Environmental Sustainability Strategy - Warringah Council - NSW ...

Long term partnerships
This Strategy is founded on a guiding principle that
community partnerships and engagement will form
the cornerstone of long-term environmental
programs in Warringah. Genuine partnerships will
foster and sustain positive change in the long run
as it will build the capacity of both parties to work
together creatively.
The mutual benefits of partnerships are many and
varied and include: exchange of knowledge and
skills; innovation and efficiencies; networking and
funding opportunities; replicable models for
addressing community needs and managing
resources; options for organisational management
and governance; and strategies for advocacy,
government relations and public outreach.
Partnerships may also create synergies and
opportunities for cost savings on some programs
through sharing of experiences and overhead costs.
In areas where Council’s opportunities for determining outcomes are relatively
restricted – such as in regards to transport planning and provision, which mainly is a
state government responsibility - we will advocate with and on behalf of the
community on their priorities. A key foundation for this advocacy role will be to forge
strategic alliances with other councils, community groups, not-for-profit organisations,
businesses, peak bodies and other tiers of government. This will give us a better basis
for negotiations over funding, project planning and implementation.
Our partnership with SHOROC councils (Manly, Mosman, Pittwater and Warringah) has
resulted in a solid platform for a regional approach to transport, energy, climate
change, ecologically sustainable development, waste, water, biodiversity, and skills
and capacity building. The SHOROC action plan Shaping our Sustainable Future
(SHOROC 2011) documents this approach and highlights areas where regional
cooperation is essential to successful outcomes.
There is also an opportunity to partner with community organisations to access
funding from grant programs offered by the state and federal governments and
private charitable foundations. For example, the Sydney Coastal Councils Group
publishes an annual Funding Guide which lists over 100 funding opportunities
available to councils and their stakeholders.
Partnerships may also provide a basis for joint venture projects or programmes. For
example, our partnership with Brewarrina Shire through the Sister Cities Program
could form the basis for collaborative environmental projects and investments.
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