It’s easier being green in Degraves Street

One of Melbourne’s most iconic laneways is now one of its greenest, with an innovative recycling project breathing new life into the Degraves Street precinct.
 
Operating from the basement of Ross House in Flinders Lane, the Degraves Street Recycling Facility uses traditional recycling and high-tech machinery to reduce landfill and turn tonnes of organic food waste into compost-like soil conditioner.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the project had left the popular dining and café strip cleaner than ever without interrupting the tens of thousands of people who pass through the laneway every day.

Transport project celebrates achievements

A decade-long project to improve transport options to residents of East Gippsland and Wellington shire councils has wrapped up, with the achievements celebrated at a ceremony in Maffra recently.

The Let’s GET Connected project implemented more than 150 transport initiatives across the two shires during its 10 years of operation.

East Gippsland Shire Council Mayor Cr Dick Ellis said the project found innovative ways to address transport disadvantage and transport gaps in a range of areas.

“These included health and medical transport services, improving transport access for Aborigines, youth transport access on school buses, improving access for people with disabilities and increasing public transport services using buses and taxis,” Mr Ellis said.

Council welcomes seasonal workers to Cardinia Shire

Seventy-seven seasonal workers from Vanuatu and Timor Leste will arrive in Cardinia Shire around late August to help local farmers harvest their asparagus.

Melbourne business The Connect Group will employ and sponsor the workers as part of the Federal Government’s Seasonal Worker program, which is delivered by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

With not enough Australian jobseekers available at this time of year to meet seasonal demand, the program allows agricultural employers in Cardinia Shire to get the workers they need to harvest the Shire’s plentiful asparagus crops.

First stage of free Adelaide city Wi-Fi rolled out

Hindmarsh Square is the first location in the CBD with free high speed Wi-Fi as part of the plan to roll out the service across the city.

Minister for Science and Information Economy Grace Portolesi said local business Internode has won the contract to deliver the service at the official launch in Hindmarsh Square.

“Once this is complete Adelaide will be the first capital city to have free Wi-Fi access throughout the CBD,” she said.