Cooks River Festival

You must be the change you wish to see in the world. - Mahatma Gandhi

That was the message that the Cooks River Sustainability and Arts Festival was trying to spread today.

This annual event, held at Steel Park next to Cooks River in Marrickville South, highlights the environmental and sustainability issues that people are confronted with every time they turn the tap or lights on.

“Council hopes to raise awareness of serious environmental issues with our community, and to show how ordinary citizens can make a big impact as individuals on improving the environment,” said Marrickville’s Communication Coordinator, Nick Murphie.

The day’s programme included a Sustainable Water Showcase where ambassadors helpfully answered questions and shared their experiences, and the Climate Change Project which is based on former Vice President Al Gore’s controversial 2006 movie, An Inconvenient Truth. Expert panels, workshop tents and demonstrations also ran in conjunction and they emphasised serious environmental issues while educating festival goers for a better environment.

Parents were encouraged to bring their families and make a day out of the festival with many children-friendly events also held such as craft activities and a storm water education model. Mayor of Marrickville, Morris Hanna OAM said: “It was a fun, relaxed day that the whole family enjoyed.”

Other initiatives the council supports in increasing awareness include The Watershed program which focuses on water pollution and consumption, and is a joint initiative with City of Sydney. There is also the RiverLife Interpretive Tour program which trains and supports local volunteer guides to develop and deliver tours in the Cooks River catchments area.

“[Marrickville] Council’s goal is to encourage all citizens to work in partnership with us to accepting these pressures and help us to implement solutions to manage these pressures. Council wishes to preserve and protect the environment and encourage sustainable living practices to ensure its preservation,” said Nick Murphie.

Links: Marrickville Council