23 June 2006 Minister to launch Sustainability Centre at Lincoln township's 'Big Day'

The Canterbury township of Lincoln, 22 kilometres south of Christchurch, is pointing the way to a sustainable future for small local communities by setting up a Lincoln Sustainability Centre.

The Lincoln Envirotown Trust will be launched at the same time. The Trust has been formed to promote environmental sustainability through education and by encouraging people to make informed personal and community decisions. The Trust is supported by a grant from the Ministry for the Environment.

The Centre and the Trust will be launched by the Minister for the Environment, David Benson-Pope, on Saturday 8 July during Lincoln’s ‘Big Day’, a public occasion dedicated to environmental education and enhancing public awareness of environmental and sustainability issues.

It all happens from 10.00am through until 4.00pm at the Lincoln Community Centre, on Lincoln’s main street, and the programme includes talks, demonstrations, displays and hands-on activities on everything from harnessing solar power for water and electricity and growing native plants from seeds or cuttings to attract native birds to waste minimisation and organic food production.

There will be talks, displays and discussions all day and speakers include Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons.

The ‘Big Day’ is jointly supported by Lincoln University, Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, Selwyn District Council and many other individuals and organisations. It is organised by the Lincoln Envirotown Trust chaired by Lincoln High School Science teacher Dr Sue Jarvis.

Dr Jarvis is the inaugural holder of the Sir Peter Blake Environmental Educators Award, funded by the Sir Peter Blake Trust. The award provides her with a year away from the classroom to undertake a community environmental education project and she is working with Lincoln University and Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand