Celebrate the opening of the Landcare and Sustainable Living Centre
Published on 24 January 2023
Best-selling author and Gardening Australia presenter Hannah Moloney will headline a month-long program of events and activities to celebrate the opening of the Landcare and Sustainable Living Centre, umali barai-ku at Booragul.
The centrepiece of celebrations at the new-look centre will be a community open day on Saturday 18 February, where Moloney will deliver a keynote address and join a panel to share tips on ‘Embracing a good life in Lake Mac’.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said the centre would be a hub where the community could learn about how to live more sustainably.
“Umali barai-ku means ‘to do for the earth’ in Awabakal language, and that’s the rallying call we’re inviting our community to embrace through these celebrations,” Cr Fraser said
“With the opening of the new centre, we’re bringing together Council staff and Lake Macquarie Landcare and Sustainable Neighbourhoods volunteers under one roof for the first time – creating a one-stop shop for our community to gather and learn.”
The family-friendly community open day will also include a crop swap, hands-on workshops on propagation and ‘seed bomb’ making, electric vehicle displays, live music, free gelato and more from 9am-3pm.
Other events to be held at the centre throughout February include workshops and talks on Aboriginal weaving, native bees, planting for pollinators, bush fire awareness, fungi facts, and native wildlife including snakes and flying foxes.
Meanwhile, volunteers can unite to help clean up a local Landcare site as part of an Eco Angel event on Wednesday 15 February.
Lake Macquarie City Council Landcare Coordinator Jason Harvey said the events throughout February provide a wider platform to share the Landcare message of living wisely and looking after the natural environment.
“Landcare normally happens out in our bushland, but these events will give people the opportunity to learn more about what we do on the ground, and encourage them to get more involved in one of Australia’s largest Landcare networks,” Mr Harvey said.
“Living sustainably and looking after our natural environment are things we can all be part of.”
To view the full program of events and activities, or find out about local Landcare groups near you, visit lakemacquarielandcare.org.au.
Built on the site of the former Landcare Resource Centre at Booragul, the Landcare and Sustainable Living Centre features indoor and outdoor community meeting spaces, as well as updated kitchen and office spaces for Council staff and volunteers.
The NSW Government contributed $202,118 to the $2 million project through Round Two of the Stronger Country Communities Fund, with Council funding the remainder.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Taylor Martin said the Stronger Country Communities Fund was enriching the lives of residents in regional communities.
“The Stronger Country Communities Fund is already making a real difference to regional communities, with work on more than 2530 projects already underway in every local government area across the State,” Mr Martin said.
“The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is investing record amounts to deliver the infrastructure needed to stimulate regional economies, but we’re also backing grassroots projects that make a positive difference to everyday life.”
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