Local Government area of responsibility (Council Plan) Council Program/Project Target Audience Sustainability Area* EFS Stage^ Governance EcoTeam Environment Advisory Committee Environment Coordination Group Edendale Advisory Committee Ecological Sustainable Development requirements on scoping forms for all projects Purchasing Policy requirements for environmental considerations Cultural Plan - a six year strategy with strong environmental themes; for example, earth, fire, spirit and Indigenous Internal, committee members Biodiversity Waste Water Energy General sustainability Awakening Discovering Transforming Celebrating People and community Laughing Waters program within Parks Victoria bushland Art exhibitions – environmental influences very common at exhibitions Community Art Projects Fringe Focus Newsletter Edendale school and preschool programs focusing on biodiversity, energy, waste, water Healthy Waterways Waterwatch program Composting workshops and composting project Reusable nappy workshop Environmental Events Program Education programs relating to Edendale– Community, schools, residents, community groups Biodiversity Water Energy General sustainability Awakening Discovering Transforming Sustaining Celebrating
groups, business, internal Environment: General Sustainability Environmental Events Program Practically Green – sustainable building products Practically Green – sustainable home guide Fringe Focus – an environmental newsletter Green Wedge Management Plan (2010) Community, schools, residents, community groups, business, internal General Sustainability Awakening Discovering Transforming Sustaining Environment: Waste Recycling and Reuse information (online and mailouts) Successful Home Composting Booklet 2011 Waste Minimisation and Management Strategy 2002-2005 (currently under review) Litter Prevention Strategy [2011] (in development) Community, schools, residents, community groups Waste Awakening Discovering Transforming Sustaining Environment: Water Sustainable Water Management Plan Stormwater information sheets Community, residents, internal Water Awakening Discovering Transforming Sustaining Table 4: Council’s current environmental education programs and publications as they align to the participant’s five stages of the EfS journey.
Saving energy and addressing climate change in Council buildings and operations. Installing alternative septic systems including reed beds, worms and planning requirements. Better management of existing septic systems • promoting the benefits of local food. Showing secondary students how to be environmental leaders. Showing ‘non-environmental’ community groups how to be involved in environmental education including Scouts, Guides, CFA, sporting clubs, RSL, Probus and Rotary. Council staff programs each year) RD11 Investigate the passive environmental learning opportunities at Edendale and Council’s bushland reserves. E/EW H 2012-2013 RD12 Continue to provide environmental education with Council’s waste and recycling operations especially with new and emerging opportunities for recycling such as e-waste, batteries, MobileMuster, mattresses and polystyrene. WM H Ongoing RD13 Ensure that all of Council’s environmental bulk purchasing programs includes an environmental education component. EP H Ongoing RD14 Provide environmental education information on the Organics Processing facility where organic material from Nillumbik and 10 other councils will be processed. WM H RD15 Continue to develop secondary environmental education curriculum resources. E H RD16 Investigate the development of a retrofit program to assist low income, EP M 2011
aged and disabled households in Nillumbik. RD17 Update Council’s emergency management bushfire educational information and presentations to include environmental information. EP/EW/Emergency Management staff M 2011-2012 RD18 Develop a sustainable travel plan for Council staff that includes an environmental education component. EP M 2012-2013 RD19 Train Council’s Planning staff in the STEPS planning process and how to lead an applicant through the STEPS application process. EP M 2013 RD20 Expand Edendale’s schools program to include engaging with teachers and students pre and post Edendale visits. The pre and post visit information is to provide data to help Council determine if the Edendale school program is contributing to positive sustainability behaviour by the students and school. E M 2013 RD21 Incorporate an environmental education component into Council’s Land Management Incentive Program. EP/CPLC M 2013 RD22 Investigate the feasibility of creating, in partnership, a sustainable house educational display that shows residents how to be water, waste and energy wise. Investigation should include research into: ‘IMBY’ In My Back Yard festival Wodonga “MBYR” My Back Yard Rules festival, house and resources in Wangaratta Allwood Neighbourhood House Greener Neighbourhood Houses CERES sustainable house display EP/E M 2013-2014
Whittlesea Sustainability house. RD23 Investigate the feasibility of developing an online partnership school environmental education model similar to the NECMA School Environment Education Directory (www.necma.vic.gov.au/seed). E M 2013-2014 RD24 Investigate how incentives, awards or certificates could be used to celebrate environmental education achievements and increase community engagement. E/EP M 2013-2014 Community Engagement and Education The Community engagement and education (C) actions provide support for community groups, individuals, businesses and schools to find the sustainability information they are seeking and guidance on how the participants can contribute to Nillumbik’s sustainable future. Action Responsibility Priority Timeframe C1 Increase the scope and variety of sustainability workshops delivered as part of the Environment Events Program and include a ‘how to do it’ focus, e.g. green cleaning, double glazing and retrofitting. EP H 2012 C2 Continue providing land management educational information where it relates to areas of Council’s responsibility. EW/EP H Ongoing C3 Develop and strengthen environmental education partnerships with Friends, Landcare and community environmental groups. EW/EP H Ongoing C4 Provide opportunities for relevant Council staff to share their environmental and educational knowledge with other Council staff and contractors. All M Ongoing
C5 Ensure environmental education information on Council’s website and other communication channels is kept up-to-date and regularly reviewed. All M Ongoing C6 Continue to support sustainable gardening practices within Nillumbik through Sustainable Gardening Australia and the North Eastern Ranges Permaculture Group. EP M 2013 C7 Develop a new landowner information package on sustainable living targeted at small property owners (2.5ha plus) EP/Comms M 2014 On-ground The On-ground (OG) actions are those relating to Council’s direct activities, events, programs and resources that assist hands-on action at the grassroots level. Adaptive management requires that Council learns and improves management techniques by reviewing and monitoring the outcome of actions then adapting them. Changing environmental factors and new knowledge in the field of sustainability means that any ongoing programs and resources must be reviewed to ensure they are not only effective but represent the best possible approach. Action Responsibility Priority Timeframe OG1 Continue organising and hosting Council’s annual Practically Green Festival. The festival theme and delivery of educational information is to align with this Strategy. EP H Annually OG2 Annually review Council’s Practically Green Festival including participation numbers, successful activities and participant satisfaction. EP H Annually OG3 Continue to develop Edendale’s sustainability incursion sessions for schools to encourage them to participate in an E H 2012
environmental education program at Edendale. OG4 Implement Edendale’s Sustainable Backyard project. E H 2012 OG5 Continue coordinating the Teacher Education Network (TEN). E H Ongoing OG6 Continue Council’s Environmental Events Program. EP H Ongoing OG7 Increase the number of local schools participating in Council’s school program and return visits. E H Ongoing OG8 Continue to develop Edendale as a hub for environmental and community groups to meet, share information and provide an identity within the community. E H Ongoing OG9 Deliver Council’s land management educational program throughout the Shire with practical sessions offered at relevant onsite locations. EP/EW H Ongoing OG10 Continue Council’s Fringe Focus newsletter and distribution of environmental education information through the Nillumbik Environment Network. EP H Ongoing OG11 Deliver ‘good neighbour’ land management education to landholders adjoining Council’s bushland reserves. EW H Ongoing OG12 Provide support to environmental community groups involved in environmental education. All H Ongoing
OG13 Provide support to environmental community groups through the provision of Edendale’s meeting facilities. E H Ongoing OG14 Continue to broaden Council’s school environmental program to also allow participation by other interested community groups including Scouts, Guides, long day care, birthday parties and school holiday programs. E M Ongoing OG15 Update the Active Community Map and ‘Near to Me’ function on Council’s website to include all bushland reserves, recreation trails and outdoor areas that provide the opportunity for environmental education. Comms/EW M 2013 OG16 Incorporate environmental education into existing Council supported activities including Clean Up Australia Day, Arbor Week school grants, National Tree Day and natural resource management field days. WM/E/EW M 2013 OG17 Continue to develop and deliver the schools environmental arts program. E M Ongoing OG18 Develop Edendale’s discovery trails with interpretative signage as per the Edendale Masterplan. E M 2013-2014 OG19 Ensure that Council’s festival tent includes Council’s environmental education programs and publications and is waste-wise and CPLC M Ongoing OG20 Develop environmental education information including signage and display meters on energy and water saving within EP M Ongoing