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Town of East Fremantle


Home page:	http://www.eastfremantle.wa.gov.au/
Population:	6,930
Annual Revenue:	$8,808,000
No of households:	3,065

Community questionnaire Corporate questionnaire

Community questionnaire

Access to Information
General Support for Environmental Sustainability
Protecting and Restoring Nature in Residential Areas.
Sustainable Building and Design
Sustainable Transport / Climate Change
Waste Management
Water Management

Access to Information

How easily council displays information about what it is doing for environmental sustainability.

Q1. Does this Council display eco-sustainability information in its foyer or in other Council-owned buildings?
A.

Q2. Does this Council visibly advertise events that support eco-sustainability in the community? (ie hazardous waste collections, living smart courses, etc) Details?
A. Unknown

Q3. Does this Council website display eco-sustainability information in 1 or 2 clicks from its home page? Please include the link for eco-sustainability information.
A.

Q4. Does this Council train frontline staff to deal with some public requests for eco-info? (vs always switching through to someone else’s messagebank). Details of issues covered by frontline staff?
A. Council reception staff handle calls regarding waste and recycling, other calls are usually put through to the appropriate person.

Q5. Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A. Unknown

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General Support for Environmental Sustainability

General ways that this council promotes environmental sustainability.

Q1. Does this Council employ 2+ environmental / sustainability officers (or similar role by a different name)? Please provide job titles, areas of responsibility, and which department they are in.
A. Unknown

Q2. Does this Council offer eco-sustainability awards to business or industry?
A. No

Q3. Does this Council offer eco-sustainability awards to residents or schools?
A. No

Q4. Does this Council offer eco-sustainability grants to residents/ schools/ community groups/ businesses? Details?
A. Unknown

Q5. Does Council provide funding/assistance for school gardens?
A. On request.

Q6. Does this Council support any community gardening projects?
A. Unknown

Q7. Has this Council hosted a Living Smart course, or similar in 2011/2012? Details?
A. As a member of ClimateWise, Living Smart courses are run periodically in 6 Councils for all residents of those Councils including East Fremantle.

Q8. Does this Council have any Living Smart courses planned for 2012/2013? Dates, times, venues, booking contact?
A. Unknown

Q9. Does this Council work with schools to provide education on eco-sustainability issues?
A. Unknown

Q10. Does this Council support Bushcare Friends and/or other environmentally focused community groups? Details?
A. Unknown

Q11. Does this Council support WA/national/international events to promote sustainability? (eg World Environment Day, Earth Hour, Sustainable September)
A. Unknown

Q12. Does this Council report periodically to the community on the state of the local environment? How often? (include weblink)
A. Annual report.

Q13. Has this Council declared itself a nuclear-free zone? Symbolic and/or embedded into Town Planning Scheme?
A.

Q14. Has this Council declared itself a GMO/GE free zone? Details?
A. No

Q15. Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A. Unknown

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Protecting and Restoring Nature in Residential Areas.

How this council manages the air, water, land, plants, animals and micro-organisms - and their ecosystems - in its care.

Q1. Does this Council have any demonstration native gardens? If so, where?
A. We have the Locke Park Nature Reserve which is natural bush.

Q2. Does this Council use native plants (vs exotics) for verges, traffic islands, around Council buildings, etc? What % of Council plantings?
A. No We use waterwise gardens but not necessarily native gardens; our latest landscaping included roses, rosemary and lavender at Dovenby House. As different parks are upgraded we plant native plants. Council Policy on Street Trees, amended 29 February 2002 stipulates planting guidelines for certain areas but we commonly plant red flowering gums, peppermints, bottlebrush.

Q3. Does this Council involve the community in native planting days?
A. Unknown

Q4. Does this Council offer residents free or subsidised native seedlings or plants? Details of when, where & prices?
A. Council has partnered with APACE in their native plant subsidy scheme.

Q5. Does this Council provide lists of appropriate local native plants? How are they publicised and distributed?
A. No

Q6. Does this Council warn residents against planting exotic species that may escape into bushland? How?
A. No Not as a matter of course, but when information comes out on environmental weeds we may display it at the front counter, and we certainly circulate information to our Parks and Gardens staff so they can look out for it during the course of their duties.

Q7. Does this Council encourage residents to convert some of their lawns and/or verges to native gardens? How?
A. No But we do support the principle.

Q8. Does this Council award outstanding native gardens?
A. No

Q9. Does this Council offer incentives for owners of big backyards in high density areas to retain these blocks for biodiversity? Details?
A. No Not incentives as such but there is a Council Policy on Conservation of Trees in the Private Domain April 1998 recognises and encourages the preservation of established trees on private property.

Q10. Does this Council have other means of protecting mature trees in residential areas? Details?
A. Street trees are protected, and Reserve Trees are protected from damage. Swan River Trust has installed two of their warning signs on Jerrat Drive following damage to vegetation to access views of the river.

Q11. Does this Council act on residents' complaints of cats preying on native fauna? What action is taken? On what % of complaints?
A. No We have not had a complaint of cats preying on native fauna but we have had several complaints about foxes preying on magpies, swans and other fauna, so we now undertake fox control on a regular basis.

Q12. Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A. Unknown

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Sustainable Building and Design

How this council supports the community to build sustainably

Q1. Does this Council have a model Sustainable building or subdivision? Details?
A. Unknown

Q2. Does this Council have an interpretive display of sustainable features on any of its buildings?
A. Unknown

Q3. Does this Council provide support for residents wanting to build sustainable homes?
A. Unknown

Q4. Does this Council have measures in place to support businesses and residents to design above the minimum star ratings? Eg Hosting green building design courses etc.
A. Unknown

Q5. Does this Council discourage the use of rainforest or old growth timbers and recommend alternatives, when issuing building permits?
A. Unknown

Q6. Does this Council require an independent vegetation survey before issuing a building permit and inspection after development to ensure no unauthorised removal?
A. Unknown

Q7. Does this Council promote the use of renewable energy sources (eg Photovoltaic cells, wind turbines) to residents and businesses through funding, incentives or otherwise? Details?
A. Unknown

Q8. Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A. Unknown

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Sustainable Transport / Climate Change

Action being taken by this council to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Q1. Is this Council offering any energy efficiency programs for residents in 2012/2013 (e.g workshops, home energy audits? Details?
A. East Fremantle is a member of ClimateWise, a regional committee of Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Officers from City of Fremantle, City of Cockburn, City of Rockingham, City of Canning and Town of Kwinana plus officers from the SMRC. This group has acquired funding from SEDO to undertake a climate action project for 750 households including in-house energy audits. The project is being conducted now.

Q2. Does this Council support businesses to improve their energy efficiency? Details?
A. ClimateWise group had funding to run a successful climate action project for small businesses in 2008, and this was followed up be training Environmental Health Officers from SMRC Councils to undertake energy reviews within businesses that are being inspected for compliance with health regulations.

Q3. Does this Council have measures in place to decrease private car use throughout the municipality? Details?
A. No Not exactly, but we do promote walking and cycling, and have ample public transport.

Q4. Does this Council promote the use of electric and/or hybrid vehicles? How? (eg providing ev recharge points)
A. Unknown

Q5. Does this Council provide free cycling/public transport maps to residents? Details?
A. We have TravelSmart maps which had previously been delivered to every household, and are available at the front counter.

Q6. Does this Council contribute to security for bicycles at train & bus stations? Details?
A. No We don’t have train stations and we don’t provide security at bus stops, however, we require bike racks to be installed at new commercial developments.

Q7. Does this Council have a Travel Smart /Sustainable Transport officer? If so, what fraction of a f/t position?
A. No Not at the moment, any transport enquiries are dealt with by sustainability officer or depot staff.

Q8. Does this Council provide support for Walking School buses? How? Where?
A. No We have done in the past.

Q9. Does this Council provide any local public transport additional to Transperth Services? Details
A. We have a large bus which we hire out to community groups, and it is used to transport Home and Community Care clients to and from a day centre, and also takes them on trips on a Monday. The bus is also used for the Disabled Holiday Program which runs in January and they go on outings every day of the program.

Q10. Does this Council show a comparison of its expenditure on infrastructure for road transport incl. carparks /public transport/cycling/walking?
A. No

Q11. Does this Council continue to monitor its community greenhouse gas emissions/ manage climate change?
A. Unknown

Q12. Does this Council publish the annual energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with its operations (units of electricity, gas, transport fuel)?
A. No We obtain the information but to date we haven’t published them.

Q13. Has this Council consulted with the community on ways it is planning to reduce greenhouse emissions? When? How many members of the community attended?
A. No Not exactly, but officers at this Council have attended many seminars and lectures on ways that Councils can reduce greenhouse emissions as part of its participation in Cities for Climate Protection. I am in touch with community members, residents of the Town who have made changes to their households such as installing solar panels, rainwater tanks, greywater systems etc. One person has said that it should be mandatory for all government buildings to have solar panels, but I have found this to be financially onerous for this Council, we do have plans to install a demonstration system on one Council building. We have identified that street lights are responsible for 50% of Council’s greenhouse emissions, and meetings with Western Power have indicated that it will be many years before existing street light technology is adapted to take lower energy bulbs.

Q14. Has this Council consulted with the community on ways it may adapt to climate change? When? How many members of the community attended?
A. No Too early at this point as we (ClimateWise) are currently in the process in completing a climate change risk assessment facilitated by GHD Engineering consultant which is identifying the potential impacts of climate change on key Council Services and Activities and development of an Adaptation Action Plan which will focus on adapting to and mitigating those risks. I expect that once the Report is completed it will be presented to Council and thereafter be available to the community for their feedback.

Q15. Does this Council support community led initiatives for climate change adaptation? (eg Transition Town)
A. Unknown

Q16. Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A. Unknown

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Waste Management

How this council works towards the goal of zero waste.

Q1. Does this Council have measures in place to prevent plastic bags from entering the environment? eg removal of bags from pollutant traps, plastic bag bylaws, etc
A. Plastic Bag Free Policy adopted by Council 15/06/04.

Q2. Does this Council provide receptacles just for cigarette butts in public places? Details?
A. No We do not encourage smoking.

Q3. Does this Council provide its own local drop-off facilities for recycling of spent fluoro globes & tubes, batteries and mobile phones?
A. Free recycling of mobile phones, batteries, ink cartridges and needles, at the Town Hall (for residents only).

Q4. Does this council provide local drop off points for recycling of e-waste? Details?
A. No We collect them separately during our bulk verge collection and recycle all e-waste.

Q5. Does this Council offer residents financial incentive for reducing their general rubbish? Details?
A. No Residents are restricted to one 240 litre bin emptied weekly, however are not charged for their recycling bin. Residents may request a 120 litre bin, but that will be the same cost to the resident.

Q6. Does this Council offer businesses incentives to reduce general rubbish? Details?
A. Businesses are charged per bin, so there is a financial incentive to minimise their general rubbish.

Q7. Does this Council promote recycling within its industrial zone? Details?
A. No While we don’t have an industrial zone we offer commercial properties recycling bins provided they use them as they would at home.

Q8. Does this Council collect and compost kitchen waste?
A. All the rubbish in our rubbish bins is converted to compost at the Regional Resource Recovery Centre ( SMRC).

Q9. Does this Council offer practical support for household composting and/or worm farming? Details?
A. City supplies detailed information on request, sourced from Murdoch University, and there is information on our web page.

Q10. Does this Council participate in Resource Recovery Park or tip shop for residents?
A. Our Council is a member of the South Metropolitan Regional Council and therefore all recycling is taken to the Materials Recovery Facility at 350 Bannister Road Canning Vale.

Q11. Does this Council provide local drop-off points or collection days for HHW (Household Hazardous Waste)?
A. This can be arranged on request, or through our Home and Community Care Program for their clients. The instigation of collection days has assisted in the removal of HHW from many households in East Fremantle.

Q12. Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A. Unknown

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Water Management

How this council assists and educates local businesses and community to conserve water resources.

Q1. Does this Council support residents to improve their water efficiency? (eg waterwise verges, workshops on waterwise gardening/ food production, rebates). Details?
A. No But we approve of improvements to water efficiency.

Q2. Does this Council support businesses to improve their water efficiency? Details?
A. No But we approve of improvements to water efficiency.

Q3. Does Council support residents to harvest rainwater (e.g. through provision of rebates)? Details?
A. No However we approve of rain water tanks.

Q4. Does this Council promote and provide support for residents to reuse greywater? How? How many applications from residents have been received?
A. Unknown

Q5. Does this Council take any other action for water conservation? Details?
A. We have developed a water conservation plan in relation to Council Reserves and sporting grounds as requested by the Department of Water.

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Corporate questionnaire

Access to Information
General Support for Environmental Sustainability
Natural Resource Management
Sustainable Building and Design
Sustainable Transport / Climate Change
Waste Management
Water Management

Access to Information

How easily council displays information about what it is doing for environmental sustainability.

Q1. Does this Council train reception staff to deal with sustainability FAQ's from residents? Provide details on method of training and on the issues covered.
A. Reception staff can handle most waste and recycling enquiries, anything else is put through to the environmental officer.

Q2. Do Council sustainability staff have input into the Council website layout to ensure that residents can easily locate info on environmental sustainability?
A.

Q3. Do Council sustainability staff ensure that eco-sustainability brochures are prominently displayed in civic centre foyers and ‘satellite’ offices?
A.

Q4. Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category? Tell us any of your own initiatives.
A. No Other than normal customer service standards apply.

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General Support for Environmental Sustainability

General ways that this council promotes environmental sustainability.

Q1. Does this Council employ 2+ f/t or equiv. p/t environmental / sustainability officers (or similar roles by different names?) Please provide details of position, department and areas of responsibility.
A. No One Principal Environmental Health Officer – Environmental Health, Public Health, the Environment, waste management, crime prevention, emergency management, sustainability and climate change.

Q2. Does this Council have a Green or Ethical Purchasing Policy in place?
A. No We do have a policy for purchasing recycled paper.

Q3. Does this Council use a sustainability framework (economic, social, environment, governance) in all its planning, reporting and decision-making processes? Details?
A. Unknown

Q4. Does this Council’s annual report (or similar) explicitly support sustainability using such guidelines as the Global Reporting Initiative?
A. No

Q5. Does this Council provide an annual report to the community on the state of the environment and encourage feedback?
A. In our annual report.

Q6. Does this Council provide sustainability staff the opportunity to liaise with Councillors re sustainability information?
A. No The officer who writes the sustainability or environmental report has to attend the Council meeting.

Q7. Does this Council provide staff education on sustainability issues?
A. Unknown

Q8. Does this Council have a ‘green team’ or Sustainability/Environmental advisory group?
A. No They have a "green person".

Q9. Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A. No

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Natural Resource Management

How this council manages the air, water, land, plants, animals and micro-organisms - and their ecosystems - in its care.

Q1. Does this Council have an Integrated Water Management/ Catchment Management/ Stormwater Management Plan/ Food and Agriculture Localisation Plan in action? If so, which of the above?
A. Unknown

Q2. Does this Council have Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan Guidelines?
A. No However we react to any erosion or sedimentation issues as they occur.

Q3. Does this Council have a Green Plan in action?
A. No

Q4. Does this Council have a Natural Areas/ Bushland Management Plan?
A. We have the Locke Crescent Management Plan, which is our only bit of natural bush.

Q5. Does this Council have any policies /strategies for retention of mature trees?
A. Unknown

Q6. Does this Council have a strategy in place for the control of phytophora dieback?
A. No

Q7. Does this Council have a strategy in place for the control of environmental weeds?
A. All environmental weeds are controlled in accordance with the correct method of control which may vary from weed to weed.

Q8. Does this Council have a strategy to protect and enhance biodiversity in the local area?
A. In broad terms Council strives to achieve best practice in the protection of biodiversity in this area.

Q9. Does this Council have any strategies for the development of wildlife corridors?
A. No Given that we are a mature, stable, metropolitan, densely populated council there is no existing wildlife corridor, so we try and look after the little bit of bush and riverbank we have, to the best of our ability.

Q10. Does this Council have a Nutrient/ Irrigation Management Plan?
A. No

Q11. Does this Council have a Sustainable Landscaping Strategy/Plan/Policy
A. No

Q12. Does this Council have a Landowner Biodiversity Incentive Scheme?
A. No

Q13. Does this Council have a Marine/Coastal Management plan, where applicable?
A. No Not applicable.

Q14. Does this Council manage a substantial area of bushland? How much?
A. No A small amount of cliff face and Locke Park.

Q15. Does this Council exert pressure to protect remnant bushland in the face of urban expansion plans?
A. No The council is fully developed.

Q16. Does this Council encourage and support other land management agencies to protect/manage bushland with the LGA (e.g. DEC, FESA, Perth Regional NRM)? What is the area managed by these agencies?
A. No Not applicable.

Q17. Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A. Unknown

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Sustainable Building and Design

How this council promotes and exhibits sustainable building practices

Q1. Does this Council have a membership with the Green Building Council of Australia?
A. Unknown

Q2. Does this Council own buildings demonstrating outstanding Sustainable Design features, eg earning a Green Star Rating? Details?
A. Unknown

Q3. Does this Council actively promote Sustainable Building Design above minimum legal BCA standards?
A. Unknown

Q4. Does this Council have a Sustainable Design Policy?
A. Unknown

Q5. Does this Council reject development applications from individuals or commercial developers that deny solar access (eg solar hot water, PV, sunlight for garden) for the specific property and its neighbours?
A. Unknown

Q6. Does this Council allow shading devices in front yards? (eg Shade sails, roller shutters etc)?
A. Unknown

Q7. Does this Council allow the installation of solar hot water systems and PV cells on north roofs that face onto the street?
A. Unknown

Q8. Does this Council avoid using rainforest or old growth timbers in Council buildings and constructions?
A. Unknown

Q9. Does thisi Council use recycled/biodegradable materials in its infrastructure/ construction items?
A. Unknown

Q10. Does this Council have policies and incentives for recycling of construction waste?
A. Unknown

Q11. Does this Council reward sustainable design practices, ideas and construction? What kinds of incentives, bonuses and relaxations in policy are offered to those who undertake such design, construction etc?
A. Unknown

Q12. Does this Council have a mechanism to promote and support the application of Water Sensitive Urban Design principles on Council property as well as in the wider community?
A. Unknown

Q13. Does this Council have a Renewable Energy Systems Policy?
A. Unknown

Q14. Does this Council use Renewable Energy sources in any of its buildings? Details?
A. Unknown

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Sustainable Transport / Climate Change

Action being taken by this council to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Q1. Does this Council employ a TravelSmart Officer or similar? If so, for what fraction of time?
A. No We have shared one with Fremantle in the past, however there is not one employed at the moment.

Q2. Does this Council purchase government accredited Green Power? If so, what %?
A. Unknown

Q3. Does this Council offset all or some of its vehicle fleet's carbon emissions? What % of vehicle fleet emissions are offset? By what agency are these offsets accredited?
A. No We used to be with Carbon Neutral but now no longer are, although we have reduced our fleet and increased our proportion of 4 cylinder cars in recent years.

Q4. Does this Council publish its annual energy consumption and the GHG emissions of its operations (units of electricity, gas, transport fuel)? Details?
A. No Although we receive our figures from Planet Footprint, we haven’t published them at this stage. We found that 50% of our emissions are from street lighting.

Q5. Does this Council attempt to reduce employees' solo car travel to the workplace? Details of incentives/support for walking, cycling, public transport, car pooling?
A. No

Q6. Does this Council regularly tally and graph its employees' commuting carbon emissions to motivate efforts to reduce?
A. No

Q7. Does this Council’s fleet include a majority of fuel-efficient vehicles (<7L/100km) for urban use? No. of vehicles in total fleet? No. of vehicles using <7L/100km?
A. There are 25 vehicles in the total fleet, 20 of which use <8L/100km

Q8. Has this Council begun to factor in impacts of climate change across all departments and all areas of governance, especially planning?
A. No We are in the process of a climate change adaptation strategy project which is not complete as yet. The recommendations in the final report may impact on all departments in Council.

Q9. Is this Council addressing peak oil risks and vulnerabilities? How?
A. We are familiar with the potential shortages and are open to trying other technologies in our fleet vehicles. We would like our contractors to use biodiesel, for example, in the future.

Q10. Does this Council continue to monitor its corporate greenhouse gas emissions/ manage climate change following the end of CCP funding? (eg. using WALGA reporting platform, Planet Footprint or other frameworks)
A. Unknown

Q11. Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A. No

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Waste Management

How this council works towards the goal of zero corporate waste.

Q1. Does this Council recycle any of its municipal solid waste?
A. We produce waste which is converted to compost, and recycling which is recycled.

Q2. Does this Council have a zero waste to landfill strategy?
A. No The SMRC has a Strategic Waste Management Plan which aims to minimist waste to landfill.

Q3. Does this Council have a methane reduction plan?
A. No Not Appropriate.

Q4. Does this Council have waste treated by an industrial biological composting system?
A. Unknown

Q5. Does this Council have an internal program that aims to reduce the amount of waste generated by Council staff?
A. Council audit has revealed we produce very little waste, and we are avid recyclers.

Q6. Does this Council process its own kitchen/lunchroom waste in composting/wormfarming/bokashi system/s?
A. No All Council rubbish is composted at the RRRC as part of their membership with the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council.

Q7. Does this Council recycle all of its paper wastes?
A.

Q8. Does this Council recycle all possible plastic, aluminium and glass waste?
A.

Q9. Does this Council recycle all its ink and toner cartridges?
A.

Q10. Does this Council predominantly use high % recycled paper? Details?
A. No

Q11. Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A. No

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Water Management

How this council manages its corporate water usage

Q1. Does this Council plant waterwise vegetation within Council properties, verges, public open space?
A. No We have water wise gardens but not necessarily native gardens, our latest landscaping included roses, rosemary and lavender at Dovenby House. As different parks are upgraded we plant native plants. Council Policy on Street Trees, amended 29 February 2002 stipulates planting guidelines for certain areas but we commonly plant red flowering gums, peppermints, bottlebrush. When upgrading parks we include native species, landscaping around a recent building included a waterwise garden.

Q2. Does this Council use Best Practice waterwise irrigation within Council properties, verges, public open space? (eg sub-surface irrigation)
A. Unknown

Q3. Is this Council a participant in ICLEI’s (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) Water Campaign? Provide details of milestone and achievements.
A. No

Q4. Has this Council been endorsed as a Waterwise Council or progressing towards endorsement?
A. No

Q5. Does this Council water its own green spaces between 6pm - 9am as per Water Corporation regulation?
A.

Q6. Does this Council have its own Water Conservation Plan to target groundwater consumption?
A.

Q7. Does this Council have measures in place to ensure that its total bore water use remains within its annual entitlement? What % of bores are metered, and how often are meters read? If not, is such monitoring being planned?
A. No But it is planned for the future. One quarter of our bores are metered and it is proposed to meter others in the future.

Q8. Does this Council keep a schedule of the amount of water applied and when it is applied in its public open spaces?
A. Unknown

Q9. Does this Council turn off its irrigation systems in winter for Council properties using scheme water, as per Water Corporation regulation?
A.

Q10. Has this Council conducted a water audit of any of its large water consuming facilities to identify where water savings can be achieved?
A. Unknown

Q11. Does this Council have any water conservation or efficiency measures in place at large water consuming facilities such as Aquatic Centres?
A. Unknown

Q12. Does this Council have a Waterwise Purchasing Policy that mandates Council purchase water efficient appliances and fittings above minimum standard? (eg showerheads, flow restrictors and urinals)
A. Unknown

Q13. Does this Council have measures in place to ensure that all Council owned facilities are retrofitted with water efficient appliances and fittings?
A. Unknown

Q14. Does this Council reuse any of its own grey water? If so, what % /how much?
A. Unknown

Q15. Does this Council undertake staff education campaigns with a focus on water conservation and efficiency (indoor and outdoor)?
A. No We leave that to the department of water.

Q16. Does this Council monitor its ‘Works Depot’ to ensure hazardous materials are managed properly and contaminants do not enter stormwater drains?
A. Unknown

Q17. Does this Council take any other action for water conservation? Details?
A. Unknown

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