IDEAS FOR CHANGE

ENVIRONMENTAL minds from across Queensland and New South Wales have converged on the Gold Coast for Somerset College’s first Sustainability Symposium.

Spearheaded by the Sustainable Schools Network, the inaugural event brought more than 500 minds together to tackle global environment issues.

Among them were international and local activists including Oz Harvest’s Amelia Berner, Straw No More’s Molly Steer and Melati Wijsen from Bye Bye Plastic Bags Bali.

Somerset headmaster Craig Bassingthwaighte said the college was thrilled to bring the symposium to the Gold Coast.

“It’s vital that we work together and provide a platform for students across the state to learn from each other and share the initiatives they are working on,” he said.

“We are very proud of students at Somerset College for consistently developing new ideas and progressive initiatives to improve our environmental footprint as a college. We have implemented a host of student initiatives and we encourage our students to continue to explore what more we can be doing as a school and as a community.”

The event is one of a number of changes under way by the school’s sustainability committee, including a mini recycling facility and partnering with a number of recycling companies for items like soft plastic, bottles and toothpaste tubes.

Spearheading much of the work is Year 10 student Noah Jay, who presented his habitat restoration plan yesterday.

The five-year Wyangan Creek Restoration Project is committed to increasing the habitat value of a creek in Mudgeeraba by planting native vegetation to help wildlife.

The project has been designed with a qualified bush regenerator and planner and aims to restore 2.6 hectares of land in the area.

Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School also shared its kitchen garden experience, while Banora Point High School made the trip to introduce Coast students to its Sustainable Fishing STEM Challenge.