Home Local Councils City of Bayswater

Local Councils

City of Bayswater

Home page: http://www.bayswater.wa.gov.au/
Population: 61,262
Annual Revenue: $64,391,000
No of households: 28,878

Community questionnaire


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.   • How to care for your catchment • Native Gardening Booklets • Pamphlet on disposing of fluoro globes etc.

Q2.   Does this Council visibly advertise events that support eco-sustainability in the community? (ie hazardous waste collections, living smart courses, etc) Details?
A.   Advertises on website, local newspaper, libraries, household letter drops.

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.   Click ENVIRONMENT on home page.

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.   Briefed on waste collection services.

Q5.   Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
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+ environmental / sustainability officers (or similar role by a different name)? Please provide job titles, areas of responsibility, and which department they are in.
A.   Environmental Coordinator Bushcare Officers x 2 Water Quality Officer

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.   Community groups may approach Council for grants.

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

Q6.   Does this Council support any community gardening projects?
A.   $20,000 has been pledged to Rose Avenue Reserve Community Garden.

Q7.   Has this Council hosted a Living Smart course, or similar in 2011/2012? Details?
A.   A Living Smart Course was hosted in March/April 2011.

Q8.   Does this Council have any Living Smart courses planned for 2012/2013? Dates, times, venues, booking contact?
A.  No

Q9.   Does this Council work with schools to provide education on eco-sustainability issues?
A.   The City works extensively with most primary schools in Bayswater on catchment health.

Q10.   Does this Council support Bushcare Friends and/or other environmentally focused community groups? Details?
A.   Friends of Gobba Lake Friends of Lightning Swamp Friends of Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary Friends of Claughton Reserve Environment House Friends of Swan lake

Q11.   Does this Council support WA/national/international events to promote sustainability? (eg World Environment Day, Earth Hour, Sustainable September)
A.   Clean Up Australia Day Events are held for National Tree Day on various dates. Please see Council website for details.

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.   Policy no. EO-P17 Nuclear Free Zone

Q14.   Has this Council declared itself a GMO/GE free zone? Details?
A.  No This has been considered by Council, however is not a high priority as not an agricultural area. There is some concern about the proliferation of herbicide-resistant weeds.

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.   There is a demonstration native garden at Environment House, 125 King William St, Bayswater and Native Rain Garden at the RISE. There are also some demonstration native verges in the development phase.

Q2.   Does this Council use native plants (vs exotics) for verges, traffic islands, around Council buildings, etc? What % of Council plantings?
A.   Some verges and traffic islands are being planted with native species.

Q3.   Does this Council involve the community in native planting days?
A.   Through "Friends of" groups School and Community planting days are held annually in July.

Q4.   Does this Council offer residents free or subsidised native seedlings or plants? Details of when, where & prices?
A.  No

Q5.   Does this Council provide lists of appropriate local native plants? How are they publicised and distributed?
A.   Bayswater Native Plant booklet available on website.

Q6.   Does this Council warn residents against planting exotic species that may escape into bushland? How?
A.  No

Q7.   Does this Council encourage residents to convert some of their lawns and/or verges to native gardens? How?
A.  No Council is currently working with residents to convert verges into native gardens through Bayswater Native Plant booklet and Great Gardens and Beyond Gardens workshops.

Q8.   Does this Council award outstanding native gardens?
A.   Waterwise Garden Award.

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.  No Depending on where tree is located. Tree Retention Policy.

Q11.   Does this Council act on residents' complaints of cats preying on native fauna? What action is taken? On what % of complaints?
A.  No

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.  No However, the City is investigating the potential for a development at Lightning Swamp.

Q2.   Does this Council have an interpretive display of sustainable features on any of its buildings?
A.   Basic display re solar power at The Rise, Maylands Multipurpose Centre.

Q3.   Does this Council provide support for residents wanting to build sustainable homes?
A.  No

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.  No

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.   Through Solar Cities.

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.   - Free Home Energy Audits were available to the community through Solar Cities. - Living Smart Courses - Powermate Packs are available for loan from Maylands Library and these will soon be available in all Council libraries.

Q2.   Does this Council support businesses to improve their energy efficiency? Details?
A.  No However there is a plan to extend the Perth NRM light industrial program, which currently focuses on environmental pollutants, to include water and energy efficiency. The Perth NRM currently works in partnership with Council.

Q3.   Does this Council have measures in place to decrease private car use throughout the municipality? Details?
A.   - TravelSmart Program - Transit-Oriented Developments such as Maylands etc have become a focus in providing walkable, liveable, transport accessible neighborhoods, that take the focus off car use. This is part of the long term planning for the City.

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.  

Q6.   Does this Council contribute to security for bicycles at train & bus stations? Details?
A.  No This is the responsibility of State Government.

Q7.   Does this Council have a Travel Smart /Sustainable Transport officer? If so, what fraction of a f/t position?
A.   TravelSmart Officer through Living Smart.

Q8.   Does this Council provide support for Walking School buses? How? Where?
A.  No

Q9.   Does this Council provide any local public transport additional to Transperth Services? Details
A.   Bayswater Echo Community Bus.

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.  No

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 However this is in the pipeline.

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.  

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

Q16.   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 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.  

Q3.   Does this Council provide its own local drop-off facilities for recycling of spent fluoro globes & tubes, batteries and mobile phones?
A.   At Council admin centre, the Rise, and at Max Tulley info centre (Council's office at the Galleria).

Q4.   Does this council provide local drop off points for recycling of e-waste? Details?
A.  No

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

Q7.   Does this Council promote recycling within its industrial zone? Details?
A.  

Q8.   Does this Council collect and compost kitchen waste?
A.  No No, but garden waste is collected for composting.

Q9.   Does this Council offer practical support for household composting and/or worm farming? Details?
A.   Home composting and worm farm brochures are downloadable from website. EMRC run a yearly Earthcarer course (5 sessions on waste matters) and Environment House in Bayswater give advice, sell equipment and run workshops.

Q10.   Does this Council participate in Resource Recovery Park or tip shop for residents?
A.  

Q11.   Does this Council provide local drop-off points or collection days for HHW (Household Hazardous Waste)?
A.  No

Q12.   Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A.   A free fridge collection service is currently available to all residents.

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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.   The City regularly hosts Great Gardens Workshops and is in the process of scheduling more dates. This includes verge makeovers which will see lawn verges converted into waterwise native gardens. A native plant booklet is also available.

Q2.   Does this Council support businesses to improve their water efficiency? Details?
A.  No However there is a plan to extend the Perth NRM light industrial program, which currently focuses on environmental pollutants, to include water and energy efficiency. The Perth NRM currently works in partnership with Council.

Q3.   Does Council support residents to harvest rainwater (e.g. through provision of rebates)? Details?
A.   Technical assistance advice, and Great Gardens workshops.

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.   Bayswater Brook Action Plan BMP for turf management ICLEI water campaign Bayswater Waves water reduction iniatives

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