Individuals

Springwood resident Phillip Birtles believes that there is an essential connection between people and water. Through his work at Sydney Water, he taps into that connection, strengthening it and contributing to healthier, happier communities while simultaneously improving waterway health.

While it is important to focus on Avoiding, Reducing and Reusing, Recycling is also a key part of a successful sustainable waste program. It’s not always so obvious what can and can’t be recycled or how to do it, so here is a guide to help Springwood and Greater Blue Mountains residents access the most effective recycling options available in the local area.

Bill Dixon has cultivated a rainforest garden on a ridge in South Springwood. He talks about how growing rainforest species can be an adaptive response to local climate conditions.

The gift economy is a win-win-win for people and their communities, preventing waste while saving money and building community goodwill. What's not to love? Explore the options for giving and receiving in the Springwood area and the Blue Mountains more widely in this story by Gabiann Marin.

With the lack of available options for many unwanted pets and farmyard animals in the area, there is a need to think about how we as a community can help reduce the numbers of animals being dumped or left uncared for in the Blue Mountains. Sun Valley residents, the Sidarous family, opened their home and hearts to many creatures great and small, who might otherwise have struggled to find appropriate and loving care.

As our climate changes, bringing unseasonable weather events, we're more likely to find wildlife, like snakes, in unlikely places, including our home. Many greet snakes with fear, repulsion and sometimes violence. Local professional snake removalist Troy Hovenden wants to change the way we view these magnificent creatures, to help protect both human and snake residents of the Blue Mountains.

Jessie Burke, the current President of Springwood Bushwalking Club, is a strong and positive advocate for nature and the natural world, using her position in one of the Mountain’s oldest clubs to open up the joys of bush walking and bush care to a whole new generation of locals.

The Edible Garden Trail is on again in 2024, and local gardener and permaculture enthusiast Amanda Argent will open the gates of the Urban Farmer Blue Mountains to welcome the community into a garden designed around sustainability, community and creativity. 

Micro-recycling options are accessible and feasible for anyone, offering profound and important opportunities for us all to be part of creating a more sustainable and less wasteful world.

If you are looking for somewhere to escape the heat, Cool Mountains has you covered with our list of air-conditioned and naturally cooler spaces open to anyone.