into waterwise and biodiverse gardens.

Waterwise gardens have so many benefits. Waterwise and native gardens not only save water, reduce the urban heat island effect, provide habitat for local wildlife and improve biodiversity, but they also provide many physical and mental health and well-being benefits for the entire community.

The City aims to promote waterwise and native gardens and their benefits through its many waterwise initiatives.

Joondalup Administration Building Waterwise Demonstration Garden

The City of Joondalup installed a waterwise and biodiverse native garden out in front of the City’s Administration Building in July 2023. The project was proudly supported by the Water Corporation and designed by The Forever Project. 

The City of Joondalup Administration Building Waterwise Demonstration Garden

Growing local native plants

The front garden of the Administration Building was previously overgrown and required regular irrigation using groundwater. The exotic plant species were removed from the garden, but the native plants, such as the existing Silver Princess tree and mature Acorn Banksias, were retained. 

The garden bed was transformed into a living waterwise landscape full of local flora species and a habitat for wildlife. Over 200 new native species were planted, such as Ground Banksia, Native Pigface and Tar Bush. A new Jarrah tree was also planted in the garden to provide shade and increase the urban tree canopy. Using all locally native species meant that the plants were adapted to the local soil conditions and climate. 

The City encourages growing local native plants that suit your soil type. To find out soil type and discover local native plants that will thrive in your garden, visit our Growing Local Native Plants webpage.  

Habitat for wildlife

The garden’s existing limestone rocks were retained so that they could continue to provide a habitat for the lizards and birds that frequently visit the garden.  

Two gabion seats, filled with additional limestone rocks, were made and added to the garden. These seats not only entice visitors to sit and enjoy the garden but also provide additional protection to wildlife from the weather and predators.  

A bird bath was installed in the garden to provide a water source for wildlife and add visual amenities. Small native birds such as the Djidi Djidi (Willie Wagtail) and the Bandiny (New Holland Honeyeater) are frequently seen enjoying the garden and the habitat it provides for them. 

Visit our Protect our Wildlife resource to find out more ways to provide habitat and protection for wildlife. 

Residents watched as the Administration Building Waterwise Demonstration Garden transformed into a Waterwise and biodiverse garden.

Residents attended to watch the transformation while The Forever Project delivered a presentation on creating Waterwise native gardens. Attendees learned about soil improvements and techniques, waterwise native plants, weed management and garden maintenance tips for them to take home to their own gardens.

Waterwise and firewise design

Alongside the native plants that require very little water, pathogen-free course mulch was used to retain moisture and also provide visual aesthetics. Recycled rock and rubble materials were used to form the garden’s pathway, which also meant the garden was a firewire design. 

The garden now features educational signage full of waterwise gardening tips, local native plant species information, waterwise plant ratings and habitat ratings.  

Signage highlights the species in the demonstration garden, their waterwise ratings and habitat overview.

Waterwise gardens green, beautify and cool our communities. Waterwise demonstration gardens like the City’s Administration building garden raise awareness of the importance of verges and gardens as green spaces that can provide canopy cover and habitat for wildlife. 

Signage in the garden highlights waterwise gardening techniques, including soil preparation, plant selection and timing, mulching and watering tips.

Why Waterwise biodiverse gardening?

Whether it’s your verge, entire front garden or just a small garden bed around the side of your house, implementing a waterwise and biodiverse garden has so many huge benefits.

  • You will save water.
  • You will save time maintaining your garden. Waterwise native gardens often require less weeding, pruning, mulching, and hand watering.
  • Your garden will look amazing all year round.
  • Creates a climate-resilient and long-term sustainable garden. 
  • Provides habitat for wildlife, and you will enjoy many more birds, lizards, small marsupials and even frogs in your garden.
  • Cool your home and counteract the urban heat island effect. 
  • Contributes to healthy drainage around your home. 
  • Improves the value of your property. 
  • Improves your and the community’s mental and physical health.

By creating waterwise gardens and requesting a free street tree from the City, you can help to create cool, green and biodiverse neighborhoods that combat the urban heat island effect and help build a sustainable and climate-resilient community. 

Tips and resources

Community, kindness and sustainability

The Facebook group Growing a Sustainable Community – Kingsley and Surrounds was established in 2018 by passionate community member and Kingsley local, Sharon Pengelly. The group has since grown to over 1,600 like-minded community members from across the City of Joondalup suburbs, where the local community share ideas about sustainable living, gardening, recycling and all things environmental!

Building an online community

Sharon has always been passionate about learning and sharing ideas with others, especially about the environment and sustainable living. When she established the Facebook group, her aim was to create a discussion forum for like-minded community members to share ideas and discuss sustainability in a positive, constructive way.

When Sharon started the group, her goal was to have a small group of people who could help with basic guidance regarding sustainable living. Sharon said she would have been happy with just 50 community members, but it has now grown to a community of over 1,600 members from all over the Northern suburbs, and some members are even from overseas.

“It’s wonderful to see so many people wanting to join and see what our community is about. Hopefully, joining our group inspires them to recreate something similar in their own local community,” says Sharon.

Sharon Pengelly, Kingsley local, started the ‘Growing a Sustainable Community – Kingsley and surrounds’ Facebook group in 2018.

Sharon has always wanted to leave a light environmental footprint on the planet. She is a self-identified “mad keen gardener” with a beautiful vegetable garden (pictured below) to show for it. Sharon has attended courses in sustainable living, such as the Earth Carers course led by Peg Davies, where she learned about protecting the environment through reducing, reusing and recycling waste. She also attended a Sustainable Living course held by Kath Moller of Duncraig Edible Garden, which focused on regenerative living, community, environment, gardening and household. Sharon shares her knowledge within her Facebook group.

Sharon enjoys spending her time growing a lot of her own quality produce in her backyard.

Sharon’s Facebook group grew fast, and it wasn’t long before Liz Bennett began helping Sharon manage and ‘admin’ the group. Like Sharon, Liz is an avid gardener and could be entirely self-sufficient with her fruit and vegetable production. Liz also attended the Greenwood Sustainable Living course. Together with the other group members, they have all made the group the wonderful community that it is today.

Grow Free Carts

Liz established the Greenwood Grow Free cart in 2022. Grow Free Carts provides a central place for the community to swap and share excess homegrown produce, preserves, cuttings, potted edible plants, and other items related to sustainable gardening. Community members can do direct swaps or leave something they are gifting. Sharon’s Facebook group allows Liz and other community members to post what is on offer so that nothing goes to waste!

Liz and her Grow Free Cart. The cart was painted by local indigenous artist JJ Lane.

Community, kindness, and Sustainability

‘Growing a Sustainable Community – Kingsley and surrounds’ is an inclusive online space to discuss sustainable living. The group ranges from beginner community members to experts and community groups who have a wealth of knowledge and a wide range of experience to support anyone on their sustainable journey.

The group has held and supported several workshops for its members, such as a Worm Farming workshop, Clothes Swaps, Waste facility tours, and an ‘All you need to know about growing citrus and edibles’ workshop. Sharon and Liz are excited for the year ahead, with the 2024 event calendar being full of amazing activities and workshops for the group. Future workshops for group members include cheese making, sourdough bread making, gardening, shopping without plastic and more!

Sharon with Debbie and Kevin from the Worm Shed.

Many friendships have been formed through the ‘Growing a sustainable community – Kingsley and surrounds’ Facebook group, and for Sharon that is the most rewarding part of it all. The community’s like-mindedness and aspirations for wanting to do their bit for the planet demonstrate this group’s wonderful asset to the community.

The page regularly receives positive comments from group members, such as “you do a great job of connecting us throughout the year and inspiring us” and “this is such a happy, inclusive, informative and uplifting page,” which makes all her amazing work coordinating the group worth it.

Group members have the opportunity to participate in a range of sustainable living workshops, such as Clothes Swaps by Jessica Bennison.

The group enjoys supporting local community groups and sustainable businesses through its Facebook page. Some of the fantastic local groups and businesses that have helped this group are:

Staying connected during COVID-19

During COVID-19, lockdowns and isolation requirements meant that the group was an invaluable asset for keeping the community connected. Not only was the group a social outlet for those in isolation, but it helped grow community spirit and connection. Many individuals made themselves available to others who needed help running errands, dropping off produce or even shopping for strangers who needed a helping hand. While for some communities, COVID-19 resulted in unfortunate community breakdown, Sharon’s virtual group helped people maintain connections to the local community.

Sharon’s six sustainability suggestions

Join Growing a sustainable community – Kingsley and surrounds and become part of Sharon’s sustainable community. Here are some of her suggestions to help get you started on your journey.

1. Reduce waste

Following the waste hierarchy of avoiding waste, reducing your waste, reusing what you can’t reduce, and recycling as a last resort is the most basic way you can make a difference at home and lessen your impact on the environment.

Reducing waste should be your priority. Check the packaging that comes with your supermarket purchases, select the cardboard packaging option, and BYO your own containers and produce bags to lessen your impact on the environment.

2. Reuse and repurpose waste

When reducing waste is not possible, reuse and repurpose what you have. Take your old containers and produce bags to your local shop, use the old coffee jar as a storage container, and find other creative ways to reuse or repurpose your waste. You can also repurpose your waste by joining your local ‘Buy Nothing’ group on Facebook to pay it forward or find something you need rather than purchasing new.

3. Recycle waste

Where waste can’t be reduced, reused or repurposed, as a last resort, try to recycle. Check out what can be recycled in your yellow lid recycling bin, and check out your local recycling hub for materials that can’t go in your bin. Marion Green’s St Nic’s Recycling Hub collects and recycles some items that can’t go directly into your yellow lid bin! You can also recycle waste by placing any food scraps or garden waste into a compost or worm farm at home.

4. Grow into gardening

Plant your own little patch of paradise and try your shot at gardening. Whether you use raised beds or create a container garden to grow your own produce or transform your garden into a biodiverse paradise full of native plants, each small change has a huge impact. Creating your very own ecosystem in your backyard is incredibly rewarding, and you will be supporting local wildlife!

5. Lifestyle choices

Living sustainably is a lifestyle. Start small, and you will eventually change your habits over time, and each new habit will eventually make a large impact. Trying to do too much at once will set you up to fail. There is an abundance of people in Sharon’s group who are ready to help you get started. Before you know it, you will be reducing your very own environmental footprint in your community and helping others get started, too.

6. Join the sustainable community

Come and join the community, bring an open mind and a bucket full of kindness. From little things, big things will grow.

Members of the Growing a sustainable community – Kingsley and surrounds group at a Waste facility tour.

As we move into a future where we need to reduce our environmental impact, we all need to focus our journey towards a more regenerative lifestyle in our community, environment, garden, workplace and household. Sustainable living practices are necessary to meet our needs without compromising a healthy planet for future generations and our natural environment.

Other tips and resources:

Subscribe to the City of Joondalup’s Sustainability eNewsletter to stay updated about environmental news, stories, and events. Sign up for the eNewsletter – City of Joondalup.

Melanie wins big with her vibrant verge of flourishing wildlflowers

Melanie’s waterwise and biodiverse verge garden has been crowned the City of Joondalup’s Waterwise Verge Garden of the Year (2023) as part of the Waterwise Verge Garden Competition 2023.

Melanie explains how she transformed her verge four years ago from desolate concrete and exotic weed species into a beautiful, waterwise and biodiverse garden. Now, her verge and front garden is thriving and supporting the conservation of rare species, providing habitat for local wildlife, helping cool the neighbourhood and is a place for her entire family to relax and enjoy.

In this article, we explore her waterwise verge garden to show how beautiful and beneficial it can be to have a verge without lawn, fake lawn or pavement.

We can all play an important role in creating a waterwise community and enhancing ecological connectivity within our urban suburbs, and Melanie’s verge garden can guide and inspire you to take action and transform your verge with very little water, maintenance or effort.

Waterwise Verge Garden of the Year (2023) Winner, Melanie with Mayor Jacob.

Celebrating waterwise and biodiverse gardens

The intent of the Waterwise Verge Garden Competition was to celebrate community members creating greener, cooler and more sustainable verges in the face of climate change.

This was a sentiment Melanie resonated with, sharing that she hoped her entry would showcase how easy it is to create a beautiful, waterwise verge garden with year-round greenery, flowering colour and interesting native plants. Her garden shows us what is possible in just four years.

Melanie would like to see more greening of our local neighbourhoods that help save water in a drying climate and provide vital stepping stones for wildlife, supporting their movement across the landscape and providing them with habitat. She further reflects that street trees and a verge garden will also create a cooling effect and counteract ‘heat island’ effects in summer and that the best part is they don’t need as much maintenance as non-native plants or lawns. Melanie thinks that verge transformations allow homeowners to enjoy all the benefits of a waterwise and biodiverse verge garden while supporting a more sustainable future.

Before and after- 5 years after transforming their front verge, it has grown into a waterwise and biodiverse paradise.

The whole family fell in love with their verge’s potential when moving into their Sorrento home over seven years ago. Their north-facing, wide verge was soon to be a native plant paradise! They ripped up the concrete, removed the South African Daisies from the verge, and completely re-landscaped the verge and front garden into a beautiful, thriving, waterwise, green, and biodiverse garden. Four years and very little watering or maintenance later, their front verge celebrates biodiversity while being water efficient.

With many larger shrubs now established in the garden, Melanie loves to plant some smaller plants to enhance biodiversity. There are always plenty of pollinators, praying mantises and geckos, as well as lots of small skinks in their garden.

Twining Fringed Lily is a local waterwise native species supporting our amazing pollinators.

Every drop counts

Native plants are adapted to our dry and hot summers. Whilst Melanie’s garden required initial hand watering during plant establishment, the garden barely gets watered besides from the rain. Despite having no water, the garden stays beautiful and green over summer. “This really contrasts with the amount of time and water we need to keep our area of lawn looking good,” says Melanie.

Native verge gardens don’t just require less water, but they require less maintenance, too. Melanie only applies mulch every 2-3 years to keep the moisture in the ground, and their home compost is added while planting to improve the water holding capacity of their sandy soils. Each summer, they apply a wet soil treatment to hold some additional moisture in the soil.

Waterwise plants feature across the whole of Melanie’s garden, with many different species that are creating biodiversity. Her verge features species such as Fringed Lily, Yellow Leschenaultia, Grey Cottonheads, Bottlebrushes and Coastal Boobialla groundcover. The plants on the verge have all been selected to remain under 60cm tall to ensure there is a clear line of sight for local traffic. One of Melanie’s favourite features of her front garden is the 300 year old Balga (Grass tree) that was successfully translocated from the edge of the verge to a prime central position after being saved from destruction during the installation of the new retaining wall. It was one of the original Balga’s from before the development of Sorrento. Retention of native vegetation is essential to supporting local wildlife.

The beautiful 300-year-old grass tree is a feature of their waterwise verge garden.

Increasing urban tree canopy

To complement her verge transformation, add some shade to her verge and house and provide habitat for even more wildlife, Melanie requested that the City provide and plant her street tree. Melanie had a Red Flowering Gum in 2019, and it has grown so much already. This tree is only four years old, but it will continue to grow and provide more shade cover to Melanie’s house and street, having a cooling effect on the entire neighbourhood, and it will even increase the value of her home. The Red Flowering Gum is a waterwise tree that flowers from December to May each year, providing a splash of colour to the front garden and providing habitat for invertebrates, birds, reptiles, frogs and mammals.

Melanie’s Red Flowering Gum street tree that was supplied and installed by the City.

Fun for the whole family

The most rewarding part of the verge for Melanie is how her kids get so excited about finding something new in the garden. Whether it’s an insect, a mushroom or a native orchid, they always learn something new and connect with nature.

Melanie and her daughter share special moments together, creating native flower bouquets and creating watercolour paintings of the flowers that grow on their verge. They also help friends and neighbours choose waterwise plants to start their own native gardens.

The whole family also enjoys an annual Spring display of kangaroo paws and everlastings, and they are always trying to squeeze in a new plant wherever it will fit!

Melanie and her daughter (pictured) create beautiful native flower bouquets from their verge garden.

Melanie’s tips for creating your own waterwise verge garden

  • Site preparation is key – if you have a lawn, the grass needs to be removed or killed first, or you will forever be removing grass regrowth.
  • Before you get started on your verge, read the Street Verge Guidelines to understand any local requirements.
  • Apply a thick layer of coarse mulch to suppress any weeds emerging.
  • Prune regularly to keep the plants dense and tidy – you can easily shape many native plants just like you can with non-Australian plants.
  • Celebrate local biodiversity with your plant selection. Apace Nursery in North Fremantle and Zanthorrea Nursery in Maida Vale have an abundance of native seedlings, but there are also plenty of local nurseries such as Wildflower Society’s Northern Suburbs Branch and Dawsons Garden World – Joondalup Store for you to explore.
  • Apply for a free street tree from the City. Trees are a fantastic way to improve biodiversity and habitat, add shade, reduce the heat and even add value to your property!
  • There are so many incredible resources to help you find plants that suit your soil, climate and local wildlife, check them out at Water Corporation, ReWild Perth and the City of Joondalup.

Groundcovers like Myoporum insulare prostrate are a fantastic lawn alternative and a great way to paint your garden with bright colours with little maintenance.

Watch Melanie’s garden in action:

Are you inspired to create your own waterwise verge garden?

Our Waterwise Verge Gardens webpage shares a range of tips and resources to help you get started. Water Corporation’s handy guide to waterwise verges can also help you convert your verge into a beautiful, biodiverse and waterwise garden.

To keep up to date with future waterwise initiatives, sign up to the City of Joondalup’s Sustainability eNewsletter.

The Waterwise Verge Competition 2023 was proudly co-funded by Water Corporation’s Waterwise Greening Scheme and forms part of our ambition for the City to be a leading waterwise community.

2022/23 Waterwise Verge Rebate Program – Makeover Success Stories

The City is committed to creating greener, cooler and more sustainable neighbourhoods in the face of climate change. We are proud to share some of the outcomes from the 2022/23 Waterwise Verge Rebate Program which encouraged residents to ditch their lawn, fake grass and pavement for a waterwise and wildlife friendly verge garden.

This initiative was proudly co-funded by Water Corporation’s Waterwise Greening Scheme and forms part of our ambition for the City to be a leading waterwise community.

The program outcomes include:

  • Over 100 new waterwise verge gardens in the City.
  • Over 4,800 Waterwise Plants greening our neighbourhoods.
  • 65 lawns removed. Plus, six paving treatments and one synthetic lawn gone.
  • 74% of participating verges have waterwise trees.
  • 75% of verge gardens mulched to retain water.
  • Two Waterwise Garden Workshops with over 120 attendees.
  • The City now offers two Waterwise Demonstration Gardens for residents to visit for inspiration.

A highlight of the initiative was the plant giveaway event in May 2023, where City staff provided program participants their plants that featured verge and climate suitable species. The species included the stunning Grey Cottonheads (Conostylis candicans) with its bright yellow flowers; Prostrate Banksia (Banksia petiolaris) for its feature foliage and beautiful flowers; Coral Vine (Kennedia coccinea) an attractive pea-flowered vine that is a local conservation significant species; Green Prostrate Grevillea (Grevilla crithmifolia) which is loved by bees, butterflies and birds; and 16 others.

The City partnered with a waterwise and biodiversity specialist nursery, APACE, to grow the waterwise plants for the participants’ plant packs. In addition, residents received a pack of Lucinda’s everlasting seeds.

The program has resulted in many inspiring transformations and makeover success stories:

Participating residents were provided support through $25,000 worth of funding to help transform their verges, delivered through three incredible partnering Waterwise Nurseries – Dawsons Garden World – Joondalup Store, Wildflower Society of WA Northern Suburbs Nursery and Zanthorrea Nursery. This funding could be used on waterwise plants and waterwise products like soil amendments, conditioners and mulch.

All the hard work to achieve these makeover success stories was undertaken by the participants of the program.

The initiative also encouraged and celebrated the use of waterwise, native plants and wildflowers in verge gardens to increase and foster local biodiversity and establish nature and biodiversity corridors throughout the City.

These waterwise and biodiverse verge gardens also provide the opportunity for many of the participants to save money and time, as these gardens are low maintenance and don’t require regular watering. The City also recognises the cooling effect from street trees and vegetation cover can reduce urban temperatures by up to five degrees.

Want to take action and create your own waterwise verge garden?

The City’s waterwise verge gardens webpage shares a range of tips and resources to help you get started. Water Corporation’s handy guide to waterwise verges can also help you convert your verge into a beautiful, biodiverse and waterwise garden.

To keep up to date with future waterwise initiatives, sign up to the City of Joondalup’s Sustainability eNewsletter.

Waterwise Verge Garden Competition – 2023 Winners Announced

Waterwise Verge Garden Competition

We are proud to announce and celebrate the successes of residents involved in our Waterwise Verge Garden Competition for 2023/24.

Residents are playing a vital role in saving valuable water, greening and cooling our neighbourhoods, supporting and enhancing local biodiversity and creating a waterwise community. We think this is worth celebrating and hope it will inspire others to take action in this space.

The awards recognise residents who have created and maintained beautiful, waterwise and biodiverse verge gardens.

This initiative was proudly co-funded by Water Corporation’s Waterwise Greening Scheme and forms part of our ambition for the City to be a leading waterwise community.

Thank you to everyone who entered the 2023 Waterwise Verge Garden Competition

Waterwise Verge Garden of the Year

Melanie Davies

Waterwise Verge Garden Winner

Alix Oakes

Waterwise Verge Garden Highly Commended

Jacqui Thake

Biodiverse Verge Garden Winner

Joy Mack-haven

Biodiverse Verge Garden Highly Commended

Michael Frazier

Meet the overall winner of our Waterwise Verge Garden Competition, Melanie Davies

Inspired to create your own waterwise verge garden? 

Our waterwise verge gardens webpage shares a range of tips and resources to help you get started. Water Corporation’s handy guide to waterwise verges can also help you convert your verge into a beautiful, biodiverse and waterwise garden.

To keep up to date with future waterwise initiatives, sign up to the City of Joondalup’s Sustainability eNewsletter.

Supporting our Sustainable Local Businesses

There are so many ways to make a difference to our planet and community. One of the easiest choices you can make is to support local businesses that uphold their environmental responsibility through their products, services and practices.

The Sustainability and Innovation Award 2023

The Joondalup Business Association (JBA) Awards is a night to celebrate some of the community’s local businesses and their successes. Held on Saturday 12 August 2023, the event was sponsored by Edith Cowan University’s School of Business and Law.

The Sustainability and Innovation Award celebrates the City’s businesses that are leading the change in the sustainability space, leading with purpose and a vision for an environmentally sustainable future.

The winner of the award for 2023 was Supernatural Hair and Beauty, a hair and beauty salon in Joondalup with a sustainable purpose and social mission.

An environmental mission into the future

Supernatural pride themselves in achieving the highest standards of sustainability in all of their practices. From packaging and product ingredients to waste reduction and workplace practices; Supernatural run their business with passion and a pursuit for environmental sustainability.

Supernatural Hair and Beauty started in Port Hedland 12 years ago.

After six years of success in Joondalup, they know the impact that sustainable practices within a workplace can have on influencing the community. Their embrace of sustainable practices not only means they are leading the change in tackling climate change but are also meeting the community’s demand for more environmentally friendly brands they can trust.

Reducing waste in the workplace

The duo’s passions for the environment, their minimalistic lifestyle and their ‘less is more’ attitude has been reflected all throughout their business practices and processes.

This year, Deanna and Jessica have been focusing on reducing the amount of their waste ending up in landfill. They have successfully been able to repurpose 95% of their salon waste.

As a ‘Sustainable Salons’ member, Supernatural has prevented over 40kg of hair, 154kg of plastics, 275g of paper and 207kg of metals from landfill. As part of the initiative, they have also contributed to over 276,340 meals being donated to people in need.

Sustainability is everyone’s business

Whether you’re a business owner, an employee, or a community member wanting to be more sustainable, these tips from Supernatural Hair and Beauty will help you along your sustainability journey.

Know what you are purchasing and where it’s coming from

Finding out how the things we use and consume are made, where they came from, how they are transported, and where their waste ends up are questions we could all be asking in every transaction we make.

The journey of sustainability starts with consuming less

Creating less waste should come first, then we can focus on reusing or recycling the waste we can’t reduce.

Look for sustainable alternatives from sustainable focused businesses

Every positive change you make is a step towards a better future. Switching to a more sustainable brand creates greater demand for ‘greener’ products and services.

Buy in bulk

One way of reducing your waste is buying in bulk amounts to reduce packaging waste. Buying a 1L shampoo bottle instead of four normal sized 250ml bottles, reduces plastic containers and saves you money. Look for ways to do this in all areas of your consumption.

Be accountable for the businesses you support

If you own a business, partnering with brands that you align with as a company is crucial to managing your environmental impact. Set your standards high and keep up to date with the market.

Supporting local sustainable businesses not only supports the environment but also helps our community flourish.

To find local and sustainable businesses within the City of Joondalup, visit the Joondalup Business Association.

Recycling with Marian Green: Founder of St Nic’s Recycling Hub

Marian Green established the St Nic’s Recycling Hub in Duncraig at the beginning of 2022. The Hub collects large volumes of recyclables each month from the community, that may otherwise have ended up in landfill. 

Putting waste in the right place

There are lots of recyclable materials that are not suitable to be placed into the recycling kerbside system and can be recycled through other sources. Since founding the Hub, Marian has worked hard in sourcing destination recyclers, running educational sessions with community groups, liaising with governments and interest groups, promoting the Hub through Facebook, and completing all the general administration tasks to keep the Hub running.  

A “Green” community effort

Marian can’t remember a time when she wasn’t volunteering and helping the community. Her parents inspired her efforts as they were always volunteering for different organisations throughout their lives. What motivates Marian with her efforts at the Hub are the amazing people from the community that she meets each Hub day.  

Marian believes we all have a responsibility to care for the planet, and creating St Nic’s Recycling Hub has been her way of upholding this responsibility and encouraging recycling throughout the community.  

You can recycle at the Hub on the 3rd Saturday of every month, 9am – 11am at St Nicolas Anglican Church, Cnr Poynter Drive & Beach Road, Duncraig.

What items can you recycle at the Hub?

  • Plastic lids and plastic bread tags.
  • Plastic plant pots and plant tags.
  • Oral care products.
  • Pens: including felt tips, highlighters, markers, mechanical pencils, correction tape, liquid paper.
  • Household batteries and printer cartridges.
  • E-waste and mobile phones.
  • Light globes.
  • Disposable razors.
  • Medication blister packs (with a donation to cover costs of recycling these).
  • Containers for Change: Donate your refund to St Nic’s by bringing along your 10c containers.

Marian’s tips for starting on your recycling journey

  1. Start small and build your way up. 
  2. Learn what can and can’t go in the recycling (yellow lid) kerbside bin. For further information, visit Recycling bin (yellow lid).
  3. Choose one more recyclable to divert from landfill. Once it becomes a habit, pick one more and then repeat! 

Get involved

If you have already nailed your recycling efforts at home and you want to further help recycling efforts for the community and the planet, residents can help out in many ways. 

A few ideas from Marian include: 

  • Start your own “Sub Hub”. These are recycling collection points within your community such as at a retirement village, childcare centre, school, sporting club or elsewhere. Collections are then brought to the St Nic’s Recycling Hub each month.  
  • Own a café? You could collect milk bottles and soft drink bottle lids or containers and deliver them to the Hub regularly. You can also donate your coffee granules to local community gardens or via Sharewaste. 
  • Prefer volunteering? St Nic’s Recycling Hub is always looking for people to help collect recyclables and deliver them to destination recyclers. 

For more information on how you can help Marian’s recycling movement, contact her via email. You can also follow St Nic’s Hub Facebook page.

For further information and about locations where items can be recycled, visit:

Kath Moller of Duncraig Edible Garden

Kath Moller has been involved in the Duncraig Edible Garden (DEG) since 2013, just after the Duncraig Library forecourt site was offered to the group by the City to start a community food garden.

Growing the community

Since starting in the group, Kath has been a workshop presenter, preserves maker, committee member and treasurer. Kath loves seeing other people realise that they can make a difference and grow things, no matter the size of the space. Seeing people get to meet and join in with a community that gathers around gardening also brings Kath a lot of joy.

What’s happening in the garden?

February is the hottest time of the year and during the Noongar season of Bunuru, Kath and the DEG volunteers are concentrating on keeping the perennial plants alive, by watering deeply and protecting the soil and not planting new annual plants until the weather cools.

On Saturday 11 February from 9.00am – 11.00am you can join DEG for a Chooks in the City workshop to learn a few things about having chooks in your garden.

Kath commemorating QEII speech

Kath’s summer tips for growing food at home:

  • Food can be grown in very small spaces such as window sills or balconies, or on a larger scale in the spaces at the edge of a courtyard.
  • If you have a larger space, you could replace your lawn with fruit and vegetables to provide a wealth of food in the area, using about the same amount of water that the lawn used, but you can eat the results.
  • Planting things together that have similar water needs is a good strategy.
  • Plants are less stressed by the heat if their roots are sheltered by mulch-covered soil that keeps the root zone cooler and reduces evaporation from the soil as well as helping the soil microbes to survive. Looking after the soil microbes means that they can transfer the nutrients to the roots of the plants, and the plants grow much better.
  • Water during the cool of the morning to prevent water loss through evaporation.It’s much better for the person doing the watering and for the plants.
  • Wicking or self-watering pots are good for growing salad vegetables in summer.
  • Whether planted in the ground or in pots, covering soil with mulch helps to reduce evaporation.

Get involved

Kath encourages fellow City residents to come and garden with the DEG group and help create a space where food and the community can grow sustainably together. DEG volunteers meet every fortnight on alternate Saturday mornings between 9.00am – 12.00pm, on opposite weeks to the Poynter Farmers Markets, in the garden located at the forecourt of the Duncraig Library, cnr Warwick Road and Marmion Avenue, Duncraig.

For more information, visit the Duncraig Edible Garden website.

Waterwise Verge Rebate Program Launch

The City has launched its Waterwise Verge Rebate Program to encourage residents to replace their grass, synthetic lawn and hardstand materials, such as paving, on their verge with waterwise native plants and mulch. Waterwise verge gardens provide many benefits to neighbourhoods including creating a cooling effect, reducing water consumption and maintenance, improving streetscape amenity and potentially increasing property prices, providing habitat for local wildlife and promoting biodiversity.

This initiative is proudly co-funded by Water Corporation’s Waterwise Greening Scheme and forms part of our ambition for the City of Joondalup to be a leading waterwise community.

Through the Program, successful applicants will receive:

  • A $250 voucher for a selected nursery or garden centre
  • 20 native plants during a plant giveaway event in May 2023
  • A pack of everlasting seeds.

The program is open to the first 100 eligible applicants and is on a first come, first served basis. Applications close on Friday 31 March 2023 or when the allocation is exhausted. Renters can also apply to participate in the Program and will need to get written permission from their landlord.

Installation of the waterwise verge gardens is expected to be completed by Monday 12 June 2023 and participants will provide the City with ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos of the verge.

To participate in the Program, applicants must comply with the Terms and Conditions and submit an Expression of Interest form. Places are limited so get in quick.

Further information about the Waterwise Verge Rebate Program and application process will be available on the City’s website.

Platinum-Waterwise Council logo

 

Waterwise Verge Garden Workshop

As part of the City’s Environmental Education Program, more than 90 community members attended a Waterwise Verge Garden workshop hosted by the City of Joondalup at Duncraig Community Centre on Saturday, 29 October.

At the workshop, participants learnt about how to start their own waterwise verge garden at home and about the City’s Waterwise Verge Rebate Program that will be launching in November 2022.

Chris Ferreira from The Forever Project provided a presentation that highlighted the importance of replacing grass, synthetic lawn and paving with waterwise plants, particularly in the context of reduced rainfall in Perth.

The workshop included a tour of the Duncraig Edible Garden and information about the plant species and establishment of the garden. A presentation of the City’s Waterwise Verge Rebate Program was also provided at the workshop.

Participants at the workshop were highly engaged with prizes being given away for correct answers during the presentation, lots of questions throughout the presentations, during the break and after the event.

This initiative is proudly co-funded by Water Corporation’s Waterwise Greening Scheme and forms part of our ambition for the City to be a leading waterwise community.

Waterwise Verge Gardens

Verges play an important role in creating cool, green spaces for our communities, providing habitat for our local wildlife, and improving streetscape amenities in the City. Verges are often covered in lawn or hardstand surfaces such as paving that use significant amounts of water and radiate heat in summer.

A street verge is the road reserve area between a road and the adjacent property boundary but does not include any footpath. The verge is owned by the Crown and managed by the City.  

Residents are encouraged to install low water use plants, ground covers, edible plants (vegetables and herbs), lawns and landscape treatments on their verge. Verge treatments are regulated by the City’s Local Government and Public Property Local Law 2014. 

Residents are able to undertake improvements to the verge that are in line with the permissible verge treatments described in the Street Verge Guidelines. 

Duncraig Library Waterwise Verge Garden (Created by the Duncraig Edible Garden group)
Duncraig Library Waterwise Verge Garden (Created by the Duncraig Edible Garden group)

Why install a Waterwise verge garden? 

The City encourages soft landscape verge treatments, including waterwise native plants and mulch. Waterwise verge gardens can: 

  • Save water in the garden  
  • Require little maintenance, with occasional weeding, pruning, mulching and hand watering 
  • Creates green liveable communities and streetscapes 
  • Contributes to healthy drainage 
  • Create a cooling effect and counteract the urban heat island effect. Below, further information about urban heat island effect.
  • Provide a habitat for local wildlife and promote biodiversity. 

What is urban heat island effect?

Urban heat island effect is the build-up of heat in urban areas. This build up is exacerbated by an increase to urban densities and building heights that trap heat overnight, particularly during periods of extended dry and heat. Greening initiatives, like adding a street tree to your verge or creating a waterwise verge garden will assist to offset the build-up of urban heat. Through understorey and canopy planting initiatives cooling is maximised.

The City is creating greener, cooler, and more comfortable neighbourhoods for everyone, through its Leafy City and Street Tree Planting programs.

By creating waterwise gardens and requesting a street tree, you can help create cool, green and biodiverse neighbourhoods.

Tips and Resources 

Want to see a Waterwise verge garden?  

You can view a demonstration waterwise verge garden at the following locations:  

  • Carina Loop, Ocean Reef
  • Currambine Community Centre, Currambine
  • Duncraig Library, Duncraig. 

Platinum-Waterwise Council logo

Greywater reuse

Greywater is the term used to describe the wastewater generated from bathrooms, laundries and kitchens, but does not include toilet waste water. The opportunity exists for greywater to be reused to irrigate gardens. Considering the dry environment in many parts of Western Australia, it is important that water is used efficiently and conserved whenever possible. Most households won’t produce enough greywater to supply their entire garden needs, however reusing greywater should make a significant contribution to water conservation.

To encourage the reuse of greywater, the City is currently offering a rebate scheme which will refund the City’s approval fees under the Health (Treatment of Sewage and Disposal of Effluent and Liquid Waste) Regulations 1974, to install and operate a Greywater System.

Installing a greywater system

The Code of Practice for the Reuse of Greywater in Western Australia (available on the Health Department website) outlines acceptable greywater reuse practices to ensure the conservation of ground and surface supplies and the protection of health standards. The installation and operation of all greywater systems must comply with the code. The installation of a greywater system also requires local government approval. For greywater reuse systems where there are more than ten occupants in a building, approval from the Chief Health Officer is required.

Please note that the operation and maintenance of the greywater system is the responsibility of the householder.

For the steps involved in obtaining approval for a greywater reuse system, please refer to our Reusing Household Greywater Factsheet.

Applications requirements

Lodging an application

You can lodge an application to install a greywater reuse system:

By completing the application form and submitting it:

  • In person by visiting the City of Joondalup Administration Centre
  • By Post to the City at PO Box 21, Joondalup WA 6919

Septic tanks – waste water disposal, installation and decommissioning

Septic tank systems provide a method of on-site wastewater disposal that can be used to allow development of land where deep sewerage is not available.

Most of the City’s suburbs are now connected to the deep sewerage system. Older sections of Mullaloo, Burns Beach, Sorrento as well as parts of Marmion and Duncraig, were developed before deep sewerage was available. Those suburbs and properties utilised septic tank systems for wastewater disposal. Most of these suburbs have since been provided with deep sewerage as part of the Water Corporation’s Sewerage Infill Program, however it is possible that old septic tanks may still be in the ground.

In the area of Kingsley between Lake Goollelal and Wanneroo Road and a very small pocket of properties located in Joondalup, deep sewerage is still not available and the properties in those areas use septic tanks or alternative on-site effluent disposal methods such as Aerobic Treatment Units for wastewater.

Buildings, foundations and most structures are not permitted within 1.2m of septic tanks or 1.8m from effluent soak wells and leach drains. Areas above septic tank systems should not be paved unless access to the system is still available without requiring the removal of paving. Septic tank systems can utilise a large area of a property that cannot be built on. This restriction can prevent owners of houses using septic tanks systems from installing pools, retaining walls, gazebo’s and granny flats on their property. Once deep sewerage is available to a property, owners may connect to the sewer and decommission their septic tanks and waste water system.

Installing a septic tank apparatus

The installation of a Septic Tank Apparatus must comply with the Health (Treatment of Sewage and Disposal of Effluent and Liquid Waste) Regulations 1974.

For the steps involved in obtaining approval for a septic tank system, please refer to the Septic tank information sheet or contact an Environmental Health Officer.

Decommissioning your septic system

Notification to the City should be provided, once a septic apparatus has been decommissioned, by completing and submitting a decommissioning form together with a copy of the liquid waste receipt as evidence of the pumping out of the system.

The form must indicate the number of septic tanks and soak wells or leach drains that were removed.

A septic system and waste water system must be decommissioned within 60 days of a change of ownership, following connection to sewer.

Lodging a decommissioning form

You can lodge a decommissioning form online (preferred): 

Or by completing the decommissioning form and submitting it:

  • In person by visiting the City of Joondalup Administration Centre, 90 Boas Avenue, Joondalup.
  • By Post to the City at PO Box 21, Joondalup WA 6919.

Reducing waste

Avoid – prevent waste in the first instance

  • Maintain and repair items rather than disposing of them
  • Grow your own fruit, vegetables, herbs and nuts at home
  • Purchase quality products that have no or minimal packaging.

Reduce – to produce less waste

  • Refuse single plastic e.g. coffee cups, produce bags
  • Purchase in bulk where possible
  • Say no to junk mail
  • Use beeswax wraps instead of cling wrap or foil
  • Only purchase what you need.

Reuse – use the same item more than once

  • Take your own reusable shopping and produce bags to the shops
  • Consider hosting a garage sale
  • Find creative ways to repurpose waste for practical purposes, art projects or gifts
  • Consider purchasing eco-friendly products made from recycled materials
  • Opt for reusable rather than disposable products, such as keep cups instead of disposable coffee cups, carry your own utensils to avoid single use knives, forks and spoons
  • Take reusable items to the REUSE shop at Tamala Park.

Recycle – converting waste materials into new materials and objects

  • Recycle all paper, cardboard, milk and juice cartons, glass bottles and jars, aluminium and steel cans, plastic bottles and containers in the yellow lid recycling bin
  • Green waste from the lime green lid is turned into compost
  • Place food or garden waste in a compost or worm farm at home
  • Take eligible containers to a Containers for Change drop off point
  • Clean and undamaged clothes can be donated to a local charity shop
  • Local schools can participate in a waste education program funded by the City of Joondalup, please visit the City’s Waste education page or call 9400 4077 for further information.

Please refer to the A-Z Waste Disposal Guide to ensure you are sorting your waste correctly.

Other useful resources

Saving water

Everyone can do their bit to reduce water use in the home and garden to minimise environmental impacts. Follow these simple tips to save water in your home and garden:

  • Turn taps off tightly so they don’t drip
  • Fix leaking toilets, taps and showerheads
  • Install waterwise showerheads, mixer basin taps and dual flush toilets
  • Install flow restrictors in taps
  • Keep showers to four minutes or less
  • Choose local native plants that are adapted your garden’s soil type and climate
  • Add mulch to your garden to reduce water loss through evaporation from the soil surface
  • Greywater and rainwater are sustainable water sources that can be used to substitute scheme and ground (bore) water. Find out about installing a greywater system and rainwater tanks
  • Consider drip irrigation systems which deliver water directly to the root systems so there is minimal water loss
  • Use of a swimming pool cover reduces evaporation by up to 97 per cent and helps keep your pool warmer and cleaner.

The State Government enforces restrictions for garden irrigation. Remember to stick to your designated watering days and don’t forget the Winter Sprinkler Ban is in force from 1 June to 31 August.

Waterwise programs

For further information on saving water in the home and garden including waterwise plants, waterwise specialists and waterwise offers visit the Water Corporation. If you are a business, developer or commercial office consider participating in one of Water Corporation’s Waterwise programs.

 

Reducing energy use

Everyone can do their bit to reduce energy use and contribute to a cleaner, greener environment. Follow these simple tips to save energy in your home:

  • Heat and cool only the rooms you are using and close doors to other rooms
  • Ensure that your house has adequate insulation in the ceilings and walls to maximise efficiency of heating and cooling systems
  • Open windows in summer to let the afternoon sea breeze cool the house
  • Remember to set reverse cycle air conditioner thermostats to 18° – 21°C in winter and 24° – 27°C in summer.
  • Wash clothes in cold water instead of hot water
  • Choose energy-efficient appliances (especially fridges and freezers) with high Energy Star Ratings
  • Adjust your fridge temperature to between 3°C and 5°C and your freezer temperature to between -15°C and -18°C
  • Turn off lights when you leave a room
  • Choose energy efficient lighting globes such as compact fluorescent lights (CFL) or light emitting diodes (LEDs)
  • Turn appliances off at the wall when not in use, otherwise they may still be using power in standby mode
  • Consider installing renewable energy such as photovoltaic cells on your home.

The City has partnered with the ClimateClever Program to encourage households and schools to reduce their carbon footprint and save money on utility bills using a suite of online tools and an App which can now be accessed for free. Further information can be found on the ClimateClever website.

To find out how you can save energy in your home, complete the DIY Home Energy Audit.

Energy and climate management

Future climate change could have a significant impact on the City and its community. Responding effectively to climate change requires both reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation) and being ready to adapt to climate change impacts as they occur (adaptation).

The City of Joondalup Climate Change Strategy 2014-2019 provides strategic guidance to the City’s climate change management activities including both mitigation and adaptation.

The Strategy identifies a number of projects to be implemented across the following six key focus areas:

  • Infrastructure and assets
  • Parks and reserves
  • Land use planning and development
  • Natural environment
  • Corporate responsibility and good governance
  • Community wellbeing.

Water management in the City

Water is a precious resource and the City relies heavily on both scheme and groundwater resources in its operations and activities.

The City is committed to sustainable management of its water use. The City Water Plan 2016 – 2021 provides a strategic approach to improving water conservation and water quality management within the City.

The Plan identifies 34 projects that are implemented across the following eight key focus areas:

  • Water monitoring and reporting
  • Management of wetlands and public open spaces
  • Water sensitive urban design
  • Contracts and purchasing
  • Staff education and participation
  • Community education and participation
  • Partnership and policy.

Waterwise Council

The City has been recognised as a Gold Waterwise Council for its outstanding water saving strategies and significant progress towards best practise water efficiency within its operations.

The Craigie Leisure Centre is recognised as a Waterwise Aquatic Centre due to the best practice approach that is taken to managing water use within the facility.

Friends groups

The City of Joondalup’s natural environment is biodiverse and unique, with many natural areas that provide a rich and valuable resource for residents, visitors, and native flora and fauna. Not only do natural areas provide valuable habitat for our native wildlife, but they are also important for recreational, educational, and aesthetic value within our community.

A Friends Group is a volunteer community group that works together with the City of Joondalup to preserve, protect and manage their local natural area within the City. Our Friends Group members are passionate individuals who love and want to protect and conserve the natural environment. Friends Groups can vary from informal, small groups to a more formal incorporated body.

The City of Joondalup appreciates the extensive work put in by its Friends Groups and takes pride in the considerable value that these groups bring to the conservation and management of our natural areas. Friends Groups, together with the work carried out by the City, are working towards revegetating, improving and protecting our valuable natural areas for the community and the native flora and fauna who enjoy them.

Friends Group Activities

Friends Groups may be involved in various activities for a particular reserve, with the aim of restoring the reserve’s conservation values and the community’s appreciation of the natural environment.

Friends Group activities include:

  • Monitoring and recording of flora and fauna
  • Weed control/removal
  • Guided nature walks
  • Rubbish clean-up
  • Seed collection
  • Community education (talks and presentations)
  • Fire prevention
  • Revegetation and planting.

Join or Form a Friends Group

There are many benefits to joining a Friends Group, including:

  • Making a real difference to the environment and helping to create a sustainable future by protecting local biodiversity and natural areas.
  • Networking and learning the expertise of managing urban bushland.
  • Meet new people and join a community.
  • Physical and mental health benefits, and well as improvement of general wellbeing.
  • Being outdoors in nature and enjoying your natural surroundings.
  • Experience seeing native wildlife and rare flora and fauna species.
  • Relive stress and keep your mind and brain healthy.
  • Placing an order with the City for free native plants to plant in your reserve.
  • Access to environmental training and workshops.
  • Access to various City grants.

Most groups are concerned with a parcel of bushland located near their homes. Below, you can view our Friends Group contact list if you are interested in joining a group near you. If no existing Friends Group exists for the reserve, the City encourages the establishment of a new Friends Group. You can express your interest in establishing a new Friends Group by contacting the City via email.

Stay Informed

Learn more about our beautiful natural areas and the latest projects, initiatives, and events Friends Groups are progressing in your local area.

Subscribe to the Natural Areas eNewsletter (Friends Group)

Waste education

Avoid, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover

Waste Education in the Community

Our Waste Education Officer is available to attend to your community group to offer a free interactive workshop or presentation on waste in the City of Joondalup. Suitable for all ages, we cover:

  • Waste services available to residents in the City of Joondalup
  • A look at what goes where in waste
  • E-waste and battery disposal information
  • Waste disposal guides and informational resources.

For more information on a community presentation, the City’s Waste Education Officer can be reached at info@joondalup.wa.gov.au or 9400 4000.

Waste Education In Schools

The waste education program for schools is curriculum aligned and delivered by professional educators.

  • The City of Joondalup’s sponsored waste educator for schools, Veolia, delivers The Recoverable program. The Recoverable program is:
    • Free and presented by an experienced educator.
    • Varies in duration depending on the lesson/s selected by the school.
    • Adaptable for any age group from pre-school to Year six.
    • Suitable for groups of up to 33 students.
    • Veolia’s Waste Education Officer will visit schools and conduct the lessons that the school has selected. For further information or to make a booking, contact via email Veolia Waste Education Officer or Petta on 0448 034 260.
  • Linked to geography and science content descriptors and the sustainability cross curriculum priority in the Australian Curriculum. Student outcomes include:
    • The importance of waste minimisation.
    • What it means to: Avoid, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover.
    • What happens to recyclables once collected.
    • The importance of protecting the environment through changes in our everyday activities.

There are many other ways in which schools can be involved in making the City of Joondalup cleaner and sustainable. Programs include:

Teachers can keep up to date on what the City has available for schools by subscribing to the School Connections Newsletter.

Want to know more?

For more information about what can go into your kerbside bins, please refer to the Waste Guide 2022-23 or the Waste Disposal Guide. Feel free to contact the City’s Waste Education Officer on 9400 4000 if you would like more information.