Keeping Auckland's future bright - Sustainability in our city

From City Scene, published on 28 October, 2007

What are you going to do? - Auckland City Council gives Aucklanders plenty of choice about how they spend their leisure time.

Minimising waste with worm farms

A worm farm has been installed at Talbot Park after 18 Glen Innes households successfully trialed composting. The specially designed worm farm includes a perspex viewing window to allow residents and educational groups to observe it more easily. Installing the worm farm is part of a waste minimisation awareness programme developed by Auckland City Council and EcoMatters Environment Trust. As part of its Create your own Eden campaign, Auckland City Council offers regular, free two-hour composting courses for Aucklanders. For details and to register, email education@kaipatiki.org.nz or phone 482 1172.

Mobility scooters a ride in the park

Aileen Ryan (pictured with her great-grandsons, Uriah and Ezrah) can now get around Auckland Zoo easily thanks to the availability of two new mobility scooters, gifted by TSB Bank. The council's strategic disability adviser, Minnie Baragwanath, says the zoo's large area can be challenging for those who rely on assistance to be mobile. "We want to work towards making Auckland a hundred per cent accessible for all," she says, "and this is another step towards achieving this." The scooters are available free of charge and can be booked by phoning the zoo information centre on 360 3805.

Safety first at refugee forum

Members of Auckland city's refugee community participated in a two-day refugee safety forum last month where 150 people attended workshops on fire, home, road and water safety, as well as taking part in a t'ai chi session to promote safety from falls through exercise (above). Workshops are run by Auckland City Council's project partners - Accident Compensation Coporation, Auckland City Council's Road Safety Team, WaterSafe Auckland and the New Zealand Fire Service. Auckland City Council holds the forums with Selwyn College every two years, and has shorter refresher forums in the intervening years.