The Gold Coast Bulletin
By: Stephanie Bedo
Going green is not only the trendy thing to do, it can save you big bucks.
With electricity, water and food prices going up, turning to environmentally friendly and cost effective options is not just cool, it cuts day-to-day living costs.
Local environment group Gecko believes the shift in attitude on the Gold Coast will attract people to next weekend’s Green Day Out Festival.
The group, aka The Gold Coast and Hinterland Environment Council, has put together what it says is a bigger and better festival this year than last year, and has moved from Currumbin to cater for a larger crowd.
To be held at Kurrawa Park in Broadbeach next Sunday, June 13, the festival will have more than 110 exhibitors, two stages for 14 different performances, environment activities and plenty of entertainment for the kids.
A third of the exhibitors are new to the event, expanding on the 80 that took part last year. Whether selling organic food or showing an
energy-saving device, exhibitors must have an environmental focus.
Festival organiser Anna Itkonen said more exhibitors meant more businesses on the Gold Coast were going green. ‘‘What we want from all parties involved on the day is for them to have some kind of environmental relevance,’’ she said.
‘‘We want to inspire people to a more sustainable lifestyle and hope everyone can leave with at least one thing they didn’t know about or one thing they would consider doing.’’
The festival has attracted crowds of 6000 and this year organisers expect more, because of the location and green awareness.
‘‘The green focus has become much trendier all in all and people are looking for alternatives, especially when we hear all those horrible stories about electricity prices going up,’’ said Ms Itkonen.
Gecko is encouraging people to take advantage of public transport or cycle to the festival to help the environment.
There will be free pedal cars circling the area to take locals to the event.
Green Day Out is sponsored by One Degree, News Limited’s climate change initiative to reduce the carbon footprint of its businesses.
As part of this mission, The Bulletin is on target to be a carbon-neutral business by the end of this year. To learn more about the One Degree initiative visit www.1degree.com.au