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Having successfully achieved the 5 star sustainability rating,
Somers school Camp can now turn it’s focus away from
paper work and on to actual achievement.
Our projects have a biodiversity focus as that is a strength
of our program. At the moment we have:
• Planted a 50 tree fruit and nut orchard.
• Extended the herb garden which involved relocation
of our composting operation.
• Expanded the stream frontage project to include all
of the lower section of the camp adjacent to Merricks Creek.
Weed eradication progresses in the newly targeted areas as
an important first step before revegetation.
• Frog pond has been designed and approved for funding.
Earth works won’t proceed until the ground dries out
as it will create to much mess and waste limited financial
resources in reinstatement.
• Nocturnal enclosure has been designed and approved
by school council. Funding is being sought from the Envirofund
as, even though we are a state government school (4647) we
were not considered eligible for Investing in Schools funding
by the federal minister for education, the Hon. Julie Bishop.
This is an exciting and innovative project, but will require
external funding due to the expense.
• Our water audit has been done. Water harvesting will
be incorporated in the renovation of the dormitory bathrooms
(a major infrastructure project for the camp and long overdue).
• Solarisation of hot water for the dormitories will
be part of the same renovation. Questions have been raised
about the efficiency of solarising hot water at school because
of the small volumes used. The residential nature of the Somers
School Camp operation makes this a worthwhile project.
• Redevelopment of the camp cinema is about to start
and incorporates aspects of sustainable design. This has been
a challenging task, as the historic integrity of the building
had to be preserved in the process.
More
info.
For more information please contact Malcolm Nicholson
on 5983 5302, email nicholson.malcolm.a@edumail.vic.gov.au
or go to the Somers School Camp website at http://www.somerscamp.vic.edu.au.
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