Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils STATE of the ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2007 / 2008
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2007 / 2008 NORTHERN SYDNEY REGIONAL ORGANISATION OF COUNCILS STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2007 / 2008 Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils Comprising the Councils of Hornsby, Hunters Hill, Ku-ring-gai, Lane Cove, North Sydney, Ryde and Willoughby HORNSBY HUNTERS HILL KU-RING-GAI LANE COVE NORTH SYDNEY RYDE WILLOUGHBY Mayor Berman Mayor Hoopmann Mayor Malicki Mayor Longbottom Mayor McCaffery Mayor Tagg Mayor Reilly Councillor Delegate Councillor Delegate Councillor Delegate Councillor Delegate Councillor Delegate Councillor Delegate Councillor Delegate Robert Browne Richard Quinn Ian Cross Ann Smith Veronique Ivan Petch Terry Fogarty Marchandeau STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2007 / 2008 PRESIDENt’S MESSAGE Once again environmental issues continue to dominate the national and global stage as the impacts of food security, water shortages, global warming and oil prices make their presence felt. At a local level the NSROC councils have been working diligently with their communities to ensure the Northern Sydney region’s rich environmental heritage is maintained and enhanced. However, despite a significant policy shift by the federal government, much remains to be done to move Australia away from its high dependence on fossil fuels and other non- renewable resources, and to take up sustainable and environmentally appropriate lifestyles. The current financial crisis gripping the world has made the challenge more difficult than ever, as attention and resources may be diverted from addressing climate change towards economic assistance packages designed to stimulate the economy. Now, more that ever, the challenge of global consumerism must be considered within the constraints of a global market drawing on a finite set of resources operating within a closed ecological system. This regional State of Environment report (SoE) is the fourth one to be produced by the seven councils (Hornsby Shire, Hunters Hill, Ku-ring-gai, North Sydney, Lane Cove, City of Ryde, and Willoughby City) which comprise NSROC, and is likely to be the last. The State Government has announced its intentions to radically change local government reporting processes and requirements, and one outcome will be that councils report on environmental issues and actions in a new, more integrated way. Although supporting legislation has not yet been released, the Department of Local Government has advised that this reporting structure will not need state of environment reporting in its current format. The NSROC councils hope this decision means environmental issues will be more thoroughly incorporated into council processes and that there is a greater drive towards genuine sustainability through an approach which encompasses financial, social and governance issues, as well as those relating to the natural and built environment. Recognising this process, the NSROC councils have developed a regional sustainability plan (RSP), completed in August 2008. This landmark document details the 10 main sustainability issues for the region, and identifies appropriate council responses to each of them within a five year timeframe.T he document drew on the individual sustainability plans of the seven member councils, and had sustained and substantive input from councils’ environmental officers and managers as well as other relevant stakeholders. It is anticipated the RSP will help the NSROC councils in make the transition from the current SoE model to the new integrated model as well as provide for a regionally aggregated policy response to sustainability issues generally. The State Government has informed councils that a transition report will be required next year, and the traditional rigid structure of legislated SoE reporting will not apply. The central narrative in this year’s report concerns our ongoing commitment to working with our communities and businesses to reduce water and energy use through education, training, auditing and the application of new technologies. The NSROC councils have also been improving the performance of their own facilities and introducing measures to improve water quality, protect native habitat and reduce pollution. One of the biggest challenges facing all NSROC councils is reaching their carbon-reduction targets now that many of the easiest steps have been taken. The introduction of a national carbon trading scheme planned for 2010 likely to require investment by councils and require new and innovative approaches to doing business Councils are capable of both creating credits and debits within a market context. Much work remains to be done by the councils particularly in the areas of sustainable transport, alternate waste disposal technologies, and in preparing their communities for the anticipated impacts of climate change and population growth. The state government’s failure in many areas of infrastructure provision requires more leadership and action at a local level and the NSROC councils are rising to the challenge. Once again, and perhaps for the last time in its present format, I commend this regional SoE report to you as the next step in ensuring the environment of our region receives the strategic, collusive and sustainable management approach it so richly deserves. Pat Reilly Mayor of Willoughby Council, President of NSROC, 5 October 2006 NORTHERN SYDNEY REGIONAL ORGANISATION OF COUNCILS CONTENTS Acronyms .................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 4 The NSROC region ....................................................................................................... 4 State of environment reporting ..................................................................................... 5 Why a regional SoE report? .......................................................................................... 6 The future .................................................................................................................. 6 Towards Sustainability ................................................................................. 7 Limitations ................................................................................................................. 8 Consulting with our communities ................................................................................. 9 Community action ......................................................................................................0 Corporate action ........................................................................................................ Human Settlement ........................................................................................5 Urban development ....................................................................................................6 Population distribution ................................................................................................0 Aboriginal heritage ..................................................................................................... Non-Aboriginal heritage ..............................................................................................3 Urban planning/transport ...........................................................................................5 Waste management ...................................................................................................33 Noise .........................................................................................................................36 Energy consumption ...................................................................................................38 Water consumption ....................................................................................................4 Community health......................................................................................................44 Bushland and Biodiversity .........................................................................48 Bushland management ...............................................................................................49 Open space................................................................................................................5 Fire management .......................................................................................................54 Introduced flora and fauna ..........................................................................................57 Native flora and fauna ................................................................................................58 Water ....................................................................................................................63 Water quality .............................................................................................................64 Catchment management ............................................................................................65 Stormwater management ...........................................................................................68 Atmosphere ......................................................................................................73 Global warming ........................................................................................................74 Air quality .................................................................................................................79