Environmental Sustainability Strategy

To realise the aspirations outlined in this Strategy, we must actively build our City’s capacity to achieve our goals and respond quickly to opportunities as they emerge. The action plan outlines detailed actions that Council will undertake over the span of this Strategy to help us reach the objectives within our priorities and position our City for continued success. This action plan will be monitored annually and will be updated after four years to ensure progression of the Strategy’s implementation.

The community and stakeholders were consulted with in late 2022. The feedback received, along with desktop research and global best practice, informed the development of the draft Strategy. 

After reviewing feedback on the draft Strategy, the draft will be finalised and be brought to Council for adoption. 

We have included a regenerative lens to defining environmental sustainability. Current and future environmental, social, and economic challenges and opportunities are considered as we actively restore and enhance nature through both ecological and social system perspectives.

Regeneration means to grow, particularly after loss or damage. To foster regeneration as a city is to grow the vitality, viability and capacity for life to continue to evolve within a place. It is inspired by nature and recognises First Nations perspectives, nature-human interconnections, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

To be environmentally sustainable, there needs to be a shift from human-centred approach which places people at the top of the ecosystem hierarchy and decision-making process, instead to an eco-driven approach which recognises the interconnectedness of all beings.

Disrupting this narrative and changing from ego to eco also acknowledges this has been the approach of generations of First Nations people in supporting the wellbeing of Country.

Climate Positive is the ambitious and important next step in the effort against climate change and requires activity that goes beyond achieving net zero emissions to reverse impacts of climate and remove carbon from our atmosphere.

City resilience is the ability of individuals, communities, businesses, and systems within a city to survive, adapt and thrive no matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience.

A water sensitive or blue green city recognises the importance of providing space for water in the landscape and embedding waterway health as a central part of planning. It recognises the First Nations cultural connection to water as life and the broader role that healthy waterways play in shaping the identity and liveability of a city.

A nature positive approach moves beyond conserving remaining biodiversity just for human benefit, to planning and implementing the repair and regeneration of nature, species and ecosystems for nature’s sake.

Circular economy is a whole-of-systems approach that replaces end-of-life concepts of waste and obsolescence with restoration and renewal, creating new opportunities for businesses and communities to survive and thrive while eliminating pollution and regenerating our environment.