The 2011 Sunshine Coast World Environment Day Festival is only days away and promises to be bigger and better than ever before with over 70 exhibitors, a high-profile speaker forum on the Green Economy, a vibrant children’s area and an engaging community forecourt to entertain and inform the over 5,000 expected visitors.
The Festival will be hosted at the University of the Sunshine Coast on the internationally-recognised World Environment Day, Sunday June 5 which is celebrated by over 100 countries worldwide. This year’s theme is ‘A Festival of Ideas’ and organisers hope to inspire those who attend to not only take home some good ideas to reduce their environmental footprint but to implement them to effect real change.
Wiebe ter Bals, Executive Officer at the Sunshine Coast Environment Council (SCEC) which organises the festival believes there is a strong desire within the community to reduce the impact on the environment and to become a truly sustainable region however recognises the challenge in converting that desire into measurable outcomes.“The World Environment Day Festival gives us the opportunity to present some of the most cutting-edge innovations across various thematic areas and gives festival-goers access to a range of products and ideas to make an informed choice about how they can reduce their environmental impact without having to compromise on lifestyle,” said Mr ter Bals.
“The Children’s Festival of Ideas area, food court and plethora of entertainment on offer ensure a fun day out for the whole family with the speaker forum, interactive displays, fashion swaps and community forecourt being highlights on the program.”
The Festival will be divided into various thematic areas including the Auzion Energy Area, the TAFE Home & Lifestyle Area, the Century Battery Recycling Transport Area, the Water Area and the Food Area.
Eco Fashion, which is included in the TAFE Home & Lifestyle Area is expected to attract a great deal of attention with six local Eco-fashion labels showing their creations on the red carpet during a series of fashion shows. Festival-goers will also have the opportunity revive their wardrobes for free by swapping their used fashion items with others at one of two fashion swaps between 10.15am-12.30pm and 12.45pm-3pm.
Another highlight will be the speaker forum which will see a panel of experts from across the country engage with the audience in a Q&A style discussion on the ‘Green Economy’. Panellists include Cate Collins, Head of Sustainability at LendLease Australia; Assoc. Prof. Michelle Rosano, Chair of Industrial Ecology Department, Curtin University; Robert Pekin, founder and director of Food Connect; Garrie Lette, Chief Investment Officer Catholic Super and Dr Haley Jones, Senior lecturer in Engineering at Australian National University.
People will be able to travel for FREE to the Festival with Translink providing FREE use of scheduled Sunbus Services to and from the University on June 5 from 8am until 5pm.