Sustaining our environment

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Project Summaries - 2006 Urban Sustainability Program Grants

2006 Urban Sustainability Seed Funding Grants

2006 Urban Sustainability Major Project Grants (Updated July 2007)

Project Summaries - 2006 Urban Sustainability Seed Funding Grants

Ashfield Municipal Council
Ashfield Towards Sustainability - Sustainable Action Plan 2010
Grant: $20,000

Through this project, Ashfield Council and its community will work together to develop a sustainability action plan. Ashfield Towards Sustainability - Sustainable Action Plan 2010 will provide a strategic framework for Council. The plan will identify key goals and actions to work towards sustainability that both Council and the community (including businesses and schools) can undertake. The plan will also provide council with a decision making tool that can be used to prioritise projects and will ensure the integration of economic, environmental and social needs.

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Auburn Council
Development of a Sustainability Strategy for Auburn Council
Grant: $20,000

Auburn Council is developing a Sustainability Strategy that will shape Auburn's commitment to becoming more sustainable. The project involves the following elements:
• consultation strategy: catering to the diversity and demographics of the community;
• education and awareness programs for staff and community (including the Ambassadors program);
• linking to Auburn Council's "Auburn 2030" Strategy and management plan to ensure all initiatives are properly resourced and meet Council's overall vision for the future; and
• identification of key sustainability objectives, programs, initiatives and targets.

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Ballina Shire Council
Sustainability Action Plan 2008 - 2013 (SAP)
Grant: $17,340

This project will define how Ballina Shire Council will contribute to creating a more sustainable Shire in the period 2008-2013. Council recognises there are opportunities to work with the community, other councils, the private sector and government agencies in order to achieve our visions. Similarly, these stakeholders, knowing how the Council intends to focus its activities, will be able to develop opportunities for collaboration and partnerships. Working from our vision, this project will enable Council to develop coherent and coordinated actions for the next five years that will help to balance the outcomes arising from social, environmental and economic opportunities and challenges.

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Baulkham Hills Shire Council
Consultation on Long-Term Vision for Sustainability of Baulkham Hills Shire Council
Grant: $20,000

Baulkham Hills Shire is made up of a mix of urban and rural lifestyles, has considerable bushland areas and is one of the fastest growing Local Government areas in Sydney. Today, Baulkham Hills Shire is made up of 29 suburbs with a population of approximately 157,000 residents. By 2031 the population is projected to be 273,000. The challenge for Baulkham Hills Shire Council is to manage this growth in a sustainable manner. This project proposes to undertake a comprehensive consultation process including community, businesses and government departments in order to begin the formulation of a long-term vision (20 year) for the sustainable development of the Shire. The consultation process is essential for the validity of the plan.

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Blacktown City Council
Springboard for Sustainability
Grant: $20,000

Springboard for Sustainability will establish a solid foundation for our journey towards a Sustainable Blacktown. It will initiate the development of our local blueprint and is a demonstration of Council's desire to become more sustainable and to be the best that the City can be. Springboard for Sustainability will provide the necessary training and education in preparation for the culture shift required for ESD to ensure a Sustainable Blacktown. Springboard for Sustainability is a whole-of-Council approach aimed at engaging all staff to give sustainability practical and grounded meaning and to ensure sustainability is embedded in not only in our programs but also our processes.

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Botany Bay Council
Develop a 'Sustainable Futures' Plan in Partnership With Those Who Work, Live and Play in Botany Bay
Grant: $20,000

This project aims to develop a Sustainability Plan that is a visionary document to develop priorities, set future directions and link existing projects and programs. The development of the plan will give the community that 'Live, Work and Play' in Botany Bay Council area ownership and a sense of responsibility for their local environment. The vision for Botany Bay Council's future will be developed in conjunction with the community, through extensive community consultation.

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Camden Council
Action Plan for a Sustainable Camden (Camden Council Sustainability Plan)
Grant: $20,000

Camden Council's development of the 'Action Plan for a Sustainable Camden' is in partnership with Government agencies, community organisations and householders of the Camden Local Government Area. The Plan clearly defines the sustainability objectives and Council's role in the delivery of state and regional authorities' sustainability policies. Maximising effectiveness by utilising work done to date, the Plan will inform Council's management planning process ensuring a coordinated and integrated approach to the achievement of sustainability outcomes. The Plan also integrates with the other Council plans including the scheduled review of Council's Strategic Plan.

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Clarence Valley Council
To Develop a Clarence Valley Sustainability Action Plan
Grant: $20,000

The project will assist Council to develop a Sustainable Action Plan (SAP) that will capture the on-ground actions that Council will undertake to achieve sustainable outcomes. The project follows on from the March 2006 adopted Sustainability Initiative that is a core leadership action of Council aimed to meet the challenges of working towards a sustainable future. The initiative includes the Sustainability Planning Web that provides the basis for the development of the SAP that will identify and prioritise key projects and actions needed to help achieve our goals.

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Eurobodalla Shire Council
Eurobodalla: Towards Sustainability
Grant: $20,000

This project will develop a Sustainability Action Plan for the Eurobodalla Shire, through a partnership with Council employees, government agencies and the Eurobodalla community. The process of developing the plan will initiate a dialogue around sustainability, build trust, networks, ownership and the capacity of all engaged to work towards sustainability goals. The focus will be on identifying gaps and opportunities for improved local sustainability performance by both Council and community. The plan will identify priorities and pathways for the development and implementation of future intersectional sustainability projects, policies and practices by all participants, to achieve on-ground sustainability outcomes.

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Great Lakes Council
Creating a Collaborative Sustainability Strategy for the Great Lakes Environment
Grant: $20,000

This project will build on existing partnerships with business, community and government organisations, created through our successful Healthy Lakes Program and Wallis Lake Catchment Management Plan. Great Lakes Council will work with partners and stakeholders to establish a collaborative strategy for sustainability, focusing on the sustainable use of our environment and resources. This will be done through the involvement of representatives (from the community, volunteer groups, businesses and government) in focus groups and through stakeholder surveys. Collaborating with these groups will reinforce the need for a unified and jointly owned sustainability strategy and will identify current obstacles to change and priorities for action.

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Hawkesbury City Council
Hawkesbury City Council Sustainability Plan - Our City Our Future
Grant: $20,000

Hawkesbury City Council conducted community consultation 'Our City Our Future' in 1993 and 2002 which identified the communities needs and vision. To further build on the sustainability initiatives identified by the community and integrate Council's environmental performance it was resolved to employ the services of a suitably qualified consultant to provide advice and assistance at the strategic, capacity building level. This will be achieved by assessing the current situation with regard to sustainability planning, and providing expert advice and assistance as to how to integrate sustainability into Council's governance framework and planning processes. From this, a sustainability strategy will be developed for augmentation.

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Hornsby Shire Council
Hornsby Earthwise Sustainability Plan
Grant: $20,000

In line with the Earth Summit (2002), Hornsby Council realised the need for a strategic document to frame the long-term future for the Shire. Through refining the Community Sustainability Indicators (identified in 2000) and developing a Sustainability Plan and Policy Statement, Council aims to articulate its direction and create a culture of sustainability. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) will be used to report outcomes delivered through the Plan. This framework will identify and manage economic, environmental and social risks and opportunities. Whilst guiding internal operations, the Plan and Statement additionally provide a 'sustainability umbrella' for all stakeholders working within the Shire.

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Hunters Hill Council
Hunters Hill Sustainability Plan
Grant: $20,000

Hunters Hill Council has identified the requirement for a sub-strategic plan specifically addressing sustainability, to secure a prosperous environmental, social and economic future for the municipality. Council has recently committed to undertaking the DEC/LGMA-NSW 'Sustainability Health Check' and will be investigating the current status and how to further implement a culture of sustainable actions by all of Council and in how it conducts its activities. By developing a 'Sustainability Plan', Council will have the facility to act on outcomes of the Sustainability Health Check, and be poised to align itself with other councils in the Northern Sydney Region in contributing to the creation of a Regional Sustainability Plan.

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Ku-ring-gai Council
Developing a GRI Sustainability Plan
Grant: $20,000

Ku-ring-gai Council intends to explore the Global Reporting Initiative (G3) to assist it in developing a Sustainability Plan that encompasses the full complexity of Triple Bottom Line reporting. A good quality sustainability plan should integrate information from the full range of stakeholders including residents, business, Council officers, relevant public agencies and research institutions. Bringing these stakeholders together requires a framework to guide the process and plan implementation and ensure transparency, accountability and equity in sharing the cost benefit of sustainable outcomes. The plan will facilitate reporting partnerships both within Council and between Council and other public reporting agencies.

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Lismore City Council
Integrating Sustainability in Lismore and Rous Councils' Strategies and Operations
Partner: Rous Water
Grant: $46,290

The project aims to develop a strategic/ sustainability plan for the local region that shall enable government, industry and community to work together to integrate existing multi-disciplinary programs to provide for improved sustainability outcomes. The plan will allow the better use of existing strategies and operations in line with a shared vision of the type of community that Lismore wants for itself and future generations. A systematic review of existing initiatives and council processes will identify gaps and provide a strategic direction for the achievement of sustainability objectives. The inclusion of Rous Water (the bulk water authority) shall enable a whole-of-water-cycle approach to the project.

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NSROC
NSROC Regional Sustainability Plan - Partners: North Sydney, Lane Cove, Willoughby, Hornsby Shire, Hunters Hill, Ku-ring-gai and Ryde Councils
Grant: $50,000

At present the NSROC region is looking to accommodate an extra 150,000 people over the next 2 decades. This growth and existing development are putting significant pressures on valuable environmental assets of region, as well as threatening the long term health and liveability of the community. This Project will develop a Regional Sustainability Plan based on current and future proposed projects and policies implemented by the 7 NSROC councils. It will also draw on information provided by the NSROC State of the Environment (SoE) process and the NSROC Environmental Study completed in 2006. The Plan will assist in guiding future environmental projects as well as identify specific gaps and opportunities for further collective action.

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Orange City Council
Bathurst/ Orange/ Dubbo (BOD) Sustainability Plan - Partners: Orange City Council, Bathurst Regional Council, Dubbo City Council
Grant: $50,000

The local governments of Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo (BOD) have formed an alliance to enhance resource sharing and to allow for a coordinated Council approach in achieving common goals. The proposed inter-city (BOD) Sustainability Plan shall give the three Councils an opportunity to work with the community in a more formulated manner in achieving sustainability goals.

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Tamworth Regional Council
Namoi Catchment Sustainability Plan - Partners: Gunnedah Council, Liverpool Plains Council, Narrabri Council
Grant: $50,000

The primary objective is to develop a sustainability plan for the Namoi catchment, and to engage the local Councils present within the catchment to enable the development of partnerships, information and skills sharing. The project will also provide a regional catchment based sustainability plan that can tie in with the catchment wide state of the environment report, and link the recommendations contained to participating council management plans.

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Waverley Council
Waverley Sustainability Plan
Grant: $20,000

In 2005, Waverley Council embarked on a 20 year strategic planning exercise with our community. The community vision developed in Council's 12 year Waverley Strategic Plan has identified sustainability as a priority for Council. To achieve this, Council has endorsed Local Agenda 21 and has committed to developing and implementing a local action plan to assist in the progress of environmental sustainability. The Waverley Sustainability Plan will provide the vehicle to define and deliver a more detailed vision for an environmentally sustainable Waverley. Waverley Council will utilise its newly formed community Sustainability Committee to oversee the planning process and use the State of the Environment report as the tool for annual reporting.

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Wingecarribee Council
Sustainability SMART - Planning the Way Ahead
Grant: $20,000

'Sustainability SMART Planning the way' will engage Council staff and stakeholders in the assessment of activities towards sustainability using a systematic approach via a self assessment tool. 'Sustainability SMART' is a detailed diagnostic tool, which will allow Council to determine its future position. The actions required to reach the agreed position will be captured and managed through a Sustainability Action Plan, which will be developed with the involvement of relevant stakeholders. The tool differs from other sustainability check-lists, in that it establishes a position and details documents/plans required to move forward.

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Wollondilly Shire Council
Sustainable Wollondilly - A Community Plan for Our Shire
Grant: $20,000

Wollondilly Council aims to produce a community based Sustainability Plan to further build on the sustainability initiatives being undertaken within the organisation. Through this project, Council will undertake various environmental and community service programs with a holistic document that provides direction and outcomes. Council will also engage with the community, both residents and businesses, in the plan development to ensure ownership of the document. This plan will build on the Wollondilly Vision 2025 and its outcomes.

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Wollongong City Council
Illawarra Sustainability Roadmap - Partners: Shellharbour City Council, Kiama Municipal Council, Southern Councils Group
Grant: $50,000

Each Council has begun incorporating aspects of sustainability into their operations & community programs. However, to date this has been ad hoc & specific to each LGA. The Roadmap project provides an opportunity for collaboration in developing a regional framework for sustainability, both within each Council and across the Illawarra community. The Roadmap will define the process to ensure sustainability is aligned with legislative requirements and world's best practice, provide a detailed risk management strategy & a systems view of corporate management. The Roadmap process will collect data on current operational status of each Council, determine where they are heading, where they want to go & define actions to proceed sustainably.

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Wyong Shire Council
Living Sustainably in Wyong Shire
Grant: $20,000

The Central Coast and particularly Wyong Shire is experiencing unprecedented population growth which will escalate in the next 20 years. Council and various environmental groups are working to ensure current and future development and practices are sustainable, however no cohesive framework presently exists. The Tuggerah Lakes System and catchment comprises 80% of Wyong Shire, it greatly affects and is affected by all aspects of increased human activity. The project will facilitate collaboration between Council, local industry and businesses, community and conservation groups, government sectors and all parties interested in preserving and utilising the Lakes System, via a sustainability plan leading to action programmes.

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Project Summaries - 2006 Urban Sustainability Major Project Grants

Bathurst Regional Council
"That's a Good Idea!" - Reducing the Ecological Footprint of CENTROC - Partners: All CENTROC Councils
Grant: $486,260

Through capacity building, CENTROC Councils will develop and implement engaging ideas that reduce the ecological footprint across the region. The project has two main areas of focus:
• revising Stormwater Management Plans with a view to implementing non-structural solutions across Council activities and out into communities; and
• partnering with CMAs, Netwaste and peak agricultural organisations (primarily grape growers & farmers markets) across the region to recycle green waste from land fill sites as part of a soil improvement project.
Finally, it is anticipated that a broad range of outcomes improving sustainability will be achieved through sharing information and benefiting from a mentoring relationship with the Newcastle City Council AMEIF program.

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Baulkham Hills Shire Council
Empowering Local Industry to Improve Sustainability Performance
Grant: $214,140

The project will engage and enhance the capacity of local businesses to develop their own Environmental Management Plan (EMP). The EMP's will be designed to address a variety of issues (relevant to the industrial activities and the site) including water (such as consumption, pollution and runoff), energy consumption, air quality, noise, odour, chemicals, waste management and also design of gardens to provide habitat for local fauna. The project will also extend beyond the boundaries of their workplace by involving employers and employees in learning about the local environment in which their workplace is situated, and they will be actively involved in protecting and restoring urban bushland for the benefit of flora and fauna, water quality and amenity.

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Blacktown City Council
Climate Recovery - Combining Carbon Sinks with Improved Biodiversity - Partner: Liverpool Plains Shire Council
Grant: $1,998,800

'Climate Recovery' will see Blacktown City Council, Liverpool Plains Shire Council and Greening Australia establish biodiverse carbon forests in urban and rural regions. Priorities of Hawkesbury-Nepean and Namoi CMAs will guide biodiversity outcomes, principally through riparian plantings to improve stormwater outcomes. Both Councils will develop Biodiversity Frameworks. Using NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme (NGGAS) - Rule 5, Climate Recovery will establish carbon sinks and create tradeable carbon certificates to generate long term income. Key goals include establishing local government as an early adopter of this approach, and attracting businesses and the broader community as financial and hands-on contributors to offset their carbon emissions.

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Camden Council
A Regional Approach to Education for Sustainability - Partners: Campbelltown Council, Wollondilly Council
Grant: $371,500

MACROC Councils are taking a regional approach to promoting sustainable living in their community. In partnership with the Macarthur Centre for Sustainable Living, the Councils will work together to develop and implement, over a three year period, an integrated strategy targeting behaviour change amongst Macarthur householders, businesses and community groups. Utilising the Centre's state of the art sustainability education centre as a focus, the project will include development of sustainability programs for specific target groups, community events, and the strengthening of networks within the region.

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Campbelltown City Council
Getting it Started: Planting the Seed 4 a Sustainable Future - Partner: Liverpool Council
Grant: $2,000,000

This three-phased program aims to improve the sustainability of the Upper Georges River a degraded urban river of south west Sydney. The first involves the preparation of a Strategic Management Plan, consolidating and value-adding to existing studies. The second involves the implementation of management actions identified in the Plan (on-ground works, new programs including environment compliance, education and engagement) and governance changes. The third involves the preparation of an evolving web site and management tool for councils, agencies and communities. All three phases will guide future financial investment and engage community and business in strategic decision making and sustainable management of the Upper Georges River.

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Fairfield City Council
A Program to Improve Sustainability Performance of Small Business - Sustain n'Save
Grant: $205,447

Sustain'n'Save will improve business sustainability performance through a 4 step program to assist local businesses identify and implement opportunities to reduce waste generation and energy, water and raw material consumption. With the DEC and local Chambers of Commerce, Sustain'n'Save will invite over 200 businesses to participate. In addition, select businesses will partner with DEC to implement a holistic sustainability strategy for their business. All businesses in the region will increase their awareness of stormwater pollution through the distribution of a Spills Response Manual. To demonstrate leadership and good governance, Council will work with the DEC to refine its own sustainability strategy and make Council depot improvements.

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Fairfield City Council
What's the FUSS About?
Grant: $246,500

The Fairfield Urban Sustainability Spectacular (FUSS) provides a series of community engagement and capacity building initiatives to provide inspiration, information, incentive and support for Fairfield residents to improve the ecological sustainability of their activities. These will be primarily run out of a 'sustainability hub' in the form of a Council funded urban sustainability centre featuring green architecture, interactive eco-displays, bike hire and community nursery facilities. The FUSS aims to create a culture of environmentally friendly action and ethos among an inclusive range of stakeholders including the business, community and government sectors as well as people of varied walks of life.

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Goulburn-Mulwaree Council
Groundswell  - Partners: Palerang Council, Queanbeyan Shire Council, Lachlan Shire Council
Grant: $1,986,000

The project will measure the sustainability outcomes achieved from a system of collecting organic waste from urban sources, using practical composting techniques, addressing and reversing nutrient flows and applying the resultant compost products to rehabilitate and retain healthy soils. The focus is upon changing past practices to where the driver for change is a wealth creation process based on sustainable agriculture, including indigenous landscapes, and where householders are directly linked to their food production processes. The result is engagement of all stakeholders in the waste stream in a connected loop. Organic waste from residents goes to farmers who produce the food purchased by householders.

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Hornsby Shire Council
The Hornsby Creek Catchment Urban Sustainability Strategy
Grant: $250,000

The Hornsby central business district and surrounds are the major hub of Hornsby Shire. The catchment is home to 13,000 residents, businesses employ over 10,000 people and many more visitors are attracted from abroad. The Hornsby Creek Catchment Urban Sustainability Program is a place-based project addressing sustainability for industries, businesses, residents and visitors that comprise the catchment. The program will empower and partner key multipliers to deliver on-ground action towards sustainability using a coordinated approach. The program outcome is to improve the integration of work within the catchment to achieve council's vision of 'creating a living environment'.

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Kiama Municipal Council
Business Treading Lightly  - Partners: Bega Valley Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Shell Harbour City Council, Shoalhaven City Council, Wingecarribee Shire Council, Wollongong City Council
Grant: $2,000,000

The project aims to deliver an integrated and targeted program to improve business sustainability across the Southern Councils Group region. It will engender systemic organisational and cultural change in the way that business addresses environmental management. Business will be encouraged to implement Sustainability Plans incorporating stepped levels that will afford them regional endorsed accreditations - allowing the use of a brand as a marketing tool. Sustainability requirements for business will be incorporated into Council policy providing for continuous improvement & program longevity. The alliance of 7 Councils and partners will enable substantial resource sharing and a significant investment of co-contributions. Savings through economies of scale will result. The footprint of business on the urban environment will be reduced.

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Kiama Municipal Council
Sustainable Kiama Communities
Grant: $249,902

This program aims to facilitate long term behavioural change to reduce the 'ecological footprint' within Kiama Municipal Council and selected coastal townships delivered in partnership with government agencies, utilities, residents, schools and business. The issues covered include energy and water conservation, stormwater reuse and pollution control, waste management and biodiversity. Council aims to combine a water/energy efficient retrofit and Sustainability Street program to implement an innovative 'Hierarchy Level of Community Action' model to maximise community involvement by having programs designed that cater for differing family, financial, skills/passions and time situations. Community/Council Sustainability Champions will be selected to foster, mentor, facilitate and implement strategies. Monitoring improvements will be implemented by using GIS mapping.

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Local Government and Shires Association
Urban Sustainability Learning, Facilitation and Support Program - Partners: Manly Council, Eurobodalla Council, Department of Environment and Climate Change, Local Government Managers Association, Institute for Environmental Studies (UNSW), Baton Forum, Sydney Coastal Councils Group
Grant: $1,551,500

The project will support sustainability transformation and maximise the impact of the USP by working with USP grantee councils, non-grantee councils and those who work with councils, to facilitate knowledge growth and share learning about urban sustainability in local government. It will do this by providing advice & information, conducting training and professional development, developing tools and resources, undertaking and linking research, capturing, packaging and promoting key learnings and supporting network development, cooperation and partnership between councils and stakeholders. It will help ensure that all funded projects of the USP and other sustainability-based projects of local government are developed, implemented and communicated as effectively as possible.

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Maitland City Council
Sustaining Urban Water
Grant: $249,764

'Sustaining Urban Water' is a project of total water cycle management initiated by Council and the community as an integrated approach to sustainable urban water management in Maitland. The project is based on holistic considerations incorporating social and economic issues with a focus on environmental priorities that aid to restore and enhance the sustainability of the urban environment. The project involves education, capital works, maintenance programs, strategic planning, studies of sensitive catchments and review and assessment. The collaboration of government, business and community partners is essential to the project.

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Marrickville Council
Collaborative Planning for Sustainable Irrigation in Marrickville
Grant: $249,600

The project will develop and implement a scheme to provide a diverse and sustainable source of non-potable water for the irrigation of playing fields at Council's riverside parks. This will be achieved through a collaborative planning process that will provide a forum for the community to be involved in planning for sustainability, through participation in project design, development and implementation. It aims to bring about a change in the community's attitude to water and build capacity for sustainable living by providing opportunities for skill-sharing and action learning. Residents will see Council leading the way and be empowered to make changes in their own lives by seeing the relevance of their own actions against the big picture of community-scale planning.

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Marrickville Council
Cooks River Sustainability Initiative - Partners: Ashfield, Bankstown, Canterbury, Hurstville, Strathfield, City of Sydney and Rockdale Councils
Grant: $2,000,000

The Cooks River Sustainability Initiative aims to manage catchment issues for the Cooks River within a sustainability context to improve river health, conserve water resources and improve the sustainability performance of both councils and communities. This will be achieved through:
• applying a proven locally-based, multi-disciplinary, participatory approach to integrated sustainable river management in 5 diverse sub-regions (across 8 LGA's) of the catchment; and
• bringing together key stakeholders within the catchment to develop and establish new regional river/ catchment governance arrangements which will support effective partnerships, sustainable management, and the implementation of ongoing environmental, social and economic improvements.

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Newcastle City Council
On the CUSP of Change - Newcastle Community Urban Sustainability Program
Grant: $250,000

The Newcastle Community Urban Sustainability Program (CUSP) will implement the innovative system-based approach of Newcastle Environmental Management Plan (2003) by delivering a suite of environmental action based projects synergistically in priority catchments. Year 1 sees the commencement of a community place-based pilot in Raspberry Gully (headwaters of Styx Creek) within Newcastle & Lake Macquarie Council areas, using a multi-tiered delivery framework. Each tier is purposely interconnected to ensure all lessons learned-by-doing are shared openly. The CUSP approach will achieve shared financial, social, governance and environmental outcomes for all participants. Once refined, the process can be reflected systematically throughout Newcastle and other local government areas to further urban sustainability outcomes.

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North Sydney Council
Stormwater Re-use in North Sydney
Grant: $240,000

The project will capture stormwater runoff from the Warringah Expressway and the surrounding urban catchment. This partnership project between North Sydney Council, Cammeray Golf Club will reduce the current demand on Sydney's potable water supply. It targets resource conservation by saving up to 90 million litres of potable water per annum. The project uses a catchment based approach to ensure connectivity between the management of air, water and land. The project willl have a strong education component that will link issues such as illegal dumping of chemicals to water quality and the ultimate health of our urban environment.

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Parramatta City Council
TBL - A Model for Industrial Sustainability in the Duck River Catchment - Partner: Auburn Council
Grant: $1,320,934

This project aims to unite the social, environmental and economic fabric of the Camellia and Silverwater industrial areas. Using a 'place management' approach, businesses, government and key stakeholders will work together over 3 years to collaboratively research, develop and implement a model which will deliver greater regional resource synergies. It will focus on how we inform, motivate and manage change towards sustainable business practices through:
• enhanced governance;
• futures thinking (future planning);
• resource sharing (input/ output & supply chain);
• mentoring; and
• public domain and environmental works which create pride and shared responsibility in the 'place'.
This will translate the theory of sustainability into practical action and change.

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Parramatta City Council
Working together to Sustain the Parramatta River - Partners: Auburn, Ashfield, Canada Bay, Hunters Hill, Ryde and Strathfield Councils
Grant: $1,943,000

This project demonstrates sustainability in an ultra-urban context by applying the principles of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) to a spectrum of high profile sites along the Parramatta River. The project will be undertaken collaboratively within the Parramatta River Catchment Group by planning for and providing attractive and functional treatment facilities within significant streets, town centres and public open spaces. By comprehensively interpreting WSUD, this project will create a distinct link between the ecology of the River and the urban environment. This action-learning project will include the research of Monash University to highlight and improve leadership-related competencies and strategies for councils to effectively govern and facilitate WSUD within the communities.

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Penrith City Council
Achieving Sustainable Sporting Fields - Partners: Auburn Council, Camden Council
Grant: $1,090,100

This project will assist Penrith, Auburn and Camden Councils to manage sporting fields in a more sustainable manner by utilising water sources for irrigation and trialling recycled organic (RO) waste as a supplement for turf. Working with the University of Western Sydney through scientific research, Councils will identify optimal irrigation requirements, the effectiveness of RO waste application and the identification of alternative water sources for use on the fields and amenities. The outcomes of the project will be a management plan for each of the sporting fields identifying best practice management, installation of back to base monitoring systems and other water saving measures as deemed appropriate including soil moisture sensors, efficient irrigation systems, appropriate turf and landscaping.

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Penrith City Council
Implement Ropes and South Creek Regional Open Space Management Plan - Partner: Blacktown City Council
Grant: $2,000,000

Penrith and Blacktown Councils, in collaboration with Greening Australia, State agencies & the community, will implement the Ropes and South Creek Regional Open Space Strategic Management Plan as a model sustainability project, focusing on areas of high public amenity. Through urban water management, rehabilitation of riparian zones in the creek corridors, management of public open space adjoining the corridors and education programs targeting householders, community groups and businesses, multiple sustainability objectives of several Council and State strategies will be achieved. The project targets areas impacted by existing and new urban development.

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Port Stephens Council
Regional Sustainability Capacity Building and Education Program - Partners: All Hunter Councils
Grant: $1,386,600

This project will deliver a united regional capacity building and education program focusing on sustainability principles and practice, integrated urban water management (IWCM) and biodiversity conservation. It will increase the capacity and commitment of Councils across the region to deliver sustainability initiatives in their organisations and communities via a series of professional forums, events and supporting toolkit resources. Existing environmental education networks will be co-ordinated and resourced to deliver a united regional sustainability education campaign targeting schools, businesses and households, incorporating sustainability events, regionally standardised education materials and establishment of a web based 'clearing house' to share education materials throughout the region.

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Randwick City Council
Reducing the Ecological Footprint of the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney - Partners: Waverley Council, Woollahra Council
Grant: $1,875,000

Ecological footprint calculations for Sydney residents indicate that increasing consumption of material resources is exceeding the ecological limits of our society. This project will see 3 Councils in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney cooperate across different issues related to the ecological footprint of their populations, and coordinate and target efforts capable of reducing water and energy consumption, generation of waste and conservation of biodiversity. For the first time project effectiveness will be tracked by ecological fingerprint metrics. Final results will include a re-calculation of ecological footprint to assess the results and assistance provided to other Councils to learn from the lessons gained in this project.

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Ryde City Council
Catchment Connections: Connecting Communities to Their Catchments - Partners: Hornsby Shire Council, Hunters Hill Council
Grant: $482,530

Catchment Connections aims to build partnerships with the local community in order to develop an integrated approach to sustainability in the Terrys, Mars, Shrimptons and Buffalo Creek catchments. Working in conjunction with project partners, a project action plan will be developed which further integrates sustainability into the operations of project partners and identifies possibilities for sharing resources for:
• education of the local community/ business; 
• giveaways of sustainable products; 
• training of volunteers and staff; and 
• undertaking on-ground works to improve sustainability (eg, bush regeneration, etc).
By connecting the community with their local catchments and developing and building partnerships, an impetus for ongoing improvements to local sustainability will be developed.

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City of Sydney Council
City of Sydney: Sustainable Streets SBM Program
Grant: $243,781

Local Government Authorities (LGA's) throughout NSW are currently developing sustainability initiatives to reduce environmental impacts and increase cross-departmental communication. One of the biggest barriers to successful implementation of such initiatives is the lack of knowledge on implementation process and the lack of resources to support the initiatives. Village Green specialises in assisting Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SME's) to build capacity from within to guide quadruple bottom line reporting (with respect to the environment, society, economy and culture), strategic planning and to facilitate the implementation of sustainable practices into the broader community.

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Warringah Council
Narrabeen Lagoon: Creating a Sustainable Catchment - Partner: Pittwater Council
Grant: $1,996,410

Warringah and Pittwater Councils together with community groups will work to restore Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment Area (NLCA) through a catchment-wide sustainable living education program, remediation works and planning controls. This grant will support existing restoration programs at Narrabeen Lagoon by focusing on Middle Creek, Mullet Creek and Nareen Creek which urgently require resources and remediation works. This program will integrate a number of projects in the NLCA, increase biodiversity in the catchment, reduce stormwater pollution and engage all stakeholders in the sustainable management of NLCA through a targeted education campaign.

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Wingecarribee Shire Council
Footprints for Our Shire
Grant: $249,102

This innovative program will engage and involve Small to Medium Enterprises (SME's) and the community by adopting a non-traditional methodology using ecological footprints (EFs). Based on the outcomes of the footprints, case study businesses will be assisted to develop sustainability action plans, with implementation of the plans assisted by a project officer. In line with the business sustainability action plans, the community and local schools will be assisted with their own footprints and plans. Implementation of part of the business sustainability action plan will result in best performance guidelines being developed for each business and used as a basis for identifying new policies or strategies required by Council.

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Wollongong City Council
Sustainable Illawarra - Partners: Kiama Council, Shellharbour City Council
Grant: $2,000,000

The Illawarra Councils, in partnership with the Southern Rivers CMA, State utilities, sustainable business and the community will address both institutional and community change. The project will address sustainability at the Council and community level. An Illawarra Sustainability Roadmap will outline the steps required to shift to sustainable actions within Council and the community. The Roadmap sets directions for sustainability. Actions within include decision support, knowledge management, WSUD, green procurement and purchasing, waste, energy and water reductions. The community program will be the Sustainability Begins at Home (SB@H) participatory program, and include all households in the Illawarra.

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Albury City Council
Mitchell Park Estate On-ground Works
$250,000

Mitchell Park is a new housing estate developed in partnership between the Albury Wodonga Development Corporation and AlburyCity which incorporates housing with public bushland open spaces. The goal of this project is to provide a successful model for an environmentally responsible coexistence between wildlife habitat, recreational areas and residential development that can be duplicated throughout the city and the region. To ensure the continuation of the project, Council is in the process of integrating components of the plan into its existing bevy of controls. The project seeks to implement some of the actions recommended in the Mitchell Park Estate Land Management Plan (as in attached documents).

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Ku-ring-gai Council
Backyard Landcare - Sydney North - Partners: Hornsby Shire Council and Willoughby Council
$437,100

Inspired by rural Landcare, Backyard Landcare (BL) will pilot an innovative approach to breaking down private/public land management barriers. A strategic alliance between 3 councils has been formed, in a regional area with over 304,000 people living in 569.4 square kilometres. Research, SoE and GRI provide the sustainability foundation the project is based on. BL will build on the successes of Ku-ring-gai's and Hornsby's backyard programs. BL addresses the gap that has been identified in environmental education and social research - how to engage residents, especially time poor 25-55 year olds? A researcher will be employed for the first 6 months, followed by 2 Landcare Officers (Los) who will then focus on face to face contact and promote environmental and sustainable economic outcomes.

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Kogarah Municipal Council
Carlton's Industrial Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program
$206,800

Carlton's Industrial Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program will minimise the footprint of stormwater, starting with the largest industrial area in Kogarah's LGA & reaching the greater community. The Program aims to reuse stormwater by capturing and treating stormwater runoff for non-potable operations (9ML/yr) at Council's Depot site. The Reuse project demonstrates leadership in mitigating the impacts of stormwater pollution & complements the comprehensive educational plan involving industrial businesses as well as targeting the general public (events & activities). Awareness is to be raised with the industrial business through industrial audits, program compliance and improvement in stormwater quality.

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Wollongong City Council
Water Sensitive Urban Design and Sustainability at JJ Kelly Park
$250,000

A sustainability plan has been prepared for JJ Kelly and Greenhouse Park. The plan addresses the long term environmental & sustainability issues including: high water demand, polluted urban runoff affecting a saltmarsh community (EEC), degraded riparian corridors, high energy use for winter sport lighting & poor water quality as it receives stormwater from the Wollongong CBD. The site provides a rich & diverse community function: environmental education, rugby, league, soccer, dog training & community function facility. The area has high indigenous & non-indigenous heritage values. The project aims to revitalise an ecologically & socially important site through water sensitive urban design & sustainability, thus improving social resilience.

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Bankstown City Council
Mid Georges River Sustainability Initiative - Partner: Sutherland Shire Council
$1,847,680

Piloting collaborative (Local, State Government and community) efforts to address a variety of negative impacts of urbanisation and poor land management on foreshore habitat and the subsequent impact on the Georges River in the Picnic Point/ West Menai area. Sites will be established in the Bankstown and Sutherland LGAs and within the Georges River National Park to apply techniques that address onground impacts associated with inappropriate recreational use, urban stormwater impacts and urban encroachment on natural areas. Also instituting co-ordinated organisational change to adopt consistent planning and integrated regional management principles to deal with transboundary environmental issues and processes adversely affecting the health of Georges River.

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Wyong Shire Council
Tuggerah Lakes Integrated Urban Stormwater Management
$250,000

The project centres on Tuggerah Lakes Reserve, environmentally sensitive low lying open space land between Tuggerah and Wyong. Used until recently for dairying and now gazetted as Crown Land for environmental protection and public recreation, the Reserve is administered by a Community Trust under the Crown Lands Act. The area contains vital wetlands which act as detention and filtration basins for urban upstream stormwater prior to discharge into Tuggerah Lakes. The project seeks to understand catchment inputs and the impact on surrounding wetlands, commence rehabilitation of the wetlands, creeks and lagoons in the Reserve, manage stormwater volume and pollution by restoring pre-urban natural flows and ultimately incorporate an Environmental Education Centre.

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Lismore City Council
Sustainable Environmental Assessment and Action (SEAA) Partners: Ballina Council and Richmond Valley Council
$584,971

Lismore, Ballina and Richmond Valley Councils, located on the Far North Coast of NSW, will work cooperatively to address the sustainable performance of businesses/ industries located within the Richmond River estuary. Businesses will be engaged to participate in a voluntary program designed to improve their sustainable performance in relation to water, waste management, air quality, noise, odour, chemical use and other practices as well as being active participants in key environmental remediation projects. Councils themselves will be the first engaged in the program, addressing practices at depots prior to it being extended into the private sector.

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Page last updated: 22 February 2008