Recently BSFG and ESD member Howard Bartlett made submissions to several Victorian Government enquiries on Housing; Housing In Regional Victoria, and the Homes Victoria Benalla West Consultation. (Refer Part 2 below) My impression is that Howard is making progress on getting recognition for Sustainable Design concepts in housing and is submitting a separate AGM report on his work.
An important aspect of housing is firstly having available housing you can afford to buy or rent then being able to afford living there. Many new homes seem to cater for narrow economic and generational sectors of our economy. BSFG member Kate Holmes and the Benalla Homelessness Response Group Inc have also made a submission to the Housing In Regional Victoria Enquiry and the group should be congratulated on taking on this both local and national problem.
This year we had a sold-out screening of the 2025 Swanpool Environmental Film Festival which BSFG jointly partners with Swanpool Landcare. Themes covered at the 2025 festival included planetary boundaries, ecological economics, sustainable farming, protecting native forests and the oceans. The festival program and a summary report of the festival are on the BSFG website. This year we were most grateful for the local and well-known Ramey Hengen taking on the role of festival MC. Ramey filled the role with warmth, humour and diligence based on his prior research.
After the film Climate Extremes, Ecological Economist Dr Phil Lawn opened the festival with his renamed presentation "Climate change, degrowth, and saving the world to save us!". You can download Phil’s presentation from the BSFG website, or listen to on Spotify, or Apple Podcast. No need to sign in. Audio recording by Shepperton's Robert McLean of Climate Conversations.
Phil mentions in his talk the ecological footprint. As a scientific indicator of Ecological Sustainability, the EF shows that in 2025 humanity’s global Ecological Footprint exceeded Biocapacity by 1.8, needing 1.8 earths to sustain it. While in Australia EF/person exceeds global BC per person by 4.9. See overshoot at https://overshoot.footprintnetwork.org/.
Following afternoon tea was Ep1 of the film Roots So Deep looking at regenerative cattle grazing compared to conventional agriculture in the US. MC Ramey then led Local farmer and friend Mark Foletta through aspects of managing the family farm at Yin Barun. After a short break we saw Takayna- The Heart Of Lutruwita, a journey to the vast and threatened landscapes of Australia’s largest temperate rainforest in Tasmania.
Following the dinner break we saw the new David Attenborough film Ocean highlighting the damage bottom trawling is doing to the marine landscapes and ecosystems. David also pointed out that given a chance these ecosystems can recover rapidly, and he concludes that "If we save the sea, we save the world. The ocean, our final frontier". A fitting closing thought for the festival. Let’s hope there is a chance for recovery of these ocean and other ecosystems.
Peter Maddock for ESDD Action Group
26 June 2025
An important aspect of housing is firstly having available housing you can afford to buy or rent then being able to afford living there. Many new homes seem to cater for narrow economic and generational sectors of our economy. BSFG member Kate Holmes and the Benalla Homelessness Response Group Inc have also made a submission to the Housing In Regional Victoria Enquiry and the group should be congratulated on taking on this both local and national problem.
This year we had a sold-out screening of the 2025 Swanpool Environmental Film Festival which BSFG jointly partners with Swanpool Landcare. Themes covered at the 2025 festival included planetary boundaries, ecological economics, sustainable farming, protecting native forests and the oceans. The festival program and a summary report of the festival are on the BSFG website. This year we were most grateful for the local and well-known Ramey Hengen taking on the role of festival MC. Ramey filled the role with warmth, humour and diligence based on his prior research.
After the film Climate Extremes, Ecological Economist Dr Phil Lawn opened the festival with his renamed presentation "Climate change, degrowth, and saving the world to save us!". You can download Phil’s presentation from the BSFG website, or listen to on Spotify, or Apple Podcast. No need to sign in. Audio recording by Shepperton's Robert McLean of Climate Conversations.
Phil mentions in his talk the ecological footprint. As a scientific indicator of Ecological Sustainability, the EF shows that in 2025 humanity’s global Ecological Footprint exceeded Biocapacity by 1.8, needing 1.8 earths to sustain it. While in Australia EF/person exceeds global BC per person by 4.9. See overshoot at https://overshoot.footprintnetwork.org/.
Following afternoon tea was Ep1 of the film Roots So Deep looking at regenerative cattle grazing compared to conventional agriculture in the US. MC Ramey then led Local farmer and friend Mark Foletta through aspects of managing the family farm at Yin Barun. After a short break we saw Takayna- The Heart Of Lutruwita, a journey to the vast and threatened landscapes of Australia’s largest temperate rainforest in Tasmania.
Following the dinner break we saw the new David Attenborough film Ocean highlighting the damage bottom trawling is doing to the marine landscapes and ecosystems. David also pointed out that given a chance these ecosystems can recover rapidly, and he concludes that "If we save the sea, we save the world. The ocean, our final frontier". A fitting closing thought for the festival. Let’s hope there is a chance for recovery of these ocean and other ecosystems.
Peter Maddock for ESDD Action Group
26 June 2025
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