Bathurst Community Climate Action Network

 
With BCCAN's first event of the year coming up,  I thought it a good time to preview on of the main topics of the night.
Claire Powell from the University of Western Sydney will be talking to us about the Transition Towns movement. I will leave it to you to follow up detailed information available from the Wiki website at: www.transitiontowns.org/ or a detailed handbook available from the New Internationalist at: www.newint.com.au/shop/transition-handbook-2414.htm.
Here I thought I might give a flavour of what it might be for a community for the Bathurst region and what resources are already at hand and what might need to be done.
In a nutshell, what it means that our community should prepare and plan for upcoming shortages in oil and prepare for what the effects of climate change might throw at us. If we are able to act effectively as a community, early enough and with imagination, then this is nothing to fear but to be embraced as an opportunity to make our community more cohesive, with a life offering new pleasures and opportunities which may now be lacking in the oil based economy.
Scarcity of oil, will mean increased prices in the short term and failure of supply in the longer term. For Bathurst residents, it will mean new choices about getting around within the town and trips into town for regional livers. Longer trips to Sydney or further a field for entertainment and visiting friends will also offer challenges to be met.
For transport options within Bathurst itself, this opens an opportunity for my pet project – Bathurst a CycleFriendlyCity by 2030. As it happens I will be the support act for Claire’s address in April, outlining what this plan might envisage in terms of the humble bicycle. I think the bicycle can play a very important part in the planning for transition.
Public transport will also be pivotal for both town and regional residents. This will impinge on the plans for a new super highway between Sydney and Bathurst. Perhaps it will add more weight to the alternative proposal of a very fast train link to Sydney, under, rather than over the mountains.
Electric cars may indeed be a factor too with the proviso that the batteries will be charged using the generation capacity of wind, solar and geothermal. Wind and solar are well suited to our region and we may play a significant role in advancing this course and this will of course be an economic stream yet to be tapped – the carbon free economy.
A friend of mine, a very inventive engineer, if that is not a contradiction in terms, has proposed that the huge acreages, resulting from the waste from coal mining be used as prospective sites for solar thermal plants and wind farms. Again, this region has its share of coal mining activity so another opportunity for creative transition may be found here.
BCCAN continues to be very active in the food front, promoting local food and forging links with people like BREAD, Slow Food and the Local Vigneron’s association in creating a brand for Bathurst food. Of course the question arises as to how this might be a factor in a TransitionTown movement?
Food grown locally of course reduces dramatically the transport costs and the greenhouse gas costs, but it also offers the easily overlooked cost of health and well being. An opportunity of growing food locally is that if it is done properly, we can enhance our soils locally, loose less to erosion, turn our network of river and creek systems into living aquatic systems again, not mere drainage ditches. Improved soil means increased productivity, more nutrients from the living soil being available to the plants and subsequently to the consumer of the foods produced.
A vibrant local food “industry” will mean more local jobs and a more vibrant economy. A more vibrant economy means more opportunity for us citizens.
I think one of the questions in many people’s minds when I start on this utopian rave is that – “Does he really mean returning to the life of peasant farmers?”. That is indeed an important question and one that cannot be answered in absolute terms as there are few examples to use as indicator. Modern western people have become accustomed to many choices with their lifestyles, and although many will find great comfort and creative outlets in their gardens (fastest growing “hobby” in Australia), would see that as strictly a pastime or hobby and not a “carreer”.
If anything, there are the contra indicators of the “back to nature” seekers of the 60’s both here and overseas. Very few of these have been successful over the longer term. Some have and it would be productive to study these and see if there is not cause for optimism.
The contemporary organic farmer, will need the stimulus of intellectual activity after a hard day tilling the soil. Community will be crucial, in this transition. Membership of BCCAN is one example of how this might work. One’s job is Organic Fruit Grower by day and active BCCAN member by night, posting and replying to BCCAN’s Forums and being part of the lively discussions around the whole concept of transition and helping to make it work. Book Clubs, Film Clubs, Politics in the Pub, Refugee Support groups are other examples of how one can remain involved in the intellectual and caring life of the community, being nurtured oneself and helping to nourish others at the same time.
The fossil fuel alternative we surround ourselves with at the moment, tv, video, facebook, twitter, though not devoid of intellectual content, are pale by comparison of what we could do with our spare time.
Perhaps one of the first milestones to be achieved might be to interact with the Bathurst Regional Council and getting them involved in this process and having them declare – Bathurst – A Transition Town.