There has been some email activity related to subdivision developments in Benalla. I have contributed some articles published on our website, https://www.bsfg.org.au/ecologicalsustainable-design-and-development. (Refer previous posts on this page)
The Goulburn Murray Climate Alliance may have progressed their work with Councils on the Sustainable Subdivisions Framework, https://www.gmca.org.au/sustainable-subdivisions.html.
This project could be looked into again.
BSFG member Howard Bartlett, 0409504420 has recently drawn our attention to a paper from
the Municipal Association of Victoria, Shaping regional and rural Victoria: A discussion paper.
This paper could become a catalyst for further discussion by the group as the paper considers
greening of streets and reserves, solar farms, council resources, and affordable appropriate
housing.
There has been a focus on Sustainable Subdivisions as if the answer to Ecological Sustainability
is found in housing. Personally, I think we need to look well beyond housing to achieve
Ecological Sustainability. I have replied to a few emails I received from some environmental
organisations, commenting they are not going to get anywhere until both population and
economic growth are reduced and stabilised.
This morning, I received an email from Friends of The Earth Melbourne about their campaigns.
An interesting one is SKAT Updates + 'The Koalas' Documentary Screening in Melbourne in June.
The trailer for the film is on Documentary Australia. The trailer mentions the koala will be extinct
by 2050 as habitat is threatened by new housing developments. (Link to trailer below)
Last night I attended a webinar on Sustainable Prosperity by Steven Hail from the Modern
Money Lab and speaker at the upcoming 2024 Swanpool Environmental Film Festival. His school at Torrens University of Adelaide is training Ecological Economists, economists who will consider
the ecological impact of the economy and economic development. The pursuit of economic development with increasing GDP perhaps needs to be ameliorated by consideration of ecological measures, such as the Ecological Footprint, Carbon Emissions, and Planetary Boundaries.
Peter Maddock