NORTHERN SYDNEY REGIONAL ORGANISATION OF COUNCILS STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2011-2012 “End of Term” NSROC State of the Environment Reports 2008-2012 NORTHERN SYDNEY REGIONAL ORGANISATION OF COUNCILS Comprising the Councils of Hornsby, Hunter’s Hill, Ku-ring-gai, Lane Cove, North Sydney, Ryde and Willoughby STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2011 – 2012 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE NSROC has now produced Regional State of the Environment reports for eight years. This reflects both the recognition that many environmental issues impact beyond council borders and that our member councils are committed to cooperative approaches to achieve improved environmental outcomes. The 2011-2012 NSROC Regional State of the Environment Report is also an End of Term Report. It provides updates on key data and highlights through case studies, the relevant regional and council initiatives relating to the environment in the 2011-2012 financial year. As per the 2010-2011 report, an “at a glance” comparator of environmental data across councils is designed as a quick reference guide. As an End of Term Report, where possible, trend data is presented for the four years 2008 to 2012. Councillor Nick Berman Hornsby Shire Council President of Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils September 2012 HORNSBY HUNTER’S HILL KU-RING-GAI LANE COVE NORTH SYDNEY RYDE WILLOUGHBY Mayor Berman Mayor Hoopmann Mayor Cross Mayor Gaffney Mayor McCaffery Mayor Etmekdjian Mayor Reilly Councillor Delegate Councillor Delegate Councillor Delegate Councillor Delegate Councillor Delegate Councillor Delegate Councillor Delegate Robert Browne Richard Quinn Jennifer Anderson Pam Palmer Stephen Barbour Sarkis Yedelian Barry Thompson 1 NORTHERN SYDNEY REGIONAL ORGANISATION OF COUNCILS CONTENTS Key Findings ..............................................................................................................4 At a glance summary ..................................................................................................5 Acronyms ..................................................................................................................6 Introduction .......................................................................................................7 The NSROC region .....................................................................................................7 State of environment reporting ....................................................................................8 Why a regional SoE report? .........................................................................................8 This report .................................................................................................................8 1 Towards Sustainability...............................................................................9 Sustainability goals and measures .............................................................................10 Community consultation and corporate action .............................................................17 2 Human Settlement ..................................................................................20 Urban development and growth .................................................................................21 Population distribution ..............................................................................................24 Heritage ..................................................................................................................26 Non-Aboriginal heritage .............................................................................................27 Transport .................................................................................................................29 Delivering sustainable transport .................................................................................30 Waste .....................................................................................................................33 Noise ......................................................................................................................35 Energy ....................................................................................................................37 Water .....................................................................................................................41 Community health ....................................................................................................43 3 Bushland .......................................................................................................46 Flora and fauna .......................................................................................................50 Open space .............................................................................................................51 4 Water ..............................................................................................................53 5 Climate Change ..........................................................................................58 Air quality ................................................................................................................61 6 Landscape ....................................................................................................63 Mapping and coastal landscape initiatives ..................................................................65 Appendix ............................................................................................................68 Environmental Extracts from Councils’ Community Strategy Plans ..................................69 2 STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2011 – 2012 LIST OF CASE STUDIES CHAPTER 1 – TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY .............................................9 Hunter’s Hill Council – Rethinking Waste ....................................................................17 City of Ryde Council – World Environment Day 2011 ....................................................18 Hornsby Shire Council – Ready Set Grow Schools Program ...........................................18 Willoughby City Council – Sustainable Buildings The Concourse .....................................19 CHAPTER 2 – HUMAN SETTLEMENT ......................................................20 Hornsby Shire Council – Epping Town Centre Study ......................................................23 Hornsby Shire Council – Heritage Review ....................................................................27 North Sydney Council – Commuity Garden ..................................................................28 City of Ryde Council – Macquarie Park Transport Management Association .....................30 City of Ryde Council – Personal Mobility Devices ..........................................................31 Lane Cove Council – Riding Around Lane Cove ............................................................32 North Sydney Council – Electric Bikes ........................................................................32 Hornsby Shire Council – Highrise Unit Waste Management Program ...............................34 Willoughby City Council – The Coolest Parking in Town ..................................................39 City of Ryde Council – Home, Waste and Sustainability Advisory Service 2012 ................40 Lane Cove Council – Walk Around the World ...............................................................44 Hunter’s Hill Council – Tarban Creek Cycleway .............................................................44 North Sydney Council – The Coal Loader Community Garden and Community Health .......45 CHAPTER 3 – BUSHLAND ..........................................................................46 City of Ryde Council – River to River Corridors Project 2010-2013 ................................48 Ku-ring- gai – Canopy Connect ..................................................................................49 Lane Cove Council – Backyard Habitat Program ...........................................................50 CHAPTER 4 – WATER ...................................................................................53 Hornsby Shire Council – Epping Stormwater Harvesting Project .....................................56 Ku-ring-gai Council – Rehabilitation of South Branch of Cowan Creek ............................57 Hornsby Shire Council – Bioretention Stormwater Treatment Basin ................................57 CHAPTER 5 – Climate CHANGE .............................................................58 Ku-ring-gai Council – Climate Wise Communities .........................................................59 City of Ryde Council – Low Carbon Growth Plan for the Macquarie Park Precinct .............60 Willoughby City Council – Carbon Management ...........................................................61 CHAPTER 6 – LANDSCAPE ........................................................................63 City of Ryde Council – Strangers Creek Rehabilitation & Bioretention Basin ....................64 Ku-ring-gai Council – Biodiversity and Riparian Lands Mapping ......................................65 North Sydney Council – Urban Forest Strategy ..............................................................66 APPENDICES – Environmental Extracts from Councils’ Community Strategy Plans and other key environmental documents ...............................................................68 • Hornsby Shire Council ........................................................................................69