By Mikayla van Loon
With all the environmental challenges that have presented themselves over the last year in the Yarra Ranges, learning more about the climate and its changing effects had been on the minds of Lilydale locals.
Responding to this desire to share ideas and understand what local government will do moving forward, the Lilydale Township Action Group (LTAG) has organised a forum on Wednesday 22 June.
Bringing together Yarra Ranges Council representatives and guest speakers from community organisations, LTAG president Neal Taylor said it would be an opportunity for residents to hear both sides of the local approach to climate change.
“We’ll be hearing from a number of little groups in the area… [who] look after a certain area where they’ve got a pretty heavy environmental impact and then also hearing from the council about what they’re doing,” he said.
Whether it be reducing the number of coffee cups going into landfill or recycling the right waste, Mr Taylor said the forum will focus on the smaller and perhaps individual steps each person can take to limit their impact on the environment.
“The idea of the forum is to present some of these options and what’s around and what people are actually doing,” Mr Taylor said.
“LTAG itself is not saying this is what we should or shouldn’t do but what we’re doing is we’re presenting a showcase of stuff that’s around and getting a bit of a discussion going.
“It’s about introducing people to some of the options available. It’s about hearing other stories and what other people are doing and then maybe taking it from there and working to make a difference in the community.”
While Mr Taylor said the events of the last year have certainly impacted the desire to have this discussion, there’s no doubt that by living in the Yarra Ranges there is always an underlying need to protect the area.
“We live in a beautiful part of the world and we’ve got some absolutely precious rainforest and beautiful areas that I think people are very precious about and want to preserve.
“So I think on the whole there’s a general sense of wanting to keep it pristine and believe that it’s healthy to keep it going.”
Mr Taylor hopes the “discussion continues beyond the forum” and perhaps people will connect in their own time with the groups who speak at the meeting.
“We really want the forum to get people talking and be very conscious about Lilydale and about the environment and not only the environment but the community as a whole. That’s what we’re hoping to stimulate.”
The LTAG Community Forum – Climate Change will be held at the Lilydale Football Clubrooms, 179D Main Street, from 7pm to 10pm on Wednesday 22 June. All are welcome to join the discussion.
LTAG is always looking for community minded people to join the group as well.
