Future Proofing with Community Water Tanks and Bushfire Sprinkler Systems

Saturday, March 1

9:30 – 10am

Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre

33-39 Acacia Street Katoomba

Civil engineer Mark Liebman is a specialist in water management. He has worked with Blue Mountains City Council’s Planetary Health Initiative to design and install a Water Demonstration Site to showcase water management strategies to reduce the impacts of extreme weather events. He will discuss the latest research in bushfire sprinkler systems and the underground water tank at the Planetary Health Centre that is a prototype for underground water tanks that could be built at the end of flame zone streets around the perimeter of the City. These would reduce damaging stormwater runoff, while also capturing and storing stormwater for firefighting.

Mark will give an overview of the project and then lead a tour of the site with its demonstration sprinkler wall and underground tank.

Mark’s presentation is part of Planetary Health Day at the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre (see more info below)

You can view videos of his talk at the Futureproofing with Water Symposium and his recent Green Roof construction in Blackheath below, as well as a video of the latest research in Bushfire Sprinkler Systems by Dr Alan Green.

Videos

Circular Water

Sprinklers

Viking longhouse

We all need a Planetary Health Day! Visit the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre on Saturday 1 March for a day of fun and inspiration with live music, plant-based food, talks, tours, demonstrations, workshops, stalls and a Frogs of the Blue Mountains exhibition.

There’ll even be a ping pong tournament, giant chess and an opportunity for all ages to get hands-on experience doing Bushcare!

You’ll discover ways to save money, to reduce the risk of disaster, to ID frogs and to restore the health of our communities and our planet!

Keep an eye on this page as we update times and details! Please book in so that we can estimate seating and catering required (and let us know if your circumstances change).

Contact us via email: lbastian@bmcc.nsw.gov.au

or ring 0407 437 553

8. Parking is limited so please consider carpooling, catching a bus, walking or riding a bike to the event. The 686G leaves the Carrington at 8.30am and 8.55am and we will arrange lifts back to the station from the event.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Frogs of the Blue Mountains Exhibition: see photographs of all the known frogs of the Blue Mountains and listen to their calls with the Australian Museum’s Frog ID app.

DEMONSTRATIONS:

• Michael Tricket from Able Mobile Sawmill will demonstrate how you can turn fallen trees into usable timber rather than just woodchip
• Teya Brooks Pribac from Plant Inspired will return with her popular Plant Based Cheesemaking Demonstration and Tasting.

SPEAKERS:

• Brittany Mitchell, conservation biologist and FrogID validator at the Australian Museum, will share her experience of working on FrogID, and her research: “Australia’s frog species in the Anthropocene – habitat loss, climate change, behaviour, and disease”. She’ll show how anyone with a smartphone can use the Australian Museum’s free FrogID app to help protect the frogs of the Blue Mountains by submitting frog calls for conservation.
• Dr Hans Coster: Biophysicist, Bioengineer and builder of Middle Earth (an underground sustainable and disaster-resistant home run on nickel iron batteries) will discuss how we can protect our biosphere to restore the health of our planet. (video below)
• Frank Inzitari from Fire Halo (featured on Shark Tank): Will discuss his affordable and versatile invention that helps you clean your gutters while protecting your home from the threat of bushfire ember attack (video below)
• Mark Liebman, Engineer and Founder of Sustainability Workshop, will share the latest research on Bushfire Sprinkler Systems and then do a guided tour of our Water Demonstration Site, including the 150K litre underground water tank built on site as a demonstration of how we could collect stormwater at the end of flamezone streets around our City to reduce stormwater damage and protect against future fires.
• Karina Rafailov, founder of Earthy Haus and Kirstie Wulf from Shelter Building Design sharing How to Build Smarter using Passive House Design and natural building materials.
• Liam Ramage, threatened species officer from the Blue Mountains Conservation Society on the unseen threat of concrete
• Wildplant Rescue on rescuing native plants from building sites.

WORKSHOPS:

• Upcycling Fashion with Sherlie McMillan (Bookings essential: Cost $10)
• Boomerang Bags: Make Your Own

TOUR:

Tour our Water Demonstration Site which includes how to build a frogpond, wicking beds, drip irrigation, domestic and underground water tanks for firefighting, a composting ‘cool seat’ and demonstration bushfire sprinkler systems.

STALLS:

• Blackheath Community Farm
• Clifftop Harvest
• WIRES Blue Mountains
• Bibi’s Kitchen
• Plant based sweets
• Permaculture Matters
• Blue Mountains Conservation Society
• Wildplant Rescue
• The Repair Network
• Katoomba RFS
• Fire Halo

and lots more.

GAMES & FUN ACTIVITIES:

Ping pong and giant chess

Children’s art activity with Sarah Daniel from Kindle Hill

BUSHCARE:

Check out our monthly Planetary Health Bushcare group which is regenerating habitat for wildlife on the Planetary Health site. Find out how you can get involved.