The Gap Sustainability Initiative Inc.

15/06/2026

Tomorrow evening, we welcome Trevor Evans as our guest speaker. Trevor is the Interim CEO of the Containers for Change program, and will share with us the impact that this program has had on recycling of plastic and glass containers, and discuss other plans for the program to expand. We are also keen to hear Trevor's views on the "No time to Waste" packaging bill currently open for public comments. The bill seems to indicate that greater emphasis will be placed on producers of packaging to also be responsible for the safe disposal of the materials. but will this bill be effective to improve recycling rates? Come along tomorrow Tuesday evening 7pm to The Gap State High School Library, and bring a friend, neighbour or family member, all welcome.

14/06/2026

Join us in one week for our next community waterbug survey on Sunday the 21st June. All welcome no experience needed. We meet at Furman's crossing park, and hope that you can join us. It's a great opportunity for the kids to learn about the biodiversity in our creeks. We get samples from the edge of the water, the ripples and the middle and then sort the waterbugs into different types and count them. Based on a point system that is based on how sensitive the bugs are to water pollution. If we find more sensitive bugs that means the water quality if good if not there is some pollution to be concerned about. We will be doing four of these measurements this year and then compare to last year's findings. It all has the purpose to to understand if there would be enough food for a Platypus if they were to be re-introduced into Enoggera creek. So come and join us and learn about the Platypus.

13/06/2026

On Tuesday next week we welcome Trevor Evans as our guest speaker. Trevor is the Interim CEO of the Containers for Change program, and will share with us the impact that this program has had on recycling of plastic and glass containers, and discuss other plans for the program to expand. We are also keen to hear Trevor's views on the "No time to Waste" packaging bill currently open for public comments. The bill seems to indicate that greater emphasis will be placed on producers of packaging to also be responsible for the safe disposal of the materials. but will this bill be effective to improve recycling rates? Come along next week Tuesday evening, and bring a friend, neighbour or family member, all welcome.

13/06/2026

A couple of years ago, we were mentored by Rewiring Australia to increase our sustainability impact by encouraging people to consider the benefits of electrification. We learned how to explain the benefit for the environment, but also for each household's budget. Saul Griffith is inspiring, because every argument he makes is backed up by science, data and evidence. Now you can watch his story on ABC iView. It's truly amazing how the team worked with one community in NSW as a pilot site and how this example could change Australia's future more widely. For example, financial data provided by Saul for suburbs like The Gap estimates that community benefit would allow to fund more teachers, build a library or community centre and support the regeneration efforts that are so important for our biodiversity through local electricity ownership. You can look these numbers up under the Electrify my Electorate tab on the Rewiring Australia website.

When Australian Story first met inventor Saul Griffith in 2023 he was on a mission to electrify the world. Although political changes in the US have tested his optimism, back home his own community is forging ahead.

12/06/2026

Join us Sunday in a week for our next community waterbug survey, all welcome no experience needed. We meet at Furman's crossing park, and hope that you cna join us. It's a great opportunity for the kids to learn about the biodiversity in our creeks.

11/06/2026

Join us this Saturday as we continue our fun mornings conducting street tree TLC. We usually have a good catch up and a few laughs, and the time goes by really quickly. We will start the working bee from 7.30 am. We make note of street trees that have been so badly damaged that they need replacement and make Brisbane City Council aware of these trees.
If you would like to join us please contact us per email on [email protected] so that we can share the meeting point with you.

10/06/2026

Several development applications are currently open for community review. Most significant seems the development of two retirement apartment blocks on the Ashgrove Golfcourse. There are so many documents part of this application online, but it's tricky to find a drawing the would show what 10 level buildings might look like? Has anyone been able to find the relevant drawings amongst the documentation?

Development.i provides you with access to past and current development application details and basic property information for the Brisbane City Council area.

09/06/2026

Next week we welcome Trevor Evans as our guest speaker. Trevor is the Interim CEO of the Containers for Change program, and will share with us the impact that this program has had on recycling of plastic and glass containers, and discuss other plans for the program to expand. We are also keen to hear Trevor's views on the "No time to Waste" packaging bill currently open for public comments. The bill seems to indicate that greater emphasis will be placed on producers of packaging to also be responsible for the safe disposal of the materials. but will this bill be effective to improve recycling rates? Come along next week Tuesday evening, and bring a friend, neighbour or family member, all welcome.

08/06/2026

There are so many fantastic articles to read in this month's edition of The Western Echo. We love the new column "Ït's debatable" the updates from the local schools, community organisations, Colin's interviews with local legends, and the updates from our local members. This edition however, we draw your attention to Page 25, where you can find the call for entries into this year's Brisbane West Eco Fest art competition for students. We hope to see many creative reflections on Our Local Environment. 🏡 🐨🐝🌳🌿🍄‍🟫🌺

An independently owned and published community news magazine delivered across the Western Suburbs of Brisbane, Queensland

03/06/2026

Many of our members cherish active transport. We are extremely lucky in The Gap to have wonderful bikeways that we can use to reach all the way to the city without the need to share the road with the cars. The only problem many of these ways are very hilly and so many members are using pedal assisted bikes. With new legislation looming that might make their use more difficult, it seems important to be aware of the background story, and how easy the current debate could be fixed as very well described in this ABC article. The solution is simple, bring back mandatory EU standards as was the case before 2021, and the problem should disappear. Sometimes the simple solutions can be the most effective ones.

When Barnaby Joyce was deputy prime minister and transport minister in 2021, his assistant minister Kevin Hogan made a quiet, but hugely significant change to the Road Vehicle Standards Act.