As temperature extremes and energy prices continue to increase year by year Mount Alexander Sustainability Group (MASG) is even more convinced that a solution to the problem of energy-inefficient housing can and must be found and that is why MASG is currently involved in pioneering Victoria’s first renter/ landlord sharing of retrofit costs.
The exciting pilot program uses a long-term load to be paid back through regular additions to council rates and will see 10 low-income houses in the region retrofitted resulting in energy ratings increasing from 2 stars to 9.
MASG is working alongside the owners of the houses, Common Equity Housing Limited, Mount Alexander Shire Council, and the Sustainable Australia Fund (SAF), and with the assistance of a $50,00 grant from the Lord Mayors Charitable Fund, the project is well underway and renters are already reaping the benefits with work expected to reach completion by the end of the year.
Lisa Walsh who has been residing in her current property for the past two years told the Express that she is really excited to be a part of the scheme.
“It’s huge. They’ve taken out all the gas appliances and replaced them with a split system and heat pump, and started plugging up all the holes. They haven’t even finished and I’m already noticing a huge difference,” commented Lisa.
“The insulation under the floor has made a massive difference. The oven will get replaced next, which is exciting. I was spending about $800 on gas in winter before so this is going to help me save so much each year.
“With the cost of bills going up this is going to make a massive difference to me.”
With around 10,000 houses in the Mount Alexander Shire, most built before 2005 when energy efficiency standards first came in, houses are too cold in winter, too hot in summer, and too expensive to run. The pilot program is the next step in MASG’s goal to establish a local retrofitting service, with no upfront costs and work being paid off through energy savings.
For those able to pay the retrofit cost upfront MASG estimates a cost of $22,500 for brick veneer houses and $24,300 for weatherboards, with a full return on the investment over 11 years and for householders unable to pay upfront MASG estimates it will take 20 years to pay the loan through a supplement to council rates through the Victorian Environmental Upgrade Scheme, however COVID and rising costs may impact these estimates.
For more information on Mount Alexander Sustainability Group visit: masg.org.au/.
The 2023 Castlemaine Documentary Festival (June 16-18) will be officially launched tonight June 16 at Castlemaine’s historic Theatre Royal with opening night celebration ‘LOCALS’.
Following the success of the inaugural LOCALS event in 2022 which saw the Theatre Royal packed to the rafters, this evening’s showcase will once again see audiences enjoy a wonderful selection of creative short form storytelling from locals of Castlemaine and surrounds.
C-Doc board member and Suzanne Donisthorpe said in 2023 we will hear from 13 local filmmakers as they present a diverse range of intriguing stories up on the big screen.
“Once again, the colour and diversity of our local voices is set to impress. From explorations of “What Makes a Local” to a “moment of nature and its innate choreography”, contemplations of the “power of kindness in the context of a Truck Show” and insight into the creative process behind dance troupe Lady Fun Times and the birth of Castlemaine Fringe, LOCALS 2023 definitely celebrates the rich and vibrant community we find ourselves in,” says Donisthorpe who will MC the LOCALS event alongside Tony Jackson.
The LOCALS program has been coordinated by Kyla Brettle. Come along to hear local stories told by local voices at the festival’s opening event from 7pm! Tickets are just $18 Adults, Under 15s $10.
Saturday the C-Doc festival program kicks into full gear with four films to screen at the Theatre Royal including Australian premiere Trained to See, Wantandar My Countryman followed by a panel discussion, the world premiere of local film Equal the Contest followed by a panel discussion, and The Thief Collector followed by the Saturday Night Party – an 80’s Art Heist themed party and dance with M79 live!
On Sunday the screenings continue with Into the Ice, Weed & Wine, Young Plato followed by a panel discussion, and finally Grass accompanied by a live score by ZÖJ.
This year Castlemaine Documentary Festival (C-Doc) also introduced a second venue – The Yurt – a beautiful micro-cinema located at Western Reserve – easy walking distance to the Theatre Royal.
The Yurt features an alternative program of family-friendly sessions across the Saturday and Sunday mornings and enticing programs for young people in the afternoons and evenings. The full Yurt program and tickets can be found at https://cdocff.com. au/2023-festival/yurt/
C-Doc director Claire Jager said the theme for their ninth festival is ‘No One Has The Last Word’ and it will feature eight incredible films, four panels, the new Yurt program and much more.
“Once again the program features great storytelling, great characters and the opportunity for great discussion on a range of issues. We will also welcome the Stone Soup Kitchen from the Castlemaine Community House which will be serving warming soup to keep our film buffs warm between screenings in the Theatre Royal brick courtyard,” she said.
“For those who are unable to make it to the festival there is also the opportunity to view our films online from the comfort of your own home,” Jager said.
Continuing C-Doc’s spirit of innovation and bold storytelling this year, they are bringing a showcase from SENSILAB, a Monash University research lab at the frontier of new media technology.
From 2pm today at the Phee Broadway Theatre three world-renowned, leading industry experts Jon McCormack (SensiLab), Oscar Raby (SensiLab/VRTOV), and Nirma Madhoo (RMIT) will present the history of XR technology, and the future possibilities of XR to a general audience to get the community excited about the possibilities of XR technology, building an audience for future years.
Following these presentations will be a panel discussion, moderated by Kate Clark (Monash University).
Castlemaine Art Museum will also launch their next Terrace Projection ‘Equal the Contest’ by Mitch Nivalis today to coincide with the 2023 Castlemaine Documentary Festival. This commissioned video work will screen on the CAM façade every evening until September 10.
For tickets to this weekend’s festival visit cdocff.com.au
Hi Tammy, can you tell us about your early years?
I grew up in England and emigrated to Australia when I was 12. My dad was a gardener so we moved to Hesket and lived on an Azalea and Camelia nursery and I went to school at Braemar College. I was there when the fire started near Woodend (the week before Ash Wednesday). I remember they couldn’t get the keys for the buses so they decided we should walk down a dirt track amongst the trees and the smoke. We weren’t very far from the fire and couldn’t go home. Dad stayed and my sister and mum went to Melbourne. When we came back the Ash Wednesday fires came through (fortunately the fire went around the nursery and we didn’t lose anything). That was our introduction to Australia. I still can’t cope with the smell of fire. Not long after that, we moved to Woodend.
How did you meet your husband Darren?
My dad was heavily involved with the state emergency services, and Darren volunteered. I think it was a Christmas party, and they ran a pretend car accident scenario and Darren was playing a casualty in the car accident. I was 17. We got married when I was 19 and had our first child when I was 21. In between we started our business- we worked together for 33 years.
What sort of business was it?
It was a spare parts business- Autopro in Kyneton. Darren had been working in spare parts so he had contacts in the industry. I was also working at Ben Hunter Motors, A Mitsubishi Dealer in Kyneton at the time, so I used to do the paperwork for our business during my lunch breaks! I stopped working at Ben Hunter Motors a month before my first child was born but I never stopped working in our business. I used to bring my daughter to work with me or work from home. Then 12 years ago we bought a second business- KRB Motors in Castlemaine.
How did you come to work at the Castlemaine Mail?
We used to be regular advertisers with the Mail so when we sold the business I had to tell the paper and a few weeks later they asked if I wanted a job working in Sales Support and Admin – I’ve been in the job for two years now. The two things we noticed when we sold the businesses was that our phone never rings now and we get weekends off!
Have you travelled much?
I’ve been back to England once when Jess and Nic were little and we’re planning a trip back in a few years. We’ve been to Bali and Thailand but mostly we’ve travelled around Australia in either a camper trailer or tent. One of the most memorable trips was a six-week journey travelling from the most easterly point of Australia in Byron Bay right through the centre to the most westerly part at Steep Point WA.
What hobbies do you enjoy?
Embroidering, quilting, yoga and gardening (I’m doing a lot of re-vegetation on our 15-acre property in Drummond).
What sort of music do you enjoy?
It’s varied. I like Ed Sheeran, James Taylor, and the 70s and 80s.
What are you reading at the moment?
I can’t remember the name of it – but I like light and easy.
Who are your dream dinner guests?
I think it’d be cool to invite my four grandparents (who have passed) but when they were the same age as I am now. I’d love to know how they lived their life back then.
What philosophies do you live life by?
I treat people the way I like to be treated and I like to do the best I can at anything I do.
Finally, what do you love most about the place you call home?
Our neighbours and the quietness – I like being in the bush.
