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A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
At the February Board meeting I resigned as Chair of the Group due to my changing work arrangements and wish to announce that the deputy Chair, Director John Burgess is now the Chair of the Group until the Group elects a Chair for the 07-08 year in May 2007. Chairing the Group over the past year has been very satisfying and the support of Directors and staff is appreciated. I look forward to contributing to the community, the organisation and working closely with the Chair John Burgess, Directors and staff in meeting the challenges of creating a sustainable region.

NEWS FROM THE EXECUTIVE
OFFICER
The Group has been successful in gaining about 25% of the available funding through the Sustainability Victoria Municipal Infrastructure Grants- The Group has been advised that it has received $230,000.00 to support the following projects:
Mattress Resource Recovery Infrastructure at landfill sites and resource recovery facilities
Apollo Bay Transfer Station
Queenscliffe Resource Drop off Facility

To promote excellence in sustainable business practices, the Group has facilitated the inclusion of a sustainable business category for the 2007 business excellence awards. The group encourages businesses to take up the challenge of meeting the elements of sustainability identified by the award.

The region's programs on community engagement and behavioural change have been recognised by VLAA and the EPA; who have requested the Barwon Region to present on community engagement for three illegal dumping forums within Victoria.

Triple Bin Challenge
The Triple Bin Challenge (a program supported by Alcoa and Clean Up Australia) has been taken up by schools across the region.

Schools are sending in fortnightly reports on their waste reducing, reusing and recycling activities, and tracking their waste quantities. The school that achieves the greatest reduction in waste over the term will win the challenge. The winning school will receive a colour printer and a basketball clinic generously donated by the St Lawrence Geelong Supercats.

VIC 1000 Update
The VIC1000 project has kicked off in the Barwon Region, with approximately 174 businesses being recruited from the Region to be involved in the project. These businesses with undergo sustainability audits in water, waste and energy, and develop action plans to reduce the environmental impacts of the business and reap the economic rewards that ensue.

Energy Workshops are being held for businesses in March, and Waste workshops in May.

Mattress Recycling Program
The Barwon mattress recycling program has continued to be developed. Since the Moolap mattress recycling facility opened last year over 3000 mattresses have been diverted from landfill. All our member councils are supporting the program through prohibiting mattresses being deposited in their landfills. All mattresses taken to landfills and transfer stations across the region are stockpiled and collected by Dreamsafe Mattress Recycling.

Mattress manufacturers and retailers in the region are also supporting the program either through offering a mattress take back service or promoting customers to utilise Dreamsafe's home pick up service.

Barwon Waste Wise Community Grants
The Group is once again advertising for community groups and not-for-profit organisations to apply for our Waste Wise community grants.
For the grant guidelines and application forms click on the following links:
Guidelines
Application Form

Regional Litter Planning Forum
The Barwon Regional Litter Planning Forum was held on the 2nd of November and with representatives from member councils, foreshore committees, litter prevention task forces, the EPA, Sustainability Victoria, Victorian Litter Action Alliance and Packaging Stewardship Forum.

The priority litter items identified at the forum were cigarette butts and roadside litter.

In preparation for the July 07 legislation changes prohibiting smoking in pubs and clubs, we are currently in the process of collecting information about planning and permit processes for street butt infrastructure from councils, and identifying priority businesses who are unable to cater for smokers in house.

This information will then assist in the rolling out of the Sustainability Victoria Statewide Pubs and Clubs Litter Campaign.

Waste Wise Geelong Network
The Waste Wise Geelong Network continues to grow, with 89 members, 28 of which are Waste Wise Certified and 13 of which have committed to the Waste Wise program.

Shell Geelong Refinery hosted the Waste Wise Geelong Network breakfast on Wednesday 14 February 2007 at the Gordon’s Davidson Restaurant.  Shell is a member of the Waste Wise Geelong Network and a Waste Wise Certified company through Sustainability Victoria. David Burrell, Environmental Field Advisor, Shell Refinery Geelong, provided an overview of Shell’s Waste Reduction Strategy and it’s positive results in reducing waste to landfill.

Rick Wakelin, Sims E-Recycling, Environmental Business Manager, spoke about Sims E-Recycling program which specialises in the total recycling of redundant computer equipment, TVs, mobile phones and all other electronic material often referred to under the collective heading of 'E-Waste'.

For more information contact Liz Raimondo- Project Manager- WWGN