ORANGE CITY COUNCIL
Environmental Sustainability Policy Committee
Agenda
6 October 2015
Notice is hereby given, in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 1993 that a Environmental Sustainability Policy Committee meeting of ORANGE CITY COUNCIL will be held in the Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Byng Street, Orange on Tuesday, 6 October 2015.
Garry Styles
General Manager
For apologies please contact Michelle Catlin on 6393 8246.
Environmental Sustainability Policy Committee 6 October 2015
Agenda
1.1 Apologies and Leave of Absence
2.1 Minutes of the Environmental Sustainability Community Committee - 21 August 2015
3.1 Keep NSW Beautiful Congress 2015 - "Less Litter. Live Better"
Environmental Sustainability Policy Committee 6 October 2015
1.1 Apologies and Leave of Absence
The provisions of Chapter 14 of the Local Government Act, 1993 (the Act) regulate the way in which Councillors and designated staff of Council conduct themselves to ensure that there is no conflict between their private interests and their public role.
The Act prescribes that where a member of Council (or a Committee of Council) has a direct or indirect financial (pecuniary) interest in a matter to be considered at a meeting of the Council (or Committee), that interest must be disclosed as soon as practicable after the start of the meeting and the reasons given for declaring such interest.
As members are aware, the provisions of the Local Government Act restrict any member who has declared a pecuniary interest in any matter from participating in the discussion or voting on that matter, and requires that member to vacate the Chamber.
Council’s Code of Conduct provides that if members have a non-pecuniary conflict of interest, the nature of the conflict must be disclosed. The Code of Conduct also provides for a number of ways in which a member may manage non pecuniary conflicts of interest.
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Recommendation It is recommended that Committee Members now disclose any conflicts of interest in matters under consideration by the Environmental Sustainability Policy Committee at this meeting. |
TRIM REFERENCE: 2015/2195
AUTHOR: Chris Devitt, Director Technical Services
EXECUTIVE Summary
The Environmental Sustainability Community Committee met on 21 August 2015 and the recommendations from that meeting are presented to the Environment and Economic Development Policy Committee for adoption.
Link To Delivery/OPerational Plan
The recommendation in this report relates to the Delivery/Operational Plan strategy “12.1 Our Environment – Ensure the Plans of Management for the City’s natural resource assets are current and reviewed”.
Financial Implications
Nil
Policy and Governance Implications
Nil
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That the recommendations made by the Environmental Sustainability Community Committee at its meeting held on 21 August be adopted. |
further considerations
Consideration has been given to the recommendation’s impact on Council’s service delivery; image and reputation; political; environmental; health and safety; employees; stakeholders and project management; and no further implications or risks have been identified.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
At this meeting the Committee recommended that staff complile a report on historic contamination in the Orange area suggesting remedial or other actions.
There was also a recomendaton made to consider site soil analysis for heavy metals, in particular within the creek located north of Churchill Avenue.
STAFF COMMENT
A report shall be prepared for the next meeting of the Environmental Sustainability Community Committee which will provide an overview of the State legislative framework and associated policies which manage the issue of land contamination in NSW.
In relation to the recommended testing of soils in east Orange Creek north of Churchill Avenue, Council’s role at this stage is limited as a sampling program in the general area is currently being undertaken by others under the supervision of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). Staff understand that sediment sampling will be included. Staff will continue to monitor the progress of this sampling program.
The Committee also recommended writing to the EPA requesting an explanation of why the Industry Code of Practice on single use plastic bags was ceased and if there will be another.
There will be a draft Climate Change Policy presented to the next meeting of the Environmental Sustainability Community Committee.
Attachments
1 Minutes of the Meeting of the Environmental Sustainability Community Committee held on 21 August 2015
ORANGE CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE
Environmental Sustainability Community Committee
HELD IN Councillor's Workroom, Civic Centre, Byng Street, Orange
ON 21 August 2015
COMMENCING AT 8.00AM
1 Introduction
Attendance
Cr N Jones (Chairperson), Cr R Turner, Dr Murray Fletcher, Mr Stephen Nugent, Mr Peter West, Ms Melanie McDonell, Mr Robert Alford, Dr Anantanarayanan Raman, Mr Gavin Hillier, Mr Andrew Kennedy, Manager Building and Environment, Water Treatment Manager, Manager City Presentation, Manager Waste Services and Technical Support, Water Compliance Coordinator
1.1 Apologies and Leave of Absence
Nil
1.3 Declaration of pecuniary interests, significant non-pecuniary interests and less than significant non-pecuniary interests
Nil
3 Presentations
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RECOMMENDATION Mr R Alford/Mr A Kennedy That Council consider site soil analysis for heavy metals, in particular within the creek located north of Churchill Avenue. |
4 General Reports
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TRIM Reference: 2015/1698 |
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Recommendation Dr M Fletcher/Cr R Turner That the information provided in the report by Water Treatment Manager on CENTROC Water Energy Grant Update be acknowledged. |
**Mr Nugent left the meeting with the time being 9.15am
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TRIM Reference: 2015/2022 |
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Recommendation Mr A Kennedy/Cr R Turner That the information provided in the report on Gap Analysis Sub-Group Action Lists be acknowledged. |
Biodiversity and Natural Environment/Heritage
Mr Kennedy advised that the Biodiversity Sub-Group has had limited opportunity to convene and enact any actions in the past three months. Peter West advised of a review of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and how this might impact on biodiversity. Mapping for the Orange LGA will be supplied by Mr Hobden to Peter West.
**Mark Hodges left the meeting with the time being 9.25am**
Energy and Pollution Waste
Both Energy and Pollution Sub-Groups have also had limited opportunity to meet. The Energy initiative web site has been updated on Council’s web site.
Contaminated land management was suggested to be included within the Pollution Sub-Group
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TRIM Reference: 2015/2023 |
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Recommendation Cr R Turner/Dr M Fletcher That the information provided in the report on Gap Analysis Chart be acknowledged. |
The Meeting Closed at 9:40AM
TRIM REFERENCE: 2015/2491
AUTHOR: Neil Jones, Cr
EXECUTIVE Summary
The second annual Keep NSW Beautiful Congress 2015, with the theme, “Less Litter. Live Better”, was held in Sydney on the 22 and 23 July. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the congress to Council.
Link To Delivery/OPerational Plan
The recommendation in this report relates to the Delivery/Operational Plan strategy “4.1 Our City – Continue to deliver a leadership role as a major entity in the region and actively contribute to the future direction of local, regional and national initiatives to support and facilitate improved outcomes for the community”.
Financial Implications
Nil
Policy and Governance Implications
Nil
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That the information provided in the report by Cr Neil Jones on the Keep NSW Beautiful Congress 2015 be acknowledged. |
further considerations
Consideration has been given to the recommendation’s impact on Council’s service delivery; image and reputation; political; environmental; health and safety; employees; stakeholders and project management; and no further implications or risks have been identified.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
The Congress brought together a wide range of speakers and participants from all states of Australia, representing Local Government staff and Councillors, the waste and packaging industry, Government Departments and organisations, and community groups.
A very strong focus of the Congress was directed towards understanding littering behaviour, and empowering communities and individuals to take responsibility for their litter. A number of excellent case studies were presented, including a couple in particular which were quite inspiring and illustrated with very successful community led programmes.
The NSW Environmental Protection Authority presented an overview and assessment of the current NSW Litter Strategy, and partnerships with councils and community groups aimed at reducing litter in public places, parks and roadsides, and in particular, littering from vehicles.
It was unfortunate that only limited attention in the program and subsequent discussion was given to the role of the packaging industry in dealing with littering and waste issues.
A snapshot of key messages follows;
1 The NSW Minister for the Environment, Mark Speakman, emphasised that the role of the NSW Government was to support local communities address littering problems with legislation and anti-litter campaigns (eg the “Waste less recycle more” campaign targeting regional litter hotspots through funding of Councils; the “Hey Tosser” watch and report campaign particularly targeting littering from motor vehicles; and the upcoming Container Deposit Scheme). His catchcry was “Changing minds, hearts and actions”.
2 Senior NSW Environment Protection Authority officers spoke on the current strategy of developing partnerships with local communities “to bring about social change – change in attitude, through funded provision of education, infrastructure and enforcement”. A big emphasis is being placed on the “Hey Tosser” campaign, now targeting cigarette butt litter. Round 3 funding is now available for local councils.
3 The presentations from a number of speakers highlighted the success of community and organisational partnerships including isolated aboriginal communities, coastal groups (Crescent Head, Bondi, Ballina), local councils (Willoughby, Bankstown, Wangaratta, Brisbane City, Canada Bay, Ryde, Queanbeyan, City of Sydney) and with State and Commonwealth Government departments and authorities (NSW Health, NSW School Education, EPA, KNSWB, KABWA, CSIRO). Community engagement resulted in a number of significant initiatives and programs including; “Responsible Runners” (beachside running and jogging groups), “We Love Lalor Park” (building trust and actions in a multicultural socially disadvantaged community), “No Butts About It” (tackling butt litter in Canada Bay), “Youth, the answer to keeping Queanbeyan Beautiful” (Queanbeyan Council), “Don’t Dump your Load on the Road” (KABWA program), “Take the Pledge” (KNSWB campaign asking individuals and community groups to pledge to keep NSW beautiful by not littering).
4 Integral to the success of all these initiatives was an acknowledgement that changing littering behaviour required more attention to; positive reinforcement through education and signage; appropriate bin infrastructure; cleansing litter hotspots; and community driven enforcement through rewards and penalties.
5 The need for container deposit legislation was highlighted as a key component of litter reduction. The success of reverse vending machine trials in the City of Sydney demonstrated the role this strategy can play, and the income that can flow to local Councils. Communities and councils are urged to make submissions to the recently established Container Deposit Scheme Advisory Committee.
6 The role that packaging plays as part of the problem and the solution to littering, was addressed by two key speakers; one from the Total Environment Centre and the other from the Australian Packaging Covenant. Critical to littering problems was identified as the continued use by the manufacturing, distribution and packaging industry of single use and non-recyclable packaging; consumer driven demand for convenience over sustainability; and an unwillingness by the packaging industry to support container deposit legislation and greater legislative regulation over recycled content and design of packaging. The packaging industry stated that it is committed to supporting recycling (eg through sponsorship of KNSWB programs) and packaging design initiatives for sustainability.
7 Roadside littering received attention from several speakers; Keep Australia Beautiful Western Australia (KABWA) has identified roadside litter hotspots at traffic lights, 20 minutes from roadhouse/fastfood service centres, and streets in the vicinity of worksites, and are implementing a range of preventative strategies, including “Don’t litter, take it with you” campaign, car litter bags distributed with fast food, and signage at litter hotspots. NSW EPA are promoting the “Hey Tosser” campaign as a way of reporting and reducing litter from vehicles, including cigarette butts which are the most littered item.
8 Brisbane City Council has initiated a “whole of Council” approach coordinated by a litter Program Officer with a litter Steering Committee aimed at full stakeholder participation both from within Council and the community, and to set an example that will flow on to the rest of the community.
9 Cigarette butts are considered a major streetscape and public parks’ litter and pollution contributor. Speakers from NSW Health, Keep South Australia Beautiful (KESAB) and Canada Bay Council outlined a range of research programs and actions being implemented. Opportunities exist for Orange City Council to work with NSW Health in delivering the NSW Tobacco Strategy and anti-litter policy to address butt littering.
10 CSIRO reported on an Australia wide research study that concluded that investment in education programs led to a larger and more predictable reduction in littering than investment in facilities (presumably meaning infrastructure). These conclusions were disputed by several local government representatives.
11 There was an excellent presentation from EPA Queensland on the topic of understanding litter and illegal dumping behaviour. Their program involved; data collection and analysis; reactive compliance and enforcement; education, awareness and encouragement; capacity building and networking with stakeholders; and identifying and targeting hotspots.
12 A very successful litter reduction strategy was outlined by Responsible Runners. An organisation which was initiated by local early morning runners and joggers on Bondi Beach who accepted responsibility for collecting litter as they ran or jogged; setting an example for others to follow. This concept has been embraced by a number of other coastal communities. The concept could equally be applied in Orange to encourage “Responsible Walkers/Joggers/Runners”.
13 One of the highlights of the Conference was a presentation by Vanessa Hall, Director of the Entente Foundation, who used the concept of developing trust in communities between local citizens, organisations, service providers, and Councils, to bring about a transformation in behaviour in socially disadvantaged communities. She described the successful use of this approach in dealing with littering and neighbourhood pride in Lalor Park, in Sydney, by empowering people to do something for their own communities. I have had ongoing dialogue with Vanessa Hall as to the potential for this approach to be applied to issues in disadvantaged communities in Orange.
Coinciding with the Conference, was the release of an excellent reference book relevant to the theme of the Conference; “Litterology. Understanding Littering and Secrets to Clean Public Spaces”, by Karen Spehr & Rob Curnow, published by Environment Books.
The full program and proceedings of the Conference can be viewed via the following link:
http://issuu.com/keepnswbeautiful/docs/knswb_congress_less_litter_live_be?e=18569552/14688798
1 KNSWB Congress Less Litter Live Better Program Brochure, D15/36012⇩
