Congratulations to all our winners

1st Prize. F Thompson, Gwynneville

Best example of reuse: Built a tree house for the kids from a paling fence that blew down and made a sand pit from recycled bed heads.

2nd Prize. J Wong, Figtree

Best example of reuse: Using wood ash to clean plates and saucepans when washing up instead of detergent. It is a mild abrasive.

3rd Prize. C Okonowski, Berkeley

Best example of reuse: Used an old television as a bird cage; a pram as a trolley to move things around the yard and turned newspapers into a brick wall for a raised garden bed.

4th Prize. T Todd, Cordeaux Heights

Best example of reuse: To create and secure levels down a steep slope in the garden, I used old car tyres (like a mini retaining wall) that I then planted groundcover plants in. I make brooches out of beer bottle tops and also used the draws from a cupboard as shelves by screwing them into my wall in the garage.

5th Prize. L Tucker, Balgownie

Best example of reuse: Any chipped crockery I drill a hole in and plant it up. Light fittings, helmets and a colander can be used as hanging baskets. Old shoes on show.

Other great examples of reuse across the Wollongong area include

• Three reuses of soap nuts - I use soap nuts when washing clothes. After 4 to 5 washes with 4 - 5 nuts, I then make hand wash with the used soap nuts. The remaining used shells from making hand wash, can then be safely thrown into the toilet as a cleanser and is safe for the environment.
• We placed our old concrete laundry tub in the garden to grow water lillies and we now have frogs living in our tub.
• Vegetable and kitchen scraps in the compost bin, 8000L water tank for reusing rain water for the vegetables, flower garden and for toilet flushing. Also make home made wine, jams and pickles.
• Cut up old roller doors from the metal recycler and make large raised vegetable beds. Keep chooks to eat all my food scraps.
• Recycled cladding, floor boards, treated poles, roof tin and guttering used for a chicken coup and cyclone fencing for free range run for chickens.

Win the Ultimate Reuse Makeover for your Backyard

The 'sustainablitz' team will renovate your backyard using pre-loved or recycled items into a sustainable haven for your family.

Valued at $1000, the first prize allows you to choose what you would like to do! Our team has a wide range of ideas for you to consider or you may like to suggest your own.*

You may be interested in -

• a mini permaculture garden
• worm farming
• composting
• reuse sculptures
• strawberry wheelbarrow
• a garden chandelier
• birdfeeder
• hanging pots
• frog pond
• chicken coup
• planting fruit trees
• vegetable garden
• books on reuse in the garden

The list is endless! All great ways to reduce, reuse and recycle items so we can avoid generating waste.

Total prize pool over $1400 up for grabs

• Ultimate 'reuse' backyard makeover, prize package valued up to $1000
• Two working Reln Worm Farms and two 'The Salvage Studio' books, prize package valued at $148 each.
• Two Reln Compost Bins and two 'Junk Beautiful, Outdoor edition' books, prize package valued at $73 each.

*Terms and conditions apply. Council has final discretion to approve activities agreed upon as they will be dependant on resources available and must meet waste wise specifications. You must be a resident within Wollongong LGA to enter and win competition. Closing date is Monday 15 November 2010 and winners will be notified as soon as possible after determination by telephone and/or email.

Terms and Conditions

1. The following terms and conditions apply for the Backyard Reuse Revolution competition (“Competition”) and by submitting an entry into this competition, entrants warrant that they have read, understand and agree to be bound by them.
2. The promoter is Wollongong City Council (ABN 63 139 525 939), 41 Burelli Street, Wollongong NSW 2500 (“Promoter”)
3. The competition period will commence from 9am on Saturday 6 November 2010 until 5pm on Sunday 14 November 2010.
4. All entries must be delivered to Wollongong City Council, Environment Strategy & Planning, Level 3, Att: Fiona Netting, 41 Burelli St, Wollongong NSW  2500 OR dropped into the competition box at the National Recycling Week display at –Dapto Mall Shopping Centre on Tuesday 9 November and Wednesday 10 November, Westfield Warrawong Shopping Centre on Thursday 11 November and Wollongong Mall Markets on Friday 12 November.
5. Entry is available to residents of the Wollongong Local Government Area, who are aged 18 years or over.
6. Employees of the Promoter and their immediate families are ineligible to enter.
7. A maximum of five of the entries which have the best examples of reuse around the home (at the Promoter’s discretion) will win one of the prizes.  The best example of reuse around the home being awarded the major prize.
8. The winner(s) will be determined by a panel of three judges. The overall winner of the backyard reuse makeover will be required to become involved in further publicity or advertising.
9. All prize values are based on the recommended retail value as provided by the supplier and are in Australian dollars. The prizes will consist of the following items:

• First prize – a backyard makeover utilising pre loved items OR installation of initiatives which utilise sustainability principals eg. Chicken coup with chickens to eat food scraps OR planting fruit trees to avoid purchasing food. To the value of $1000.
• Second and Third prize – will each consist of one working Reln worm farm and one book titled ‘The Salvage Studio’. To the value of $148 each.
• Fourth and Fifth prize – will each consist of one Reln compost bin and one book titled ‘ Junk Beautiful, Outdoor edition’. To the value of $73 each.
  Total prize package – over $1400.

1. The final decision for approval of reuse initiatives forming any part of the   backyard reuse makeover will rest with Wollongong City Council and be dependant on meeting waste wise specifications, the level of resources available and suitability of Council staff to conduct various activities.
2. The first prize backyard reuse makeover must be completed within 6 months of notification of winning entry.
3. All prizes are non exchangeable and are not redeemable for cash.
4. All prize winner(s) will be notified as soon as possible after determination by telephone and/or email.
5. Fourth and Fifth prize winners must arrange a suitable time to collect their prizes from Wollongong City Council, 41 Burelli St, Wollongong. First, Second and Third prize winners will have their prize items delivered to their homes.
6. It is a condition of entry that the Promoter has the right to publicise the names of the winning entrants.
7. By entering this competition all entrants undertake to the Promoter that their entry is not in breach of any third party intellectual property rights.
8. To the extent permitted by law, all entrants release from, and indemnify the Promoter against all liability, cost, loss or expense arising out of acceptance of any prize(s) or participation in the Competition including personal injury and damage to property, whether direct or consequential or foreseeable, due to any negligent act or omission by an Entrant or otherwise.
9. All decisions and actions of the Promoter relating to the competition and/or redemption of the prizes are exercised at its absolute discretion and are final.