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Green lesson
Braybrook College teachers Rowena Archer, Alex Ashley Chiew, Tessie Reinsch and volunteer Wendy-Jane D’Sylva (Damjan Janevski) 337721_01
Braybrook College has been nominated as a finalist in the 2023 ResourceSmart Schools Awards. Braybrook College has widely integrated sustainability across the curriculum and in the wider community, under the leadership of nominated teacher Rowena Archer. “We try our best to become more sustainable each year,“ she said. “We have an environment committee that involves students and staff and other volunteers including parents who all participate.” At the end of 2020 the team installed a 99 kilowatt solar system on the school roof which reduces its energy usage from other sources. “The system is the largest one you can install, so now we are producing most of our own electricity in the school which reduces the bills,“ Ms Archer said. The school is also in the process of planning a year 7 environment day where all students will participate in sustainability workshops and activities on the day. Ms Archer said all students are really keen to be involved in any way they can. “They do extra curricular activities and extension activities, showing us that they are always really excited to be a part of the process,” she said. This year’s winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at the MCG on Thursday, June 15.
Urgent need for bus grid Jennifer Pittorino
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Following the electric bus roll out in Footscray in mid-May, campaigners are continuing to urge the state government to deliver bus network reforms in the western suburbs. Friends of the Earth Melbourne (FOTEM) sustainable cities co-ordinator Elyse Cunningham said while the roll out is a positive change, there are bigger underlying issues that need to be addressed. “It is a good thing and we are glad to see
the new buses rolled out, but if the state wants to lower their emissions in public transport, more needs to be done,” she said. Ms Cunningham said the amount of people that use buses in the west is extremely low because they can’t rely on them. “ … Reforming the bus routes from the long indirect unreliable lines to a simple grid that will allow for 10 minute services is crucial so people have access to a network that is reliable and they choose to use. “If their local bus comes every 40 minutes
and does not connect to the train they will obviously choose to drive. “The electric buses are great, but we need to worry about getting people out of their cars.” FOTEM wants the electrification of the state’s entire bus fleet by 2030. “Research shows locals emissions from buses are lower compared to those coming from people using their cars,” Ms Cunningham said. “We are pleased about the zero bus transition but the service that needs improvement is the
bus network.” As the west is the fastest growing area in the country, Ms Cunningham said it is crucial that the network is changed. “Rather than adding a new bus chain every few years, changing the whole network to a grid will be long lasting and sustainable,” she said. Community members from Melbourne’s western suburbs were joined by Friends of the Earth Melbourne’s Sustainable Cities collective at a rally held on Parliament’s steps to calling for bus reforms last month.
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