Koonwarra Sustainable Communities Centre Inc
 |
26 Koala Drive, Koonwarra 3954 P O Box 72, Koonwarra 3954 Ph/Fax: 03 5664 2461 Email: ksccinc@bigpond.com |
This section contains information on:
Newsletter - June 2008
To view the Strategic Plan for 2008-2012
In 1996 the local people decided it would like to make use of the old Koonwarra School that had fallen into disrepair following its closure in 1993 and sought help from local Council and Politicians to ensure this eventuated. If the locals had not fought for the 4 acre property it would no doubt have been lost to a possible housing development. A Lease was signed with the owners, the Department of Sustainability and Environment, resulting in the formation of the Koonwarra Sustainable Communities Centre Inc. It now provides a resource centre for use by individuals, community and commercial groups for meetings, workshops, seminars, outdoor activities, community events and all environmental and educational pursuits and acts as an administrator of waste management initiatives within the community.
 |
 |
| One of a number of Angophera trees that provides a shady spot for seats. The mature trees were planted many years ago by former students of the Koonwarra Primary School |
A view of the gounds that also incorporates a maze under construction, and an oval and cricket pitch |
 |
 |
| The grounds are also used by Scouting Groups for weekend camps |
The in-ground cooking pit is popular with the Specialist School students who often cook their lunch |
A friendly visitor to the Centre
The Centre is now beginning to concentrate on running workshops and sessions aimed at helping students, young people, farmers and the community in general with a range of sustainability initiatives.
Office space is also available for rental and the Centre would welcome enquiries.
With a Board of Management encompassing representatives from the community, South Gippsland Conservation Society, Gippsland Regional Waste Management Group, South Gippsland Shire Council and the South Gippsland Specialist School, the Centre is becoming known throughout South Gippsland as an enthusiastic Centre promoting environmental awareness and sustainable living.
A Community Office and Community Library has been established in the Centre Office.
The South Gippsland Specialist School uses the Centre as an additional Campus to their Leongatha base and has helped in restoring and enlarging the gardens with tree planting and garden beds. The School has also constructed an adventure bicycle track used for bike education and the community generally, a maze, frog pond and other educational games.
The maze is growing well.
 |
 |
 |
Views of the Adventure Bicycle Track that meanders through the grounds. It has road signs, turning circles, mounds, a chicane, circles and is a lot of fun for children of all ages. |
 |
 |
| Giant Pick-up-Sticks | Giant Quoits |
An innovative, fun and interactive educational Waste Wise Trail is also situated within the grounds and is available, together with Worksheets, at all times.
 |
An example of a puzzle board. There are 16 puzzle boards and the Graphic Designer, Lisa Wiliams of Graphically Speaking, worked with the Specialist School and incorporated their designs in the Trail. |
The property is a relaxing area for the community to wander through and be proud of. (One family has even joined their dog as a member of the Centre!)
 |
A Mural painted on the wall of a classroom by students depicting Australian animals in an ideal environment |
Community Kitchen Garden
A Community Kitchen Garden was completed in 2006 with an established herb garden, berry igloo, bush foods, fruit and nut trees, a native garden and 9 vegetable gardens. Establishment was made possible by a Community Recreation Grant from the South Gippsland Shire Council and participants in the Australian Government funded and promoted Green Corps program for 17 to 20 year olds. Participants receive accredited training in Conservation and Land Management while working on projects that protect and enhance the local environment.
The garden has been established with an emphasis on organics, heritage and bush food produce, designed for the elderly and disabled and available to all the community. It incorporates composting, an educational composting display and a worm farm and an almost completed chook run where the chooks will have a secure run in the citrus orchard.
 |
 |
| Cook Pen incorporating the citrus orchard |
Nesting boxes |
The Koonwarra Sustainable Communities Centre is vitally involved and is proud of the involvement of the community and having been able to assist the young Green Corps participants to further their learning towards future employment. The Centre has a 5,000 gallon tank that not only supplies water to the Garden but is sufficient to provide for the whole of the Centre.
 |
 |
Compost bins and display and worm farms
For further details on the Community Kitchen Garden click here.
For many years we organised the Koonwarra Carols By Candelight involving talented local artists, followed by supper, and other functions such as an Easter BBQ, Winter Solstice BBQ around the inground cooking pit at the Centre and a Cow Pat Lotto and BBQs.
Environmental Projects
KSCC in co-operation with Gippsland Regional Waste Management Group has also been instrumental in achieving a 90% plastic bag free town.
2006 Chairperson, John Gunson, Launching the Plastic Bag Free initiative.
Koonwarra was the first Waste Wise Town in Australia and a pilot for further towns becoming Waste Wise, thus generating community pride. Each year the businesses review their procedures and as new businesses come into the Village they are approached and all have been happy to join. Gippsland Regional Waste Management Group also assisted the Centre to construct a Waste Wise Trail throughout the grounds. It is an interactive educational game designed to educate children on how to become waste wise.
In 2008 the Centre again worked with the Gippsland Regional Waste Management Group to achieve Waste Wise Town status and Plastic Bag Free for nearby Kongwak.
The Waste Wise Village launch participants proudly holding their certificates.
They also encouraged us to administer a Freecycle Network TM website called South Gippsland Freecycle. Freecycle is an International movement aimed at reducing the amount of garbage going into landfills and giving new life to good used articles. Freecycle began in 2003 and is now in 676 countries with 2,200,000 members saving over 5 million tonnes going into landfill each year. The site was first advertised in early May 2006 and there are now almost 500 members. We are excited at the prospect of assisting litter management in this way and initiating a change in the thinking and behaviour of the people in our area. Check out the website on: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/southgippslandfreecycle/
The Centre administers this web site having been the small town pilot for Australia for the world first release of Community Domain Names.
A colourful Koonwarra brochure incorporating all the waste wise businesses and community groups is also now available throughout the Village and Information Centres throughout South Gippsland.
We are very proud of our achievements and welcome visitors to the Centre at any time and wish to encourage residents and visitors to make use of the grounds at their leisure. The Centre Office is open each Tuesday and Friday and can be contacted on 03 5664 2461 or by email at kscc@koonwarra.vic.au
Meeting rooms and other facilities are available for hire at very reasonable rates. Please phone for details. Centre brochure available as a PDF, click here.
For information on the 2007 AMG
Office space if also available for rental