Draft Environment Strategy out for comment

16 August 2018 - Media release

Campaspe Shire Council has endorsed a draft Environment Strategy which has now been released for public comment.

Mayor, Cr Adrian Weston said the draft strategy has been developed with key stakeholders, including local Landcare groups, catchment management authorities, as well as a reviewing the learnings and benefit from the previous document.

“The strategy provides guidance and direction to council on environmental issues, it develops four themes and looks at what environmental activities council must do, as well as chooses to do, to support these themes,” Cr Weston said.

The strategy’s overall vision is “protection of our natural environment and delivery of programs and services to support a connected and healthy community”, with four themes:

Conservation Climate change adaptation and mitigation Community engagement and partnerships Council’s responsibilities

The strategy captures the environmental programs council is involved in and will guide council in setting policies and determining roles, responsibilities and priorities in the future.

“Each year an action plan will be developed in line with the objectives set in the strategy to ensure results are achieved,” Cr Weston said.

The document provides some example actions to give the community an idea of what is likely to be achieved, such as implementation of council’s Roadside Weeds and Pests Program Control Plan and developing greenhouse gas emissions reporting tailored to local government.

The objectives of the strategy are:

Describes the environmental programs that council engages in and aligns with state government directions Specifies council’s legal obligations with respect to environmental management Documents council’s commitment to voluntary environmental management Maintains a summary of federal and state legislation, state, regional and local government policies, plans and strategies Continues to engage with stakeholders and identifies opportunities for council to partner with organisations to achieve environmental benefits together

The draft Environment Strategy is available on council’s website  click here  and customer service centres. Members of the public are invited to make comment on the draft strategy by 5pm on Friday, 7 September.