There was a lot happening at the first ever Planetary Health Day in Katoomba (Video: Kalani Gacon)
Story by Linda Moon
The first Blue Mountains Planetary Health Day was held on 24 February 2024 in Katoomba, and was a huge success with an estimated 600 attendees. With the goal of equipping people with the knowledge and resources to achieve their sustainability goals, the day featured workshops, stalls, activities and much more.
Key Points:
The Blue Mountains’ first Planetary Health Day was held on 24 February, 2024 at the Planetary Health Precinct in Katoomba.
An uplifting, informative and community-focused day of sharing and caring about the planet, it centred on ways to make our sustainable goals become reality.
With the event a success, it’s hoped Planetary Health Day can be a regular event.
It was that trademark misty, drizzly day in the mountains. But the rain didn’t stop the locals from turning up to the Blue Mountains’ first ever Planetary Health Day.
The day featured fun stalls, free workshops, talks, exhibits and activities designed to help us tick off our personal sustainability goals and support the health of the planet.
Mayor Mark Greenhill opened the event, followed by a stirring ‘Welcome to Country’ by Chris Tobin (on behalf of the Dharug traditional custodians) and Kelsie King (on behalf of Gundungurra).
Despite the wet weather the Planetary Health Precinct (the former Katoomba Golf Course) catered for over 30 activities throughout the day in the gardens, the main building and in a large marquee.(Photo: Linda Moon)
The opening of the event by Mayor Mark Greenhill (Photo: Lis Bastian)
Our relationship to Country
Chris explained that beginning with a Welcome to Country was highly appropriate to the occasion as it trains us to acknowledge our relationship to Country. He said: “It [Country] extends beyond our property to all creatures, our old people, generations beyond us, the people waiting in earth for their time. It is not a resource for us to gobble up, not a commodity, but a home for us and generations after us.”
In her speech Kelsie said: “A healthy Country means healthy people.”
Chris Tobin and Kelsie King. Their ‘Welcome to Country’ encourages us to deepen our relationship to the land and help preserve it for future generations.(Photo: Linda Moon)
Following the Welcome to Country the Wagana dancers put on a stirring performance in the mist.
The Wagana Dancers helped open the event.(Photo: Linda Moon)
One-stop shop for sustainable goals
Organiser and Senior Program Lead for the Planetary Health Initiative, Lis Bastian, described the event as a “one-day, one-stop shop” for our sustainability goals. “We understand that most people are overloaded,” she said. “We often can’t get to doing all the things we feel we could or should do because life is so busy and stressful. We’re hoping to make it easier by bringing a lot of options together in one spot at one time.”
Encouraging collaborative action at the local level, she said: “We’re trying to create a swarm for planetary health, emulating the way that birds and bees all start to work together in unison: people feeling the need for change in their whole being. And we need to change and act quickly together. That’s what we’re trying to achieve here, by bringing everyone together to see how enjoyable it can be and how we can all support one another to move together to a better way of living for ourselves and the planet.”
A chance to connect with community groups, practical skills, experts and businesses in the sustainability space. Pictured: Permaculture Blue Mountains(Photo: Linda Moon)
Stalls, talks and workshops
Over 30 participants providing stalls, workshops and talks, focused on ways to save money, reduce disaster risk and reduce our environmental footprint. Many diverse topics were covered: from how to use your waste bins properly and what to consider when installing solar panels, to learning about Home Energy Efficiency Assessments from MKC Building Design, to learning about Hempcrete (a fire resistant building material) with Kirstie Wulf from Shelter Building Design.
Carly Cura from Council’s Waste and Sustainability Team (Photo: Lis Bastian)
Blue Mountains Solar provided advice on installing solar panels (Photo: Lis Bastian)
Kirstie Wulf from Shelter Building Design had a stall and gave a comprehensive presentation on Fire-Resistant Building with Hempcrete. (Photo: Lis Bastian)
Talks commenced with a Drip Irrigation presentation, followed by Chris Tobin’s presentation on Dharug Culture.
Chris Tobin’s presentation on Dharug Culture (Photo: Lis Bastian)
There was the chance to get a discount on a water tank through a Community Water Tank Bulk Buy and more.
Parents exchanged clothing and smiles at a Kid’s Clothing and Toy Swap organised by Blue Mountains Parents For Climate.(Photo: Linda Moon)
There were activities for all ages, with Sarah Daniel from Kindle Hill engaging very young people in claywork (Photo: Lis Bastian)
Other young people participated in the Upcycling Fashion Workshop and in learning how to sew their own Boomerang Bags. (Photo: Maria de Luca)
Meet the celebs and experts
‘Off-grid Chippendale Sustainable House guy’, Michael Mobbs installed a ‘Cool Seat’ at the Precinct with Ian Collins of WaterUps. A Cool Seat, as Mobbs put it, is “a seat, garden bed and compost in one.”
Designed with wicking garden beds below composting baskets, it can hold 150 litres of food waste. According to Mobbs, it can transform food waste into compost within three weeks. Other advantages include minimal watering, worms and compost juice. The structure also keeps rats out.
The wicking design, an Aussie creation by Ian Collins and Vince Hunt of WaterUps, recently won the prestigious Groene Sector Innovation Award in the Netherlands.
Michael Mobbs (L) and Ian Collins (R) installing a ‘Cool Seat’ on the site.(Photo: Lis Bastian)
Eat the weeds
The public had the chance to sample unique dishes, like the delicious Three Weed Salsa Verde on crackers and Wild Fennel Seed Cookies, from the Eat Weeds book by mushroom and foraging expert Diego Bonetto.
Stylist, forager and foodie, Marnee Fox (Diego’s partner the other half of Forage to Feast), showcased numerous examples of edible weeds and fungi, and enthralled many.
Photo: Marnee Fox manning the popular ‘Eat Weeds’ stall.(Photo: Lis Bastian)
Permaculture educator and grower, Rhiannon Phillips of Mountains Gourmet, led a well-attended workshop on drip irrigation.
Rhiannon Phillips from Mountains Gourmet demonstrating how to install drip irrigation after her presentation (Photo: Lis Bastian)
Gardeners were also able to inspect examples of waterwise gardening (drip irrigation and wicking beds) constructed on the site, plus a demonstration pond.
Growing your own organic food – a fun way to help the planet and yourself.(Photo: Linda Moon)
Sustainable food
Shopping locally and eating fewer animal products are some of the easiest ways to reduce our environmental impact on the planet. To help showcase plant-based food, tasty locally-produced vegan and vegetarian foods were available for sale. Dishes included pakoras and lentil dahl using hand-blended spices supplied by Bibi’s Kitchen.
“Growing lentils actually helps the planet,” Lis said. “Lentils put nitrogen into the soil, they’re low cost and one of the healthiest things you can eat.”
Lentil and vegetarian dishes from Bibi’s Kitchen: great for people and planet.(Photo: Linda Moon)
Roasters With Altitude did a busy trade in sustainable, fair-trade coffee. They also tempted the crowds with their vegan hot dog, sweet treats and cakes.
Roasters with Altitude supporting the Timor Learning Centre (Photo: Lis Bastian)
Attendees also had a chance to taste-test vegan cheeses, and partake in a vegan ‘how-to-make-your-own-cheese’ demonstration by Teya Brooks Pribac.
Vegan cheese-making workshop by Teya Brooks Pribac, author of Not Just Another Vegan Cookbook. (Photo: Linda Moon)
Electric vehicles
EV owner Alan Wardrop turned up on the day to share the how-to of having an electric vehicle with interested members of the public. He was joined by some of Blue Mountains City Council’s EV fleet drivers willing to share their everyday experience of driving an electric car in the Blue Mountains.
Electric car owners generously gave their time to chat to the public.(Photo: Linda Moon)
Volunteering
“Volunteering with others in the wider community trying to make a difference is another way to support the planet”, Lis said.
Blue Mountains Bushcare encouraging more people to engage with nature and protect our bushland. (Photo: Lis Bastian)
WIRES: Helping wildlife is critical to the health of the planet.(Photo: Lis Bastian)
Exhibits, art and culture
The local arts community also got in on the act. Blackheath Art Society and local artist Julie Paterson of Cloth hosted a big, collaborative drawing workshop called “Everyone Can Draw”.
Collaborating on art. Planetary health requires working together! (Photo: Linda Moon)
Visitors also enjoyed the onsite ‘Water For Life’ exhibition.
Geoffrey Smith from Council’s Healthy Waterways Team explained how our actions affect water throughout the catchment in theWater for Life Exhibition (Photo: Lis Bastian)
Ending the day, the internationally acclaimed Bowerbird Collective enchanted listeners with a live performance and helped everyone experience that they were part of nature.
The Bowerbird Collective gave a stunning and interactive musical and visual art peformance. (Photo: Lis Bastian)
Support for Planetary Health Day comes from a Disaster Risk Reduction Fund jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments.
With the event dubbed a success by everyone involved, it’s hoped that Planetary Health Day can become a regular event in the Blue Mountains calendar.
Take Action:
Connect to local businesses and organisations from Planetary Health Day and find out how you can volunteer and contribute.
Plant some seeds or seedlings and start growing your own food.
Tick off three or more items on your sustainability list – like reducing your waste, growing some veggies, eating more plant-based food or upcycling secondhand clothing.
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
Mould, lead paint, asbestos, silica dust from engineered stone bench tops and a wide range of chemicals, are amongst some of the many hazardous substances entering our environment and negatively impacting our health. Asbestos is found in over 3000 products including textured paints, moulded garden pots, brake pads and clutch linings in older cars, floor and ceiling tiles, lino, fibro, roofing, pipes and gutters, hot water systems, backing for switchboards and insulation boards in air-conditioning ducts, insulation, sealants, fillers, caulking and adhesives, gaskets for industrial and lab equipment and more. We’ll have information to take away and Blue Mountains City Council and the Asbestos and Hazardous Materials Consultants Association (AHCA) will be running free workshops on how to identify and manage these hazardous substances at the Planetary Health Centre`s Disaster Risk Awareness Expo in Katoomba on Sat 22 Nov. Find out more and register to attend here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
Are you ready for the next bushfire, heatwave or flood? Why not take steps to prepare at the Planetary Health Centre`s Expo and Family Day on Sat 22 Nov. Award-winning Hempcrete designer Kirstie Wulf from @shelter.building.design will share 10 steps to build or renovate for sustainability and resilience; engineer Mark Liebman will share how you can build a green roof to reduce stormwater runoff and cool your building; Dr Agnieszka Wujeska-Klause will share research results on the most appropriate actions to lower heat in summer and help you use a thermal imaging camera to identify which surfaces retain the most heat; Frank Inzitari will introduce you to the @firehalo.au which can help reduce ember attack; and a team from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) will work with you to use the Bushfire Retrofit Toolkit to design your own personal bushfire plan. We`ll also be launching Firecoat`s new Bushfire Home Protection Kit. Learn more and register to attend here: https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
There are so many extraordinary volunteers keeping us and wildlife safe all year round! Come along and meet them at the Expo and Family Day at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba on Saturday 22nd Nov. Learn what you can do to be ready for emergencies, and how you can volunteer or help in some other way. Together we can be more prepared and reduce the risk of disaster. There`ll be a free sausage sizzle so help give us an idea of numbers by registering here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
Thank you Blue Mountains community for the generous donation of 11 sewing machines which we`ll be using for our free sewing workshop with Boomerang Bags at the Expo and Family Day on Sat 22 November at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba. It`s an opportunity for the whole family to make free Christmas presents that `don`t cost the earth`! Register here if you`d like to attend (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J (and you`ll get a free fire retardant plant from Santa while you`re there!)
Did you know that Australia has the world`s highest incidence of asbestos-related diseases per capita in the world, killing more than 4,000 Australians every year - three times more than the annual road toll; and that asbestos-related deaths are predicted to rise! Asbestos isn’t just in fibro homes and sheds - it was used in the manufacture of more than 3000 asbestos containing products with many of these products remaining in any brick, fibro, weatherboard, clad home or apartment built or renovated before 1990. Asbestos was used everywhere in homes - lurking under floor coverings including carpets, linoleum and vinyl tiles, behind wall and floor tiles, in cement floors, internal and external walls, ceilings and ceiling space (insulation), eaves, garages, roofs, around hot water pipes, fences, home extensions, garages, outdoor toilets, backyard and farm structures, chook sheds and even in dog kennels. Exposure to asbestos fibres during home renovations has been linked to 51% of mesothelioma deaths. There is no cure for mesothelioma. The average survival time following diagnosis is just 10-12 months. Homeowners, renovators and tradies are most at risk of exposure if they disturb asbestos containing materials. On Saturday 22 November, “Betty – The Asbestos Education House” will be a prominent feature of the Blue Mountains City Council’s Disaster Risk Awareness Expo to help educate local homeowners and tradies about the dangers of asbestos that remains lurking in 1-in-3 Aussie homes including many throughout the Blue Mountains region as part of National Asbestos Awareness Month (November). There will also be workshops and stalls on asbestos and a range of other hazardous materials and how you can manage them to protect youreself, your family and your community. Find out more and register here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
Emily from @handsheartfeet will be leading a free drumming workshop at the Planetary Health Centre Expo and Family Day in Katoomba on Sat 22 Nov. It`s suitable for all ages and so much fun! Places are limited so reserve your spot here: https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J (link in profile)
The Planetary Health newsletter is now out! Read it here: https://bit.ly/4o1FflK (link in profile)
It includes: • Expo and Family Day on Nov 22 • A Story of Purpose & Mental Health with Rotarian Peter Joseph AM from the Black Dog Institute on Nov 29 • How to Use a Sewing Machine Workshop on Nov 29 • Qigong, Upper Mountains Seed Saving & Gardening Group and Planetary Health Bushcare on Dec 6 • Legalising human composting as a sustainable death care option in NSW • The Climate Risk and Adaptation Plan for the Blue Mountains
We are so excited to be launching revolutionary new fire protection coatings that can stop your home burning down and slow the spread of fire. Learn more and pick up a sample pot at the Planetary Health Expo on Sat 22 Nov at 10am. FIRECOAT interior and exterior undercoat has been developed by scientists at UNSW and is already available for this fire season but new products will also be shared at the Expo, including a flexible fire-protective covering designed for temporary use on windows, doors, poles, fences, vehicles, equipment and other small assets. There is even a product that can create a fire-protective barrier around your home and these assets. FIRECOAT is waterproof, non toxic and game changing. Register here to attend the launch (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J and PLEASE SHARE. This breakthrough technology can help make our communities safer.
We’re thrilled that engineer Mark Liebman, who built a green roof in Blackheath, will be giving a free talk at the Planetary Health Centre Expo in Katoomba on Sat 22 November. Green roofs cool buildings, reduce stormwater runoff and increase biodiversity. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions and get tips on how to do it yourself. You can register to attend here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
Are there native bees and insects in your garden? Today is the first day of Australian Pollinator Week and native bee ecologist and musician @amelie_ecology has just released a new single with Costa Georgiadis @costasworld called ‘Not all Pests’. We’re thrilled that Amelie will be performing her songs and running a free interactive workshop on what we can do to support our native pollinators at the Planetary Health Expo and Family Day on Saturday 22nd November. You can register to attend here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
and you can stream ’Not all Pests’ here (link in profile): https://amelieecology.bandcamp.com/track/not-all-pests
There are so many ways to have a greener healthier Christmas! Ever thought of giving a voucher for Tai Chi and Qigong classes? You can try out one of our Qigong classes at the Planetary Health Centre this Saturday at 9am. Tutor Virginia Field is currently introducing Qigong`s 5-Animals Play, an ancient practice which developed from observing animals and mimicking their behaviour. Reserve a spot here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/3JlOAXh Find other ideas for a greener Christmas on Council`s website here: www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/greenchristmas
Or come along to our Expo and Family Day on 22 November and try out some other great options like drumming classes, sewing and fashion upcycling! Register to attend here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/disaster-risk-awareness-expo-or-full-cycle-2025
We’ve had some great news! Santa is coming to the free Community BBQ at the Planetary Health Centre Expo in Katoomba on Saturday 22 November. He’s arriving early to help us celebrate Christmas in a way that’s safer and healthier for us and the planet, and he’s let us know that he’ll be giving everyone who comes a free fire-retardant plant for their garden. We’re so thrilled we’re putting on fun family events for the day: from a fabulous free drumming workshop with Emily from Hands, Heart and Feet, to live music and a pollinator hunt with Amelie Ecology, and workshops to create plastic-free Christmas presents. There’ll also be an opportunity to meet the RFS, NSW Fire & Rescue, Red Cross and other emergency services. Come and learn ways to keep the family safe while also having fun, enjoying a coffee, sampling some plant-based sweets and a free BBQ lunch, and taking home lots of useful information about hazardous materials and preparing for extreme weather events! Register here to attend (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/disaster-risk-awareness-expo-or-full-cycle-2025?
Linda Moon has lived in the upper Blue Mountains since childhood and is a freelance writer for Australian media. A qualified naturopath, permaculture designer, mother and former student of social work, her passion is building local community, gardening, mental, emotional, social, housing and environmental health – all of which are linked!
There is a little bit of magic happening on Wednesdays at the Planetary Health Centre as young volunteers from Kindlehill School, and Council staff, work together to create a demonstration site for the wider community. This hands-on program is inspiring all involved, including teacher Sarah Daniel.
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