Mr Green

Many people believe that the word ‘sustainability’ applies only to tree hugging hippies and a group of environmental activists pushing their own wheelbarrow but, as you are probably aware, it is much more. The Federal and State governments have suddenly injected millions of dollars into education programs to make sure that we all become responsible for our own environments. After some forty years of environmental scientists begging for something to be done, the day has arrived.

Mountain Creek State School is one of the first schools in Queensland to receive some of the benefits of the governments’ sustainable initiatives. Although the process has taken some two and half years, we now have 11 solar panels feeding into the grid, a massive rainwater tank for flushing toilets and a retrofit of T5 flouros (40% more efficient) throughout the school. We have also been recycling paper and cardboard throughout the school for four years as well as ink cartridges and photocopier toner cartridges. There is a school garden now producing herbs and vegetables which are sold to the staff at very reasonable prices. All the produce is sold in the first ten minutes. The students maintain and water and plant under the supervision of teachers and teacher aides who are passionate about gardening and sustainability.

Other initiatives include:
• Tree planting and maintenance of existing
forest to promote bio-diversity.
• Waste, water and electricity audits to
inform ongoing measurable targets for
the next three years.
• Litter free lunches
• Walk to school day
• Community involvement through Bunnings,
Kawana Hardware and STEPS ( A community
service industry)
• A School Environmental Management Plan
and committee
• Support from the Queensland Environmentally
Sustainable Schools Initiative (QESSI)
• Low Carbon Diet Grants and local cluster
schools networks.
• Recycling of computers into the community
rather dumping on landfill.

Sustainability is about having enough for all forever. Our community networks are growing and the word is spreading on the Sunshine Coast that we are set to become the ‘Sustainability’ hub of not just Queensland, but perhaps Australia. By setting an example we will leave a legacy to future generations about the importance of caring for our environment and managing our resources ethically and
responsibly.

Are you part of the solution or part of the problem?

Remember, we are only borrowing the earth from our children!

Words: Steve Estella