Environmental ACTION PLAN 2

Environmental ACTION PLAN 2 Printed on 100% recycled paper: – 90% post-consumer waste – meets ISO 14001 & Eco Mark – de-inking process uses hydrogen peroxide (not chlorine) – FSC accredited mill Contents Executive summary . 2 Our Environmental Vision . .2 Our Directions . 3 Environmental Action Plan (EAP) 1 . 3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions . 6 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Background Data . 8 Part 1: Greenhouse Actions . 13 Water . 20 Water Background Data . 21 Part 2: Water Actions . 26 Waste . 32 Waste Background Data . 34 Part 3: Waste Actions . 37 Biodiversity . 41 Biodiversity Background Data . 42 Part 4: Biodiversity Actions . 43 Sustainability Education and Engagement . 49 Part 5: Education and Engagement Strategies . .51 Environment Action Plan 2 – 1 Executive summary It is now widely accepted by the Waverley Council has been a leader and international scientifi c community that early adopter of a new environmental Our Environmental Vision decisive action to reduce greenhouse planning response whereby the long gas emissions must be taken by the term environmental targets needed to “Waverley Council has the focus of the world and given its iconic beaches, it is perfectly positioned to lead in environmental global community in order to sustain secure our environmental future are sustainability”. life as we know it. Recent consultation established. Rigorous data analysis with Waverley residents has confi rmed and cost benefi t feasibilities of potential Web Forum contributor that our residents demand government strategies are then completed to The environment. One word that means many things to many people. So action to safeguard our environmental determine where we need to focus our much of our life depends on it. And right now, the environment is depending future. Stabilising emissions to maintain efforts in the short term to deliver our on us. In keeping with the “think big, act local” slogan, there is a lot that an acceptable global climate, ensuring targets. This new planning response Waverley as a local community can do to contribute positively to a sustainable Waverley is able to cope with sea level acknowledges that Council may not environment. Council aims to take a lead role, through the creation of plans, rise and other climate change impacts, have all of the answers at this point in policies and programs that engage, equip and inspire our community into securing non-potable water supplies, time and is upfront about identifying taking action to reduce our use of resources and be great custodians of the managing waste as a valuable resource any defi cit or gap that may exist in our natural assets we have been blessed with. and protecting and enhancing our local current plan. However, it acknowledges plants and animals are high priorities that we must keep striving toward for the Waverley community. It has also our long-term environmental goals been acknowledged by the community to prevent further human induced that Council can not do it alone – environmental degradation. positive environmental change requires all levels of government, the private sector and the community working together. Local government occupies a unique position in the community, both as a leader and potential driver of environmental change and also as a facilitator for residents and local businesses to change their own behaviours and practices. 2 – Waverley Council Our Directions Environmental Action Plan (EAP) 1 EAP 1 represented Council drawing integrated all of the existing single issue E1 Waverley’s community contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas a line in the sand with environmental environmental plans into one document. emissions. planning and acknowledging we To publish EAP 1 signifi cant work E2 Waverley and its community is well prepared for the impacts of climate needed a more rigorous data driven was undertaken to establish current change planning response to safeguard our environmental trends for Council and environmental future. No longer were the Local Government Area (LGA) and E3 Waverley’s community, including its visitors, reduces the amount of waste it easily achievable targets and generic within this process knowledge gaps generates and increases the amount it reuses and recycles. actions going to deliver what the global were discovered. With the evolving E4 Water is used carefully and sparingly in Waverley’s buildings, gardens, scientifi c community is telling us we nature of the EAP, EAP 2 has been businesses and Council operations. needed to achieve to sustain our local designed to deliver a far greater depth E5 The waterways and beaches are clean and free of pollutants. environment as we know it. We needed of understanding around local issues to set ambitious environmental targets and opportunities for maximising cost E6 A network of parks and coastal reserves, street trees and other plantings informed by contemporary science and effective environmental management. provide a habitat for a thriving local ecology. then let data tell us where we need Specifi cally, EAP2 and beyond is E7 Our coastal waters provide a habitat for a thriving marine ecology. to respond with action. We needed designed to quantify the potential to acknowledge the unique position contribution of individual actions and E8 Waverley is an environmentally educated and committed community. that Local Government holds in the measures towards achieving overall community and use this to the best targets. To deliver our vision we will: of our ability to drive environmental The plan is structured around our fi ve ■ Accept the critical urgency of greenhouse gas reduction and climate change change. Change in the community, in key areas in environmental management adaptation and mitigation; government and in the private sector. – greenhouse, water, waste, biodiversity Subsequently we needed to set targets ■ Remain conversant with community expectation; and sustainability engagement and not just for Waverley Council as an education. To close critical knowledge ■ Plan, monitor and evaluate actions to ensure they are fi nancially responsible organisation. We needed to establish gaps in these areas, the following and technically feasible; long term targets for our community program of investigation and planning ■ Investigate innovative solutions and methods of engagement to assist our that would deliver the environmental has been completed to inform EAP2 and residents to improve the effi ciency of their lifestyle; outcomes needed to effect positive beyond. change on a global scale. ■ Lobby State and Federal Government to legislate policy that complements local action; and EAP 1 was adopted by Council in ■ Deliver actions that will help us achieve our long term environmental targets for December 2008. The plan established the best value for money. the new, long term and community based environmental targets and Environment Action Plan 2 – 3 EAP2 Completed Technical Studies TALKING WITH RESIDENTS… Web Based Discussion: An interactive web forum that was used to involve the Project Priority EAP 2 was completed as part of a wider community in discussion around Council wide Integrated Planning the WT2 projects. A. Community consultation on EAP1 targets EAP2 Program designed to develop Council’s next Strategic Plan, Waverley Together Community Event: The Waverley Have B. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Modelling EAP2 2 (WT2). EAP 2 is designed as a a Say Day was held in August 2009 supporting document to WT2 and is and invited residents to comment on C. Greenhouse Gas Emission cost/benefi t action planning EAP2 therefore directed by Council’s broader Council’s strategic direction in the areas strategic vision. Other WT2 supporting of assets, environment and fi nances. D. Baseline fl ora and fauna survey to establish total species EAP2 plans are: Community Survey: 500 randomly numbers ■ Strategic Asset Management Plan 3 selected residents were surveyed via E. Baseline marine intertidal biodiversity survey EAP2 (SAMP3) telephone in May 2009 on general satisfaction levels with Council services ■ Long Term Financial Plan 2 (LTFP2) All of the outcomes of the Integrated F. Water management cost/benefi t action planning EAP2 ■ The Workforce Plan (WP1). Engagement Strategy have informed the A signifi cant component of the WT2 targets, directions and actions of EAP2. G. Waste management cost/benefi t action planning EAP2 planning process was the development EAP2 is a 10 year plan for environmental and delivery of an Integrated protection and management within the Engagement Strategy to ensure WT2 H. Biodiversity cost/benefi t action planning EAP2 Waverley LGA. EAP2 is directed by and all supporting plans (including the broad vision and directions set in EAP2) best refl ected community WT2 and developed in partnership with expectations. The three types of the community. EAP2 then sets the consultation completed were: direction for Council’s environmental Study Groups: consisting of a carefully management program as detailed within selected group of residents and our four year delivery program. ratepayers who are passionate about our area and who represent the diversity of the Waverley community. Members participated in a series of workshops that considered Waverley’s strategic direction across a number of areas including the environment, assets and fi nances. 4 – Waverley Council EAP2 TARGETS THE EAP2 TARGETS ARE: The targets presented in EAP2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions: represent what contemporary science is ■ 30% reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2020 based on 2003/04 levels. telling us we

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