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Town of Claremont


Home page:	http://www.claremont.wa.gov.au/
Population:	9,605
Annual Revenue:	$20,449,901
No of households:	4,543

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. Yes pamphlets on water, fertiliser, plants, birds and the like are available in our Administration building and Claremont Museum and Library also have sustainable displays on occasions.

Q2. Does this Council visibly advertise events that support eco-sustainability in the community? (ie hazardous waste collections, living smart courses, etc) Details?
A. We are part of WESROC who run two Living Smart courses in the region a year. Hazardous goods are collected from residents at a carpark for a collection and disposal by WMRC.

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. http://www.claremont.wa.gov.au/Community/Sustainability.aspx http://www.claremont.wa.gov.au/Community/LakeClaremont.aspx http://www.claremont.wa.gov.au/Community/Trees.aspx

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. Our admin staff were trained by Water Corp in waterwise options for houses including grey water, rain water, water efficient devices and landscaping.

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. - Manager of Parks and Environment -Supervisor Parks and gardens

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. No

Q5. Does Council provide funding/assistance for school gardens?
A. No

Q6. Does this Council support any community gardening projects?
A. The Town has made it part of the Local Town Planning Strategy to support community gardens, acknowledging there importance in growing a sense of community, providing fresh, local food at a time of declining availability in oil and helping to improve people's diets.

Q7. Has this Council hosted a Living Smart course, or similar in 2011/2012? Details?
A. October 2011 & May 2012

Q8. Does this Council have any Living Smart courses planned for 2012/2013? Dates, times, venues, booking contact?
A. In May 2013 at our Meals on Wheels building on Thursday evenings

Q9. Does this Council work with schools to provide education on eco-sustainability issues?
A. The Town works with Friends of Lake Claremont to provide education and information to a few local schools and they assist with planting and other environmental work. WMRC Earth Carers provide waste education to schools on behalf of council. For more information please visit: www.earthcarers.org.au

Q10. Does this Council support Bushcare Friends and/or other environmentally focused community groups? Details?
A. The Town supports Friends of Lake Claremont.

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

Q12. Does this Council report periodically to the community on the state of the local environment? How often? (include weblink)
A. No

Q13. Has this Council declared itself a nuclear-free zone? Symbolic and/or embedded into Town Planning Scheme?
A. No

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. No

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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. Gugeri St, Mary Street Park, Claremont Crescent, Claremont and Rowe Park, Devon Road.

Q2. Does this Council use native plants (vs exotics) for verges, traffic islands, around Council buildings, etc? What % of Council plantings?
A. About 75% endemic plantings including street trees.

Q3. Does this Council involve the community in native planting days?
A. National Tree Day for schools and community. Friends of Lake Claremont have about four community planting days a year, about twelve school days and another few corporate days.

Q4. Does this Council offer residents free or subsidised native seedlings or plants? Details of when, where & prices?
A. Native Plant Subsidy Scheme – Maximum of 80 plants offered at at half price ($1.50) from a local native plant nursery in May.

Q5. Does this Council provide lists of appropriate local native plants? How are they publicised and distributed?
A. Booklets at Admin and e-book and links on website.

Q6. Does this Council warn residents against planting exotic species that may escape into bushland? How?
A. Through the same media.

Q7. Does this Council encourage residents to convert some of their lawns and/or verges to native gardens? How?
A. Verge policy and landscaping guidelines and reference to linked sites like Water Corporation.

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

Q10. Does this Council have other means of protecting mature trees in residential areas? Details?
A. Tree Preservation Policy

Q11. Does this Council act on residents' complaints of cats preying on native fauna? What action is taken? On what % of complaints?
A. Trapped animals with chips are taken to local vets for collection on first instance. No complaints are received but cats have been caught.

Q12. Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A. No

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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. Lakeway subdivision requires min 6 star rating for buildings. See http://www.lakeway.net.au/090904_Lakeway_Design_Guidelines_amended.pdf

Q2. Does this Council have an interpretive display of sustainable features on any of its buildings?
A. Claremont Pool has geothermal heating with a sign out front and a brochure. Waterless urinals at Meals on Wheels and our public toilets are promoted.

Q3. Does this Council provide support for residents wanting to build sustainable homes?
A. The Town has made some clear positional statements regarding Sustainable Building and Design in it's Local Planning Strategy. These include: X2: The Town supports future developments meeting the highest standards of sustainable design. X3:The Town supports an increase in the uptake of energy efficient products, best practice energy management and greater use of renewable energy. Please view the Local planning strategy "Clearly Claremont" for more detail. http://www.claremont.wa.gov.au/Development/StrategicInvestmentSection/LocalPlanningStrategy.aspx

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. As per Lakeway design guidelines above

Q5. Does this Council discourage the use of rainforest or old growth timbers and recommend alternatives, when issuing building permits?
A. No

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

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. No

Q8. Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A. No

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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. No

Q2. Does this Council support businesses to improve their energy efficiency? Details?
A. No

Q3. Does this Council have measures in place to decrease private car use throughout the municipality? Details?
A. Encourages public transport, education of schools, installation of wide paths which are tree-lined to make walking and cycling attractive to locals.

Q4. Does this Council promote the use of electric and/or hybrid vehicles? How? (eg providing ev recharge points)
A. No

Q5. Does this Council provide free cycling/public transport maps to residents? Details?
A. Yes, we have a travel smart brochure and walk trail maps.

Q6. Does this Council contribute to security for bicycles at train & bus stations? Details?
A. Yes we have installed additional bike racks in CBD areas and in all parks.

Q7. Does this Council have a Travel Smart /Sustainable Transport officer? If so, what fraction of a f/t position?
A. No

Q8. Does this Council provide support for Walking School buses? How? Where?
A. Freshwater Primary School from Claremont Museum.

Q9. Does this Council provide any local public transport additional to Transperth Services? Details
A. No

Q10. Does this Council show a comparison of its expenditure on infrastructure for road transport incl. carparks /public transport/cycling/walking?
A. Yes, in our annual report

Q11. Does this Council continue to monitor its community greenhouse gas emissions/ manage climate change?
A. We are part of WEROC who are working collaboratively on climate adaptation.

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

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

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

Q15. Does this Council support community led initiatives for climate change adaptation? (eg Transition Town)
A. No

Q16. Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A. The Claremont pool uses geothermal heating, saving 330 tonnes of greenhouse gases per year.

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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. No

Q2. Does this Council provide receptacles just for cigarette butts in public places? Details?
A. No

Q3. Does this Council provide its own local drop-off facilities for recycling of spent fluoro globes & tubes, batteries and mobile phones?
A. Residents can recycle for free: electronic waste, cardboard, batteries, fluorescent globes and tubes, motor oil, mobile phones, printer cartridges, scrap metal, glass and plastic. Batteries can also be taken to the administration building.

Q4. Does this council provide local drop off points for recycling of e-waste? Details?
A. Yes, Shenton Park waste transfer station.

Q5. Does this Council offer residents financial incentive for reducing their general rubbish? Details?
A. No

Q6. Does this Council offer businesses incentives to reduce general rubbish? Details?
A. No No – but it is a user pays system so more waste equals more cost for disposal.

Q7. Does this Council promote recycling within its industrial zone? Details?
A. All businesses have yellow top bins – cheaper than green top bin on rates cost.

Q8. Does this Council collect and compost kitchen waste?
A. No separate kitchen waste collection occurs. In June 2013 Council waste will be processed through the DiCOM waste processing system at WMRC's Waste Transfer Station in Shenton Park. For more information please visit: www.dicomwesternsuburbs.weebly.com

Q9. Does this Council offer practical support for household composting and/or worm farming? Details?
A. Info on website and occasional demonstrations at events. Free composting and worm farming workshops are offered through a partnership with the WMRC Earth Carers program www.earthcarers.org.au

Q10. Does this Council participate in Resource Recovery Park or tip shop for residents?
A. Unknown See WMRC website - http://www.wmrc.wa.gov.au/ http://www.claremont.wa.gov.au/Residents/HealthandWaste.aspx

Q11. Does this Council provide local drop-off points or collection days for HHW (Household Hazardous Waste)?
A. Residents can drop off Household Hazardous Waste at no charge at WMRC's Waste Transfer Station in Shenton Park. For more information please visit: www.wmrc.wa.gov.au

Q12. Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A. See WMRC website. http://www.wmrc.wa.gov.au

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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. Information on our website, articles in Town Talk, Policies and guidelines for verge treatments and bore, mains water use.

Q2. Does this Council support businesses to improve their water efficiency? Details?
A. Unknown

Q3. Does Council support residents to harvest rainwater (e.g. through provision of rebates)? Details?
A. No No – but encouraged through six star ratings at Lakeway subdivision.

Q4. Does this Council promote and provide support for residents to reuse greywater? How? How many applications from residents have been received?
A. Links to Department of Health guidelines and also in Lakeway design guidelines on web.

Q5. Does this Council take any other action for water conservation? Details?
A. ICLEI Milestone 5 completed and new goals set, Waterwise Council accredited, Water Operating Strategy for groundwater, Water Audit of Claremont Pool,

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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. Waterwise training for all customer focus staff. Some FAQ’s created in regards to Trees and Water. Most are on Website.

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

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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. Done partly by Manager Health and partly by Manager Parks and Environment.

Q2. Does this Council have a Green or Ethical Purchasing Policy in place?
A. No

Q3. Does this Council use a sustainability framework (economic, social, environment, governance) in all its planning, reporting and decision-making processes? Details?
A. No

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. No

Q6. Does this Council provide sustainability staff the opportunity to liaise with Councillors re sustainability information?
A.

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

Q8. Does this Council have a ‘green team’ or Sustainability/Environmental advisory group?
A.

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. A complete Hydrological study was done by JDSA for WESROC region.

Q2. Does this Council have Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan Guidelines?
A. No

Q3. Does this Council have a Green Plan in action?
A. Yes – WESROC greening plan

Q4. Does this Council have a Natural Areas/ Bushland Management Plan?
A. Lake Claremont Management Plan

Q5. Does this Council have any policies /strategies for retention of mature trees?
A. Yes – Tree preservation policy, street tree policy and more see - http://www.claremont.wa.gov.au/Community/Trees.aspx

Q6. Does this Council have a strategy in place for the control of phytophora dieback?
A. Yes, signage, paths, fencing and education

Q7. Does this Council have a strategy in place for the control of environmental weeds?
A. Yes, Lake Claremont Management Plan

Q8. Does this Council have a strategy to protect and enhance biodiversity in the local area?
A. As above

Q9. Does this Council have any strategies for the development of wildlife corridors?
A. As per greening plan

Q10. Does this Council have a Nutrient/ Irrigation Management Plan?
A. Irrigation management for entire town

Q11. Does this Council have a Sustainable Landscaping Strategy/Plan/Policy
A.

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 N/A SRT have a riverpark policy but no foreshore management plan

Q14. Does this Council manage a substantial area of bushland? How much?
A. No

Q15. Does this Council exert pressure to protect remnant bushland in the face of urban expansion plans?
A. About 45ha

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.

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

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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 Only for Lakeway Subdivision

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.

Q8. Does this Council avoid using rainforest or old growth timbers in Council buildings and constructions?
A. Where possible due to heritage.

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

Q10. Does this Council have policies and incentives for recycling of construction waste?
A. Yes cost reduction on landfill

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. No

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. Lakeway, Lake Claremont, Town Talk

Q13. Does this Council have a Renewable Energy Systems Policy?
A. No

Q14. Does this Council use Renewable Energy sources in any of its buildings? Details?
A. No No, apart from Claremont Pools geothermal heating.

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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

Q2. Does this Council purchase government accredited Green Power? If so, what %?
A. No .

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

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

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. Travelsmart cards and car pooling available for meetings.

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. No

Q8. Has this Council begun to factor in impacts of climate change across all departments and all areas of governance, especially planning?
A. No

Q9. Is this Council addressing peak oil risks and vulnerabilities? How?
A. Fleet changes – low emission, diesel

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. No

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.

Q2. Does this Council have a zero waste to landfill strategy?
A.

Q3. Does this Council have a methane reduction plan?
A. Biogas (which contains mainly methane and carbon dioxide) will be captured as part of the DiCOM waste processing system at WMRC's Waste Transfer Station in Shenton Park. The cleaned biogas is used to generate power which runs the plant. A connection to the State grid allows DiCOM to supply surplus power to the grid. For more information information please visit: www.dicomwesternsuburbs.weebly.com

Q4. Does this Council have waste treated by an industrial biological composting system?
A. In June 2013 Council waste will be processed through the DiCOM waste processing system at WMRC's Waste Transfer Station in Shenton Park. For more information please visit: www.dicomwesternsuburbs.weebly.com

Q5. Does this Council have an internal program that aims to reduce the amount of waste generated by Council staff?
A. Recycling bins, paperless council agendas and reports, virtual paperwork.

Q6. Does this Council process its own kitchen/lunchroom waste in composting/wormfarming/bokashi system/s?
A. No

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. No

Q10. Does this Council predominantly use high % recycled paper? Details?
A.

Q11. Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A. Residents can drop off Household Hazardous Waste and various recyclable items (e.g. cardboard, electronic waste, batteries, fluorescent globes and tubes, motor oil, mobile phones, printer cartridges, scrap metal, glass and plastic) at no charge at WMRC's Waste Transfer Station in Shenton Park. For more information please visit: www.wmrc.wa.gov.au

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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.

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

Q3. Is this Council a participant in ICLEI’s (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) Water Campaign? Provide details of milestone and achievements.
A. Milestone 5 corporate and community.

Q4. Has this Council been endorsed as a Waterwise Council or progressing towards endorsement?
A.

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. 80% metered and read monthly, one new meter installed a year.

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

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. Yes – Claremont Pool

Q11. Does this Council have any water conservation or efficiency measures in place at large water consuming facilities such as Aquatic Centres?
A. We have a water savings plan, water efficient fixtures are being installed and geothermal groundwater recharge for heat transfer.

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. No

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

Q14. Does this Council reuse any of its own grey water? If so, what % /how much?
A. No

Q15. Does this Council undertake staff education campaigns with a focus on water conservation and efficiency (indoor and outdoor)?
A.

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

Q17. Does this Council take any other action for water conservation? Details?
A. Water testing of wetland

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