December 2023 - Amanda Robertson

Living sustainably in the Gloucester NSW region

December 30, 2023December 30, 2023 by Amanda Robertson

LED lights and insulation are great starting points when you’re considering sustainable living in our region. However, there are many more things you can do to save energy and water.

While you might be using some of these strategies, I hope I make you think about other ways to live more sustainably.

Energy:

Solar panels are a fantastic option for saving on your energy costs. The most cost-effective is solar hot water. In a small household, showers make up about 40% of your total electricity bill. However, if you’re on a fixed income (living on a pension or your super) and you can afford the initial outlay, a full PVC array with a connected battery will reduce your electricity bills to almost zero. You might even get money back. These systems are expensive, though, and the pay-back period is anywhere from five to ten years. Whichever you do, though, will add value to your home.
Walk or cycle more and use your car less often
Reduce overall consumption: Turn off lights and electronics when you aren’t using them, especially the ‘vampire’ appliances that use energy when you aren’t actually using them. Even your electric kettle might be in stand-by mode if it’s turned on at the wall. Use your clothesline to dry your washing whenever possible.
Turn off your phone, tablet and laptop when you’re charging them or at least put your phone to Aeroplane mode. It will charge 50% faster.

Heating and cooling:

Insulate: You’ll be amazed at the difference this makes, winter or summer.
Close doors and windows and use curtains or blinds with a thermal backing to keep heat out in summer and in for winter. In summer, open your windows, especially top windows, to let out accumulated heat.
Install a ventilator fan: You might see these on industrial properties – the whirlygigs that suck hot air from your home. Of course, this only works when there is a bit of a breeze.
Install awnings on east- and west-facing windows
Install ceiling fans: Use them instead of air conditioning on all but the hottest, most humid days.
Upgrade your air conditioner to a more energy-efficient one.
Use your barbecue outside in summer to reduce the heat load indoors.
Use weather strips around doors and windows to keep heat in in winter and hot winds out in summer.

Water:

Install rainwater tanks: Even in drier summers, we get some rain. The calculation is 1 mm on 1 metre of roof gives 1 litre of water. To help keep your garden green, collected rainwater will be a big help for those hotter drier periods.
Fix leaky taps and pipes: According to this drip calculator, 15 drops a minute can mean you lose 394.2 litres a year.
Have a smart garden. As we mentioned in a previous article on waterwise gardens, you should group plants by their water needs. Then water early or late in the day to minimise evaporation.

See more about water savings here.

Waste:

Reduce, reuse, recycle: We all have too much stuff so reduce what you buy. Reuse what you can (like takeaway food containers) and compost your food scraps if you can.
Cut down on cleaning products (and the plastic they’re packaged in). You can clean most things around the house with a mix of a concentrated detergent like Morning Fresh and some bicarbonate of soda.

Lifestyle:

Try to eat locally grown and raised food.
Grow your own food: Even a herb garden is a good start.
Support local sustainability initiatives, volunteer for environmental groups and spread awareness about living green.
Make your own clothes if you can sew or buy second-hand clothing you can adapt.

Home:

Install green flooring next time you need to replace carpet or vinyl flooring.
Buy second-hand materials (like flooring, doors, windows and so on) when you’re renovating.

We can’t take on personal responsibility for global warming but we can all help even in small ways. Collectively our sustainability changes will add up.

Need advice on selling your Gloucester region property?

As a proud local, I’m here to guide you through the process of selling your home. I specialise in lifestyle, rural and residential properties. I’ve done it myself and helped many families over my career. So give me a call; I’m here to help.

Granny flat vs tiny house for your Gloucester region home

December 18, 2023December 18, 2023 by Amanda Robertson

We’re in the midst of a housing crisis in Australia and the Gloucester region is not immune, especially with the influx of residents over the past few years. Even the MidCoast Council has been writing to residents asking them to free up rental space on their properties.

Granny flats could help mitigate an acute shortage of rental accommodation.

However, before I launch into granny flats, I want to clear up some questions I’ve had about tiny houses on wheels.

Tiny house or granny flat: What’s the difference?

Tiny houses are all the rage; I think it’s the idea of an off-grid minimalist lifestyle that appeals. However, if you thought you could build (or have built) a tiny house, plonk it on some land and be done with it, think again. A tiny house is tiny because it’s designed to be mobile. It is built on a trailer with wheels and in effect it’s a fancy caravan as far as most local councils see it.

In contrast, a granny flat is a permanent structure and, subject to approval, can be used as a permanent dwelling.

Pros and cons of tiny houses and granny flats

Regulations in most councils haven’t really caught up with the tiny house movement. The pros of a tiny house are that, as it’s movable, the build isn’t subject to local building regulations. However, because it’s considered to be movable, it must comply with maximum size limits and restrictions on the number of days it can be occupied.

A granny flat is considered to be the same as any other fixed dwelling and you need to go through the normal approval process. This can take time and money, which is why the tiny house on wheels is becoming such a popular choice.

Advantages of a granny flat

While granny flats originally were for a grandparent, as the name suggests, nowadays they’ve become everything from teenage retreats to rental accommodation.

Once you’ve gained your building permits and built your granny flat, you can live in it, rent it out long term or instal a family member as a permanent resident. A permanent structure as an addition to your home can add value to your property as it offers the option of multigenerational living or another income stream.

Can you use a tiny house on wheels for short-term lets?

I get asked this a lot and it’s tricky. The thing is, it depends on where you intend to site your tiny house. Most people who have asked have acreage and are looking to supplement their incomes by renting their tiny house as a form of eco cabin.

The MidCoast Council will treat your tiny house on wheels as a caravan, which means they treat any occupancy as ‘camping’. That means you can use your tiny house only for a set number of days a year.

There are some great places to seek advice on the flexibility, costs and regulations for tiny houses. The Tiny Homes Expo is one place to talk to a range of providers. The 2024 Expo is in May at Hawkesbury Showground and in the Hunter region in July.

I found a great website where I found advice on how to set up your off-grid tiny house. Plus there are plenty of providers who will advise on how to manage the marketing and booking of your tiny house. Once you google the topic, you’ll be bombarded on Facebook with a plethora of ideas and providers.

Good luck! We’re still debating in our house about whether or not to buy a tiny house ready to go or whether we give our architect son an opportunity to design something!

Need advice on selling your Gloucester region property?

Preparing for Christmas in the Gloucester region

December 4, 2023 by Amanda Robertson

Christmas is coming; we know that once ‘the race that stops a nation’ has been run, it’s all downhill until 25 December. Are you ready?

Twilight Christmas

Head to Billabong Park on 15 December from 5.30 pm to pick up gifts from local suppliers, watch the lighting of the Christmas tree and enjoy live entertainment.

Where to buy Christmas gifts in Gloucester NSW

It’s been inspiring to see all the local stores gearing up for Christmas. Some of my favourites include:

Uptown Country. Men’s and women’s wear and a fabulous range of gifts, best diffusers and candles in town.
- Find them at 23 Denison Street.
Circle of Friends. Fashion and gift wares, including the ever-popular Tilley brand that includes the new Christmas Candle scented with toffee apple and caramelised vanilla.
- Find them at 64 Church St.
McRaes Fashion Centre. Environmentally friendly silicone lunch containers, Canterbury clothing and gorgeous leather goods.
- Find them at 79 Church St.
Nanna’s Homewares. Everything from clothing and cocktail recipe books to kids’ needs and homewares.
- Find them at 25 Church St.
Deck Decor/Ladybug Shop and DD’s Little Lolly Shop. Give the gift of plants this Christmas or choose a special crystal. If you’re looking to recapture childhood memories or want to introduce the children in your life to some traditional lollies, check out the range of lollies and fudge at the lolly shop.
- Find them at 29 Denison St.
Drifta. For everything outdoors, from swags to a folding solar panel.
- You’ll find them at 37 Church St.
Mustang & Co Saddlery Almost everything you need for horse and rider. Plus a great range of leather gifts and country clothes.
- Check out the new store at 47 Church St.

Christmas Day lunch

The highlight for many of us at Christmas is Christmas Dinner. However, while some of us stick to the tradition of roast turkey with all the trimmings, there are alternatives to spending hours in a hot kitchen. So far, I haven’t heard of any clubs or restaurants offering lunch on Christmas Day. However, why not swap a traditional turkey for a more Aussie choice?

One festive lunch I’ve wanted to try is a Champagne crepes stack with smoked salmon and sour cream, a recipe I picked up from the Good Weekend about 30 years ago. The original recipe isn’t online but you can adapt this Champagne crepe stack recipe, losing the avocado and adding chopped dill. Use the avocado in a fresh summer salad and you have Christmas Day lunch sorted. However, you need a substitute for the traditional plum pudding.

Years ago a dear friend every Christmas would bring a Summer Christmas Cake. Sadly, despite searching the internet, I can’t find anything that looks remotely like what she used to serve. Instead, this year I’m going to reinvent my favourite cake recipe, the Donna Hay Lemon Yoghurt Cake, cooked in a bundt cake tin as per the recipe. To add the Christmas feel, I’ll serve the cake topped with summer berries, yoghurt and a dressing of mistletoe.

Boxing Day after a traditional lunch usually means a food hangover. You want lighter food that doesn’t take an age to prepare. My standby is ham with a fresh tomato and onion salad or perhaps a Tricolore salad of tomato, avocado and mozzarella.

For a quick and easy Boxing Day dessert, grab some pre-made meringue nests from the supermarket, smash them into bite-sized pieces and smother them with an assortment of berries and Jalna Sweet & Creamy Greek Yoghurt. Job done.