Environment Strategy

Council adopted its first Environment Strategy in June 2016, which provided an umbrella policy framework for its work in environmental management, and outlined key actions for the themes of:

  • Climate Change
  • Biodiversity
  • Land and Water
  • Resource Efficiency.

An annual environment report has been produced since then, to track progress towards achieving the listed actions, and to account for changes in state legislation and policy.

At is Ordinary Meeting on 27 October 2021, Council adopted a refreshed version of the Environment Strategy(PDF, 5MB) drawing in emerging priorities and outlining future directions and keys action for the themes:

  • Climate Emergency
  • Biodiversity
  • Water
  • Waste.

Council will continue to publish an annual environment report based on the revised indicators included in the refreshed Environment Strategy.

Some key achievements in implementing the Environment Strategy over the past few years include the development of Counting-Down-to-Zero, conducting Cool-ER Changes to inform the shire-wide Climate Emergency Plan, expansion of the Healthy Landscapes program, completion of cultural heritage and ecological assessments at several reserves, expansion of Council’s environment events program to include more community monitoring (citizen science) events, and the development of the Waste and Resource Recovery Management Strategy 2021-2026.

Details about Council’s work in environment and sustainability can be found in the annual reports listed below.