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Baw Baw Shire Council
Environment and Climate Change Strategy
Introduction
Global warming and climate change are significant environmental issues
induced by human contributions to greenhouse gas emissions. How large and
how fast the impacts of climate change will extend will vary in different regions.
Scientific understanding of climate change is sufficiently clear so that we can
take steps now to slow its impact, and devise ways to adapt and transition to an
environmentally sustainable future.
In some parts of the world, global warming could bring positive effects such
as longer growing seasons and milder winters. Unfortunately, it is also likely
to bring harmful effects to a much higher percentage of the world’s people.
Climate change is not just an environmental issue it also impacts health,
agriculture, trade, employment, security and the economy.
Human actions over the next few decades will have a major influence on the
magnitude and rate of future warming. Large, disruptive changes are much more
likely if greenhouse gases are allowed to continue building up in the atmosphere
at their present rate. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions will require strong
national and international commitments, technological innovation and human
willpower.
Baw Baw Shire Council has an important role to play in working with the
community to minimise environmental impacts, build resilient communities
and transition to sustainability. The fiscal cost of dealing with climate change
will exponentially increase into the future and the smart way forward is to take
immediate action.
Implementation of Council’s Environmental Management Plan, which
commenced in 2005, has already made significant progress in a number of areas
that have reinforced and promoted the need to respond to climate change. This
new strategy outlines Council’s commitment to the environment and recognises
the need to take serious and concerted action.
In 2010, over 760 residents contributed to the development of the BawBaw 2050
Community Vision for the Shire. It was clear in the development of this vision,
that care for our environment was a dominant theme.
This strategy reflects a whole of Council response to the trends and issues,
key policies and community aspirations and concerns that will influence and
determine Baw Baw’s future environment.
The Environment and Climate Change Strategy is based on practical and
achievable actions within Council’s jurisdiction and capacity.
The Strategy is a high level document that sits below the Council Plan and
provides a medium to long-term tool for planning and decision-making on the
environment and climate change.
The Strategy also directs and is accompanied by four year Action Plans that
will be updated annually and identify the activities and resources that will be
committed to achieving our vision.
These actions include Council measures to improve the environmental
sustainability of Council’s operations and service, as well as an increased
number of community programs and incentives to encourage greater community
participation in sustainable activities.
The Strategy adopts a ‘triple bottom line’ (economic, social, environmental)
approach to sustainability and seeks to integrate the strategies and various
action plans across Council to improve the environment, prosperity, health and
wellbeing of the community. It is important that Council and the community
work together on actions that ensure sustainable development and formation
of resilient local communities.
Baw Baw Shire Council recommends this Strategy to its citizens. We all have a
role to play in protecting our precious environment and recognising that we need
to take steps now for a thriving and sustainable environment into the future.
Page 2
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Contents
Introduction
2
PART - 1
1
STRATEGIC CONTEXT
4
1.1
State of the Baw Baw Environment
4
1.2
External Trends and Issues
4
1.3
Policy Context
6
1.4
Community Aspirations and Concerns
6
1.5
Council Preparedness for the Future
6
1.6
Implications for Council’s Role and Direction
6
2
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
2.1
Vision
7
2.2
Environmental Sustainability
7
2.3
Strategic Directions
7
2.4
Objectives and Indicators
8
2.5
Planning and Decision-Making Guidelines
10
2.6
Communications and Reporting
11
APPENDIX 1 - STATE OF ENVIRONMENT REPORTING
12
APPENDIX 2 – POLICY FRAMEWORK
14
APPENDIX 3 – BAW BAW 2050 COMMUNITY VISION
18
PART – 2
Actions Plans 2011 - 2015 See Part 2 Doc
Page 3
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
1 : STRATEGIC CONTEXT
1.1 State of the Baw Baw
Environment
When determining the state of the environment at
a municipal level there are a number of important
considerations, in particular:
• T
he overall health of the environment and its various
parts (streams, land, air, water, biodiversity, etc);
• T
he trends for each of these conditions – that is,
whether they are getting better or worse;
• T
he types and extent of existing, new and emerging
pressures on the environment;
soil erosion, water pollution and settlement growth.
Getting a clear handle on responsibilities and responses
to these problems is difficult. State government
agencies, road and rail authorities, Council and individual
landowners and lessees all have a role and varying
degrees of responsibility. Many of these responsibilities
overlap, and resourcing is well below that needed to
effectively address problems.
Council collects data on its energy and water consumption
and volume of waste. These indicators have shown
significant improvements over the last few years, however
greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, particularly
from streetlights.
• T
he impacts to the environment from the way people
live, including the impacts of residential, industrial
and commercial greenhouse gas emissions, water
consumption, and waste generation;
Community contributions to the state of the environment
are the most difficult to determine. Council collects data
on waste volumes that show continued increase, in large
part because of increasing population, settlement growth
and resource consumption, despite more waste being
diverted from landfill. Setting up mechanisms to better
account for community impacts on the environment will
better enable the community to change its behaviour.
• T
he impacts to the environment from the activities of
Council including greenhouse gas emissions, water
consumption, waste generation, and the impact of
planning decisions.
1.2 External Trends and Issues
• T
he responses to those pressures by Council, Statebased agencies and the community;
Collection of this information enables Council and the
community to determine, as a whole and by part, the overall
state of the Baw Baw environment. Most importantly, it
enables us to determine whether our actions are making
a difference, whether community behaviour is changing,
and what this information means for Council planning
and decision making.
While there is extensive and good quality data available
from government agencies, research organisations
and others covering most aspects of Baw Baw Shire’s
environment, this data is not in a form that enables
Council to generate a snapshot of the current status of
the environment specific to the Shire.
It is proposed that Council introduce a State of the
Environment (SoE) Report that can be used to identify
and monitor environmental trends and pressures, and
to assess progress of Council and community action.
This report will become part of Council’s Annual Report
and, over time, will transform the Annual Report into a
Sustainability Report.
A proposed format for State of the Environment reporting
has been developed based on the Victorian State of the
Environment Report (2008) and formats used by other
Councils. Baw Baw Council’s own environment reporting
capacity will be built over time and through agreements
with other data collection agencies (mostly State
government), and use of community data collection tools
(such as Waterwatch).
At a local level the Shire’s land, waterways, biodiversity
and native vegetation cover are in good condition relative
to other parts of the State, however they are under intense
pressure from a range of factors including weeds, pests,
Page 4
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
There are four significant factors that could influence
the directions and outcomes of Baw Baw’s future
environment.
Population Growth and Settlements
Baw Baw is
municipalities.
one
of
Victoria’s
fastest
growing
Baw Baw Shire’s population was almost 43,000 in 2010/11
and is projected to grow to 54,000 by 2026. ABS Census
Figures for 2006 reveal the following populations for the
Shire’s major towns: Warragul (12,943 people); Drouin
(7,523 people); Trafalgar (2,684); Yarragon (1,129 people).
During the period 2001-2006, Baw Baw Shire population
grew at about 1.1 per cent per annum with the Warragul
and Drouin area showing a more rapid population gain.
The estimated residential growth in 2009/10 was 3.8 per
cent across the whole Shire.
This growth is placing increasing demands on land and
natural resources within the Shire.
Economic Growth and Consumption
Baw Baw Shire is a major centre for agricultural
production, containing highly productive soils and a high
rainfall climate. Agribusiness is the major employment
sector in the Shire, followed by health care & social
assistance, retail, construction and manufacturing. The
food processing and dairy sectors have high export market
potential. The availability of high quality agricultural
products, milk, meat, vegetables and fruits provides
great opportunities for value-adding and packaging for
the domestic and international food markets. The area
is recognised as being one of the most productive dairy
regions in Victoria.
Current patterns of economic development also represent
a primary driver in the depletion of natural resources.
Gains in human well-being are being achieved at the
expense of ecosystem services essential to life. In general
terms, as humans we are using resources at a greater
rate than that at which they are being replenished.
Continuation of this trend is clearly unsustainable.
The Ecological Footprint (a measure that tracks the amount
of land required to provide for the needs of humanity) of
the average Victorian equates to one and a half times
the land area available in Victoria and is three times
higher than the world average. This means Victorians are
turning natural resources into waste at a faster rate than
nature can turn waste back into resources. This pressure
drives habitat destruction or degradation and threatens
natural systems as well as human well-being. Our energy
consumption is the biggest contributor to Victoria’s
footprint, largely due to our reliance on greenhouse
emissions-intensive electricity generation and use.
Climate Change
Climate change is one of the most important challenges
facing us today. The CSIRO predicts that the future climate
of West Gippsland will be significantly hotter and drier
than it is today. By 2070 the region can expect to be: 1.4°C
warmer with 6 per cent less rain under a lower greenhouse
gas emission growth scenario and 2.6°C warmer with
11 per cent less rain under a higher greenhouse gas
emission growth scenario (CSIRO, 2008. Climate Change
in West Gippsland, Victorian Government Department of
Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne).
Although average annual and seasonal total rainfall is
expected to decline, the intensity of heavy daily rainfall is
likely to rise in most seasons. However, fewer rain-days
are anticipated with more droughts.
The impact of climate change is more likely to be
felt through extreme events such as the number and
sequence of hot days, reductions in frost, and changes in
daily rainfall patterns. Bush fire risk is also expected to
increase. Changes in climate will have a range of impacts
– for example on water resources, bushfire frequency and
intensity, primary production and infrastructure.
Peak Oil
Oil and its by-products are central to modern civilization.
Many of the everyday items we use are either made from
oil or are dependent upon oil for their production.
For example, fruit and vegetables on supermarket shelves
are highly dependent upon oil - from the fuel oil used to
harvest and then transport these goods around the world,
to the petrochemical feedstock used to manufacture the
pesticides and herbicides that maintain high yields. Even
fertiliser is dependent upon large amounts of hydrocarbons
for its manufacture. The whole of our modern food chain
is completely dependent on oil, meaning that the future
of agricultural production is vulnerable to depletion of
this non-renewable resource. Many consumer goods are
made of plastic, a material utilising petrochemicals in its
manufacture. Many common medical and pharmaceutical
products also have oil as a basic constituent. The aspirin,
originally processed from the bark of the willow tree, is
now another of these many oil derivatives.
Peak oil is the point in time when the maximum rate of
global petroleum extraction is reached, after which the
rate of production enters terminal decline.
In 2010, the International Energy Agency marked 2006 as
the year that conventional oil production had peaked. This
means that the oil production is in decline, making oil and
its alternatives more expensive.
Peak oil will have a direct impact on the food security,
shelter, health and safety, transportation and economic
prosperity of our community.
Peak oil will also have a significant direct impact on Baw
Baw Shire Council operations through increased costs of
materials and energy used in Council services and facilities
such as waste, maintenance and cleaning services; vehicle
fleets and machinery; and road construction and renewal.
The majority of materials used by Council are made from
petrochemicals such as asphalt, plastics, waste bins,
play ground equipment, fertilisers, herbicides, vaccines,
etc. It’s also likely to indirectly impact Council operations
through changing community demands for Council
services.
In light of the dual challenge of peak oil and humaninduced climate change it is critical that we develop
targeted interventions to ensure that we do not waste
important resources.
It will also affect the richness of our biodiversity and
the health of our landscapes. As well as the direct
environmental impacts of climate change it will interact
with other drivers of change such as population growth
and advancements in technology. Without action to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for a changing
climate, the direct and indirect impacts will have major
adverse effects on the environment, our society and our
economy.
Page 5
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
1 : STRATEGIC CONTEXT
1.3 Policy Context
Council’s role and powers with respect to the environment
are principally through:
• Activities funded from Council’s own revenue base;
• C
ouncil’s planning scheme and other regulatory
mechanisms;
• P
rojects and services with other agencies and
organisations; and
• A
dvocacy and influencing activities to change
the policies and programs of other agencies and
organisations.
A key consideration in the development of this Strategy is
the large number of policy and strategic frameworks that
affect and influence Council’s approach, activities and
ability to respond to community concerns and aspirations.
This is particularly the case in land management where
the responsibilities of various agencies often overlap and
lead to duplications of effort.
Victoria has more than 50 Acts and around 30 strategies
that relate to environmental management. In addition,
there are a large number of Federal laws and programmes
affecting the Shire as well as international frameworks
and conventions to consider.
This policy context presents Council and the community
with a complex set of opportunities and challenges
that require ongoing assessment, interpretation and
engagement.
1.4 Community Aspirations
and Concerns
Council recently undertook the preparation of a vision
for the future of the Shire through consultation with the
whole community. This vision for 2050 contains a set of
directions to guide community action towards that date.
Concern for the environment was a strong and consistent
theme during the engagement process. The outcomes
of that process are now reflected in the BawBaw 2050
Community Vision. Additional workshops and meetings
were held with a range of interested groups to explore and
test concepts in the development of this Strategy. These
workshops reinforced the general direction and provided
valuable input to shaping actions and priorities.
1.5 Council Preparedness
for the Future
An important element of strategic planning is assessment
of the preparedness and capacity of Council to effectively
Page 6
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
respond to and meet the opportunities and challenges of
the future.
This Strategy reflects a whole-of-Council response
to the trends and issues, key policies and community
aspirations and concerns that will influence Baw Baw’s
future environment. A whole-of-organisation approach
implies consideration and integration of governance,
processes, decision-making tools, culture, structure,
staff skills, information sharing, management quality and
other components of organisational design to enable the
achievement of environmental objectives.
All Council activities have an impact on the environment
in two distinct ways – how staff work activities and choices
contribute to Council’s own environmental footprint (that
is, Council’s own levels of water consumption, waste,
greenhouse gas emissions, etc.) and the environmental
consequences of Council decisions or activities such as
planning decisions, road maintenance, procurement,
infrastructure development, service delivery, community
development programs and so on.
Council staff also have a unique role in that they work for
the community on the environment as part of their job and
most live in the community as well.
1.6 Implications for Council’s
Role and Direction
Baw Baw Shire is very much at the crossroads with
respect to its relationship with the environment.
The key challenges of climate change, population growth,
increasing resource consumption and peak oil pose large
questions about the type of future the Baw Baw community
aspires to and can achieve. The 2050 BawBaw Community
Vision suggests a future of leadership, retention and
transformation.
It is important that the community recognise that Council
is just one of a multitude of players. Its powers, while
significant, are limited in affecting these broader trends
and issues on its own. As such Council requires strong
leadership, bold and strategic use of its powers, strong
community engagement and effective alliances and
partnerships with key stakeholders to influence the
broader agenda.
In order to deliver integrated environmental outcomes,
Council needs to utilise a whole-of-Council approach.
This can be achieved by building capacity and capability
across the Council’s governance and administration.
2 : STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
The Strategic Framework is a high-level document that
sits below the Council Plan and provides a medium-to
long-term tool for planning and decision-making on the
environment and climate change.
2.3 Environment and Climate Change
Strategic Directions
The Framework directs and is accompanied by four year
Action Plans (updated annually) that identify the activities
and resources that will be committed to achieving our
vision.
1.Provide consistent and bold Council leadership
The components of the Strategic Framework are as
follows:
2.1 Vision
Happy, healthy people sharing prosperity and knowledge
from living sustainably and in harmony with our rural
identity, thriving villages, productive and inspiring
landscapes.
2.2 Environmental Sustainability
The principle requirements of environmental sustainability
are to:
• R
estore, protect and maintain our natural assets or
ecological processes to provide clean air, water, soil
and resilient functioning of native plant and animal
communities;
• Prevent further environmental degradation;
ouncil will “walk the talk” on sustainability and build
C
Council capacity to meet the threats and opportunities
posed by climate change, peak oil and related trends
2.Use Council powers and tools with a long-term
focus
Council will make policies, plans and decisions based on
long-term risk and opportunity assessment
3.Support the community to act and transition to
sustainability
Council will engage, support and encourage the local
community to take-up and transition to sustainable
practices
4.Form effective partnerships for concerted action
Council will actively engage with others to address the
complexity of stakeholders involved in sustainability to
ensure effective and concerted action in the transition to
environmental sustainability
*Strategic directions provide the orientation and focus of
attention for actions that will lead us to our vision.
The number of directions must be few enough so that they
can be easily remembered, broad enough to encompass
all Council activity and provide confidence that if pursued
fully, would eventually enable realisation of our vision.
Under each direction is a set of measurable objectives
that identify what is to be achieved, and indicators that
provide the basis for measuring progress.
• R
educe our resource consumption to within the
capacity of natural systems to continually replenish
themselves and increase resource re-use;
• D
evelop a culture of sustainability and strengthen the
community’s ability to care for the environment.
Page 7
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
2 : STRATEGIC Framework
2.4 Objectives and Indicators
The table below includes a comprehensive list of indicators that can be used to gauge the progress towards environmental
and climate change actions in this strategy. While the Council and other authorities are currently collecting data on many
of these indicators, for others there is currently no process or program such for collection. This will change over time and
as new data becomes available Council will include more of these indicators in progress reporting.
Theme
Objectives
Indicators
1.1 Land and Waterways
Manage Council-owned land and waterways to
highest environmental standards
Land health
Stream health
1.2 Biodiversity
Protect and restore biodiversity and landscape
quality of all Council-owned and managed land
Areas with high conservation
significance identified, protected
and managed
1.3 Greenhouse Gases
Minimise the carbon footprint of Council operations
Council greenhouse gas
emissions
1.4 Water Use
Lead by example on water conservation programs
Council water consumption
1.5 Transport
Promote and use transport with the lowest
environmental impacts for Council operations and
events
Number of non-car trips
1.6 Land Use Planning
Achieve best practice building for new Council
buildings and facilities
Building and facility ratings
1.7 Waste and Recycling
Minimise waste and resource consumption from
Council operations
Council rates of waste to landfill
(including green waste)
Waste diversion amounts
1.8 Sustainability Practice
Integrate and apply ESD principles to all Council
operations, including governance, administration,
capital works program, service delivery,
maintenance operations, etc.
Council environmental
performance reporting
% of environmental targets
achieved
1.Council Leadership
Page 8
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Theme
Objectives
Indicators
Ensure developments are consistent with protection
and restoration of land and waterway values
Land health
Stream health
2.2 Biodiversity
Ensure new development maintains or enhances
biodiversity values and does not threaten areas of
high conservation significance
Areas with high conservation
significance identified, protected
and managed
2.3 Greenhouse Gases
Ensure new developments are designed to maximise Average rating of new residential
and commercial buildings
energy efficiency and minimise greenhouse
emissions
2.4 Water Use
Ensure developments are consistent with best
practice water consumption
Average rating of new residential
and commercial buildings
2.5 Transport
Incorporate integrated transport planning into new
subdivisions
Average distance to public
transport, and cycle/walking paths
2.6 Land Use Planning
Protect productive agricultural land for ongoing
food and fibre production and facilitate, promote
and enforce application of highest environmental
standards in land-use and built form
Area of productive agricultural
land
Average rating of new residential
and commercial buildings
2.7 Waste and Recycling
Use Council powers to achieve zero waste to landfill
Residential and commercial rates
of waste to landfill
Waste diversion amounts
2.8 Sustainability Practice
Apply best practice environmental sustainability
principles to planning and decision-making,
including Council plan, MSS, STEP system, etc.
Levels of compliance with best
practice standards
2.Using Council Powers
2.1 Land and Waterways
Land use
3. Supporting Community
3.1 Land and Waterways
Engage and support the community to participate in land Community participation rates
and waterway restoration and maintenance projects
3.2 Biodiversity
Engage with landowners and the community to
promote and protect biodiversity values
Community participation rates
3.3 Greenhouse Gases
Engage and support community to reduce
greenhouse emissions and prepare for future
climate risk
Community participation rates
Community greenhouse gas
emissions
3.4 Water Use
Engage and support community to reduce water
consumption to best practice standards
Community participation rates
Community water consumption
3.5 Transport
Support and promote community use of transport
with the lowest environmental impacts
Community participation rates
3.6 Land Use Planning
Engage and support the community in transition to
sustainable settlement and developments resilient
to climate change
Community participation rates
3.7 Waste and Recycling
Engage and support community to reduce waste to
landfill and maximise recycling rate
Residential and commercial rates
of waste to landfill
Waste diversion amounts
3.8 Sustainability Practice
Engage and support community in Council
commitment on environmental sustainability and
climate change issues
Community satisfaction ratings
Page 9
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
2 : STRATEGIC Framework
Theme
Objectives
Indicators
4.1 Land and Waterways
Work with partners and key stakeholders to achieve
effective co-ordination and integration of land
management strategies
Partner/stakeholder feedback
4.2 Biodiversity
Form partnerships to ensure effective protection of
areas of biodiversity significance
Areas with high conservation
significance identified, protected
and managed
4.3 Greenhouse Gases
Form partnerships with key stakeholders to
advocate low carbon growth in the region
Partner/stakeholder feedback
4.4 Water Use
Continue to implement measures to improve water
Water consumption in the Shire
quality including storm water. Partnership with EPA, Water quality
West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority
Water Watch to improve the quality of storm water
4.5 Transport
Form alliances to influence broader sustainable
transport policy making
Partner/stakeholder feedback
4.6 Land Use Planning
Advocate and partner to effect changes in land-use
planning that support community sustainability,
climate change and transition objectives
Partner/stakeholder feedback
4.7 Waste and Recycling
Promote sustainable waste management practices
in partnership with Gippsland Region Waste
Management Group
Partner/stakeholder feedback
4.8 Sustainability Practice
Engage stakeholders in Council commitment on
environmental sustainability and climate change
issues, and partner to build and broaden Council
capacity and capability
Partner/stakeholder feedback
4. Partnering
2.5 Planning and DecisionMaking Guidelines
1.3 Where Council has a full role
The following guidelines will be used to assist Council’s
planning and decision-making on the environment and
climate change:
• U
se its powers to determine or regulate the activities
of landowners, residents and businesses; and/or
1.Does Council have a role or responsibility?
2.Is the proposal responsive to risk?
1.1 Where Council has no direct responsibility
Where Council has no direct responsibility, it will consider
the importance of the plan or activity and its impact on the
Baw Baw environment and determine whether there is a
case for advocacy on behalf of the community.
1.2 Where Council has a partial role
Where Council shares responsibility with other agencies,
it will partner, support or seek to influence other agencies
to develop an environmental solution consistent with this
strategy.
Page 10
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Council’s role is either to:
• Provide leadership in its own activities;
• P
rovide services to support the community and
business to act sustainably.
Council applies long-term thinking and life-cycle
assessment to planning and decision-making and
assesses each plan or activity against short, medium and
long term risk and benefit parameters.
3.Is the proposal supported by evidence?
Council actively seeks to keep up with and use the latest
and best thinking, knowledge and practice. All efforts
are made to ensure that reliable scientific and technical
findings are available to assist planning and decisionmaking. Prevention of environmental degradation is not
delayed due to lack of full scientific certainty.
Evidence is predominantly based on publication in
peer reviewed journals or reports, or where there is a
high degree of support from those with subject matter
expertise.
4.Is the proposal viable?
6.Does the proposal provide value for
money?
Plans and activities are assessed to determine the
environmental/public benefit for a given unit of cost and
level of investment required.
Assessment is made of the capacity and capability of
Council and the community to effectively respond to:
• I ntegration of economic, social and environmental
aspects.
5.Is there an environmental benefit?
Actions that deliver a net environmental gain or are those
actions that:
• R
estore, protect and maintain our natural assets or
ecological processes to provide clean air, water, soil
and resilient functioning of native plant and animal
communities;
Environmental Benefit
• C
ommunity and stakeholder engagement
requirements;
LOW
HIGH
‘Low
hanging
fruit’
Worth
considering
Requires
strong triple
bottom line
business
case
Worth
considering
Requires
strong triple
bottom line
business
case
Not worth
considering
May be worth
considering
if easy to
implement
and has
community
support
Not worth
considering
Not worth
considering
HIGH
• T
he impact on the current community and future
generations;
MEDIUM
MEDIUM
COST
LOW
• T
he immediate and ongoing impact on Council
resources, systems and liability requirements;
• R
educe our resource consumption to within the
capacity of natural systems to continually replenish
themselves and increase resource re-use;
• D
evelop a culture of sustainability and strengthen the
community’s ability to care for the environment.
• Prevent further environmental degradation;
2.6 Communications and
Reporting
Regular information about Council and the community’s
actions towards improving the environment will be
disseminated.
Progress on the implementation of this Strategy will
be reported at the end of each financial year as part of
Council’s Annual Report process.
A monitoring program will provide baseline and trend
information about water usages, greenhouse gas
reduction, waste and recycling, local flora, fauna and
ecosystems to inform management and policy decisions
that will enable the development of a State of the
Environment Report. The first State of the Environment
Report will be completed in 2012-13, and repeated every
four years.
The Action Plan will be reviewed annually with budget
allocations made as part of Council’s corporate planning
and budgetary processes. This Strategy will be subject to
a comprehensive review, with community consultation, in
four years (2015).
Page 11
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Appendix 1
State of the Environment
Reporting
There are three key components to State of the Environment reporting at a municipal level:
1. Environmental outcomes
2. Community (residential, industrial and commercial) impacts
3. Council impacts
The following table provides a proposed reporting format for Council’s State of the Environment Report.
Theme
TRENd
Describes the
trend of each
environmental
indicator
Pressures
Responses
• Existing
• State agencies
• New & Emerging • Council
• Community
THEME 1 – PROTECT THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
LAND and WATERWAYS
Land managed for conservation
Weeds
Stream health
Environmental flows
BIODIVERSITY
% Shire covered in native vegetation
Area covered by key habitats
Number of species extinct in Shire
CLIMATE
Rainfall
Temperature
Wild Fire Risk
THEME 2 – USE RESOURCES SUSTAINABLY
GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS
Residential Greenhouse Emissions
Industrial Greenhouse Emissions
Council Greenhouse Emissions
TRANSPORT
Community transport behaviour
Business transport behaviour
Council transport behaviour
WATER USE
Residential water consumption
Industrial water consumption
Council water use
LAND USE PLANNING
No of residential building approvals
Environmental impact of planning
approvals
WASTE and CONSUMPTION
Municipal waste
Waste to landfill
Page 12
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Implications
For Council
infrastructure &
community services
To be effective, indicators need to be quantifiable. Indicators should be:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Relevant — they show you something about the system that you need to know
Easy to understand — even by people who are not experts
Reliable — you can trust the information
Long-term — the data needs to collected regularly so that trends can be established over time
Based on accessible data — the information is available or can be gathered while there is still time to act
Deliverable — Council has a commitment to continue resourcing the collection and use of indicators
The following comment is provided on the current availability of relevant data for each of the proposed indicators.
Indicator
Comment
THEME 1 – PROTECT THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
LAND and WATERWAYS
Land managed for conservation
Good data quality available from State agencies
Weeds
Good data quality available from State agencies
Stream health
Good data quality available from State agencies
Environmental flows
Good data quality available from State agencies
BIODIVERSITY
% Shire covered in native vegetation
Good data quality available from State agencies
Area covered by key habitats
Good data quality available from State agencies
Number and status of threatened species
Good data quality available from State agencies
CLIMATE
Rainfall
Good data quality from national and State agencies
Temperature
Good data quality from national and State agencies
Wild Fire Risk
Data not specific for the Shire
THEME 2 – USE RESOURCES SUSTAINABLY
GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS
Council Greenhouse Emissions
Moderate data quality
Community Greenhouse Emissions
Inadequate data to assess trend – Hard to assess
TRANSPORT
Mode of travel to work
Poor data quality – sample surveys possible
WATER USE
Residential water consumption
Good data quality from water authorities
Industrial water consumption
Good data quality from water authorities
Council water use
Good data quality
LAND USE PLANNING
Number of residential building approvals
Good data quality – needs to be developed to segment for sustainability objectives
WASTE & CONSUMPTION
Municipal Waste
Good data quality from waste authorities
Waste to landfill
Good data quality from waste authorities
Page 13
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Appendix 2
Policy Framework
Level ofKey PlayersKey rates
Government
And sustainability initiatives
Key Documents
General
International
Bodies
United Nations
To provide international leadership and encourage
Environment Program partnerships in protecting the environment.
(UNEP)
To identify and address transboundary environmental
Commission
issues.
on Sustainable
Development (CSD)
To monitor and support implementation of Local Agenda
21
Organisation for
Economic Cooperation
and Development
(OECD), Environment
Policy Committee
Local Agenda 21
International Council
on Local Environment
Initiatives (ICLEI)
Federal
Government
State
Government
Department of
Sustainability,
Environment,
Water, Population
and Communities
(DSEWPC)
Representation at international forums and compliance with National Strategy
international agreements to which Australia is signatory.
for Ecological
Sustainable
Providing national leadership, direction and support
Development (1992)
for implementation of the National Strategy for Ecology
Sustainable Development (NSESD) 1992.
Intergovernmental
Agreement on the
Department of
Sustainable management of its own properties and
Environment (1992)
Agriculture, Fisheries activities.
and Forestry (DAFF)
20% Renewable
Coordination/development of national environmental
Energy Target by
Department of
standards, e.g. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). 2020.
Climate Change and
Energy Efficiency
Developing and ensuring compliance with national
(DCCEE)
legislation, e.g. Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act (EPBC Act 1999).
Department of
Sustainability and
Environment (DSE)
Department of
Primary Industries
(DPI)
Department of
Planning and
Community
Development (DPCD)
Environment
Protection Authority
(EPA)
Sustainability Victoria
Develop and implement policy and programs for the
State Government’s environment, water and planning
portfolios.
Our Environment
Our Future:
Victoria’s
Environmental
Take a lead role in whole-of-government implementation Sustainability
of the Victorian Government’s Sustainability Action
Framework (2005).
Statement.
Development of regional sustainability strategies.
Developing and ensuring compliance with state
legislation, e.g. Planning and Environment Act 1987,
Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
Regulation of planning and development.
State environment protection policies (SEPPs),
established under the Environment Protection Act by
the Environment Protection Authority express in law the
community’s expectations, needs and priorities for using
and protecting the environment. SEPPs provide a clear
statutory framework of environmental performance
objectives.
Baw Baw Shire Council is party to the Victorian Local
Sustainability Accord (VLSA), a partnership program
between the Victorian State Government and local
governments aimed at progressing local, regional and
state-wide environmental sustainability.
Page 14
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Level ofKey PlayersKey rates
Government
And sustainability initiatives
Key Documents
General (continued)
Regional
Authorities
Port Phillip and
Westernport and West
Gippsland Catchment
Management
Authorities
Establishing key directions and objectives for natural
resource and water quality management.
Gippsland Water
Supporting local communities to protect and enhance
the natural environment
Regional Catchment Strategies and Sustainability
Frameworks
Gippsland Region
Sustainable Water
Strategy (Draft)
Port Phillip &
Westernport
Sustainable Water
Strategy (Draft)
Gippsland Water
Quality Action Plan
Local
Government
Baw Baw Shire
Council
Developing and implementing planning policies and
strategies.
Municipal Strategic
Statement (MSS)
Implementing the State Planning Policy Framework.
Sustainable management of its own properties and
activities. Regulating development.
Supporting community and industry to become more
sustainable.
Provision of services to the community and local
businesses, e.g. waste management
LAND & WATERWAYS
Federal
State
Regional
Authorities
Local
DAFF
Strategy
Bio-security
Strategy
DSEWPC
Strategy; some funding for land acquisition (e.g.
National Reserve System); buying water entitlements for
environmental flows; water infrastructure
DPI
Strategy; advice on farming methods, bio-security
DSE
Strategy; management of State Forests; some funding
for land acquisition and management (e.g. BushTender,
Land for Wildlife); water and sewerage infrastructure;
regulation of land use and development along Crown
land stream frontages
Parks Vic
Management of other crown land
West Gippland CMA
Strategy and advice on sustainable land management;
waterway management; planning environmental flows;
water quality coordination; floodplain management;
monitoring and reporting
Gippsland Water
Reservoir maintenance; water provider; regulation of
extractions from waterways and bores
Baw Baw Shire
Council
Engagement with Landcare, community groups
Bio-security
Strategy
Regional Catchment
Strategy
West Gippsland
River Health
Strategy
Advice, small grants and voluntary time for biodiversity
conservation with private land-holders. Land
management; weed and pest control
Regulation of changes to land-use zones and planning
permits; regulation of earthworks impacting waterways
e.g. lanes, drainage and banks
Page 15
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Appendix 2
Level ofKey PlayersKey rates
Government
And sustainability initiatives
Key Documents
BIODIVERSITY
Federal
DSEWPC
National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia’s
Biological Diversity; legal referrals (notably Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999)
State
DSE
Victoria’s Biodiversity Strategy; Land and Biodiversity
White Paper; Victoria’s Native Vegetation Management:
A Framework for Action; research; threatened species
management; management of State Forests; some
funding for land acquisition and management (e.g.
BushTender; Land for Wildlife), legal approvals (under
Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988)
Parks Vic
Management of other Crown land (parks and reserves)
VicRoads
Management of roadside reserves
Trust for Nature
Acquire properties, broker covenants and advise land
management for biodiversity conservation
CFA
Fire fighting
DPI
Bio-security, pest plant and animal
Bio-security
strategy
Regional
Authorities
West Gippsland CMA
Engagement with Landcare, community groups
Advice, small grants and voluntary time for biodiversity
conservation with private land-holders. Land
management; weed and pest control
Gippsland Regional
Catchment
Strategy; West
Gippsland Native
Vegetation Plan
Local
Baw Baw Shire
Council
Regulation of native vegetation clearance. Regulation
of sale of firewood or timber from private land.
Management of roadsides.
Federal
DCCEE
Federal climate change policies
Proposed emissions
trading scheme
State
DSE & DPI
Victorian government climate change policies
White paper on
Climate Change
Regional
Gippsland Climate
Change network
The GCCN aims to accelerate regional awareness of the
cause and impacts of rising greenhouse gases and to
facilitate the development of regional targets. It provides
all levels of government with objective and independent
advice on regional greenhouse issues. The GCCN
facilitates and encourages government, community
& industry organisations to undertake mitigation and
adaptation actions. The group is particularly interested in
the monitoring and evaluation of the region’s progress in
achieving regional goals.
Local
Baw Baw Shire
Council
Minimise Greenhouse Gas emissions from both Council
operation and the community sectors.
Greenhouse Gas
Reduction Plan
Dept of Transport
Transport Connections program for accessing public
transport in rural areas – development of train line.
Victorian Cycling
Strategy
greenhouse
Transport
State
Cycling strategy – build network to connect communities
and prompt end encourage a culture of cycling
VicRoads
Page 16
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Development of Princes Freeway and management of
major arterial roads and roadside vegetation
Level ofKey PlayersKey rates
Government
And sustainability initiatives
Key Documents
Transport (continued)
State
Victrack
Rail infrastructure and vegetation corridors by rail lines
Local
Baw Baw Shire
Council
Management of local roads and transport infrastructure
and roadside vegetation
Roadside
Management Plan
Subdivision Guideline and Checklist for residential
Development
Active by Design
Water USe
Federal
DSEWPA
Strategy; resourcing for infrastructure
State
DSE
Strategy and incentives for water conservation;
maintains database of groundwater levels and bores
Regional
Gippsland Water
Water harvesting and storage; water supply; wastewater
collection, treatment, re-use and disposal; water
conservation advice and rebates
West Gippsland CMA
Waterway management; facilitating reduced on-farm
water use
Baw Baw Shire
Council
Storm water management
Local
Water conservation and minimise potable water use for
council operations
Gippsland Region
Sustainable Water
Strategy (Draft)
Urban Storm water
Management Plan
June 2002
Integrated Water
Management Plan –
May 2006
LAND USE PLANNING
DPCD
Victorian Government - DPCD Traralgon Corridor
Sustainable Growth Strategy and Melbourne 2030
DPDC
An analysis of features, issues, opportunities and
constrains within Melbourne’s Peri -Urban region.
Baw Baw Shire
Council
MAS Strategic Planning staff and Council Municipal
Strategic Statement (currently under review)
Federal
EPHC
Provide national framework for waste management in
Australia for next 10 years to 2020.
National Waste
Policy
State
Sustainability Victoria
The strategy sets out the structure of, and target for,
state government waste management planning in
Victoria for 2005 -2015.
Towards Zero Waste
Strategy
Regional
Gippsland Regional
Waste Management
Group
The Group is one of 13 such groups across Victoria,
established to engage Councils, Community, Business
and Government Leaders in adopting sustainable waste
management practices.
Gippsland Regional
Waste Management
Strategy
Local
Baw Baw Shire
Council
Collection and disposal of waste including waste
minimisation, community education and management
of landfill and transfer station in accordance with EPA
regulations and best practice guidelines.
Waste Management
Plan 2020 - draft
State
Local
Peri –urban Groups
of Council’s – Rural
Land Use Study
Report – draft
Waste
Page 17
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Appendix 3
Baw Baw 2050
- Community Vision
Valuing Our Environment
The quality and beauty of our landscapes both natural and modified are fundamental to our quality of life, businesses and
income, the food we eat and recreation opportunities. Plans are in place to protect the productivity and landscapes in our
natural environment from the uncertain consequences of climate change.
The natural environment also provides the necessary food and habitat for indigenous plants and animals. These links
are understood, and everyone strives for a clean and healthy environment that sustains both the community and natural
biodiversity.
This means living lightly on the Baw Baw environment by careful waste management including recycling and zero waste
targets. It is important that clean, alternative and renewable energy sources are encouraged and employed for houses,
industry and commercial uses.
Strategies
to achieve
the future
direction
Council’s
role
Other key
players
Planning
Implications
Outcomes
How will we
know that we’ve
made progress?
4. Valuing our environment
4.1 Baw Baw
Facilitator • Baw Baw
Sustainability
is ready to
Network.
meet the
Provider
• Transition Baw Baw.
threats and
opportunities Advocate • Sustainability
Victoria
posed by
• Dept. of
climate
Sustainability and
change, peak
Environment
oil and related
• Dept. of Planning
trends.
and Community
Development.
• Dept. of Justice
(emergency
services)
• Preparation of
climate change
and peak oil risk
assessments
• Review
infrastructure
capacity for extreme
events
• Municipal
Emergency
Management
Planning (eg
heatwaves, locusts,
bushfires)
• Review of planning
scheme overlays
relating to
emergencies (Wild
Fire Management
Overlay, Flood
Overlay, Land
Subject to
Inundation Overlay)
• Appropriate
• Strengthening
responses to likely
indicators for
impacts put in place. community
• Response strategies resilience (e.g.
developed, with
people can get
key actions for
help when needed
vulnerable groups
and their area has
and communities.
a wide range of
• Increased
community and
community
support groups)
resilience
(DPCD Indicators
• Access to affordable of Community
transport and food.
Strength)
• Environmental
• Number of short
management
journeys using
measures
alternative
responding to
transport
impacts on flora and • Availability of local
fauna.
food and services
4.2 Adequate and Advocate • Gippsland Water
• Review the need for • Community
• Total water
suitable water
• Melbourne Water
local planning policy participation in
consumption per
is available
Regulator • West Gippsland
• Review of standard
water conservation
head of population
for homes,
Catchment
planning permit
measures
• Inclusion of water
industry and
Management
conditions on
• Increased water
sensitive design in
agriculture.
Authority.
subdivisions to
security
new subdivisions.
• Southern Rural
incorporate water
• Cost savings on
• Total capacity of
Water.
sensitive urban
public infrastructure rainwater tanks
• Environment
design
by increasing water • Households
Protection Authority • Set standards and
sensitive urban
collecting waste
• All developers.
develop tools for
design measures
water (Community
• All key water users
the assessment
in new and existing
Indicators Victoria
• All business and
of water efficiency
urban areas
Survey)
industry groups
of buildings and
• Use of treated
subdivisions
water in
• Implement best
agriculture and
practice water
industry
conversation
• Health and
measures on
condition of
Council buildings
waterways, and
water quality
Page 18
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Strategies
to achieve
the future
direction
Council’s
role
Other key
players
Planning
Implications
Outcomes
How will we
know that we’ve
made progress?
4. Valuing our environment
• Increasing take up of • Total energy
alternative energies. consumption
per head of
• The establishment
population.
of local targets for
renewable energies. • Total energy
obtained from
renewable
sources.
Advocate • Local builders and
4.3 The use of
developers.
renewable
Facilitator • Sustainability
energy is
Victoria.
encouraged
and supported. Regulator • Office of the
Renewable Energy
Regulator.
• Local power
suppliers and
providers.
• Local business and
industry.
• Community.
• Review local
planning policy.
• Implement best
practice energy
efficiency and
generation on
Council buildings.
4.4 The community Advocate • Local business and
industry.
and local
Facilitator
businesses
are ready to
take advantage
of the
opportunities
arising from
the carbon
economy.
• A locally-based
• Review the need
workforce that is
for local policy in
ready for the new
relation to native
green economy.
vegetation offsets.
• Review opportunities • Increased
opportunities and
for Council as
resilience for local
trader in the carbon
business.
economy.
4.5 The community Advocate
understands
and
responsibly
addresses
environmental
sustainability
issues
• Baw Baw
Sustainability
Network.
• Sustainability
Victoria.
• Local and
community media.
• Community and
community groups.
• Business and
industry groups.
• Number and type
of businesses
based locally.
• Individuals and
businesses
deriving income
from the carbon
economy.
• Self-reported
• Environmental
awareness
sustainability
and attitude to
issues become
environmental
mainstream.
sustainability
• Ecosystem services
(Baw Baw Shire
are recognised and
annual resident’s
valued.
survey).
• Increasing demand
for local food and
product.
• Changes in
the design and
construction
materials of
housing to become
more efficient and
sustainable.
Page 19
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Appendix 3
Strategies
to achieve
the future
direction
Council’s
role
Other key
players
Planning
Implications
Outcomes
How will we
know that we’ve
made progress?
4. Valuing our environment
4.6 Improving the Regulator • Department of
Sustainability and
quality and
Environment.
extent of native Advocate
• Department of
vegetation and
Planning and
Facilitator
habitat.
Community
Development.
• Landowners and
developers.
• Preparation of
an integrated
biodiversity and
native vegetation
framework,
including guidance
for Council and
developers.
• Review the need
for local planning
policy and overlays
to implement
framework.
• Review the
incentives and
obstacles to
revegetation of rural
and rural lifestyle
properties.
• Increasing quality
and extent of
native vegetation
and habitat for
threatened species
and communities.
• Improved soil and
water management
• Establishment
of marketbased systems
for biodiversity
management.
• Resolution of the
conflicts between
native vegetation,
agriculture
and wildfire
management.
• Number of active
Landcare groups.
• Total area and
quality of native
vegetation.
• Linkages
created between
patches of native
vegetation.
• Biodiversity
assets identified,
secured and
managed
• Planning overlays
for threatened
species and
communities
reviewed and
adopted
• Native Vegetation
Precinct Plans
adopted for
precincts
containing
significant
biodiversity
assets.
Facilitator • Gippsland Regional • Ongoing monitoring • Increasing measures • Total quantity
4.7 Waste is
of wastes,
to reduce wastes at
and review of the
Waste Management
reduced,
green wastes
the source.
Waste Management
Group.
Regulator
recycled and
and recycling
• Increasing
Strategy.
• Environment
reused through
per household
householder
Protection Authority.
Provider
community
and head (Baw
management of
• Sustainability
action and
Baw Shire and
green wastes.
Victoria.
integrated
Sustainability
• Greater use of
management.
waste as a resource, Victoria data)
including methane. • Progress towards
waste and
• Increased
recycling targets.
community
awareness results • Public areas to
have separated
in reduced bin
waste and
contamination
recycling bins.
Page 20
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Strategies
to achieve
the future
direction
Council’s
role
Other key
players
Planning
Implications
Outcomes
How will we
know that we’ve
made progress?
4. Valuing our environment
4.8 Sustainable
and efficient
housing
options are
commonly
available.
• Local builders and
developers.
Regulator • Sustainability
Victoria.
• Building
Commission of
Victoria.
Advocate
• Review the need for
local planning policy
• Review of standard
planning permit
conditions on
subdivisions
and buildings to
incorporate energy
efficiency and
materials
• Develop tools for
the assessment
of energy and
materials used
in buildings and
subdivisions.
• Implement best
practice energy
efficiency and
generation on
Council buildings
• Sustainable housing
options become
mainstream,
available and
affordable.
• Housing consumes
less energy and
water.
• Resident’s utility
bills are reduced.
• Good examples
of sustainable
subdivisions and
developments built.
• Total number of
houses, units and
apartments
• Total population
(Australian
Bureau of
Statistics Census)
• Total energy
and water
consumption.
• Median house and
unit value (Land
Victoria).
• Number and/
or percentage
of buildings
meeting highest
standard energy
and water ratings
for efficiency (eg
5 star).
Page 21
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
SECONDARY PALETTE �CMYK�
PRIMARY
PALETTE
25 40 65 0
PMS187
70 15 0 0
50 100 35 10
PMS3302
20 0 100 0
40 65 90 35
PMS363
25 36 4 0
15 80 95 0
PMS398
0 35 85 0
Baw Baw Shire Council
Environment and Climate Change Strategy
ACTION PLANS 2012-2015
Warragul Burrowing Cray
Contents
Introduction
1.
Council Leadership
2.
Using Council Powers
3.
Supporting community
4.
Partnering
Page 2
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
3
4
8
10
12
Introduction
This four-year Action Plan identifies the objectives, indicators,
targets, actions, timing and responsibilities for implementing
Council’s Environment and Climate Change Strategy. The structure
and types of actions reflect the role and directions of Council to:
• D
emonstrate what can be achieved in environmental
sustainability through Council’s leadership;
• U
se Council’s planning scheme and other powers and local
laws to deliver or influence environmental outcomes;
• E
ngage, support and enable households, businesses and
community organisations to become sustainable; and
• A
dvocate and partner where necessary to improve the
policy, regulatory or funding environment that will support
sustainability in Baw Baw Shire.
It is important to note that while listed separately, many of the
objectives and actions are linked. For example, measures to improve
native vegetation cover have benefits for greenhouse gas reductions,
water conservation and biodiversity. Similarly improving building
standards reduces greenhouse gases and water consumption.
The timeline to implement action plan is as follow:
Short-term – commenced within the next twelve months
Medium-term – commenced within the next two years
Longer-term – commenced within the next four years
Ongoing – the action has no defined start or end date
The Action Plan will be reviewed and updated on an annual basis.
Page 3
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
1. Council Leadership
Themes
Objectives
Indicators
2015 Target
Actions
Timeframe Responsibility
1.1 Land &
Waterways
Manage Council
owned land and
waterways to
highest possible
environmental
standards
Land health
Stream health
Sustainable policy,
planning tools
and management
responsibility
1. D
evelop and adopt Environmental Sustainable Design (ESD)
principles which ensure minimum environmental impacts
from urban development (e.g. practice notes, development
kits, clause checklists).
2. Imbed ESD principles in Council policy.
3.Clarify land and water management responsibilities (e.g.
designated/urban waterways) to enable improved asset
management.
Longer
Develop Council Weed
Management Strategy
4. D
evelop a Council Weed Management Strategy,
incorporating new or revised legislation and policy.
Short
Urban Operation/
Strategic Planning
Weed Management
Strategy implemented
5.Implement targeted weed-control program on council land,
enhance community awareness and capacity to respond to
weeds.
Short
Urban Operations
Council native vegetation
offset bank established
6.Identify a strategy and prepare a business plan for
establishing and implementing a Native Vegetation Offset
Bank in Baw Baw.
7.Investigate feasibility and options for establishing a Native
Carbon Offset facility on council-owned land.
Short
Strategic Planning
Medium
Strategic Planning /
Urban Operations
Management plans
developed for Council’s
reserves
8.Prepare management plans for Council’s key natural
reserves or land parcels.
9.Establish a register of Council’s reserves and collate
information on their locality, biodiversity attributes and
management requirements.
Short
Urban Operations/
Strategic Planning
Tree risk assessment
procedure and protection
standard identified and
adopted
10.Investigate and adopt a standardised risk assessment
strategy for assessment of dangerous trees on council and
private land.
11.Investigate and adopt suitable tree protection standard into
Council’s policy and urban operations.
Medium
12.Obtain accurate energy consumption, greenhouse gas
reduction, fuel and water consumption and report to Council
on an annual basis. e.g. use of Utility Tracker.
13.Undertake regular energy audits and implement priority
actions including staff education and behaviour change
program to minimise energy use from Council buildings and
facilities.
14.Conduct an annual survey on staff knowledge and behaviour
toward the environment.
15.Consolidate all energy accounts including electricity and
gas for all council building and facilities to save money and
GHG emissions .
Ongoing
1.2 Biodiversity
1.3 Greenhouse
Gases (GHG)
Page 4
Protect and restore
landscape quality
of Council-owned
and managed
land containing
significant
biodiversity assets
Areas with high
conservation
significance
identified, protected
and managed
Minimise the carbon Council greenhouse 10 % net reduction of
footprint of Council
gas (GHG) emissions GHG emission by 2015
operations
baseline data 2007.
Staff awareness and
behaviour
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Longer
Medium
Short
Strategic Planning/
Statutory Planning
Strategic Planning/
Statutory Planning
Community Assets
Strategic Planning/
Urban Operations
Medium
Ongoing
All Directorates with
assistance from
Environment
Environment
Short
Procurement
Themes
Objectives
Indicators
1.3 Greenhouse
Gases (GHG)
(continued)
2015 Target
Actions
Timeframe Responsibility
Sustainable Council
assets and services
16.Review and update engineering design, standards and
specifications for existing and future assets to address
climate change and peak oil risks.
17.Indentify financial implication on Council services including
proposed carbon tax.
Longer
Asset Management
Medium
Financial Management
18.Each year implement priority actions identified in Council’s
Street Light Lighting Strategy by developing action plans
and responsible officers.
19.Review night watchmen’s lights locations, costs and need
and identify opportunities to replace fitting with more
efficient lighting or remove if not required.
20.Investigate opportunities to install timer controls and dim,
turn off or more efficient lighting on Council-owned street
lights.
21.Monitor effectiveness of existing lighting trials and develop
strategy for lighting design in open space and car parks on
Council-owned areas.
Medium
Asset Management
Energy efficient buildings
and facilities
Total of 100Kw of Solar
Power installed by 2020
22.Investigate opportunities for installation of and use of
renewable energy i.e. cogeneration, solar heating, solar
power, geothermal system for council buildings and
facilities.
Medium
Building Services and
Environment
15% reduction by 2015
based
23.Retrofit Council buildings and facilities with water efficient
fixtures and fittings including installation of rainwater tank,
use of recycle water.
24.Apply for funding/rebates/grant under the Government and
other agencies’ water conservation programs.
Ongoing
Building Services and
Environment
Ongoing
All Directorates
25.Minimise Council fleet use and monitor and report fleet
mileage on a regular basis.
26.Investigate alternative practices to reduce fleet mileage.
27.Actively encourage car pooling and other active transport
alternatives for Council staff, Councillors and community
members.
28.Advocate for Council to increase expenditure on walking
and cycling infrastructure to $5 per person per population
of the Shire.
29.Improve walking and cycling networks and facilities in the
Shire.
Short
Fleet Management/
All Directorates
Fleet Management
Community
Strengthening/ Fleet
Management
Community
Strengthening
30.Design streets for people using place making traffic
calming and speed reduction strategies.
Medium
Minimise risk
Replace 30% of existing
street lights with energy
efficient lights by 2015 of
a baseline 2011 data
20% reduction of GHG
emission from street
lighting by 2015
1.4 Water Use
1.5 Transport
Lead by example on
water conservation
programs
Council water
consumption
Promote and
use transport
with lowest
environmental
impacts for Council
operations and
community.
Number of
5% annual reduction on
Kilometres travelled fleet mileage per annum.
by Council fleet
annually.
Increase Council
expenditure on walking
Increase in staff
and cycling by 5% per
active transport.
annum.
Community
satisfaction
walking and cycling
infrastructure
Short
Medium
Medium
Ongoing
Ongoing
Ongoing
Ongoing
Community
Strengthening/ Asset
Management
Community
Strengthening/ Asset
Management
Page 5
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Themes
Objectives
Indicators
2015 Target
Actions
Timeframe Responsibility
1.6 Land Use
Planning
Achieve best
practice building
for new Council
buildings and
facilities
Building and facility
ratings
Minimum 5 star rating for
new Council buildings
31.Assess all new Council buildings and facilities against
highest standards of sustainable design for rural location.
32.Provide support, information and education on green
building design for Council building contractors and
renovators.
Longer
1.7 Waste &
Recycling
Minimise waste
and resource
consumption from
Council operations
Council rates of
waste to landfill
95% of the office waste
diverted for recycling.
33.Regularly audit, review and implement actions to minimise
waste going to landfill from the Council Offices.
34.Achieve Waste Wise / Resource Smart Certification.
35.Continue to provide compost bin /worm farm bin rebate to
Baw Baw Shire residents to minimise organic waste going
to landfill.
36.Expand municipal waste and recycling collection to rural
area not yet covered.
37.Implement public place recycling in 6 major towns and at all
the Recreation Reserves by 2015.
Ongoing
All Directorates
Medium
Ongoing
Environment
Environment
Ongoing
Waste Management
Medium
Environment
Sustainable Council
operations
38.Co-ordinate Environmental and Climate Change strategy
and assist all departments in implementing their
environmental actions.
Short
Environment
Training and
development in
sustainable principles
and practices for all new
and existing staff
39.Encourage Council’s culture of sustainability through range
of processes including induction, e-learning and regular
awareness-raising programs/workshops.
40.Provision of environmental sustainability programs
included on corporate training calendar, and include an
environmental base in all existing training sessions.
41.Include environmental indictors in individual’s performance
management and development plan and review them on
regular basis.
Medium
Human Resources /
EMT and Environment
Short
Environment / Human
Resources
Short
All Directorates
Advise Council on it
strategies, policies
and program on
sustainability.
42.Embed all decisions made by Council with Triple Bottom
Line (environment, social, and economic) implications as
per section 2.5 of this document.
43.Provide training on the Triple Bottom Line as per 2.5 of this
document.
Ongoing
Governance &
Compliance
Ongoing
Human Resources/
Environment
Improve environmental
sustainability relating to
IT services and products.
44.Purchase energy efficient, recycled /sustainable office
equipment including PCs, toner multifunction devices
with automated after hours shutdown and paper reducing
technology.
45.Recycle unwanted and old equipment in sustainable
manner.
46.Develop system for e-communication such as online
payment, land and property certificate, planning permit
status, tenders, video conferencing and electronic
correspondence.
Short
Information
Technology and
procurement
1.8 Sustainability Integrate and apply
Practice
ESD principles to all
Council operations,
including
governance,
administration,
capital works
program,
service delivery,
maintenance
operations etc.
Page 6
Levels of
compliance with
best practice
standards
Council
environmental
performance
reporting
% of environmental
targets achieved
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Community Assets
Medium
Ongoing
Medium
Themes
1.8 Sustainability
Practice
(continued)
Objectives
Indicators
2015 Target
Actions
Timeframe Responsibility
Minimise Council’s risk
47.Include environmental risk issues in the agenda of the cross
directorate in the OHS Committee meetings.
48.All staff to include environment in risk assessment,
ensuring that environment risk is understood and
addressed.
Short
Improve the purchase of
sustainable and green
products and services
as a part of Council
purchasing policy.
49.Implement Eco- Buy program as a part of Council’s
purchasing policy, and review on an annual basis.
50.Implement procurement policy with regards to local and
sustainable products and service and ensure staffs follow
the policy.
51.Review the criteria on the selection of Council’s preferred
suppliers to include a section on the company’s green
credentials.
Short
Promote environmental
sustainability throughout
all of Council’s
operations and services.
Provide leadership
-sustainable economic
plan
Short /
Ongoing
Risk & OHS
Management
All Directorates
Ongoing
Procurement /
Finance
All Directorates
Medium
Procurement
52.Develop information and education initiatives on climate
change, environmental sustainability for the staff and the
community using Council’s website, newsletter and local
media.
53.Annually develop and implement a communication strategy
on climate change and environmental sustainability for staff
and the community using all available communication tools.
Short
Environment /
Communication /
Urban Operations
Ongoing
Environment /
Communication /
Urban Operations
54.Review and update the BBSC’s Economic Development
Strategy including sustainable, green businesses and green
initiatives.
Short
Economic
Development
Page 7
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
2. Using Council Powers
Themes
Objectives
Indicators
2015 Target
Actions
Timeframe Responsibility
2.1. Land &
Waterways
Ensure
developments are
consistent with
protection and
restoration of land
and waterway
values
Land health
Stream health
Plans prepared for urban
waterway management
1.In cooperation with other water authorities, prepare
management plans for key urban waterways, including
identification of priority locations and actions to improve
health.
Medium
Strategic Planning/
Urban Operations
Improve enforcement
and accountability for
weed control
2.Implement BBSC Local Law for weed control on private
land in non-rural areas.
Short
Urban Operations/
Community
Compliance
Ensure that new
development
enhances
biodiversity values
and does not
threaten areas of
high conservation
significance
Areas with high
conservation
significance
identified, protected
and managed.
Revised Municipal
Strategic Statement
3.Incorporate a consistent statement of native vegetation and
biodiversity importance into Council’s Municipal Strategic
Statement.
Medium
Strategic Planning
Biodiversity assets within
urban growth areas
4.Identify, assess and map biodiversity assets within priority
urban growth areas.
Short
Strategic Planning/
Urban Operations
Updated policy, planning
provisions and zoning
5.Update policy, planning provisions and zoning using the
most recent native vegetation and biodiversity data.
6.Prepare planning overlays for threatened species and
communities when sufficient data allows (e.g., Giant
Gippsland Earthworm).
Medium
Strategic Planning
Native vegetation
planning permit
conditions audited
7.Seek resources to monitor the implementation of conditions
forming part of a planning permit for native vegetation
clearance.
Ongoing
Statutory Planning
Increased native
vegetation cover on
private land
8. Implement the Rural Environment Program – Tree Grants
to encourage landholders to plant indigenous native plants.
Short /
Ongoing
Urban Operations
Sustainable public
lighting
9. D
evelop a new standard for street lighting for residential,
commercial and industrial development to incorporate
highest possible energy efficiency standards.
Short
Statutory Planning
10 % net reduction of
GHG emission by 2015
baseline data 2007
10.Explore opportunities to use the planning scheme to achieve
a higher star energy rating standards for commercial
buildings.
11.Investigate energy performance contract for all Council
buildings and facilities to improve energy rating and reduce
cost associated with energy use.
Medium
Building Services and
Procurement
2.2 Biodiversity
2.3 Greenhouse
Gases
Page 8
Ensure new
developments
are designed
to maximise
energy efficiency
and minimise
greenhouse
emissions
Average rating of
new residential
and commercial
buildings
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Longer
Themes
Objectives
Indicators
2015 Target
Actions
Timeframe Responsibility
2.4 Water Use
Ensure
developments are
consistent with
best practice water
consumption
Average water
rating of residential
and commercial
buildings in new
developments
Sustainable and
water efficient new
developments
12.Investigate options for reusing and treating water in new
developments to minimise water consumption and the
impacts of water runoff. (Infrastructure in conjunction with
planning and infrastructure authorities).
13.Promote application of Water Sensitive Urban Design
(WSUD) principles and practices in new developments. Adopt and implement appropriate infrastructure standards.
Medium
Incorporate
integrated transport
planning into new
subdivisions and
Council actions
Average distance
to public transport,
and cycle/walking
paths.
Community
satisfaction with
walking and cycling
infrastructure .
5% annual increase of
the counts along the Two
Towns Trail.
14.A two yearly review of the Active By Design principles for all
new development s in the Shire.
Medium
15.Implement the Transport Connection Strategy.
Short
16.Advocate for pedestrian and cycling priority infrastructure
on local roads.
Ongoing
Protect productive
agricultural land or
ongoing food and
fibre production.
Area of productive
agricultural land
Planning Policy
implemented to protect
the production potential
of agricultural land and
facilitate diversity in
agricultural production
17.Ensure planning policy and guidelines facilitate diversity in
agricultural production.
18.Ensure planning policy and guidelines achieve protection of
the productive potential of agricultural land regarding land
use and subdivision patterns, particularly in retaining land
in large holdings.
19.Develop Local planning policy in line with State Planning
Provisions and Community Vision.
Medium
Strategic Planning
Medium
Strategic Planning
Medium
Strategic Planning
Residential and
commercial rates of
waste to landfill
Waste diversion
amounts
65% of municipal waste
diverted from landfill by
2015
20.Implement actions identified in Council adopted Waste
Management Plan 2020.
21.Provide best practice waste management services to Baw
Baw Residents, business and industry in accordance with
WMP2020.
22.Investigate and implement food organics into Green
Organics Bin as part of new waste collection contract.
Ongoing
Waste Management
Low carbon growth
Sustainable Council
services
Recognition of
achievement
Regional approach to
climate change issues
23.Promote and train staff for opportunitie and actions needed
to achieve sustainable development in the Shire.
24.Provide environment awards to recognise business,
schools, community groups and individuals.
25.Council to establish regular meetings with key statutory
authorises to discuss environment and climate change
issues.
Ongoing
Planning
Longer
EMT
Ongoing
EMT
2.5 Transport
2.6 Land Use
Planning
2.7 Waste &
Recycling
Use Council powers
to achieve zero
waste to landfill
2.8 Sustainability Sustainable
Practice
Development
- facilitate,
promote and high
environmental
standards in landuse and built form
Average rating of
new residential
and commercial
buildings
Strategic Planning/
Community Assets
Medium
Statutory Planning/
Community
Strengthening
Community
Strengthening
Community
Strengthening / Asset
Management
Medium
Medium
Page 9
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Themes
Objectives
Indicators
2.8 Sustainability
Practice
(continued)
2015 Target
Actions
Timeframe Responsibility
Promote improved
ecological sustainability
in new buildings and
renovations.
26.Investigate means through which residential and
commercial buildings could be influenced to achieve
improved standards of ecologically sustainable design.
27.Investigate the introduction of a minimum environmental
performance rating for residential and commercial
buildings, as measured by an adopted rating tool, such as
Sustainable Tools for Environmental Performance Strategy
(STEPS) and Sustainable Design Scorecard (SDS).
Medium
Growth &
Development
Medium
Growth &
Development
Effective integration
of environmental,
social and economical
considerations
28.Council’s Settlement Plans considers environmental health,
peak oil and climate change.
Short
Strategic Planning
3. Supporting Community
Themes
Objectives
Indicators
2015 Target
Actions
Timeframe Responsibility
3.1 Land &
Waterways
Engage and support
the community
to participate in
land and waterway
restoration and
maintenance
projects
Community
participation rates
Fencing erected to
protect land assets on
private land
1.Through partnerships with Landcare, offer incentives
to encourage landholders to fence off areas of native
vegetation, waterways and erosion areas through Council’s
Rural Environment Program - Fencing.
Short
Urban Operations
Sustainable land
management practices
undertaken
Ongoing
Urban Operations
Community and indigenous
groups engaged
2.Promote sustainable and profitable land management
practices whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions
and protecting soil, waterways and biodiversity through
Council’s Rural Environment Program – Education.
3.Community and indigenous groups engaged to participate in
land and waterway management and restoration projects.
Ongoing
Urban Operations/
Community
Strengthening
Engage with
Community
landowners and
participation rates
the community to
promote and protect
biodiversity values
Biolinks Action Plan
prepared
4.Assist the Latrobe Catchment Landcare Network with the
development of a Biolinks Action Plan.
Short
Strategic Planning
Biodiversity assets
used for community
engagement and education
5.Utilise known biodiversity assets for community
engagement and education (e.g., development signage,
brochures and programs).
Short
Urban Operations
Engage and support
community to
reduce greenhouse
emissions and
prepare for future
climate risk
10% reduction of GHG
emission by 2015 based
on 2007 baseline data
6.Providing the latest scientific knowledge on climate change
topics through Council website and educate community on
climate change issues.
7.Implement most effective reliable system for measuring
and reporting community greenhouse gas emission.
8.Facilitate bulk purchasing of renewable energy installation
for residential and commercial properties.
9.Promote renewable energy rebate program in the
community.
Medium
Environment
Longer
Environment
Longer
Environment
3.2 Biodiversity
3.3 Greenhouse
Gases
Page 10
Community
participation rates
Community
greenhouse gas
emissions
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Themes
Objectives
Indicators
2015 Target
3.3 Greenhouse
Gases
(continued)
3.4 Water Use
Actions
Timeframe Responsibility
10.Assist Baw Baw Shire schools to apply for the National solar
schools program funding.
11.Assist Baw Baw Shire schools and community organisations
to apply for Resource Smart – Solar in Schools funding .
Ongoing
Environment
12.Promote community awareness about sustainable and safe
use of water including grey water, domestic wastewater and
recycled water.
13.Conduct information sessions/workshops on water
conservation programs to promote water saving.
14.Encourage residents to take up water saving rebates
provided by Federal and State Governments.
Ongoing
Environmental Health
Ongoing
Environment
Ongoing
Environment
Engage and support
community to
reduce water
consumption to best
practice standards
Community
participation rates
Community water
consumption
3.5 Transport
Support and
promote community
use of transport
with the lowest
environmental
impacts
Community
participation rates.
Satisfaction
walking and cycling
infrastructure.
Schools undertaking
transport projects.
4% annual increase in
walking, cycling and
public transport usage.
15.Promote and encourage a walking, cycling and public
transport as an alternative where possible.
16.Develop and implement behaviour-change program
including active travel plans for schools, community
active transport projects and events, and active transport
research.
Ongoing
Community
Strengthening
3.6 Land Use
Planning
Transition to
sustainable
settlements and
developments that
are resilient to
climate change and
peak oil
Community
participation rates
Reduction food mileage
17.Encourage the establishment of community gardens for
the production of fruits and vegetables to be shared by
communities.
18.Partner with Community House for the development of EcoLiving Centre in the Shire.
19.Implement the Municipal Public Health Plan addressing
food security.
Ongoing
Community Social
Inclusion
Ongoing
Environment
Ongoing
Community Social
Inclusion
Engage and support
community to reduce
waste to landfill and
maximise recycling
rate
Residential and
commercial rates of
waste to landfill
Waste diversion
amounts
65% of municipal waste
diverted from landfill by
2015
20.Conduct community waste reduction program including
workshops and information.
21.Promote free recycling at the landfill and transfer stations
including collection and recycling of electronic waste.
Ongoing
Environment
Ongoing
Waste Management Community
satisfaction ratings
Residential and
commercial rates of
waste to landfill
Sustainable and resilient
community
22.Continue to support the Community Grants program for
Environmental programs.
23.Develop a community education program to inform
residents about sustainable living practices, housing
innovations, environmentally friendly and recyclable
building materials and local resources.
24.Work with Transitional Towns, Baw Baw Sustainability
Network, Town and Rural Community Networks and others
to build capacity to implement sustainable programs.
25.Promote and conduct sustainability information sessions
and workshops for small and medium business sectors.
26.Implement the Nature Based Tourism Strategy.
Ongoing
Community Building
Ongoing
Environment
Ongoing
Environment
Ongoing
Economic
Development
Economic
Development
3.7 Waste &
Recycling
3.8 Sustainability Engage and
support community
Practice
in Council
commitment on
environmental
sustainability and
climate change
issues
10% reduction of
community water use
2015 based on 2010
baseline data
Sustainable community
Ongoing
Page 11
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Themes
Objectives
Indicators
2015 Target
Actions
Timeframe Responsibility
27.Provide ongoing training and information on environment
and climate change issues and safe work practices to
relevant staff and carers.
28.Implement target program for the disabled, elderly and
others on ways to reduce water and energy consumption
and minimise waste going to landfill.
29.Support our ageing population to improve environmental
outcome and sustainable transport needs.
Medium
Home care services,
ADASS, HACC, Family
and Childcare
Medium
Community Care
Actions
Timeframe Responsibility
1.Partner with private landowners and organisation such
as Parks Victoria, Vic Track, Vic Roads and DSE to develop
strategic, landscape scale and coordinated approach to
achieve sustainable outcome for land and waterways.
2.Continue to support the development of programs to control
noxious, prohibited and bio-security weeds (in conjunction
with other key agencies) where they threaten land and water
assets and values.
3.Partnership with landholders to control pest animals on
private and public land.
4.Participate and support Landcare groups, water authorities
(e.g., Melbourne Water, Catchment Management Authority),
to improve and monitor water quality and river health.
5.Partner with developers to achieve better environmental
outcomes for subdivisions to incorporate water-sensitive
urban design principles.
6.Participate and support landholders, Landcare groups,
natural farming groups improve to maintain soil health.
Ongoing
Community Assets
Ongoing
Urban Operations
Short
Urban Operations
/Community
Assets/Community
Strengthening
Review forums attended
to improve council native
vegetation planning
processes
7. Participate in regular review forums with Department of
Sustainability and Environment, Department of Planning
and Community Development and the Municipal Association
of Victoria relating to recurrent native vegetation issues on
permit applications, permit conditions and VCAT decisions.
Ongoing
Statutory Planning/
Compliance
Partnerships established
with biodiversity partners
8.Establish partnerships with land managers, government
agencies, Friends Groups and Committees of Management
involved with protection and management of biodiversity
assets.
Short
Urban Operations
Assist and advise
Landcare Network and
groups
9.Assist and/or advise the Latrobe Catchment Landcare
Network district Landcare Groups with the implementation
of its Bio-links Action Plan.
Ongoing
Strategic Planning
3.8 Sustainability
Practice
(continued)
4. Partnering
Themes
Objectives
Indicators
2015 Target
4.1 Land &
Waterways
Work with
partners and key
stakeholders to
achieve effective
co-ordination
and integration of
land management
strategies
Partner/stakeholder Improved management
feedback
and protection of land
and water assets
Controlled pest species
Supporting partnerships
to improve soil health,
water quality, river and
wetland health
4.2 Biodiversity
Page 12
Partner to
ensure effective
protection of areas
of biodiversity
significance
Areas with high
conservation
significance
identified, protected
and managed
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Themes
Objectives
Indicators
2015 Target
4.3 Greenhouse
Gases
Partner with key
Partner/stakeholder Recycle 100 per cent of
unwanted lamps
stakeholders to
feedback
10 per cent annual
advocate low carbon
reduction of GHG emissions
growth in the region
Number of programs
implemented
4.4 Water Use
10% reduction of
community water use
2015 based on 2010
baseline data
Actions
Timeframe Responsibility
10.Negotiated with SP AusNet on a range of actions including
understanding the system and responsibilities, recycling
of lamps, phasing out mercury vapour luminaries, reduce
carbon emissions and costs. From public lighting.
Short
Asset Management
11.Implement the programs in partnership with SECCCA,
GCCN and other government and non-government
organisations to move towards low-carbon growth in the
Region.
12.In partnership with developers and builders create energy
efficient display homes and encourage consumer change.
Ongoing
Environment
Short
Environment
13.In partnership with government and non-government
organisations, promote the safe use of drinking water to
homes with no treated reticulated water supply.
14.Work in partnership with Gippsland Water and South East
Water to reduce water consumption and promote water
rebates.
Ongoing
Environmental Health
Ongoing
Environment
Community Assets
/Community
Strengthening
Continue to
implement
measures to
improve water
quality including
storm water
Water consumption
in the Shire
Water quality
Form alliances to
influence broader
sustainable
transport policy –
making
Partner/stakeholder Data on car trips, walking
and cycle trips
feedback
Increase in public
transport
15.Works with Department of Transport (DOT) to fund and
devise methodology to collect travel data.
16.Advocate to DOT to improve public transport options for
local towns.
17. Advocate to Vic Roads to improve road share and speed
limits to encourage walking and cycling.
Short
4.6 Land Use
Planning
Increase revegetation, tree
planting and weed
removal
Partner/stakeholder Area re-vegetated per
year
feedback
Number of people
participating in Landcare
18.Seek funding and develop partnerships to increase
Landcare support within the Shire.
19.Continue to support volunteer groups such as Landcare and
other community organisations’ programs.
20.Review land management rebate scheme and improve
monitoring.
Short
Urban Operations
4.7 Waste &
Recycling
Promote
sustainable waste
management
practices in
partnership with
GRWMG
Partner/stakeholder 65% of kerbside waste
diverted from landfill by
feedback
2015
21.Implement Gippland Waste Management Group’s plans and
program to minimise waste going to landfill.
22.Work with EPA to minimise waste dumping and litter from
the Shire and update local laws to address waste dumping
and littering.
23.Conduct waste reduction and composting workshops to
minimise organic waste going to landfill.
24.Work with businesses and commercial organisations to
reduce waste and improve recycling.
Ongoing
Waste Management
Medium
Community
Compliance
Ongoing
Environment
Medium
Economic
Development
4.5 Transport
Medium
Medium
Page 13
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
Themes
Objectives
Indicators
4.8 Sustainability Engage
Partner/stakeholder
Practice
stakeholders
feedback
in Council
commitment on
sustainability and
climate change
issues, and partner
to build and broaden
Council capacity and
capability
Page 14
Environment and Climate Change Strategy - October 2011
2015 Target
Actions
Timeframe Responsibility
25.In partnership with contractors’ section 86 committees,
sporting clubs and community groups, improve
environmental performance of recreation facilities including
water conservation, energy use, and waste minimisation.
26.Host workshops with local developers which invite a range
of speakers regarding building innovations, practices and
sustainability.
27.Develop and implement Green Smart training program
for local traders, developers, engineers and planners in
partnership with GippsTAFE.
28.Provide Home Energy Assessment Tool (HEAT) kit to the
community using West Gippsland Library Network.
29.Support schools sustainability program and support assist
in implementing government’s sustainability programs.
Ongoing
Recreation
Short
Environment
Medium
Short
Ongoing
Giant Gippsland Earthworm