Coast turns green in June
Wed 01 June 2011
Nick Hluchaniuk, Bachelor of Journalism
Environmental issues became the centre of attention on the Sunshine Coast in June, 2011, with a number of events being conducted as part of Green June.
Green June is an initiative by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council (SCRC), which includes a range of events running across the Sunshine Coast throughout the month.
The main event of the month is the Sunshine Coast World Environmental Day festival, held on June 5, 2011, at the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC). 
The festival, now in its fourth decade on the Coast, has become an important fixture on the calendar for many in the region.
This year it is run in conjunction with the SCRC, Sunshine Coast Environment Council (SCEC) and USC.
The popularity of the day has grown each year, with the festival attracting more than 5000 visitors each year since 2008.
SCEC executive officer Wiebe ter Bals said the event is important in reaching out to those not normally involved with environmental issues.
“The festival attracts a large crowd most of whom are not from the environmental movement,” Mr ter Bals said.
“Whether the festival manages to increase their awareness and change their behaviour is more difficult to say.”
Mr ter Bals said the festival required a number of organisational volunteers throughout the year, and around 30 volunteers on the weekend of the festival.
Those attending this year’s event will be greeted by a number of activities and stalls aimed at promoting environmental issues and educating visitors on how to lead more environmentally friendly lifestyles.
Planned activities include five themed areas focusing on energy, food, home and lifestyle, transport and water, a speaker forum bringing together a panel of experts for a Q and A session with the audience and a community forecourt which will allow for community environmental groups to showcase their work.
A number of other events are being held at various locations around the coast during June.
The Living Smart Glossies award, to be held on June 17, 2011, will reward and recognise local businesses, residents and community groups who have made achievements in sustainability through building design, construction, resource management and transport.
The following day Sunshine Coast TAFE will host the Living Smart Solutions Expo, which will showcase sustainable products and services available for builders, renovators, householders and businesses.
On the SCRC website, Sunshine Coast mayor Bob Abbot said Green June would provide a number of events where residents could find out what technologies and developments are available as the council strives to make the region more sustainable.
"Council’s vision for the Sunshine Coast to become Australia’s most sustainable region can only be achieved if we all change the way we do things, whether we’re considering the homes we live in, the transport we use, our energy consumption or how we operate on a daily basis," Cr Abbot said.
Mr ter Bals said there was a lot of work still to be done on the Coast to make it the most sustainable region in Australia.
“We may be facing in the right direction but there is a long way to go yet,” Mr ter Bals said.
Mr ter Bals said the Council had done well in its promotion of the month, but believes it may take some time for the festival to establish a strong presence on the Sunshine Coast calendar.
“One can always do more but Council does have a decent promotion strategy,” Mr ter Bals said.
The SCRC has recently made announcements via their website on environmental matters for the region as Green June approaches.
Council has recently made it easier for Sunshine Coast residents to install solar panel systems on their homes by no longer requiring planning approval for roof mounted solar systems on an existing approved house.
Council’s director of development services Julie Edwards said Council was committed to promoting solar energy by cutting red tape.
"The last thing we want is to create unnecessary costs or planning hurdles for people who just want to produce clean, green energy on a small scale," Ms Edwards said.
Council also announced that the Environmental Levy of $60 per annum per rateable property on the Coast would remain unchanged.
Image(s) designed by Nick Hluchaniuk