Olive Street to Close for Sustainability Market

The first Annual Albury Wodonga Sustainability Market will close Olive Street in Albury on Saturday 27 March 2010 from 9am to 12.00pm.

The market will showcase not only local environmental groups and the initiatives they have underway, but also retailers dedicated to improving the planet. Committed to being a community leader of environmental sustainability, Hume Building Society will host the free event.

“By hosting such an event, we are giving the community an opportunity to discover how to become greener and make a difference in the environment everyday. People can purchase environmentally friendly products or speak to community groups about the environment and the practices that can be undertaken to preserve it,” explained Andrew Saxby, CEO Hume Building Society. “We want people to see that it isn’t just the big things, like solar panels, that make a difference, but the smaller things, like recycling clothing, putting blinds on windows or waterwise gardening, all help too.”

“We have been amazed by the support we have received from the community; Planet Power is the major sponsor and has played a vital role in the installation of our solar panels. Albury City Council has arranged to partially close Olive Street for the morning to accommodate the festivities and many businesses will be taking part on the day. Richard Marles, the Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation and Industry, Sussan Ley MP, Federal Member for Farrer and Sophie Mirabella MP, Federal Member for Indi will also be joining us for the launch of our solar panels,” said Mr Saxby.

The Sustainable Market promises to be an inspiring community event for residents and families, with a scissor lift and LCD screen on display to view the impressive display of solar panels on the roof of Hume’s head office in Olive St.
“By installing 90 solar panels on our roof, Hume has been able to reduce electricity and carbon emissions and has also improved lighting and air-conditioning units to further reduce our carbon footprint.” said Mr Saxby.
The solar panel installation came after Hume gratefully received $115,000 grant as part of the Australian Government’s Green Building Fund, which will reduce the electricity usage of Hume’s head office by 18%.

Hume staff also plant hundreds of trees with Parklands Albury Wodonga each year and use recycled paper for their stationery.

March 27 was chosen so the market co-incided with Earth Hour, the Australian born initiative that has taken off around the world and serves as a very visible reminder to be kind to our planet.