About KiamaSphere
It has never been more important to work together to share information and ideas and inspire our community to take steps towards living a more sustainable lifestyle.
The people of the Kiama Municipality have been leading the way in tackling the challenges posed by climate change. We’re taking up practical environmental initiatives like installing rainwater tanks and solar hot water systems. Real families are finding real solutions to real problems.
But sustainability is not just about the natural environment. It is about equality and cooperation, and a desire to see positive changes to ensure that the diversity of people, cultures, traditions and landscapes continue into the future.
Kiamasphere is designed to be a hub for sustainable living information and a tool for our community to be used for strengthening our commitments to a more sustainable lifestyle and pooling our resources to make a greater impact.
No matter where you’re at, take the challenge to check out the ideas that inspire section of Kiamasphere where local families will inspire you with their actions and show how easy it is to take control of your ecological footprint. You’ll be surprised at how little time it takes to make a difference... and how good it makes you feel!
The brightly coloured ‘Kiamasphere’ logo incorporates the Council colours, and represents the diverse landscapes within the Municipality. The name suggests the holistic approach, through the word sphere, required to achieve sustainable living. It also plays on the words atmosphere and hemisphere which emphasises that Kiama is also part of a larger community and what happens locally can impact globally.
Kiamasphere aims to bring together projects across the Council, which deal with all aspects of environmental management, health and sustainability. This will include all functions within the department, for example environmental education initiatives and the preparation of management plans and codes of practice and policies. In doing this it is anticipated that the Kiamasphere Logo will become an easily recognisable symbol of Kiama Council’s commitment to a sustainable community.
History
In August 2007 the NSW Environmental Trust approved the Illawarra regions submission for the Sustainable Illawarra Project with funding of $2.2 million dollars to be rolled out over a three year period.
The project’s vision and purpose is described below.
The vision for this project was for the Illawarra councils (Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama) to balance their social, environmental and economic goals to ensure a sustainable and adaptable future. This will be achieved by:
- Piloting a stormwater harvesting, reuse and irrigation project at one sporting complex within each Council.
- Preparing a roadmap to facilitate integrated sustainability planning and reporting, and directions for more sustainable practices within the council’s themselves.
- Capacity and resilience will be built into the community through sustainable education programs that will provide the community with skills that will give them an opportunity to lead a practical sustainable lifestyle.
As a legacy of the Sustainable Illawarra Project, Kiamasphere will continue to provide not only information on sustainable living in the Illawarra, but will ensure that local action and efforts are recognised and facilitated through partnerships between the Council and community working towards a cleaner, greener, healthier and more inclusive future for everyone.
Stormwater Reuse Program
The Black Beach Stormwater Harvesting was officially launched in September 2008.
The project includes a 280,000litre capacity underground collection tank for the irrigation of Black Beach and Hindmarsh park.
The tank works in conjunction with the award winning Black Beach Stormwater project, capturing water after in flows through the sand filtration system and gross pollutant traps in Hindmarsh Park.
Kiama’s water harvest system is the first of the Sustainable Illawarra projects funded by the $1million dollar grant from the NSW Environment Trust to be equally shared between Kiama, Shellharbour and Wollongong Councils.
About the Program
The recent drought and concerns about climate change have all highlighted the need to manage our water resources more sustainably. Expanding the use of stormwater runoff to add to our water supply and reduce water pollution are important objectives for the three Illawarra councils. Stormwater is now recognised as a valuable resource, rather than a nuisance to be disposed of quickly, especially in large urban centres.
Over recent years, stormwater harvesting and reuse have emerged as a new field of sustainable water management. Harvesting and reusing stormwater offer both a potential alternative water supply for non-drinking uses and a means to further reduce stormwater pollution in our waterways.
Stormwater harvesting complements other approaches to sustainable urban water management, including rainwater tanks, greywater systems, effluent reuse and demand management.
As part of the Sustainable Illawarra Project each Council (Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama) is committed to piloting a stormwater harvesting, reuse and irrigation project at a sporting complex/ public reserve within each Council area with the view to applying the same systems in all Council fields.
Kiama Council – Blacks Beach/ Hindmarsh Park was chosen because:
- This project is a continuation of sustainability projects already undertaken at this complex
- Both Blacks Beach and Hindmarsh Park are popular spots for residents and tourists all year round.
- The heavy usage of these parks has led to poor ground quality.
What we hope to achieve:
- Capture stormwater/urban runoff
- Reduce pollution of receiving waters
- Reuse stormwater runoff for irrigation
- Eliminate potable water demand at each site
- Reduce maintenance requirements at the site.
In the long term Council hopes to prepare a sustainability plan which will also address energy and water at each of the chosen sites.
Further updates on the progress of these projects will be given as they develop.
