Victorian Local Sustainability Accord Accord Update No

Home , City of Darebin, City of Greater Bendigo, City of Hobsons Bay, Shire of Hindmarsh, Shire of Moyne, Shire of Nillumbik

Victorian Local Sustainability Accord Accord Update No. 1 19 April 2004

It was launched on 7 November 2005, at which time the Minister for Environment, together with five peak local government bodies, committed to the principles of the Accord in a Call to Action. The Call to Action invites all Victorian local governments to join with the State Government in committing to the principles and actions of the Accord.

Accord Pilot Program A Pilot Program of the Accord implementation process is currently underway with the following five ‘pilot’ councils working with DSE to develop some of the key Accord actions: Moyne Shire Council; Moorabool Shire Council; Hobsons Bay City Council; Bendigo City Council; and Nillumbik City Council.

A number of meetings have taken place between each of the pilot councils and DSE, and a group workshop was held in early March to develop the structure and content of the Local Environmental Sustainability Priority Statements (LESPS). All of the councils that join the Accord will participate in the development of a LESPS as part of the Accord implementation process. The pilot councils are currently working on the first draft of their LESPS and further meetings are planned between DSE, councils and relevant State agencies to further refine these documents. The Pilot Program is currently anticipated to be complete by the end of May 2006. Accord Uptake Congratulations to the further 16 municipalities that have joined the Accord by passing a resolution at Council committing to the Accord’s principles and actions. These municipalities are as follows:

Murrindindi Shire Council Wyndham City Council Warrnambool City Council Darebin City Council Loddon Shire Council Frankston City Council Brimbank City Council Whitehorse City Council Boroondara City Council Buloke Shire Council Port Phillip City Council Moreland City Council Yarra Ranges Shire Greater Dandenong City West Wimmera Shire Council Council Council Knox City Council

Once the Accord Pilot Program is complete, all Councils who have made a commitment to the Accord will be given the opportunity to begin the local implementation of the Accord in a staged process over a 6-12 month period. It is expected that up to 25 councils will begin the Accord implementation process during 2006.

Further information on how you can join the Accord can be found in the attached information sheet “Preliminary Advice for Councils”. Also included with this document is a model resolution that may be used when taking the Accord to Council. Victorian Local Sustainability Advisory Committee Nominations for the Victorian Local Sustainability Advisory Committee (the Committee) closed on 17 February 2006 with a substantial number of local government representatives nominating for positions on the Committee. The Minister for Environment is currently assessing the nominations and candidates will be notified of the outcome of their nominations shortly.

The primary role of the Committee is to provide an advisory role to the Minister for Environment and a clearinghouse for resolution of ongoing, inter-jurisdictional environmental sustainability issues between local governments and the State Government. The Committee will also provide high level oversight of the Victorian Local Sustainability Accord, to enable assessment and evaluation of Accord initiatives and issues that arise.

Funding Accord Projects The Accord is supported by an allocation of $5 million from the Sustainability Fund to support projects that arise out of the implementation of Accord actions such as the development of the LESPS. The guidelines for how this funding will be allocated are currently being developed by DSE in consultation with councils, Accord Partners and Sustainability Victoria, the organisation responsible for managing the Sustainability Fund. Councils will be notified of these guidelines, once they are available, in future Accord updates.

Councils should note that they are entitled to apply for the greater pool of the Sustainability Fund irrespective of their involvement with the Accord. Round 2 of the Sustainability Fund closed on 17 March 2006 and the next round of funding will be announced within the next 12 months. Details will be posted on the Sustainability Victoria website: www.sustainability.vic.gov.au, as they become available.

For further information on local government initiatives and Accord partner organisations contact: Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), www.mav.asn.au, Ph: 9667 5555, 12/60 Collins St Melbourne, Victoria Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), www.vlga.org.au, Ph: 9347 2233, Suite G06, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, Victoria International Council For Local Government Initiatives (ICLEI) - Local Governments for Sustainability, Australia and New Zealand, www.ICLEI-ANZ.com.au Ph: 9639 8688, Level 4, 267 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria Environs Australia (EA), www.environs.org.au, Ph: 1300 760 447, P. O. Box 232 Nerang Queensland 4211 Metropolitan Environment Forum, 9658-8417, C/- City of Melbourne, Level 7 200 little Collins, Melbourne 3000 Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), www.dse.vic.gov.au, Ph: DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186, 8 Nicholson St, East Melbourne, Victoria

Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment Melbourne, April 2006 © The State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2006 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Authorised by the Victorian Government, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne ISSN For more information contact the DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186

Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Victorian Local Sustainability Accord Accord Update No. 2 24 May 2006

Victorian Local Sustainability Advisory Committee As part of the implementation of the Accord, the Minister for Environment has recently established the Victorian Local Sustainability Advisory Committee. Appointments to the Committee have now been finalised and include the following members:

Mr Mike Hill Chair Ms Elaine Carbines MLA Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Prof Lyndsay Neilson Secretary for the Department of Sustainability and Environment Cr Darryl Argall Shire of Hindmarsh / MAV Cr Greg Johnson Shire of Nillumbik / VLGA Cr Angela Altair City of Hobsons Bay Cr Janet Bolitho City of Port Phillip Mr Ian Morris Shire of Macedon Ranges Ms Elizabeth Hynes City of Darebin Ms Brenda Hampson Shire of Moyne

The first meeting of the Committee will take place in the middle of June with meetings continuing on a bi- monthly basis until November 2008. Meeting discussions and outcomes will be included in future Accords updates. The primary role of the Committee is to provide advice to the Minister for Environment on innovations and new directions in local environmental sustainability, inter-jurisdictional issues and flagging where specific research or reports may be needed. The Committee will also provide oversight of the Accord on areas such as project proposals, institutional arrangements and assessment and evaluation of Accord initiatives and other issues that arise.

Funding Accord Projects The Accord is supported by an allocation of $5 million from the Sustainability Fund to support projects that arise out of the implementation of Accord actions such as the development of the Local Environmental Sustainability Priority Statements (LESPS). DSE is currently working with the five Accord Pilot Councils and those 16 Councils that have since joined the Accord to develop individual and regional projects for funding in the first round of Accord projects to be announced in August 2006. All Councils who have joined the Accord will have the opportunity to apply for funding through the Accord with priority being given to projects which address regional issues involving a number of Councils, projects that address capacity issues particularly in rural areas and projects that show innovation in moving beyond standard Council practice. Accord Membership DSE is currently in the final stages of working with five Councils on a pilot of the Accord implementation process. While this Pilot Program has been in progress, local governments from across the State have continued to join the Accord. The current membership of the Accord at a local government level is as follows:

Murrindindi Shire Council Wyndham City Council Warrnambool City Council Darebin City Council Loddon Shire Council Frankston City Council Brimbank City Council Whitehorse City Council Boroondara City Council Buloke Shire Council Port Phillip City Council Moreland City Council Knox City Council Moyne Shire Council Nillumbik City Council Hobsons Bay City Council Yarra Ranges Shire Council Moorabool Shire Council Greater Bendigo City Council Greater Dandenong City West Wimmera Shire Council Council

Mayors Asia-Pacific Environment Summit The City of Melbourne hosted the Mayor’s Asia-Pacific Environment Summit (MAPES) at the Melbourne Exhibition and Conference Centre on May 9-11 this year. MAPES is a unique forum for Mayors and other local government officials in the region to advance protection of their urban environments; promote sustainable development in their cities; share information and best practices; and build partnerships. DSE took up the opportunity to sponsor one of the key components of the MAPES conference, the Mayors’ Commitments Session, during which delegate Mayors make specific commitments to action for the environmentally-sustainable development of their municipalities. The Chair of the Victorian Local Sustainability Advisory Committee, Mr Mike Hill, spoke about the Accord during the session, along with Cr Greg Johnson who presented on the Shire of Nillumbik as an example of what Victorian local governments are doing at the moment in environmental sustainability.

Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment Melbourne, May 2006 © The State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2006 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Authorised by the Victorian Government, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne ISSN: 1833-5918 For more information contact the DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186

The Victorian Local Sustainability Accord (the Accord) is the partnership program between the Victorian State Government and local governments aimed at progressing local, regional and state-wide environmental sustainability. It was launched on 7 November 2005, at which time the Minister for Environment, together with five peak local government bodies, committed to the principles of the Accord in a Call to Action. The Call to Action invites all Victorian local governments to join with the State Government in committing to the principles and actions of the Accord.

Victorian Local Sustainability Showcase Forum On 29 August 2006, the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), in conjunction with the Department of Sustainability and Environment DSE), will hold a Victorian Local Sustainability Showcase Forum in the City of Greater Bendigo. This will be unique event aimed at recognising and promoting the excellent achievements of the local government sector in sustainability. The Showcase Forum will also be an opportunity to highlight the progress of the Victorian Local Sustainability Accord. In addition, the Showcase Forum will include the presentation of Victoria’s Environmental Sustainability Action Statement to the local government sector. Building on the Victorian Sustainability Framework: Our Environment, Our Future, the Action Statement outlines a rich program of actions through which the Victorian Government is investing for a sustainable Victoria. More information on this event can be obtained through the MAV by telephoning 03 9667 5555.

Accord pilot program update The Pilot Program for the implementation of key Accord actions such as the development of Local Environmental Sustainability Priority Statements is in its final stages with the five pilot Councils all near successful completion of their Priority Statements. The Pilot Program is due to finish at the end of August culminating with the launch of the five inaugural Priority Statements by the pilot councils. Following this launch, DSE will begin engaging with all of the local governments that have made a commitment to the Accord through a resolution at Council in a staged process over the next twelve months. This process will begin with the provision of a Priority Statement template for local governments to use as a guide when completing their priority statements.

The growing Accord membership To date, the following 31 local governments have now joined the Accord:

Boroondara City Council Port Phillip City Council Campaspe Shire Council Mount Alexander Shire Council Brimbank City Council Manningham City Moreland City Council Yarra City Council Council Buloke Shire Council Wyndham City Council Nillumbik City Council Stonnington City Council Darebin City Council Greater Bendigo City Ballarat City Council Melbourne City Council Council Hobsons Bay City Whitehorse City Council Bayside City Council Moyne Shire Council Council Knox City Council Loddon Shire Council Greater Dandenong City Moorabool Shire Council Council Murrindindi Shire Frankston City Council Yarra Ranges Shire Surf Coast Shire Council Council Council Warrnambool City West Wimmera Shire East Gippsland Council Council Accord Round 1 funding The Accord is supported by an allocation of $5 million from the Sustainability Fund to support projects that arise out of the implementation of Accord actions such as the development of the Local Environmental Sustainability Priority Statements (LESPS). The following eight projects have recently been approved for support under Round 1 of the Accord Funding Program: Kororoit Creek: a structure for implementing sustainable catchment management: $292,000 for Hobsons Bay City Council for the Kororoit Creek sustainable catchment management implementation program in partnership with Melton, Brimbank, and Wyndham councils, DSE, Melbourne Water and Parks Victoria. Land capability and biodiversity study: $110,000 to carry out a land capability and biodiversity program to enable the mapping of sustainable land use within Moyne Shire with findings aimed at being incorporated as planning scheme overlays. Land and biodiversity asset mapping: $121,000 to Moorabool Shire Council to complete a current landscape risk and biodiversity asset mapping program for the purpose of protecting these assets through the council’s planning scheme. Reclamation of Mine Despoiled Sites in Bendigo: $93,500 to City of Greater Bendigo to assess the feasibility of reclaiming mine despoiled crown land sites in Bendigo for maximum community benefit. This project is also planned where possible to inform other gold-fields councils. Development of a Masterplan: Edendale Farm Community Environment Centre: $55,000 to Nillumbik Shire Council for an Edendale Farm Community Environment Centre Masterplan to guide the future use and development of Edendale Farm within the state-wide ‘Learning to Live Sustainably’ program. Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (NAGA) 2006-09 Public Lighting Action Program: $143,000 for Darebin City Council and the NAGA to create a 2006-09 Public Lighting Action Program. Includes development of Sustainable Public Lighting Action Plans for NAGA members: Banyule, Hume, Manningham, Melbourne, Nillumbik, Whittlesea, Moreland, Darebin and Yarra. Central Victorian Councils Reaching for Renewables: $88,000 for Buloke Shire Council through the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance councils Buloke, Bendigo, Ballarat and Loddon with CSIRO to identify current and future renewable energy opportunities in central Victoria. Sustainability Assessment in the Planning Process: $88,000 for Moreland City Council in partnership with City of Port Phillip and Darebin City Council to evaluate approaches to sustainability assessment in the planning system and the development of council networks to encourage dialogue.

For Further Information For more details on the Victorian Local Sustainability Accord, and how your Council can get involved, please contact Hugh Thomas at the DSE on (03) 9637 9756, or email: [email protected]. More information on the Accord can also be accessed at the DSE website: www.dse.vic.gov.au/Accord. For further information on local government initiatives and Accord partner organisations contact: Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), www.mav.asn.au, Ph: 9667 5555, 12/60 Collins St Melbourne, Victoria Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), www.vlga.org.au, Ph: 9347 2233, Suite G06, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, Victoria International Council For Local Government Initiatives (ICLEI) - Local Governments for Sustainability, Australia and New Zealand, www.ICLEI-ANZ.com.au Ph: 9639 8688, Level 4, 267 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria Environs Australia (EA), www.environs.org.au, Ph: 1300 760 447, P. O. Box 232 Nerang Queensland 4211 Metropolitan Environment Forum, 9658-8417, C/- City of Melbourne, Level 7 200 little Collins, Melbourne 3000 Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), www.dse.vic.gov.au, Ph: DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186, 8 Nicholson St, East Melbourne, Victoria

Launched in November 2005, the Victorian Local Sustainability Latest News Accord (the Accord) is the partnership program between the Victorian State Government and local governments aimed at progressing local, VLSAC regional and state-wide environmental sustainability. In a “Call to The Accord Advisory Action” the Accord invites all Victorian local governments to join in the Committee had their second commitment to the Accord’s principles and actions. meeting at the end of August with the major issues Report: Victorian Local Sustainability Showcase Forum discussed being State and local development of ESD The Victorian Local Sustainability Showcase Forum was held on 29 indicators in the planning August the year as a joint initiative between the Municipal Association of process and the progress of Victoria (MAV) Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) in Accord actions and regional the City of Greater Bendigo. The forum was a great success with over partnerships. 100 participants attending from across Victoria, including local government Councillors, CEOs, senior managers and officers, and MAV Environment representatives from a variety of State Government agencies and Management Survey associated organisations. On 29 August the MAV released its Annual The Forum involved a number of presentations showcasing the excellent Environment Management work being undertaken by Victorian local governments on sustainability Survey for 2006. The Survey and created plenty of opportunities to exchange ideas, share gives great insight into the experiences and acquire an understanding of the range and breadth of breadth of local government local government environmental sustainability projects. action on management of environmental issues and copies can be obtained by Accord Action: beyond the pilot program contacting the MAV.

With the Accord Pilot Program near completion and with over 30 Councils having joined the Accord in addition to the 5 Pilot Councils, planning is currently underway for the engagement of the next group of Councils to take part in the development of Local Environmental Sustainability Priority Statements (LESPS). In the coming weeks, a LESPS Template will be made available to Councils who are in a position to begin work on their Priority Statements along with examples of completed Priority Statements emanating from the Pilot Program. Councils having joined the Accord will be notified directly regarding the next stage of the Accord process and, in particular, the timing of participation for the large number of Councils involved. Engagement in the Accord process will be a staged process over the next 18 months with a view to ensuring there is a good mix of metropolitan, interface, rural and regional Councils involved at any one time.

To date, the following 36 local governments have now joined the Accord: Boroondara City Council Port Phillip City Council Campaspe Shire Council Banyule City Council Brimbank City Council Manningham City Council Moreland City Council Yarra City Council Buloke Shire Council Wyndham City Council Nillumbik City Council Stonnington City Council East Gippsland Shire Greater Bendigo City West Wimmera Shire Yarra Ranges Shire Council Council Council Council Hobsons Bay City Council Whitehorse City Council Bayside City Council Moyne Shire Council Knox City Council Loddon Shire Council Ballarat City Council Moorabool Shire Council Murrindindi Shire Council Frankston City Council Ararat Rural City Council Surf Coast Shire Council Warrnambool City Council Melbourne City Council Darebin City Council Hindmarsh Shire Council Greater Dandenong City Wangaratta Rural City Southern Grampians Shire Mount Alexander Shire Council Council Council Council

Accord Projects – A Case Study

The Accord is supported by an allocation of $5 million from the Sustainability Fund to support projects that arise out of the implementation of Accord actions such as the development of Priority Statements (LESPS). One of the 8 projects to be funded in the first round of Accord funding - Kororoit Creek: a structure for implementing sustainable catchment management - provides an interesting snapshot of many of the Accord principles regarding partnership and coordination between government organisations from different sectors on a pressing environmental issue. This project is just one example of the promising work being undertaken through the Accord and is described below.

Kororoit Creek: a structure for implementing sustainable catchment management

Led by Hobsons Bay City Council in partnership with Melton, Brimbank and Wyndham City Councils, as well as the DSE, Melbourne Water and Parks Victoria, this project will develop an agreed management approach to coordinate and implement actions within the Kororiot Creek Regional Strategy 2005-2030.

The Strategy describes a long-term program of actions to protect, manage and improve access to a 40 km stretch of the Kororoit Ck for the next 25 years. It provides an integrated plan for the “whole creek corridor”. The funding component provided through the Accord ($292,000) will assist in the preparation of consistent planning policies along the length of the creek, including protection for significant environmental areas, and the introduction of integrated pest management plans. Progressive completion of trail gaps across the catchment, which will include resolving issues of land use and the protection of natural and cultural heritage across municipal boundaries, will be a key part of the strategy. Exemplifying the principles of the Accord, this approach seeks to strengthen inter-governmental cooperation on a significant regional environmental issue and be a conduit to sharing information and knowledge between various stakeholders. Catchment management issues are of a cross-jurisdictional nature and through a coordinated approach to the implementation of the Strategy, these issues can be managed more effectively. A project officer will be appointed to assist with the project, bringing together the contributions of participating organisations which include: all Friends Groups, Landcare Groups, the four Councils, Melbourne Water, Parks Victoria and DSE. For more information on this project contact Andrew Shannon at Hobsons Bay City Council on (03) 9932 1194.

For Further Information For more details on the Victorian Local Sustainability Accord, and how your Council can get involved, please email: [email protected] . More information on the Accord can also be accessed at the DSE website: www.dse.vic.gov.au/Accord .

For further information on local government initiatives and Accord partner organisations contact: Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), www.mav.asn.au , Ph: 9667 5555, 12/60 Collins St Melbourne, Victoria Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), www.vlga.org.au , Ph: 9347 2233, Suite G06, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, Victoria International Council For Local Government Initiatives (ICLEI) - Local Governments for Sustainability, Australia and New Zealand, www.ICLEI-ANZ.com.au Ph: 9639 8688, Level 4, 267 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria Environs Australia (EA), www.environs.org.au , Ph: 1300 760 447, P. O. Box 232 Nerang Queensland 4211 Metropolitan Environment Forum , 9658-8417, C/- City of Melbourne, Level 7 200 little Collins, Melbourne 3000

Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment Melbourne, April 2006 © The State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2006 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Authorised by the Victorian Government, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne ISBN [insert number] For more information contact the DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186

Victorian Local Sustainability Accord

Accord Update No 5 January 2007

Launched in November 2005, the Victorian Local Sustainability Accord (the Accord) is a partnership program between the Victorian State Government and local governments aimed at progressing local, regional and state-wide environmental sustainability. In a “call to action” the Accord invites all Victorian local governments to join in the commitment to the Accord’s principles and actions.

2006 Accord highlights

• As at 20 January 2007, 40 Signatory Councils have joined the Accord with over half of the Councils located in rural and regional Victoria • Completion of the first funding round with $990,000 going towards Accord projects involving 31 Councils • A successful joint initiative between the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) in the City of Greater Bendigo. The Victorian Local Sustainability Showcase Forum was held in August 07, recognising and promoting the excellent achievements of the local government sector in sustainability • Establishment of the Victorian Local Sustainability Accord Committee (VLSAC) followed by three productive Committee meetings. • Completion of the Local Environmental Sustainability Priority Statement (Priority Statement) ‘pilot’ program • Presentation by the VLSAC Chair, Mike Hill, at the Mayor’s Asia-Pacific Environment Summit (MAPES)

Forthcoming

• The 2007 Accord engagement plan includes a series of workshops to be held in each DSE region aimed at providing Councils with information about the Accord and Priority Statement process • Two funding rounds are being planned for 2007, each round will coincide with the Priority Statement development process • ICLEI- A/NZ Accelerating Now! This Conference, focused on local government efforts in progressing sustainability, is being held in Melbourne from 2-5 May 2007

Thank you to Accord Pilot Councils

The Accord pilot project has come to a close with each of the five participating Councils completing a Priority Statement. The pilot which ran over a nine-month period provided an excellent opportunity to ‘test run’ the Accord implementation process across a diverse range of Councils.

The pilot Council’s enthusiasm and commitment to the project has been greatly appreciated and led to a number of improvements to the Priority Statement process. Copies of the completed Priority Statements and a Priority Statement Template will soon be made available to all signatory Councils.

It is hoped that the pilot councils which include Hobsons Bay City Council, Nillumbik Shire Council, Moorabool Shire Council, Moyne Shire Council and Greater Bendigo City Council will share their experiences of developing a Priority Statement with joining Councils.

Accord Uptake

To date, the following 43 local governments have now joined the Accord:

Ararat Rural City Council Greater Bendigo City Mildura City Council Surf Coast Shire Council Council Ballarat City Council Greater Dandenong City Moira Shire Council Swan Hill Rural City Council Council Banyule City Council Hindmarsh Shire Council Moorabool Shire Council Wangaratta Rural City Council Bayside City Council Hobsons Bay City Moreland City Council Warrnambool City Council Council Boroondara City Council Kingston City Council Mount Alexander Shire West Wimmera Shire Council Council Brimbank City Council Knox City Council Moyne Shire Council Whitehorse City Council Buloke Shire Council Latrobe City Council Murrindindi Shire Wodonga City Council Council Campaspe Shire Council Loddon Shire Council Nillumbik City Council Wyndham City Council Darebin City Council Macedon Ranges Shire Port Phillip City Council Yarra City Council Council East Gippsland Shire Manningham City Southern Grampians Yarra Ranges Shire Council Council Shire Council Council Frankston City Council Melbourne City Council Stonnington City Council

For Further Information

For more details on the Victorian Local Sustainability Accord, and how your Council can get involved, please contact Hugh Thomas at the DSE on (03) 9637 9756, or email: [email protected] . More information on the Accord can also be accessed at the DSE website: www.dse.vic.gov.au/Accord .

For further information on local government initiatives and Accord partner organisations contact: Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), www.mav.asn.au , Ph: 9667 5555, 12/60 Collins St Melbourne, Victoria Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), www.vlga.org.au , Ph: 9347 2233, Suite G06, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, Victoria International Council For Local Government Initiatives (ICLEI) - Local Governments for Sustainability, Australia and New Zealand, www.ICLEI-ANZ.com.au Ph: 9639 8688, Level 4, 267 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria Environs Australia (EA), www.environs.org.au , Ph: 1300 760 447, P. O. Box 232 Nerang Queensland 4211 Metropolitan Environment Forum , 9658-8417, C/- City of Melbourne, Level 7 200 little Collins, Melbourne 3000 Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), www.dse.vic.gov.au , Ph: DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186, 8 Nicholson St, East Melbourne, Victoria

Victorian Local Sustainability Accord

Accord Update No 6 May 2007

Launched in November 2005 , the Victorian Local Sustainability Accord (the Accord) is a partnership program between the Victorian State Government and local governments aimed at progressing local, regional and state-wide environmental sustainability. In a “call to action” the Accord invites all Victorian local governments to join in the commitment to the Accord’s principles and actions.

Accord Engagement Program

14 Signatory Councils are currently taking part in the Accord engagement program, working with DSE and other partners on the development of Local Environmental Sustainability Priority Statements (Priority Statements). A number of workshops have been held throughout the state to discuss priority issues and challenges for participating councils and further workshops are being held in May to identify strategic projects and partnerships.

Priority issues that have been identified for further collaborative work include: improving reliability of, and access to, information on the sustainability and management of water resources; improved sustainability education to develop community awareness and leadership ; introduction of more sustainable street lighting ; and the impact of transport costs for recycling in rural areas.

The current engagement program will finish at the end of July with the completion and endorsement of each Council’s Priority Statement. The Program will be open again to all signatory Accord Councils who are yet to start work on a Priority Statement, beginning in late July.

Second Round Funding

Round two of the Accord Funding Program commenced on 27 April 2007 and is open to all Councils participating in the engagement program detailed above. In Round 1 of Accord Funding, a total of $990,000 was allocated to Accord projects involving 33 Councils. The funding program has a range of criteria that focus on capacity building, partnership and innovation and it is expected that up to $2 million will be provided to Accord signatory Councils over two funding rounds in 2007.

Accord Partners

It is a busy 2007 for the Accord partners with a number of significant sustainability events and projects taking place this year. In early May ICLEI ran a very successful conference discussing the leadership by local governments for action on sustainability titled Accelerating Now! The event focussed on strengthening Council’s capacity for effective and lasting action and was attended by over 400 delegates from Australia and New Zealand.

On 7 June, the VLGA will host a Leading Edge Forum titled Get Real, Get Local - on Climate Change to explore what works and what hinders local governments & communities working together on climate change. Also in June, the MAV will be holding a Conference to discuss The Challenge of Global Warming and Peak Oil for Local Government, a unique opportunity for leadership and collaboration to save our planet. In early September, Environs Australia will hold the 2007 Local Government Sustainable Development Conference and Exhibition, designed to assist local government staff to identify, plan and implement best practice sustainable development solutions. The conference will also feature the second Environs Australia ‘ Local leadership in Sustainability’ awards ceremony.

In addition, p lans are underway for a second Local Sustainability Showcase Forum . The inaugural Showcase Forum in 2006 was an opportunity to recognise and promote the excellent achievements of the local government sector in sustainability. The Forum provides local governments and relevant stakeholders with the opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences and acquire an understanding of the range and breadth of local government environmental sustainability projects. Information on this and any other projects listed can be obtained by contacting the relevant Accord Partner using the details listed below.

Accord Uptake To date, the following 47 local governments have now joined the Accord: Ararat Rural City Council Glenelg Shire Council Manningham City Council Stonnington City Council Ballarat City Council Greater Bendigo City Melbourne City Council Surf Coast Shire Council Council Banyule City Council Greater Dandenong City Mildura City Council Swan Hill Rural City Council Council Bayside City Council Greater Shepparton City Moira Shire Council Wangaratta Rural City Council Council Boroondara City Council Hindmarsh Shire Council Moorabool Shire Council Warrnambool City Council Brimbank City Council Hobsons Bay City Council Moreland City Council West Wimmera Shire Council Buloke Shire Council Indigo Shire Council Mount Alexander Shire Whitehorse City Council Council Campaspe Shire Council Kingston City Council Moyne Shire Council Wodonga City Council Casey City Council Knox City Council Murrindindi Shire Council Wyndham City Council Darebin City Council Latrobe City Council Nillumbik City Council Yarra City Council East Gippsland Shire Loddon Shire Council Port Phillip City Council Yarra Ranges Shire Council Council Frankston City Council Macedon Ranges Shire Southern Grampians Council Shire Council

For Further Information

For more detail on the Accord, including how your Council can join, contact [email protected] . More information on the Accord can also be accessed at the DSE website: www.dse.vic.gov.au/Accord .

For further information on local government initiatives and Accord partner organisations contact: Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), www.mav.asn.au , Ph: 9667 5555, 12/60 Collins St Melbourne, Victoria Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), www.vlga.org.au , Ph: 9347 2233, Suite G06, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, Victoria International Council For Local Government Initiatives (ICLEI) - Local Governments for Sustainability, Australia and New Zealand, www.ICLEI-ANZ.com.au Ph: 9639 8688, Level 4, 267 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria Environs Australia (EA), www.environs.org.au , Ph: 1300 760 447, P. O. Box 232 Nerang Queensland 4211

Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment Melbourne, January 2007 © The State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2006 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 . Authorised by the Victorian Government, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne ISBN [insert number] For more information contact the DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186 Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.

Victorian Local Sustainability Accord

Accord Update No 7 November 2007

The Victorian Local Sustainability Accord (the Accord) is a partnership to strengthen cooperative efforts between local governments and the Victorian State Government for the environmental sustainability of Victoria. The key principles of the Accord are to:

Build a shared understanding of issues through ongoing dialogue; Identify shared goals and priorities and support a culture of collaboration; Develop long term strategic resource allocation and funding; Pursue alignment and cooperation in service delivery; Evaluate impacts of actions and feedback into future planning.

Sustainable Public Street Lighting The Victorian Local Sustainability Accord Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee) has identified sustainable public lighting as one of its key strategic priorities. To date, Accord funding has been provided to The Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (NAGA) for two projects: a 2006-09 Public Lighting Action Plan for its member councils; and preparation of a state-wide business case for a public lighting upgrade.

Through the Victorian Sustainable Public Lighting Action Group a number of councils are negotiating with electricity distributors on the setting of a price for the installation and ongoing operation and maintenance of energy efficient lighting technologies. These negotiations are progressing and efforts are now being focused on developing the information required for the distributors to give technical approval for the 42W CFL and T5 lamps. This is the last remaining technical impediment to the price setting negotiations.

At the last Advisory Committee meeting on 12 October, NAGA presented a ‘roadmap’ for action on public lighting. This report identified technical, financial, administrative and strategic issues and recommended that a high level partnership be established amongst key public lighting stakeholders (distribution businesses, local government, State Government) to drive the process.

The Advisory Committee has identified key actions required to enable a roll-out of sustainable public lighting across the state. These are: Clarifying stakeholder roles and responsibilities; Agreeing steps and processes to move forward; and Developing a funding model to roll-out sustainable public lighting across Victoria.

The Advisory Committee considers the establishment of a high level group, as recommended by NAGA, to be an appropriate vehicle to drive these actions and is discussing this option with the Victorian Government.

Local Government Workshop for AGO Adaptation Funding On Wednesday November 14th , the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) will be hosting a workshop for local governments considering applying for the Australian Greenhouse Office’s (AGO) Local Adaptation Pathways Programme. The AGO is offering up to $30,000 for councils wishing to conduct a climate change risk management process and up to $20,000 to develop a climate change adaptation action plan. The workshop is intended to assist councils in preparing their funding applications, while also providing feedback to the Victorian Government about what additional support may be required.

The workshop will be held in Melbourne, with a number of video conferencing sites at Ballarat, Benalla and Ellinbank. To RSVP or for further information please contact Jennifer Cane at DSE on tel: 9637 8675 or email [email protected] . Please RSVP to attend the workshop, including via video conference, before Friday November 9th as seating is limited.

Second Round The second round of the Accord had 30 councils participating in a process to develop Local Environmental Sustainability Priority Statements. Through a series of workshops held in across Victoria, councillors, council staff and other stakeholders identified their achievements and potential issues for action. The following eight projects have been approved for round two funding:

$83,000 to Southern Grampians Shire Council for regional sustainability partnership projects and environment strategy. This project will enable the South West regional strategic sustainability partnership to deliver partnership projects through a new regional sustainability network for Local Governments. The project will also result in a local environment strategy for the Southern Grampians.

$180,000 to Yarra City Council to complete a work program to move towards zero net emissions in the Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action Region. This project will help councils move towards zero net emissions by enabling the Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action partnership to research carbon offsets and develop a common methodology for carbon projects for all local governments.

$35,000 to Banyule City Council to integrate sustainability into the Greensborough Principal Activity Centre redevelopment . This project will enable sustainability initiatives to be effectively integrated into the design and construction of a new major redevelopment at the Greensborough Principal Activity Centre and provide case studies to inform future developments at other activity centres.

$113,000 for Moorabool Shire Council to faciliate future planning for Melbourne’s Peri Urban Rural areas. This project will improve understanding of conditions, trends, pressures, threats and drivers of change and response mechanisms to facilitate planning for the Future of Melbourne’s Peri Urban Rural Councils.

$80,000 for East Gippsland Shire Council to develop an environment strategy for the East Gippsland community. This project will result in an environment strategy to enable the Council to give appropriate focus to environmental issues of importance to the East Gippsland community.

$50,000 for Banyule City Council to deliver sustainable street lighting through the Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action Public Lighting Action Program. This project will deliver the second stage of the Public Lighting Action Program to enhance Victorian Councils’ ability to progress towards sustainable public lighting.

$230,000 for Manningham City Council to progress sustainable buildings in local government . This project will develop an approach to reduce the use of energy, water, materials and minimise greenhouse emissions and waste in buildings in the local government sector and implement a pilot: Accelerating Sustainable Buildings in the Local Government Sector, in partnership with other councils.

$30,000 for Glenelg Shire Council to develop an environment strategy for the Glenelg community . This project will result in an environment strategy to enable the Council to give appropriate focus to environmental issues of importance to the Glenelg community.

Third Round Details for the expression of interest for the third round of the Accord funding will be announced later this year with applications due in March.

Premier’s Sustainability Awards Now in their sixth year, the Premier’s Sustainability Awards recognise and reward Victorian businesses, communities and individuals that demonstrate outstanding leadership and contribute to a more sustainable future for our state. Sustainable organisations do things better, smarter and more productively while reducing their everyday environmental impacts.

The 2008 Premier’s Sustainability Awards are proudly hosted by Sustainability Victoria on behalf of the Premier of Victoria. The award categories are large business, small business, community, public sector and products or services. Find out more at www.sustainabilityawards.vic.gov.au . Accord Uptake To date, the following 49 local governments have now joined the Accord: Ararat Rural City Council Glenelg Shire Council Macedon Ranges Shire Southern Grampians Shire Council Council Ballarat City Council Greater Bendigo City Council Manningham City Council Stonnington City Council

Banyule City Council Greater Dandenong City Melbourne City Council Surf Coast Shire Council Council Bayside City Council Greater Shepparton City Mildura City Council Swan Hill Rural City Council Council Boroondara City Council Hepburn Shire Council Moira Shire Council Wangaratta Rural City Council Brimbank City Council Hindmarsh Shire Council Moorabool Shire Council Warrnambool City Council

Buloke Shire Council Hobsons Bay City Council Moreland City Council West Wimmera Shire Council

Campaspe Shire Council Indigo Shire Council Mount Alexander Shire Whitehorse City Council Council Casey City Council Kingston City Council Moyne Shire Council Wodonga City Council

Corangamite Shire Council Knox City Council Murrindindi Shire Council Wyndham City Council

Darebin City Council Latrobe City Council Nillumbik City Council Yarra City Council

East Gippsland Shire Council Loddon Shire Council Port Phillip City Council Yarra Ranges Shire Council

Frankston City Council

For Further Information For more detail on the Accord, including how your council can join, contact [email protected] . More information on the Accord can also be accessed at the DSE website: www.dse.vic.gov.au/Accord .

For further information on local government initiatives and Accord partner organisations contact: Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), www.mav.asn.au , Ph: 9667 5555, 12/60 Collins St Melbourne, Victoria Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), www.vlga.org.au , Ph: 9347 2233, Suite G06, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, Victoria International Council For Local Government Initiatives (ICLEI) - Local Governments for Sustainability, Australia and New Zealand, www.iclei.org/oceania Ph: 9639 8688, Level 4, 267 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria Environs Australia (EA), www.environs.org.au , Ph: 1300 760 447, P. O. Box 232 Nerang Queensland 4211

Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment Melbourne, November 2007 © The State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2006 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 . Authorised by the Victorian Government, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne ISBN 1833-5918 For more information contact the DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186 Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.