 Local Government campaigns
The Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW (LGSA) are calling on the State Government to show real commitment to the environment by introducing container deposit legislation (CDL). The LGSA have undertaken a CDL campaign coinciding with World Environment Day on 5 June this year.
Toolkit to apply TBL decision making
Council officers in the City of Melbourne now routinely assess proposals for environmental, economic and social outcomes. Staff use checklists, templates and guidelines to determine the significance of impacts. These are then quantified and qualified to enable Councillors to make informed decisions regarding capital works submissions, proposals going to Council and corporate planning.
Community involvement in wetlands improvements
Using a long term approach, the Yellagonga Catchment Group (YCG) aims to improve the quality of the Yellagonga wetlands using a long term approach. YCG was formed in 1999 in response to the declining ecology of the local lakes and wetlands in Perth’s north west. Social problems associated with this decline included seasonal midge plagues and malodorous algae outbreaks.
Biodiversity Toolbox for
Local Government
A practical web-based resource to help Local Governments conserve biodiversity is currently being developed. Councils are encouraged to contribute toward the Toolbox, which will be completed by October 2002. The Toolbox idea was initiated by the Biological Diversity Advisory Committee and is being developed and produced by Environs Australia with funding from the Natural Heritage Trust Bushcare Program. The National Local Government Biodiversity Education Steering Committee, comprising representatives from Local Government and other agencies, is guiding the development of the Toolbox.
Switched on to creating an energy efficient city
In what is believed to be a first for Victoria, the City of Whitehorse has launched a new initiative that rewards people for building energy efficient homes.Council is offering a free building permit, worth approximately $500, to all new five star rated single dwellings built in Whitehorse over the next two years or until mandated by law.
Putting construction waste to work
At a recent municipal conference in Geraldton, the Western Australian Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, Tom Stephens, urged Councils to improve their complaint handling processes. The Minister’s call follows a statement by the State Ombudsman of the need for a lift in performance by Councils when dealing with the sensitive and sometimes difficult complaint handling process.
Environmental levy has wide support
As part of the Wingecarribee Our Future Environment (WOFE) program, Council, backed by community support, has included an environmental levy to fund environmental projects. With approval from the State Government, a special rate was raised to generate $500,000 per year over three years from 1 July 2000.
Composting at kinders
Between April and June, pre-schoolers from 10 kindergartens across the municipality were involved in the City of Port Phillip’s Compost Capers in Kinders program.
Stormwater reuse for parks and reserves
Whyalla in South Australia is located in a semi arid region. It relies solely on water pumped by pipeline, some 400 kilometres from the Murray River. Due to the City’s heavy reliance on this system, Council has introduced various initiatives to reduce its dependency on this precious resource.
REMS a community driven scheme
The Northern Shoalhaven Reclaimed Water Management Scheme (REMS) is one of the largest and most complex water recycling schemes undertaken by an Australian water authority. A partnership between Shoalhaven City Council and the Department of Land and Water Conservation, the aim of REMS is to reuse up to 80 per cent of reclaimed water from six Shoalhaven Wastewater Treatment Plants.
Aboriginal environmental health strategy
Western Australia’s Shire of Ashburton’s Environmental Health Strategy will allow environmental health needs in Aboriginal communities to be identified and managed more efficiently. By focusing on major influences, such as the management of the physical environment; biological hazards; and chemical hazards, environmental health outcomes will be enhanced.
Detention basin brings multiple benefits
Thuringowa City Council’s Mountview Park Detention Basin is a storage area for flood waters during peak flooding events, providing for sediment and pollutant removal from the stormwater. It has also created an innovative, community oriented open space area in an existing parkland.
Promoting environmental education
The Marion and Mitcham Environmental Education Project aims to improve the environment through the education of business, community and Council. The Cities of Mitcham and Marion in South Australia have identified the need to educate, assist and advise businesses within the area, with the aim of improving their environmental performance and minimising the impact of their activities.
Management plans for rural roadside reserves
The Wollondilly Roadside Reserve Strategy, a three year Natural Heritage Trust funded
project, was developed by Wollondilly Shire Council in New South Wales and the Natural Heritage Trust to produce management plans for rural roadside environments. The main aim of the strategy was for sustainable, natural and informed management of roadside environments, to benefit the community ecologically, economically and socially.
Council partnership recycling materials for conservation work
Recycled building materials will be used for important conservation work under a new agreement struck between the City of Geraldton and the Water and Rivers Commission.
Local Government engineering and the environment
Out with the old and in with the new - by Shane Dalton *
Large scale engineering developments have been cognisant of community values and tolerances of engineering versus the environment for several decades. Environmental concerns at local level have introduced an appreciable trickle effect through to Local Government level.
Manly Council's innovative treatment and reuse of stormwater
Manly Council has received over $1 million of grants and support to develop an innovate pilot stormwater reuse treatment train in the Manly Ocean Beach Pine Street Catchment under the Environment Australia Urban Stormwater Initiative. The project is a joint initiative between Manly Council and Environment Australia and is funded under the Commonwealth Government’s Urban Stormwater Initiative Program and Manly Council’s Environmental Levy.
Health promotion at Wadeye
Wadeye’s three Environmental Health Workers have achieved a significant amount through promoting awareness and establishing initiatives to assist the community in the care of its environment.
Casey’s own backyard blitz
In June 2000, the City of Casey held a garden makeover competition as part of its activities for World Environment Week 2000. It is a unique garden makeover due to its use of recycled materials, both from within the resident’s own home and garden, as well as from other sources.
Environmental principles
for a sustainable city
The City of Melbourne has reaffirmed its commitment to the continued development of a sustainable and healthy urban environment by endorsing a set of tenets to be known as the Melbourne Principles’. Lord Mayor, John So said the ten draft principles were drawn up at the Building Urban Ecosystems Conference held in Melbourne in April.
Cleanest dirt in town!
Melbourne’s Bayside City Council is taking action to ensure that the new North Brighton Children’s Centre has the cleanest playground in town. As part of the extensive planning and management process, Council commissioned soil testing to ensure that there were no potential health risks for the children who will be using the centre.
Achieving the Green Globe Benchmarking
The Green Globe 21 Benchmarking is awarded to travel and tourism communities and operators, in recognition of their abilities to demonstrate environmental, social and economic responsibility. Last October, Queensland’s Douglas Shire became the first in the Asia Pacific region to be awarded the Green Globe Benchmarking.
Interest free bikes for Council staff
The City of Darebin is offering its staff interest free bike loans as part of Council’s Green Travel Plan that aims to encourage staff to ride to work. Launched in July last year, the Green Travel Plan (GTP) is part of Darebin’s Integrated Travel Plan (ITP), entitled ‘Going Places’.
Cleaning up our act in waste management
The offensive smell and remnant contents of waste disposal bins are a widespread problem in most municipalities. Flats, restaurants, schools, businesses, and in fact anywhere where there are bins, particularly in confined areas, are all prone to suffer the off putting odious smell, and unpleasant lack of hygiene, associated with bins in need of a good clean.
Council training on environmental regeneration
A successful program at Parramatta City Council has seen a two way benefit to Council and participating trainees in bush and environmental regeneration.
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