Pacific Palms on the NSW Mid North Coast, is an area of diverse natural beauty and ecology which has become a sought after home and holiday destination. From the lakes to the beaches and the national parks, we have a valuable resource around us which needs to be responsibly managed and maintained to allow for long term community use, passive recreation and peak tourism.
You are invited to come and join us in a celebration of our community and the environment with a weekend of activities, information, and practical demonstrations of responsible building design, construction, land use management, permaculture, complimentary therapies and passive recreation opportunities in our area.
As a not for profit event we rely on the support of our sponsors and the local community every year - Thank You!
- 2008
- 2007
Hundreds of people from the Pacific Palms district came to learn about and celebrate sustainable living by taking part in the Small Footprint Initiative 2008. The magic weather over the weekend saw locals taking part and the many interstate visitors getting to experience the area at it’s Spring best!
The full house at the opening night dinner at Reef Bar + Grill sampled organic wine from Tamburlaine, viewed a variety of local artists works and danced until late to live music. Congratulations to Chris Bowen – winner of the lucky draw prize - a weekend at Bombah Point Eco cottages.
On Saturday over 150 people took part in the Sustainable House Tour, visiting 5 homes and 2 gardens in the Forster-Pacific Palms area to learn about sustainable building solutions, energy efficient solutions, greywater use, solar power, solar hot water, recycling and native gardening.
Sunday was the main event with the Small Footprint Festival being held at the Pacific Palms Community Centre. Crowds were entertained by bands, the Gunnedah children’s circus, the Pacific Palms bellydancing troup and there was a wide variety of workshops and information stands from community groups and sustainable product suppliers. Enjoying the market stalls, great food and organic wine tasting was a fabulous end to such a successful weekend.
The raffle prizes were drawn on Sunday afternoon and the following people were lucky enough to take home some goodies:
1Kw grid interactive Solar power kit donated by STS services – Nicole Lemaitre of Bungwhal;
Weekend at Nellies Beachhouse – Jacqui Keats;
Weekend at Topdeck – Pat Powell;
Give Organic Food hamper – Bob Gaden;
Tri-nature hamper – Ian Rose;
Enjo voucher – Vicki Kelly;
Blue Healer voucher – Ian Winkley;
Owner Builder/Palms pharmacy hamper – Terry from Smiths Lake.
Also the results of the kids colouring in competitions were announced as follows:
Pacific Palms winners Molly Connon + Shannon Nottley;
Bunghwal winners Kai Mahoney + Oliver Harding;
Holy Name winners Benjamin Denniss + Karia bera;
Tuncurry winners Joel (class KH) + Ashlyn Forsaith;
Forster winners Emily Young + Jazmin (class 1P);
St Josephs Bulahdelah winners Talib Matheson + Chloe Griffis.
Congratulations to everyone!!!
The Small Footprint Initiative is an annual not for profit event run by the Pacific Palms Community Association to promote a positive community spirit and educate about sustainability issues. This year the event raised over $10,000 which will go towards building a children’s playground complete with native water wise garden at the pacific Palms Community Centre.
The weekend was kicked off with a great fundraising dinner on the Friday night which was opened in a truly moving way by one of the members of the local Aboriginal land council. The organic food was catered by a local couple, organic wines were available for tasting and sale and our guest speaker was Greens MLC Dr John McKay. The night was a wonderful success, raising money for the community, boosted by donations from Tamburlaine wines and some great prizes from the local business community including the lucky door prize of accommodation at Bombah Point Eco-cottages (solar powered, self contained cabins at Myall Lakes).
The homes on display on the Saturday included an old relocated timber cottage which had been retrofitted with solar power, modern kitchen, wastewater reed bed, and other energy efficiency measures; a self sufficient owner built mudbrick home and a modern home near Forster featuring native gardens, water tanks and a light earth wall built in a reclaimed quarry.
The festival on the Sunday included organic food and drinks; sustainable and ethical products; council information about landcare, weeds, composting and recycling; kids activities and rides; building materials and suppliers with an environmental focus (solar power, solar hot water, energy and water efficiency) and the hall was full of natural therapists offering everything from organic skin products to massage and reflexology.
We raffled several great prizes thanks to generous donations from both local and larger businesses.
The event raised over $4,000 to build a play area and native garden adjacent to the hall at Pacific Palms.
Dates for 2009 are yet to be confirmed.
Wishing to receive updates? email us here
The Pacific Palms Community Association is an Incorporated
‘Not for Profit’ Organisation which has been registered for over 30 years.
It has a varied history acting as a community advocacy body to both local and state government, as well as supporting a wide variety of smaller local community groups and networks.
With its current executive it launched the Small Footprint Initiative
in 2007 and has outlined a detailed policy regarding the environmental and social benchmarks. Please follow the links for further information.
As a Not for Profit event we rely on the support of our sponsors and the local community every year - Thank You!
For more information please click on the following links…
• Small Footprint Initiative
• Pacific Palms Community Association
• Current projects
Please scroll down to view all the big toe supporters - businesses who donate $500 or more (this includes many who donate $1000's in time to the whole process!!)
Businesses are listed alphabetically…
The Building Centre
The home of building and renovating quality solutions
Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, Sydney NSW
1300 884 876
info@buildingcentre.com
www.buildingcentre.com
www.showrooms.com.au
Dhirata Therapies
Alternative heath and lifestyles, incorporating yoga and complimentary therapies
www.dhirata.com.au
Earthbound Design + Construction
Site specific unique and healthy homes
www.earthboundeco.com
Enjo - Pacific Palms
Fibre based cleaning solutions.
Petra Richter consultant
02 6554 0047
ISD Architecture + Interiors
Energy efficient and healthy Architectural Solutions
www.isdarchitecture.com.au
The Seen Creative
Graphic + Web design services. Be seen.
artroom@theseencreative.com
www.theseencreative.com
Shire Print n Graphics
212 The Lakes Way, Tuncurry NSW 2428
02 6557 2746
shire@hilinepress.com.au
www.shireprintandgraphics.com.au
STS Services
Solutions Towards Sustainability
0417 369 670 - 02 4997 7167
solutions@STSservices.com.au
www.stsservices.com.au
Sydney Native Nursery
Local tubestock and plants from Sydney and the Mid-North Coast.
visit site
Tamburlaine Organic Wines
Certified organic wines
sales@mywinery.com
www.tamburlaine.com.au
Tianjara Eco
Slow food catering and accommodation
www.tianjaraeco.com
Please scroll down to view all other four–two toe supporters who have assisted us in running this event…
Australian Yoga Life
Australian Yoga Life magazine and web site is designed to convey the broad message of yoga without being linked to any one style or school of yoga. It is hoped the magazine will give readers a deeper understanding of yoga in Australia.
www.ayl.com.au
Bluey's Cellars
215 Boomerang Drive, Blueys Beach
02
6554 0297
Bunnings Forster
Sustainability solutions for your home
www.bunnings.com.au
Give Organic
Organic + ethical gifts
0416363124
karen@giveorganic.com.au
www.giveorganic.com.au
The Lotus Retreat
Resident hosts & qualified therapists -
David Flakelar & Kerry Bromage
812 Wattley Hill Road,
Wootton NSW 2423
02 4997 7320
0422 977 977
www.lotusretreat.com.au
RealFoods: Cornthins
over $100 worth of cornthins!
www.cornthins.com
Seal Rocks Camping
Seal Rocks Camping Reserve,
Kinka Road,
Seal Rocks NSW 2423
Freecall: 1800 112 234
sealrockscamp@hotkey.net.au
www.sealrockscampingreserve.com.au
Taree Motorama
Toyota Prius Showroom Sales and Service
46 Victoria Street Taree
02 6539 3333
Please scroll down to view Pacific Palms Community Association supporters who have assisted us in running this event…
Pacific Palms Real Estate
209 Boomerang Drive Blueys Beach NSW 2428
02 6554 0999
Macwood Road Smiths Lake NSW 2428.
02 6554 4800
www.pacificpalmsrealestate.com.au
Other useful community links:
Coomba Connections
www.coombaconnections.com.au
Great Lakes Tourism
Little Street, Forster 2428
02 6554 8799
tourism@greatlakes.nsw.gov.au
www.greatlakes.org.au
