MASH-wide news Archives - Page 40 of 53

MASH solar a “sure winner” says Mayor of Macedon Ranges

Cr Jennifer Anderson, Mayor, Macedon Ranges Community solar bulk-buy, MASH2, gets the thumbs up from Jennifer Anderson, Mayor of Macedon Ranges.

“MASH2 is a sure winner for residents of Macedon Ranges providing savings on energy bills, returns to the community, and a reduction in greenhouse emissions”, says Cr Anderson. “Given its success in neighbouring Mount Alexander Shire, I encourage residents to participate.”

MASH2 is launching in Macedon Ranges Shire on Wednesday 21 October at the Kyneton Mechanics Institute. Two community info meetings will be held giving residents a chance to find out about this solar bulk-buy project which started in Mt Alexander Shire in 2015. So far, over 300 homes in the region have installed solar PV rooftops with MASH in just over 12 months saving over 1500 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year and $200,000 off electricity bills annually.

MASH2 is organised by the Hub Foundation Castlemaine, a not-for-profit organisation.

We set up MASH to help people reduce their CO2 emissions by making high quality solar rooftops more affordable. Currently 18% of homes in Macedon Ranges have solar PV rooftops. We’re hoping we can help boost this to close to 20% in the next 6 months, said Jo Kaptein, Project Officer at the Hub Foundation.

A community bonus of a free 2Kw solar PV system will be installed on a community building in Kyneton once 50 installations in the region have been completed.

The community info meetings are at 5.00-6.30pm and 7.00-8.30pm on Wednesday 21 October at the Kyneton Mechanics Institute, 81 Mollison St, Kyneton VIC 3444. Attendance is free. Register at mash.org.au or by calling 0455 589 065.

Over 100 pedal up for Ride to Work brekkie

The Hub Plot Castlemaine was the scene of a celebration of cycling and community on last Wednesday. Over 100 adults and children dropped in before school to take part in the fun, enjoy a delicious brekkie made by the Good Table and to hear about plans to make cycling safer in and around Castlemaine.

PRESS PIC TO GO - Photo by Diana Domonkos - CROPPED

While the kids were entertained by Eric the Red from Castlemaine Circus, the grown-ups heard from a range of speakers about plans to help make cycling a bigger part of the lives of residents in the Shire.

A - BEST 6 - Ride To Work 2015 photos by Diana Domonkos 119 - SMALL Phil Rowland, CEO of Mt Alexander Shire Council spoke about the Council’s commitment to cycling in the Shire and the initiatives underway to encourage more people to get on their bikes including the Maldon to Castlemaine Trail and the primary trail linking Castlemaine to Campbells Creek.

He made it clear that Barker St was a Vicroads responsibility and that Council’s hands were tied.

Neil Barrett, chair of the Hub Foundation, showed photos of some of the safety blackspots on our roads and announced a new initiative by the Hub Foundation to work with Council and other interested groups and individuals to address these issues. Deane Belfield from Mount Alexander Sustainability Group launched the list of ‘safe cycling wants’ which include bike lanes around the CBD of Castlemaine, single lanes for cars in Forest and Barker Streets and proper shoulders for bikes on other roads in the Shire.

Inspiration and ideas to encourage everyone to ride more often were provided by Shirley Amy of Castlemaine Cycling Club and Frank Forster of Castlemaine Rocky Riders. Shirley gave a personal account of how getting into cycling changed her life for the better. Frank spoke about Dirt Crits, a handicap series of mountain bike racing for cyclists of all ages and abilities, which starts on Thursday 5 November at 5:30pm (juniors) and 6:30pm (seniors).

A - BEST 11 - Ride To Work 2015 photos by Diana Domonkos 130 -SMALL — Bergen in joke mode whilst Phil Rowland, CEO of Council and Jo Kaptein of the Hub Foundation wait for the punch line

After the speeches, there was a bit of fun with prizes for best decorated bike and funniest bike jokes. The audience got right into the laughs as people got up to deliver their best bike jokes in return for a heap of great prizes from local businesses.

This one’s from TimTim, entertainer and keen cyclist:

Real tough red asphalt is in a bar when green asphalt comes in. Red ducks under a table. Barman’s like why you scared? Red – “that guy’s a cycle path!”

The event was hosted by the Hub Foundation and supported by Mount Alexander Shire Council, Mount Alexander Sustainability Group and Castlemaine District Community Health as well as Cycle Concepts and Homestead hardware, and is set to become a regular date for Castlemaine’s cycling community.

Photos by Diana Domonkos.

A HUGE thank you to all the wonderful volunteers, including the terrific team from Mount Alexander Sustainability Group, also to our Event Supporters: Mount Alexander Shire Council, Mount Alexander Sustainability Group and Castlemaine District Community Health.

Also, a special note of thanks to Cycle Concepts who gave generous support to the event, helping to make it possible. And to the following businesses, organisations and individuals who contributed to the event: Castlemaine Rocky Riders, Coffee Basics, photographer Diana Domonkos, Home Hardware, Extremity Sports, Lisa Chesters MP, Federal Member for Bendigo, The Industrial Sewing Workshop, Castlemaine Fitness Centre, Castlemaine Central Wine Store, Jets Gymnastics, Castlemaine Circus, Eric the Red and The Good Table.

On your bikes Castlemainians!

Dust the cobwebs off your bike and ride on down to the Hub Plot on Wednesday 14 October to join the Hub Foundation and friends for a delicious breakfast and bike-themed fun on National Ride to Work Day. There will be music, unicyling and circus antics (with Castlemaine Circus) as well as prizes for the best-decorated bike, coolest bike apparel and funniest bike jokes. Bring your kids!

R2W bike parking at the event 15 Oct 2014 PIC 3

Cycling just 5km each way to work instead of driving saves well over half a tonne of greenhouse gas emissions each year”, says Jo Kaptein, Project Officer at the Hub Foundation. Given that each person in Australia generates around 17 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, that’s a significant contribution to reducing your carbon footprint.

Ride to Work Day is a terrific way to kick-start a healthy morning habit, says Sam Peavey, Allied Health Promotion Team Leader at Castlemaine District Community Health. With more of us in sedentary jobs than ever before, riding to and from work is a perfect way to enjoy the benefits of physical activity while also providing a great opportunity to be outdoors in the fresh air between work and home.

Commuting by bike is a time-efficient way to get to and from work that will keep you fit and healthy. It can help save you money, reduce traffic on our roads and keep our environment cleaner too, said Casey-Lee Hearps, Acting Director Sustainable Development, Mount Alexander Shire Council. It’s just one of the reasons why we are striving to improve the safety of our roads in Mount Alexander Shire and the off-road trail network as part of our Walking and Cycling Strategy.

Breakfast using locally sourced produce prepared by The Good Table Restaurant will be served between 7.30am and 9.30am. The awards presentation led by our Event MC, Lifon Henderson, will start at 8am. The Hub Plot is on Templeton St, Castlemaine, just behind the Good Table Restaurant. Castlemaine Circus will also be there providing tons of fun for the kids.

The Hub Foundation Castlemaine is hosting the event with the support of Mount Alexander Sustainability Group, the Mount Alexander Shire Council and Castlemaine District Community Health (CHIRP).

Tickets are $10 adults and $5 for children, available from Castlemaine Central Wine Store, 36 Lyttleton Street and online at mash.org.au. There will also be tickets at the gate until the food runs out. It is best to book as soon as possible.

“Packed to the Rafters”

Tim F event 2015 469 - Mail1 - smaller The Tim Flannery Evening was the lead story in the Castlemaine Mail on Friday 2 October. “Packed to the Rafters” was the apt headline given that a capacity crowd of 450 people turned out Saturday 26 September to hear Professor Tim Flannery speak about climate change at the Castlemaine Town Hall.

Activism, community projects and building new green businesses are going to be vital if we are to address the serious challenges of climate change”, said Flannery.

Our current trajectory is catastrophic global warming of four degrees (by the end of this century)…the conference in Paris will not take us all the way to climate safety. With international agreement there is the chance to make it three degrees and break the trajectory of the worst case scenario, Professor Flannery said.

He discussed a range of potential future technologies to reduce levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases, such as the oceanic seaweed farming and the use of carbon-absorbing building materials. These ‘third way’ technologies are discussed in his new book, ‘Atmosphere of Hope: Searching for Solutions to the Climate Crisis.’

Mount Alexander Shire Mayor, Christine Henderson, also addressed the capacity crowd. “We are at the pointy end of climate change. It is time to stop talking; it is time to act,” she said.

Tim Flannery had this to say about Castlemaine on WinNews, 28 Sept:

I think Castlemaine is leading nationwide in terms of clean energy. You’ve got a great deal of community organisation and a great deal of infrastructure in place that will make the transition from the old polluting sources to the new cleaner sources much easier.

Tim Flannery brings message of hope to Castlemaine this Saturday

Professor Tim Flannery will speak to a capacity crowd of over 400 people at Castlemaine Town Hall this Saturday night. Flannery, former Australian of the Year and now Chief Councillor of the Climate Council, will speak on the subject ‘Moving Towards a Safer Climate: What We Can Do’.

I am very happy to be talking in Castlemaine, one of the leading communities for climate change in Australia, says Flannery.

The MASH2 community solar bulk-buy which started in Castlemaine last year is a great example of grassroots response to climate change. With over 300 new solar rooftops installed in just 12 months, it shows how powerful communities can be when they take action into their own hands.

Initiatives like this give me hope for the future. This is the message I will be bringing to Castlemaine on Saturday. Activism, community projects and building new green businesses are going to be vital if we are to address the serious challenges of climate change.

It is now clear that the tools required to avoid a climate disaster already exist, even if some of them require more research and development. Between deep, rapid emission cuts, third-way technologies and community action, we can do it, said Flannery.

Jo Kaptein from the Hub Foundation says, “We’ve been overwhelmed with the amount of interest Tim’s visit has created. Even the balcony is full to capacity and there’s a long waiting list in case of cancellations”.

“Dinner will be provided for 320 people by the Growing Abundance Project and later in the evening the nine piece Seducaphones will serve up lively Balkan funk music for dancing and listening. It promises to be a great night.

“A giant 10m x 1m petition to the Andrews government will be available for signing during the night. It calls on the government to introduce its own Renewable Energy Target and greater incentives for saving energy, to close the dirty Hazelwood power station by 2017 and to raise the solar feed-in tariff.”

“For those who’s missed out, Tim’s Book Atmosphere of Hope: Searching for Solutions to the Climate Crisis is available at Stoneman’s bookroom”. said Kaptein.

MASH2 closing date for Mt Alexander Shire

Last day to rego interest in Mt Alex Shire - MASH2_FB_MtAClose_1200x900px_100dpi Mt Alexander Shire residents intending to register their interest with MASH2, the community solar bulk-buy, need to do so by Wednesday 30 September 2015. The final date for actually ordering a MASH2 system, if you live in Mt Alexander Shire, is 31 December 2015.

“MASH2 bulk-buy prices for people in Mt Alexander Shire can only be held for so long”, says Jo Kaptein of the Hub Foundation, the not-for-profit organiser of the MASH community solar bulk-buy program. “That’s why we’ve had to set a definite closing date for people to register their interest in Mt Alexander Shire.”

“We’ve had a tremendous response with 260 people registering for MASH2 since it opened on 9 June”, Kaptein said. “300 homes have been installed with MASH since we started just over a year ago saving local people $200,000 each year off their electricity bills. We’re all breathing a bit easier too because MASH has reduced CO2 emissions in our Shire by 1500 tonnes per year, that’s equivalent to taking nearly 300 cars off the road.”

Carmen and Remi, MASH2 customers in Castlemaine said: “MASH organising the bulk-buy brought us over the line. That’s because MASH is reasonably priced and simplified the process. We haven’t had to worry about anything; it’s all gone smoothly. We like MASH because it is local and we know the people behind it.”

People living in other shires can register now for MASH2 and will be able to do so until 31 December 2015. The MASH2 bulk-buy is rolling out to Macedon Ranges Shire, with community info meetings at the Kyneton Mechanics Insitute on Wednesday 21 October. The Hub Foundation is engaging with Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group, Kyneton Transition Hub and other local groups to ensure that MASH2 brings real benefits for the people of Macedon Ranges Shire.

To register for MASH2, go to mash.org.au or call Jo on the MASH phone on 0455 589 065.