Home Local Councils Town of Bassendean

Local Councils

Town of Bassendean

Home page: http://www.bassendean.wa.gov.au/
Population: 14,404
Annual Revenue: $17,885,000
No of households: 6,383

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.   Eco-sustainability information is provided in the Bassendean Memorial Library foyer and in the Town’s Customer Service Building.

Q2.   Does this Council visibly advertise events that support eco-sustainability in the community? (ie hazardous waste collections, living smart courses, etc) Details?
A.   In the Bassendean Briefings newsletter, the Town’s website and in the Library and the Town’s Administration building.

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.   Information is provided under the Health and Environmental and Information and Feedback portals. Links includes http://www.bassendean.wa.gov.au/4_facilities/health-services.html, http://www.bassendean.wa.gov.au/7_info_feedback/pubn_concepts.html (Concept Plans heading) and http://www.bassendean.wa.gov.au/7_info_feedback/pubn_statutory.html (Statutory Reports and Plans heading).

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.   Frontline staff provide information to residents when supplied by officers or accessible/on-hand (e.g. recycling information).

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.  No No, One Environmental Officer within Asset Services is employed. Officer is responsible for: To provide specialist environmental advice to the Town of Bassendean and its residents for the protection, rehabilitation, enhancement and management of the Town’s natural and built environment.

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.  No No, but Council supports local Friends groups with bushland revegetation and planting days.

Q7.   Has this Council hosted a Living Smart course, or similar in 2011/2012? Details?
A.  No No. However this is being considered for 2013/2014.

Q8.   Does this Council have any Living Smart courses planned for 2012/2013? Dates, times, venues, booking contact?
A.  No However, this may be undertaken as part of the Perth Solar Cities program in 2013/2014.

Q9.   Does this Council work with schools to provide education on eco-sustainability issues?
A.  No However, this may be undertaken as part of the Perth Solar Cities program in 2011/2012.

Q10.   Does this Council support Bushcare Friends and/or other environmentally focused community groups? Details?
A.   The Town supports the Success Hill Action Group, Bassendean Preservation Group and Living Smart Bassendean.

Q11.   Does this Council support WA/national/international events to promote sustainability? (eg World Environment Day, Earth Hour, Sustainable September)
A.   Depends on Council funding and staff resources.

Q12.   Does this Council report periodically to the community on the state of the local environment? How often? (include weblink)
A.   The Town reports on the environment through various environmental documents (e.g. Environment Plan), policies and reports provided to council. Several environmental documents are provided on the Town’s website for the community’s information or feedback (e.g. Collective Local Biodiversity Strategy). Reports provided to Council are available to the community through posting of Council meeting minutes on the website.

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

Q14.   Has this Council declared itself a GMO/GE free zone? Details?
A.  No The Town has adopted a neutral stand on the issue of GMOs.

Q15.   Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A.   The Environment Plan includes a section on sustainability.

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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.   A display garden is located in Wilson Street, Bassendean. This garden is river-friendly and visually shows the community how to create a fertiliser and water-wise garden that will not negatively impact on the Swan and Canning rivers. Gardens like these help keep our rivers healthy, reduce nutrient loads from urban properties and increase awareness of how gardening practices impact the rivers and waterways.

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

Q3.   Does this Council involve the community in native planting days?
A.   Officers of the Town work cooperatively with community groups to identify areas where revegetation is required. Ground preparation and weed control is completed prior to planting with follow up maintenance and, where required, irrigation activities are planned in advance. In 2010 community involvement in planting was undertaken in Bindaring Park and Jubilee Park.

Q4.   Does this Council offer residents free or subsidised native seedlings or plants? Details of when, where & prices?
A.   The Town support a Plants to Residents Scheme whereby residents can purchase native plants at a subsidised cost.

Q5.   Does this Council provide lists of appropriate local native plants? How are they publicised and distributed?
A.   Grow Local Brochures are provided in the Library and the Town Administration building and posted to new owners. The Town also hosts Great Gardens workshops.

Q6.   Does this Council warn residents against planting exotic species that may escape into bushland? How?
A.   This is touched on in the Landscaping with Local Plants Policy and through the Great Gardens workshops and Plants to Residents Scheme.

Q7.   Does this Council encourage residents to convert some of their lawns and/or verges to native gardens? How?
A.   This is touched on in the Landscaping with Local Plants Policy and through the Great Gardens workshops and Plants to Residents Scheme.

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.   The Town has policies on tree preservation and plans to review and update its Significant Tree Register. The Trees on Development Sites Local Planning Policy is available on the Town’s website.

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.  Unknown Collective Local Biodiversity Strategy for the Town of Bassendean, City of Bayswater and City of Belmont.

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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

Q2.   Does this Council have an interpretive display of sustainable features on any of its buildings?
A.   The Town has two Perth Solar City demonstration projects. The first is at Ashfield Parade where the energy used to power street lighting in the reserve is off-set by a 4.08 kW photovoltaic system on the Ashfield Community Centre. The second is at the Library where a 3.6 kW PV system was installed and a lighting energy-efficient retrofit completed. A digital display in the foyer of the Library shows the amount of power generated from these panels in addition to information on the associated details of carbon dioxide emissions avoided and dollars saved. The Perth Solar City demonstration project will engage and educate the public about solar energy production and promote the use of renewable energy technology to residents of the Town. The demonstration projects will provide a living model of how solar energy and energy efficiency can deliver economic and environmental benefits to residents and will ensure that improvements in energy efficiency design and technologies benefit the wider community.

Q3.   Does this Council provide support for residents wanting to build sustainable homes?
A.   The Town has developed an Energy Efficient Design Policy and requires new dwellings in split coded areas to be energy efficient.

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 However, Council does check if it is an environmentally sensitive area.

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.   However, promotion and discounts are provided through the Perth Solar Cities Program.

Q8.   Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A.   The Town is an excellent example of an urban village and Transit-oriented development.

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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.   Energy efficiency programs are provided through the Perth Solar Cities program and Great Gardens and Synergy workshops. Two home energy audit kits and four powermates are available for loan from the Library for a loan period of three weeks.

Q2.   Does this Council support businesses to improve their energy efficiency? Details?
A.  No Not at the moment, however, A Green Light Sustainability Pilot Program has been proposed and may be considered in 2011/2012. The program proposes to target food producers/processors with possible outcomes including reduction in carbon emissions and energy and cost savings for businesses.

Q3.   Does this Council have measures in place to decrease private car use throughout the municipality? Details?
A.   The Town participates in the TravelSmart program and has three train stations located in its boundaries (Ashfield, Bassendean and Success Hill train stations). Brochures on cycling and walking are also provided in the Library and Town’s Administration building. Travelsmart maps were also updated as part of the Perth Solar Cities program.

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.   Midland to Perth Bike Route Brochure provided in the Town’s Administration building. A Travelsmart walking and cycling map for Bassendean and Bayswater is provided on the Department of Transport’s website (hardcopies to be provided in the Town’s Administration building and Library).

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

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.  No

Q9.   Does this Council provide any local public transport additional to Transperth Services? Details
A.   The Town provides a community transport bus service for its residents, giving priority to residents in genuine need and unable to make alternative arrangements. The service includes two buses, one for transporting residents to medical appointments, shopping and local social events within the Town’s boundaries and the other to transport residents to medical appointments and specialist services outside the Town’s boundaries.

Q10.   Does this Council show a comparison of its expenditure on infrastructure for road transport incl. carparks /public transport/cycling/walking?
A.   This is provided through the Western Australian Local Government Authority (WALGA).

Q11.   Does this Council continue to monitor its community greenhouse gas emissions/ manage climate change?
A.  No This was previously undertaken through the now defunded Cities for Climate Protection Program. Monitoring of community greenhouse gas emissions is currently not feasible due to lack of data reliability. Following endorsement of The Local Climate Change Adaption Action Plan (LCCAAP) implementation of the plan will commence.

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 However, this information is collated internally as part of the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) Emissions Reporting Scheme.

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, the Town invites public participation by posting various environment documents on its website for information or feedback. Examples include the Environment Plan, Collective Local Biodiversity Strategy, the LCCAAP and environmental policies.

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 However, the Town invites public participation by posting the Draft LCCAAP on the Town's website for community feedback.

Q15.   Does this Council support community led initiatives for climate change adaptation? (eg Transition Town)
A.   Local Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan.

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.  No

Q2.   Does this Council provide receptacles just for cigarette butts in public places? Details?
A.  Unknown

Q3.   Does this Council provide its own local drop-off facilities for recycling of spent fluoro globes & tubes, batteries and mobile phones?
A.   Fluorescent light, mobile phone and household batteries drop off points are located at the Library and Town’s Administration building. An ink-jet and toner drop off recycling point is also provided at the Library.

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.  Unknown

Q6.   Does this Council offer businesses incentives to reduce general rubbish? Details?
A.  Unknown

Q7.   Does this Council promote recycling within its industrial zone? Details?
A.   A link for Local Business Recycling is provided on the Bassendean means Business website and the Town’s website provides a link to waste information on the EMRC website.

Q8.   Does this Council collect and compost kitchen waste?
A.  No

Q9.   Does this Council offer practical support for household composting and/or worm farming? Details?
A.   A Composting Information Sheet (includes information on worm farming) is provided on the Town’s website. Information on home composting is also provided through the EMRC website (link to EMRC waste information provided on Town’s website). An Earth Carers course provided through EMRC also being held in the Town which covers composting and worm farming.

Q10.   Does this Council participate in Resource Recovery Park or tip shop for residents?
A.  No However, this is being investigated by the EMRC in partnership with the Town and other member councils as part of the Resource Recovery Project.

Q11.   Does this Council provide local drop-off points or collection days for HHW (Household Hazardous Waste)?
A.  No The Town no longer holds Household Hazardous Waste Disposal days at the Town’s Depot. The 2011/2012 Waste and Recycling Guide lists disposal facilities residents can use.

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.   The Town provided free water saving shower-head swap at the Library (now complete) and promotes waterwise gardening through the annual Plants to Residents Scheme. The Town sponsors Great Gardens workshops and is currently supporting a waterwise verge makeover program in Bassendean (partnership between Beyond Gardens, Town of Bassendean and the Water Corporation). This program involves 13 verge makeovers resulting in an average water saving of 40,000L/verge/year.

Q2.   Does this Council support businesses to improve their water efficiency? Details?
A.   Currently working on community milestone 5 of the ICElEI Water Campaign.

Q3.   Does Council support residents to harvest rainwater (e.g. through provision of rebates)? Details?
A.   Support is provided through its stormwater and water sensitive urban design policies. A Rainwater Tanks Information Sheet is also provided on the Town’s website.

Q4.   Does this Council promote and provide support for residents to reuse greywater? How? How many applications from residents have been received?
A.   Information on greywater systems and application forms are provided on the website. A review of records indicates three applications have been received from 2009 to now.

Q5.   Does this Council take any other action for water conservation? Details?
A.   - Undertakes water conservation actions through participation in the ICElEI Water Campaign. - Monitoring of the drainage network is undertaken through the Bassendean Drainage Network Water Quality Monitoring Program.

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