Opportunities at Coast environment festival too good to waste

The Sunshine Coast World Environment Day Festival is shaping up to be the biggest in its 34-year history with thousands expected at the event this Sunday.

Sunshine Coast Council’s Environment Portfolio Councillor Tony Wellington said the festival would focus on food and waste in line with this year’s World Environment Day theme Think.Eat.Save.

“Australians discard up to 20% of the food they buy – that’s one in five shopping bags of groceries,” he said.

“This is a huge amount considering there are some very simple ways we can change our habits to minimise the amount of waste we generate or throw away.

“The Coast’s World Environment Day Festival is the biggest of its kind in south east Queensland and a wonderful way for the community and visitors to our region to share ideas, creativity and inspiration on how we can all live more sustainably.

“The festival is free and will feature almost 100 exhibitors, talks and workshops, live entertainment, and interactive challenges and competitions.

“As part of this year’s preparations, council and its partners have been working on making the festival a carbon neutral event.

“Organisers will use the internationally recognised Sustainable Event Management System and other data to evaluate the event’s carbon footprint, and to guide targets for future years.

“To keep with the theme, we’re also encouraging people to consider carpooling, catching a bus or cycling to the event – everyone who travels sustainably can go in the draw to win a bike.”

One of the signature events on the Green June calendar, the festival is a partnership of Sunshine Coast Council, the Sunshine Coast Environment Council (SCEC), the University of the Sunshine Coast, and Sunshine Coast TAFE.

Some highlights of this year’s event include:

• Energy $avers session providing tips on how to make energy savings at home
• Fresh local produce cooking displays with Chef Laurent, Max Porter, Leonie Shanahan and Peter Wolfe
• Compost presentation, which will show how half of the waste discarded at home can be recycled through composting
• Sustainable fashion shows
• Recycled craft activities for kids
• Wildlife shows, science and education activities
• EcoFlicks green film screenings.

The Sunshine Coast World Environment Day Festival has grown from a small gathering of like-minded environmentalists in Yandina to an international award-winning event attracting more than 7500 residents and visitors each year.

It is one of the longest running World Environment Day activities in the world.

The festival will be held at the University of the Sunshine Coast from 10am to 4pm, Sunday 9 June. Visit the festival website for more information.