State of Environment Report 2007-08 - Wollongong City Council

Sustainability | State of the Environment Report 2007-2008SustainabilityCommunity Education and EventsCouncil has undertaken various community education programsand events aimed at sustainability. These included the Rise andShine Campaign, Clean Up Australia Day, the Eco-Citizens programand World Environment Day. Waste and sustainability educationsessions were also held at Glengarry Cottage and were attended byschool and community groups. A schools program commenced inJune 2008. Ten schools have been selected to work with Council inan interactive program to reduce their ecological footprint. As partof the program, students will review the waste, water and energyusage at their school, calculate their ecological footprint anddevelop an environmental management plan to improve thesustainability of the school.Wollongong’s Greenhouse Park is a former builder’s tip undergoingrevegetation and redevelopment into an environmental educationresource focusing on climate change, tree planting and localbiodiversity. During the year, 280 students participated inenvironmental activities at the park and Conservation VolunteersAustralia undertook bush restoration work at the site. Theinstallation of a ‘green’ toilet and solar panels on site providesfurther educational opportunities, along with the existing windturbine and outdoor teaching facility.The Botanic Garden Discovery Centre plays a key role in promotingenvironmental awareness in the Wollongong LGA. During 2007-08,15,857 people took part in Discovery Centre programs. Theprograms focus on biodiversity and sustainability issues and aretargeted at a range of demographics from local schools to adults.Environmental Management SystemCouncil is committed to the development and progressiveimplementation of a comprehensive Environmental ManagementSystem (EMS). The EMS will be based on the International ISO14001 Standard, which provides a framework for the identificationand appropriate management of environmental issues. During2007-08, the project team has worked across Council Divisionsdeveloping a consistent approach on environmental managementfor Council projects, audited specific projects to ensureenvironmental compliance with appropriate environmentalsafeguards, established a preliminary Legal Register containingCouncil’s regulatory requirements and an Environmental AspectsRegister listing Council’s significant environmental risks. Councilhas also prepared documents in line with the ISO 14001 standard.Water and Energy Savings Action PlansWater and Energy Savings Action plans have been prepared andadopted by Council during the year. These plans will beimplemented and regularly monitored across Council’s operationson an ongoing basis. The top ten water using sites were found to be:Russell Vale Golf Club, Beaton Park, Administration Building,Wollongong Botanic Garden, Bulli Beach Tourist Park, WindangBeach Tourist Park, Corrimal Pool and Community Centre,Unanderra Pool, Corrimal Beach Tourist Park and Dapto Pool.Together these sites account for 36.8% of Council’s water use. Thetop 12 energy using sites, owned and operated by Council, werefound to be: Administration Building, Beaton Park, DaptoRibbonwood Centre, Corrimal Olympic Pool, Whytes Gully Landfill,Dapto Olympic Pool, Town Hall, Corrimal Beach Tourist Park, BulliBeach Tourist Park, Crown Street Mall, Central Works Depot andCorrimal Community Centre. Together these sites account forapproximately 76% of all energy used byCouncil.Water ConsumptionTotal consumption of water in theWollongong LGA has shown a gradualdecrease over the last few years (Table 8).During 2007-08, residential usageaccounted for approximately 71% of wateruse in the Wollongong LGA, whilecommercial and industrial accounted for22% of water use. Industrial waterdecreased during 2007-08 due to anincrease in the use of recycled water inindustrial processes.Climate ChangeDuring 2008, Council received a $50,000grant from the Federal Department ofClimate Change, Local AdaptationPathways Program. Council will beconducting climate change risk planningworkshops and developing an adaptationplan to address risks generated by climatechange.JJ Kelly Park Recycled Water ProjectCouncil has commenced a Water SensitiveUrban Design and Sustainability project atJJ Kelly Park, Wollongong. This project isbeing funded by Council, Southern RiversCatchment Management Authority and agrant from the NSW Environmental Trust.The project includes the use of recycledwater for irrigation of sporting fields,installation of rainwater tanks to collectwater for flushing toilets, use of solar hotwater systems to reduce greenhouse gasemissions, and the restoration of theriparian zone along Gurungaty Waterway toimprove biodiversity and protect an area ofsaltmarsh.By implementing alternative water andenergy sources for the clubhouses, therunning costs for the sporting clubs will bereduced, improving their financial viabilityand keeping registration costs down,thereby helping to ensure access to theseclubs for the community.During 2007-08, rainwater tanks have beeninstalled at Coniston Soccer and Vikingsclubhouses, a solar hot water system isnow operational at Coniston Soccerclubhouse, and the recycled water supplyline to JJ Kelly Park and Greenhouse Parkhas been installed. Riparian restorationworks were also undertaken along thewatercourse. Approximately 2,300 nativeplants were installed and weed removalwas undertaken across 6,200m 2 .20 Wollongong City Council