Film and Information Night

Notes from the Transition Town Film and Information Evening: 8pm 9th December 2009; Pioneer Hall Port Chalmers

About 40 people attended to watch the “In Transition” film and listen to brief presentations from a variety of community members regarding existing projects and organisations. Many people stayed for a long time after the film and presentations to give their own ideas, chat, and to watch a 2nd shorter film called City Repair. The enthusiasm was great and we even had a visitor who had come from the US just in time for the meeting!

Below are key points from each speaker:

Jonathon Clearwater: Already a lot going on in Port Chalmers, and we should work with as many of these groups and initiatives as possible. Chicks’ is a great community venue, and Hector (Chicks manager) is supportive of community projects and events.

Nicola Bould: The West Harbour plastic bag free campaign called “Bags Not” is a good way to raise awareness about plastic usage. The Harbour Cycleway campaign to get the cycleway continued to Port Chalmers is going well – more news to follow.

Nicky Chapman: The petition to the NZ Government asking them to set firm targets to limit green house gas concentrations in the atmosphere to 350 ppm CO2-e. Gained 3,133 signatures in three weeks. Labour, National and Greens were there for petition presentation and all were positive re need for action.

Alex Stoddart (12): Spoke from a youth perspective on sustainability and climate change and challenged the adults in the room to please take some action.

Steve Walker: The sustainability measures being taken but the Golf Club: reducing use of sprays, not using any treated water on the course, flatter tee areas for more efficient mowing, biodiversity with native planting and bringing people together through quiz nights. The Rothesay News is a great community resource but it needs more involvement.

Andre Noone: The Dunedin City Council has sustainability as a core value and procedures in place to account for sustainability in decision making. Councillor Noone stated that he supported the Transition Town initiative and offered to help in what way he could

Tina Grubba: The importance of community events like street parties – the Meridian St Party was a great success.

Danielle Cameron: The campaign and initiatives to get the train for public transport

Francesca Griffin: the community garden and the Pioneer Hall project – community gardens bring people together, more workers welcomed! Hall – need to do fundraising, will do so in ways that build communities eg produce fairs.

Bill Currie: Bill runs a company building wind turbines for small wind power generation. He discussed this and the new developments in photo-voltaic cells that are bringing down the price per unit of power generated for solar. This could mean that households become sources of energy – so no need for massive wind farms.

Solis Norton: Co-ordinator of the Otago Energy Research Institute and this is s good organisation for contacting regarding energy related issues.

Ange McErlane: The good work the lions club does in the community. The volunteer system for cruise ships and the importance of this for local economy. Ange is the new editor of the Rothsay News.

Scott Willis: The success of Waitati Transition Initiative, especially the Waitati Electricity Project, and the willingness and desire for collaboration with other transition groups

In discussion after the presentations several themes came up:

Sustainable transport was seen as a key issue and the prospect of placing a “Port Chalmers Hitch Spot” at the hitching spot was discussed. The common desire for a train service was seen as a good opportunity for collaboration with Waitati and other groups.

The importance of bringing people together to discuss these issues and make plans was noted and plans for a regular film/info night at Pioneer Hall and a midwinter dance at the Hall were hatched.

It was noted that it was important to include people who might not think of themselves as 'greenies' but in fact know a lot about how to build resilient communities and taking care of each other, grow our own food etc - eg especially the older generations, and the churches too. Schools also great source of ideas and youthful energy.