Media release

Thursday 11 March 2010
Subject: Grey Lynn 2030 Week (21 – 27 March)
For immediate use

Grey Lynn ready for a low carbon party & community celebration

Local residents are being asked to take a pledge to go low carbon by leaving the car at home during the inaugural Grey Lynn 2030 Week which starts on Sunday 21 March 2010.

A variety of events are confirmed for every day of the Week which features the now established Grey Lynn Farmers Market together with new activities and a local approach to marking the international World Water Day and Earth Hour. A highlight of the week is the West Lynn Street Party & Twilight Market on Thursday 25th March.

Local TV gardener and NZ Gardener editor, Lynda Hallinan will also be opening up her urban garden for a tour during the Week. All donations collected from this event will be go towards developing community gardens like the Wilton Street Community Garden which has sprung up on a vacant section in the last year through the efforts of a group of neighbours.

Pippa Coom, Grey Lynn 2030 Steering Committee member and organiser of the Week says “There are so many positive things going on in our community that are contributing to our long term vision of a sustainable community that it made sense to showcase them together as a Grey Lynn 2030 Week”

“The approach of our group, which has over 1000 supporters covering Auckland’s central suburbs, is practical action so by holding the Week we intend to encourage locals to get involved, tap into local resources and not wait for official permission to turn ideas into reality. The Street Party is a good example of making an event happen with an enthusiastic group of volunteers and the support of local businesses. We will be calming the traffic by turning the West Lynn shops into a people space with street furniture, decorations and street stalls for the Twilight Market. Waste recovery is being organised by our Waste Away group with decorated recycling bins and composting stations” said Ms Coom.

The week is being organised on a small budget provided by Grey Lynn 2030 without council or corporate sponsorship.

Full details of the week are available on our website:

http://www.greylynn2030.co. nz/grey- lynn-2030-week/

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For more information, please contact:
Pippa Coom
Grey Lynn 2030 Steering Committee
T: (09) 361 5250
M: 021 926 618
E: pippacoom@gmail.com
W: www.greylynn2030.co. nz

Notes:

Grey Lynn 2030 Week – A Community Celebration

Some highlights of the Week:

• Tours of Kelmarna Organic City Farm and Lynda Hallinan's local urban garden
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• World Water Day with a special showing of Tapped the movie
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• Celebration of the Autumn Equinox
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• Walking tour of back gardens raising chooks
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• Demonstration of water saving devices with Laurie Dee
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• Tour of local art studios
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• West Lynn Street Party & Twilight Market
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During the week we are encouraging residents to take the Grey Lynn 2030 pledge to go low carbon: For example

• Leaving the car at home
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• Walking/cycling to school & work and for all local trips
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• Composting (the Waste Away group can show you how)
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Grey Lynn 2030: Transition Community

Grey Lynn 2030 is part of the international, grassroots Transition Towns movement. The goal of Transition Towns is to bring people together to explore how we – as communities - can respond to the challenges and opportunities of climate change and resource depletion. Transition Towns works on the belief that communities have within themselves the innovation and ingenuity to create positive solutions to the converging crises of our time.

Grey Lynn 2030 is a local response to these ideas. Grey Lynn 2030 is participatory community organisation promoting and engaging in building neighbourhood spirit and cooperation while working towards a vision of a positive, resilient, and sustainable community. The group has over 1000 supporters covering all of Auckland’s central suburbs.

www.greylynn2030.co. nz

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