Newcastle Council launches free repair cafe

BY ANGIE DAVIES 

Newcastle Council has launched a new repair café at Lambton Library, operating on the final Saturday of every month.

The café aims to create a more sustainable community by teaching people new skills to fix broken or damaged items instead of throwing them away or replacing them. 

Councillor Margaret Wood says there is a huge unmet need within the local community to contribute to more sustainable outcomes. 

"This is a really practical way of people doing that, by bringing along their items, getting them fixed so they don't go to landfill and they don't have to buy a replacement item," Cr Wood said.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from local experts including repairers, the Newcastle Toy Library and Upcycle Newcastle. 

"The café aims to create a more sustainable community with a focus on recycling, repurposing and helping the community really meet that unmet need and giving them the skills where they can carry on doing some of these things at home," Cr Wood said.

The next event will be held on Saturday 30 April, focusing on repairs for toys, clothing and bikes.

Further events will be held in May for textiles and clothing, and June for furniture, small hand tools, clothing and toys. 

The events are free to attend and no booking is required. 

Bicycle repairer Nick Grinpukel Councillor Margaret Wood and City of Newcastle Library Partnerships Facilitator Christina Robberds At Lambton Library.

Windale Community Centre Up For Grabs

 BY JARROD MELMETH

The current Windale Community Centre is up for grabs before construction begins on a brand new one.

Opened in 1958, the current centre has has been a hub in the community for decades however, council has plans for a new centre which will include a library.

Lake Macquarie City Council is hoping to recycle the centre and are offering it to an interested not-for-profit  or for-purpose community organisation to relocate and repurpose it.

Council says the only costs involved are the cost of moving the building to a new location, and also the costs for relevant approvals and permits.

An expression of interest process is currently underway until June 14.

Councils Circular Economy Lead Debbie O'Byrne says it all part of councils reuse and recycle strategy.

"This is a building that has been well loved and its been well looked after, yes it has got a bit of wear but it is perfectly reusable as a building.

"Its not unusual to see buildings moved around. It presents some logistical challenges but ultimately we want to get really great outcomes.

"We know there are communities in our region who have been affected by bushfires and floods and will have lost community buildings, so we see this as a very valuable opportunity to gift the centre to one of those affected communities," Ms O'Byrne said.

The building features a 161sqm hall, 88.5sqm multipurpose room, 23.5sqm kitchen, stage, storeroom, office space and an accessible toilet and is required to be removed from the site by July 23.

The current Windale Community Centre up for grabs.

New Recycling Facility Launched at Summerhill

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE 

Summerhill Waste Management Facility has today unveiled the Newcastle Community Recycling Centre. 

Nearly 100 similar centres are being rolled out across NSW as part of the state government's half-billion-dollar Waste Less, Recycle More campaign. 

Materials previously bound for the tip can now be recycled, with the following household problem waste accepted: 

• Paint 
• Motor oils and cooking oils 
• Gas bottles
• Fire extinguishers 
• Car and household batteries 
• Smoke detectors; and 
• Fluorescent light globes and tubes 

Business Development Manager at Summer Hill, Mark Johnson said many of the materials can be re-purposed for future use. 

"With the motor oils and other oils that we get," Mr Johnson said, "the contaminants are taken out of those and then the base materials are refined back into a lubricant."

Mark Johnson encouraged residents to check their homes to see how they can best make use of the new facility. 

"...By checking what you've got in your cupboards, have a quick look, see all of the stuff that you're not using and put it in a box, make sure it's sealed and bring it along, then we can take care of it for you," he said. 

The Summerhill Waste Management facility will be closed on Good Friday. 

Mark Johnson, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Taylor Martin MLC welcome the new facility.