Environment

Council would like to remind residents that Level 3 mandatory water restrictions have come into effect.

To find out more on restrictions and water saving tips visit

www.sydneywater.com.au

Ecologically Sustainable Development

In 1997, a requirement was introduced to the Local Government Act requiring that Councils implement the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) into their operations. ESD, as defined in the Local Government Act, requires the effective integration of economic and environmental considerations in decision-making processes. It can be achieved through the implementation of the following principles:

• the precautionary principle, namely that if there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation;
• intergenerational equity, namely that the present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations;
• conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration; and
• improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms, namely that environmental factors should be included in the valuation of assets and services.

The Blacktown area is experiencing sustained growth and the challenge this presents for Blacktown City Council has been how to effectively manage the development of the local environment whilst maintaining its ecological integrity. Council is addressing this challenge with a shift in management planning to align itself with ESD principles, underpinned by an expanding range of targeted policy and intervention programs identified through the State of the Environment reporting process.

Planning For An Environmental Future

Council has undertaken a cycle of environmental planning that integrates the State of the Environment Report, Management Plan and its Inter-Departmental Environmental Committee representatives from various departments of Council. The Committee coordinates the production of the annual State of the Environment Report and utilises the outcomes of the report to formulate possible Council management actions that may assist the move towards a more sustainable Blacktown. Council considers these actions for inclusion in the Council Management Plan. The cycle continues as the outcomes of these actions are reviewed and built upon as part of the subsequent State of the Environment Report.

Council works with the community to promote sustainable occupancy of the City of Blacktown. The key emphasis of Council's efforts in this regard has been through consultation with established environmental groups and by the promotion of ESD through the education of residents, commercial enterprises and industry.

Consultation has taken place with Council's Environmental Liaison Group, which is comprised of Councillors, Council officers and members of the community. The group provides a forum at which members of the community are notified of Council's environmental programs and policies and are encouraged to bring to the attention of Council any issues relating to the sustainability of the Blacktown environment.

The State of the Environment Report 1999-2000 was produced as a regional report, addressing the environment of nine Western Sydney Council areas. Extensive community consultation was conducted as part of the report and a set of community 'Sustainability Goals' were developed. Council is utilising these community-derived goals to steer its management of the environment.

The Local State of the Environment Report 2000-2001 included "Sustainability Indicators" for the City of Blacktown. When transposed to the backdrop of the development of Blacktown, the challenge of ESD translates to the management of the transition of the local environment to protect and maintain the existing environmental profile within the LGA and incorporating such measures as are necessary to enable the gradual improvement of the environment when the population growth plateaus. Each Sustainability Indicator assists Council in following a sustainable path and will be reported on annually in each State of the Environment Report. Each Indicator is linked to several of the community-derived "Sustainability Goals" included in the Regional State of the Environment report and provides information directly relevant to these goals.

Council has developed a Community Environment Support Program, which provides funding opportunities to support community environmental programs conducted by educational institutions, community groups and businesses. Such programs may include Streamwatch, bush regeneration, or greenhouse gas reduction programs.

Council's environmental education programs have the objective of educating the general community to increase their awareness of environmental issues in relation to an urban environment. This can lead to increased community ownership of the natural environment and development of skills for improved environmental practices.

Council works with residents, schools and businesses through its Community Stormwater Education Program, including the promotion of the Streamwatch Program, and its annual "Environmental Focus" in Western Sydney Environment Week in June. The principles of ESD are presented to the community in such a way that facilitates their practical application in day-to-day life.

To enable sustainable future development in Blacktown, Council ensures that its planning instruments comply with the principles of ESD. With Council's Local Environmental Plan and Development Control Plans promoting sustainable development in Blacktown, developers are guided to develop their land with consideration of the long-term impact upon the natural environment. Opportunities for comment on the application of Council's planning controls are provided at the Developers Forum, hosted by Council.