Marlborough District Sustainable Living Info

Sign up for access to the study guide

To become a registered user of this website from an address within Marlborough District use the link above - then you can download the learning guides for free! The Council has a wealth of useful infornation on its own website, too. Start at their sustainability education webpage, or explore topic by topic below, which includes MDC links, along with other sources. The topic headings match the learning guides, from our downloads page.  At August 2014, we have published an introduction, food, gardening, and waste minimisation, soon to be followed by five more topics.

Download a PDF booklet on '30 ways you can make a positive difference for the environment' in Marlborough.

Gardens and backyards for food and nature

Celebrating what’s special about Marlborough native plants and animals (biodiversity)

Bringing tui back into town

Background to keeping pests, weed plants and farm diseases out of Marlborough (biosecurity)  and a link to WeedBusters.

Directory of plants ‘gone wild’ which are now pests in this region. 

Download to save or print ‘Plant me instead’ a PDF guide to garden alternatives to these pests.

Organic growing – food from your Marlborough garden. (Or PDF download version Organic Growing from Sustainable Living Marlborough to save or print.)

Natural alternatives in the vege garden – companion planting, natural fertilisers and insect pest controls.  (Or PDF download version Natural Alternatives from Sustainable Living Marlborough)

 Advice on compost-making and use.  (Or PDF download version Composting from Sustainable Living Marlborough)

Food choices & shopping

Marlborough Farmers Market (Oct to May, Sundays, at A&P Park, Alabama Rd, Blenheim)

Marlborough Community gardens & allotments, Ralph Ballinger Drive, off Budge St, Riversdale.  Ph. Neville 03 579 1947 or Tina 03 5793599  

Ideas on shopping to reduce waste, make choices to help the planet and maybe, save some money. (Or download this info as a printable PDF from Sustainable Living Marlborough.) 

Recipes for making your own cleaners & how to avoid toxics at home.  (Or download this info as a printable PDF from Sustainable Living Marlborough.)

Minimising waste

Working towards zero waste in Marlborough. (Or download this info as a printable PDF from Sustainable Living Marlborough.)

Recycling and resource recovery  (Or download printable PDF kerbside recycling guide)

Map showing which day the kebside recycling happens in your part of the district (turn on Legend for key to colour coding)

Latest on what you can recycle in Marlborough and where.

The Re-use Shop (open 7days) & salvage yard (Weds to Sun), Wither Road East, Blenheim. 

Stop throwing out pollutants – know the hazardous wastes, how to safely store and dispose of them.(Or download a printable PDF of this info)

Reducing kitchen waste going to landfill by using EM Bokashi, which can handle  items  unsuited to garden composting. (or download printable PDF of this info)

Worm composting to handle kitchen waste, & make liquid fertiliser and wormcast for use in gardening. (Or download this info as printable PDF)   See also info on conventional composting in Marlborough gardening sction above.

Community resilience and emergency management

Natural hazards in this region.

How to 'get ready and get thru' emergencies.

Quake recovery unformation.

Soil liquifaction risks in Blenheim

Energy efficiency - reducing power bills

Energy Efficiency info from the Council. Includes info on insulation and solar water heating.

Stay warm – home insulation & hot water tips. (Or download this info as a PDF from Sustainable Living Marlborough)

Home insulation service providers page and frequently asked questions in Marlborough. 

High Power Bill?  Ask CAB for advice on reading it, on changing suppliers and payment options.   

Building and renovations for warm, dry homes

Ecological Building in Marlborough – materials, sustainable design and who can help.(Or download this info as a PDF from Sustainable Living Marlborough.)

Solar water heating: financial help and suppliers. 

Air pollution in Marlborough - why there is winter smog and how to respond.

Advice on domestic wood-burners.

Water use and our impacts

Valuable water – MDC introduction page on water supply and conservation. (Or download this info as printable PDF booklet from Sustainable Living Marlborough.)

Rivers and streams including their ecology.

Rivers information line, e.g. for flooding info. is 03 520 7488.

Book on Groundwater in Marlborough (PDF). 

How to enter water meter readings on-line, for permit holders.

Stormwater and our used water (sewage): where they go to and how we affect them. (Or download this info as a printable PDF.)

Getting around Marlborough

Maps - Marlborough facilities and attractions (can zoom in)

Topographic map of region.

Public toilet locations mapped.

Road speed limits being reduced (news item)

Car pooling to reduce commuting costs.

Download PDF - accident blackspots & safer driving routes, from ACC.

Bus routes map within Blenheim.

Intercity buses: from Blenheim, from Picton, from Havelock, from Seddon.   

Walking and cycling maps across region.

Leisure walking guides & maps, Blenheim area.  Also download PDFs for Wairau cycle routes and for Picton cycle and walk routes.

Spotted a road pothole, unsafe footpath, missing sign?  Use the Fixit Request Form at MDC website.

Extra info sources - Marlborough

Environmental Education at MDC.

Enviroschools in Marlborough (28 of these, of whch 12 have food gardens)

Community volunteers and council habitat restoration projects. (contacts listed)

Citizens Advice Bureau (Blenheim) 

Public library  webpage & catalogue and library on line services for local registered users.

Community information database : search by keyword.

Safe Community project Marlborough