Hobsons Bay City Council

*resists urge to jump in air with raised arms* 🌱 Our conservation rangers recently combined with Toyota staff from the local Altona facility, and Friends of Skeleton Creek to help our local wildlife. 🦋🐝🐛 300 indigenous wildflowers were planted alongside Skeleton Creek by the Point Cook Road underpass, helping to improve habitat for our local butterlies, bees, and other creepy crawlies. Not to mention how much better extra green looks! A big thank you to all our eco-collaborators. 🙌

Our wonderful conservation team were recognised at the Maggolee Awards recently for delivering the Boollam Boollam Willum festivals. The awards recognise Victorian local governments working in partnership with First Peoples to support self-determination, advance reconciliation, and strengthen shared decision making. The festivals (meaning 'where butterflies live' in traditional language) served as a celebration of traditional culture, preservation of biodiversity, understanding of indigenous practices, and caring for our natural environment. Congratulations team! 👏 👏 👏

We're pleased to welcome Rachel Lunn and Matthew Irving to complete our new-look 2024 executive leadership team. Rachel is our new sustainable communities director, while Matt joins us as our new infrastructure and city services director, working with chief executive, Aaron van Egmond and director corporate services, Andrew McLeod. With decades of experience across local government and a diverse range of sectors, our executive team is energised to lead our organisation and is dedicated to serving our community.

🌱💪😅 How do you return to the office after this? Today our staff were enjoyably put through their paces by the conservation team to celebrate World Environment Day. We headed down to Altona Coastal Park to plant indigenous shrubs, grasses and salt marsh, helping to enhance and protect this beautiful piece of Melbourne. 🕵️♀️ Legend has it some staff are still out there planting... The office might never be the same. 🌏 Happy World Environment Day 🌍

🌈 Happy International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT)! Our staff and residents came together today to celebrate our wonderful LGBTQIA+ community and help reduce incidence of discrimination and harassment within our city and beyond. Councillor Tony Briffa and members of our LGBTQIA+ community raised the flags in front of the Civic Centre in support of this important day. We are always working to make sure our community and workplace is safe, inclusive and welcoming of everyone, no matter what you believe or who you love.

📝♻️ Sustainability class was in session for staff yesterday thanks to Kirsty Bishop-Fox of Sustainable Pathways. We came one step closer to living a zero-waste lifestyle through Kirsty's relatable everyday stories of sustainable changes and simple tips (both revolutionary and very achievable). It was an empowering visit from a wonderful educator to help us embrace sustainability in our everyday lives. Now for the next step... putting it all into practice. Wish us luck 🤞

🚪 Thank god you're here, we're hiring! Are you a comms guru (cringe recruitment terminology quota filling) that loves niche references* and playing a key role in improving the west? 😤 (Now the serious stuff) Help shape and drive our internal comms delivery, and advocate for major projects such as a new aquatic centre, state-of-the-art wetlands centre, better transport for the west and more youth mental health services. Apply here: https://bit.ly/3J27ajm *Niche reference loving not essential

Development of the Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre will begin this year at HD Graham Reserve in Altona Meadows, located in Melbourne's inner-western suburbs. We've partnered with the Hobsons Bay Wetlands Committee Inc to create a state-of-the-art wetlands education and eco-tourism centre near the internationally recognised Ramsar-listed Cheetham Wetlands. We’re calling on the state and federal governments to partner with us to create an urban oasis in Melbourne’s west for all Victorians to enjoy. The early works will establish a temporary activity hub for the Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre, while Council continues planning and advocating for the long-term vision of the site. For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/4aaf8CS

Earlier this week staff learnt how to create produce bags in our first lunch and learn session for 2024. 👜 The produce bags were made from reclaimed material (lace curtains) and is one of the simplest ways to use less plastic. An average plastic bag is used for a mere 12 minutes and takes hundreds of years to break down. ♻️ The lunch and learn sessions are organised by the Hobsons Bay Environment Action Team – a group of staff interested in sustainability and the environment.

🌈 We were proud to take part in the Midsumma Pride March in St Kilda on Sunday. Mayor Matt Tyler and Council staff joined representatives from Western Bulldogs Community Foundation and Ferguson Street Chiropractic & Natural Therapies (2023 Western Rainbow award winner) to support our LGBTQIA+ community and celebrate a diverse and inclusive community.