Building a Sustainable Future for the Illawarra

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1 Building a Sustainable Future for the Illawarra Submitted by: Yallah Campus TAFE NSW Illawarra Institute 2011 DET Year of Learning for Sustainability Award Recognition Program

2 The Challenges Continuing the educational delivery to students in a variety of specialised areas, including Agriculture, Animal Science, Horticulture & Natural Resource Management Ensuring staff and students are actively engaged in environmental management activities while studying and visiting the campus

3 The Project The ongoing management, planning and development of the Yallah Campus as a green skills training facility has really taken shape over the past year Various waste management initiatives have been implemented at Yallah Campus to support its environmental sustainability credentials Joint project with University of Wollongong Retrofitting for Resilient and Sustainable Buildings Transformational Technical Training Facility working in conjunction with the Sustainable Building Research Centre and its Industry Partners

4 Green Skills Training Facility Mud brick construction Solar powered Solar hot water Composting toilets Rainwater tanks Solar passive design

5 Environmental Management System ISO:14001 certification November 2010 TAFE environmental students involved in EMS auditing and environmental reviews Key staff have completed EMS Spill Training

6 Water Usage (kl) Water Usage at Yallah Campus Helping to Reduce Our Footprint 52% reduction from 2009 to DATE

7 Electricity Usage at Yallah Campus Helping to Reduce Our Footprint 5% reduction from Electricity Usage (MWh) DATE

8 Awards and Recognition Yallah Campus was recognised at the 2011 Institute Awards for its continued efforts in Environmental Sustainability Illawarra Institute has achieved Silver recognition under the NSW Sustainability Advantage Program

9 Teaching & Learning Yallah students involved in: Control of Ulmus Proceras, Hyperhennia hirta (Coolati Grass) and Lantana camara within Campus grounds Progressing towards NGIA Eco-Horticulture Accreditation for the Yallah Campus Staff and students have been involved in the monitoring of plant pathogen trials in conjunction with the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney researching a fungal disease infecting Auracaria heterophylla. Partnerships such as this provide valuable experience to students in the field of environmental protection on a local and global scale

10 Teaching & Learning The Animal Science / Agriculture section created their own policy for sustainable resource management. This included:- installation of rain water tanks to collect water for stock stock exclusion zones to allow natural regeneration of native habitat use of solar energy for electric fencing recycling of animal waste to grow vegetables to feed the section s animals use of technology to provide notes in a bid to minimise paper use and photocopying on campus

11 Industry Partnerships Expert advice sought from the following agencies has added value to the teaching outcomes for Yallah students: Dapto Small Animal Hospital Fairy Meadow Veterinary Hospital Illawarra Equine Centre Illawarra Noxious Weeds Authority National Centre for Dairy Education Australia National Parks & Wildlife Service Nursery and Garden Industry Association NSW Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority The Australian Native Orchid Society

12 Retrofitting for Resilient and Sustainable Buildings Transformational Technical Training Facility Upon completion in 2012 the RRSB-TTT Project will attain certification under the Living Building Challenge - net zero energy & water and achieve 5 green stars from the Green Building Council of Australia Green Star scheme

13 The Outcomes A campus readily engaged with staff and students recognising the importance of policy and procedure to support the local environment Students actively engaged in practical activities throughout the campus An ever reducing environmental footprint

14 The Team Yallah administrative, support and teaching staff including part time teachers Contact for further information Heather Cunningham A/Campus Manager Yallah