Environmental Education Strategy - Campbelltown City Council ...

Environmental Education Strategy 2009-2012• Youth Summit – in 2009 the first Campbelltown Youth Summit was held. Anumber of representatives of Campbelltown’s youth met in an open forum todiscuss current issues. One of the key issues discussed was the environment.Council staff gave a number of presentations in relation to the environment andCouncil’s commitment. The Summit is proposed to be an annual event with afocus on environmental issues.• Youth Advisory Working Group – It is proposed to formulate a YouthEnvironmental Advisory Group to facilitate input from Campbelltown’s youth inregards to what they identify as important issues. It is envisaged that the groupwill provide valuable input and feedback into Council’s environmentalprograms. The group will be overseen by staff from Council’s CommunityServices and Environmental Planning Sections.• Environmental ‘e’ Newsletter – Council staff aim to produce an environmentalnewsletter to be distributed to interested residents. This newsletter will provideresidents with information regarding Council’s current environmental programs,initiatives and issues affecting the community. In the interests of sustainabilitythe newsletter will be paperless; it will be emailed to interested residents andposted on Council’s website.• School’s Education Program – Council’s Environment Unit will develop anenvironmental education program for implementation in local primary schools.An outline and objectives for the program will be developed will be developed inconsultation with the Sustainable School’s Network to ensure it is inline withrelevant curriculum and appropriate to the target audience. The Program willinclude school visits, presentations and interactive activities.• Streamcare Program – The Program is planned to expand in 2009, with anadditional three (3) groups planned for commencement. It is further planned toincorporate site visits for school and community groups to the Streamcarelocations to raise awareness about the Program and environmental issuesassociated with these sites.• Website upgrade – Council’s environmental website component will continue tobe upgraded in the future in an effort to provide easily accessed and up to dateinformation to the public. It is further planned to develop and provide anincreasing number of interactive tools on the site targeted at various audiences.• Asset Sustainability Recognition System – The System will examine keyCouncil assets and recognise sustainability features incorporated in theseassets include building design, materials, energy and water efficient practicesand infrastructure, similar to programs such as NABERS and Green Star. Theaim of this program is to recognise efforts made by Council in regards tosustainability and promote these efforts to the community and continue to strivefor further efficiencies in these assets.• Sustainability training for Council staff – This training will developed by NSWTAFE in direct consultation with Council and will be tailor made to suit theorganisation. It will be targeted at Council staff across the organisation and willeducate them about sustainability in regards to their work practices, equipmentand Council policy. The training will be web-based and in this regard requireminimal use of resources and time. On successful completion of the Program anationally recognised Unit of Competence in Sustainable Work Practices will beawarded which can be counted toward completion of a number of TAFEqualifications if the staff member wishes to undertake further studies.• Food Mile Program – The Program will survey local businesses in an attempt toidentify local food suppliers. These suppliers, there wares and location will bepromoted to the community to raise awareness about carbon emissionsVersion 2.03 18/3/10Page 22 of 48