ENVIRONMENT SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY & LIVE SMART BALLARAT POLICY

The City of Ballarat’s draft Environment Sustainability Strategy (ESS) is now available for public comment.

The Strategy outlines Council’s framework for a more sustainable future through a set of practical initiatives aimed at making Ballarat a leader in its management of the natural environment and sustainability.

Members of the public are invited to submit comments on the strategy and have until Friday 27 January 2012 to do so.

Submissions can be sent by email to aaronizzard@ballarat.vic.gov.au or by post to Public Space and Environment, City of Ballarat, PO Box 655, Ballarat VIC 3353

Click here for the snapshot of the draft Environment Sustainability Strategy

Click here for the full version of the draft Environment Sustainability Strategy

What is the Environmental Sustainability Strategy?

The strategy provides over 100 actions and initiatives that are orientated around the following themes:

What is the LiveSmartBallarat Sustainability Policy?

The purpose of the LiveSmartBallarat Sustainability Policy is to establish and commit to Ballarat as a sustainable city and to set targets and policy positions for how this will be achieved. This policy impacts on all new developments within the City, Council's operations, facilities, events and projects.

The policy will progressively be implemented through development of practice notes and checklists with key stakeholders and acquisition of on line assessment tools that will assist in decision making in design development for new buildings.

LiveSmartBallarat Sustainability Policy (PDF - 50KB)

What are the objectives of the Strategy

The key objectives of the Strategy are to:

• provide a clear direction to the City of Ballarat and its community regarding sustainability as well as the protection and enhancement of the natural environment.
• develop a focus on sustainability across the organisation and achieve best practice environmental management in respect to Councils operation.
• continue to raise awareness and increase the communitys participation and partnerships in environmental issues.

Key issues

Some of the key issues raised by the community and Council officers were:

• The need to develop and implement a triple bottom line management and reporting framework for Council.
• Promote Councils sustainable initiatives and outcomes of programs.
• Develop all new Council buildings and facilities on sustainability principle, with consideration of energy, materials, waste, water etc.
• Prevent, minimise and offset native vegetation removal.
• Continue implementing the Ballarat Stormwater Management Plan.
• Establish best practice stormwater management for all new developments.
• Establish a biodiversity protection and enhancement incentive scheme.
• Encourage City of Ballarat residents and businesses to take up alternative lower emission fuels.
• Encourage use of public transport and use of cycle/walking paths.
• Lead by example by implementing sustainable water use practices in Council activities.
• Provide leadership in energy conservation and emissions reduction.
• Improve Councils waste management practices and services.