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Environment talks at Woy Woy

Woy Woy Environment Centre is to hold a series of Thursday afternoon talks to the community about environmental issues.

The first talk is on Thursday, June 27, at 2pm.

The subject of the talk is "What your environment levy pays for" and everyone is welcome to attend, according to secretary Mrs Beryl Strom.

Mrs Strom said he Woy Woy Environment Centre, located at 267 Blackwall Rd, Woy Woy, was established in 1988, in the Old St Luke's Church, as part of the bicentenary celebrations.

The project was funded jointly by the State Government and Gosford Council, she said.

"The centre is there to provide environmental information and resources to the general public, with a view of developing environmental awareness and understanding, especially on local issues.

"A committee appointed under Section 355 of the Local Government Act manages the centre.

"It meets regularly throughout the year to receive reports and correspondence and to attend to the general running of the centre."

Mrs Strom said a "friends" system was introduced several years ago to encourage the general community to become involved and to provide a small income through donations.

More than 100 people became "friends" in 2001, many of them coming from the Association for Environment Education following the introduction of a "join both".

"The centre contains valuable environmental resources, many concerned directly with the Central Coast, including handout material on recycling, energy use, national parks and heritage.

"It also has newspaper clippings, environmental group newsletters, council papers, environmental impact statements, studies and other general resource material," said Mrs Strom.

"The AEE (Central Coast) shares with the Woy Woy Environment Centre its newsletters and excursions."

During the year, six newsletters were distributed to their "friends" who were invited to take part in activities.

These included looking at proposals for Correa Bay and Phegans Bay; a visit to Kincumba Mountain, particularly the eastern end where a major re-zoning had been proposed for Norman's Quarry; exploring Cockle Bay Wetland; and examining some developments and innovations on the north-west waterfront of Brisbane Water.

"To encourage additional use of the centre, Gosford Council's environment education officer Trish Donnelly is located there from 1pm to 4pm on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month.

"This has proved to be a popular innovation with many community members preferring to visit the centre than to go to the administration building in Gosford.

"Trish is hoping that the centre may be used in the future for talks to the community and for school class excursions."

The centre is open daily from 1pm to 4pm provided a member of its volunteer staff is available.

People can phone the secretary, Beryl Strom on 4360 1024 to find out which days it is open in any week or to make an appointment for a special opening.

Beryl Strom, May 27