Corporate questionnaire
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. No Enquiries regarding sustainability queries are directed to the Parks and Environment Section where they are responded to by a member of the Environment Team.
Q2.
Do Council sustainability staff have input into the Council website layout to ensure that residents can easily locate info on environmental sustainability?
A. The environmental pages on the City of Belmont website are edited by the Environment Team.
Q3.
Do Council sustainability staff ensure that eco-sustainability brochures are prominently displayed in civic centre foyers and ‘satellite’ offices?
A. Information/ Fact Sheets on environmental and sustainability topics are provided at the front counter and on the website. Front counter displays are installed for specific programs and events.
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. In total there are 5 FTE office staff, and 4 FTE field staff plus a trainee, all within the Parks and Environment Department. These include:Coordinator- Environment, Environmental Supervisor, Environmental Officer, TravelSmart Officer, Environmental Officer- Light Industry and 2 x Environment Crews (4 on-ground staff + trainee).
Q2.
Does this Council have a Green or Ethical Purchasing Policy in place?
A. The City has an Environmental Purchasing Policy which allows an additional cost of 15% for products/ services that are environmentally preferable. This policy ensures consideration of the 4Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover), energy/ water efficiency, habitat destruction, pollution and soil degradation is taken into account in purchasing.
Q3.
Does this Council use a sustainability framework (economic, social, environment, governance) in all its planning, reporting and decision-making processes? Details?
A. Reports to Council include sections on environmental, social, financial, strategic community plan and policy implications, ensuring they are considered as part of each Council decision.
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. Development of the City of Belmont Environment Plan 2010-2015 included a community consultation stage, and is reviewed annually. The City’s Annual Report includes a report from the Standing Committee (Environmental).
Q6.
Does this Council provide sustainability staff the opportunity to liaise with Councillors re sustainability information?
A. Through meetings of the City’s Standing Committee (Environmental) staff are able to include Items for Discussion in relation to environmental sustainability topics, to be presented to /discussed by Councillors.
Q7.
Does this Council provide staff education on sustainability issues?
A. Staff are invited to participate in community sustainability seminars/ workshops. On occasion, seminars are developed specifically for staff ie. composting /bokashi workshop.
Q8.
Does this Council have a ‘green team’ or Sustainability/Environmental advisory group?
A. No No specific ‘Green Team’, although working groups are formed for programs ie. Greenhouse Purchasing, climate change risk assessment/ adaptation.
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. No
Q2.
Does this Council have Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan Guidelines?
A. Available upon request.
Q3.
Does this Council have a Green Plan in action?
A. The City has a Collective Local Biodiversity Strategy available on the City of Belmont website.
Q4.
Does this Council have a Natural Areas/ Bushland Management Plan?
A. The City has a maintenance programme for natural areas, as well as individual reserve management plans for Signal Hill bushland, Tomato Lake bushland and the Swan River foreshore.
Q5.
Does this Council have any policies /strategies for retention of mature trees?
A. No The City is currently developing an Urban Forest Policy.
Q6.
Does this Council have a strategy in place for the control of phytophora dieback?
A. Dieback hygiene practices are followed when entering/ exiting natural areas.
Q7.
Does this Council have a strategy in place for the control of environmental weeds?
A. Undertaken via the natural area maintenance programme, which includes identification of priority weeds.
Q8.
Does this Council have a strategy to protect and enhance biodiversity in the local area?
A. Yes, the City has a Collective Local Biodiversity Strategy available on the City of Belmont website.
Q9.
Does this Council have any strategies for the development of wildlife corridors?
A. The City has a Local Biodiversity Strategy available on the City of Belmont website.
Q10.
Does this Council have a Nutrient/ Irrigation Management Plan?
A. The City has developed NIMPs for specific reserves including Peet Park and Centenary Park. Lysimeter monitoring is undertaken at six locations to determine nutrient concentrations in leachate collected below the plant root zone.
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 N/A
Q14.
Does this Council manage a substantial area of bushland? How much?
A. No Limited amount. 10km of river foreshore, and total of 32 hectares of natural areas (some revegetation sites).
Q15.
Does this Council exert pressure to protect remnant bushland in the face of urban expansion plans?
A. No Limited due to highly developed nature of area.
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. The City works with the Swan River Trust and Department of Planning regarding foreshore management.
Q17.
Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A. Participation in the Perth Biodiversity Project, with recent achievement of Milestone 3.
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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.
Q2.
Does this Council own buildings demonstrating outstanding Sustainable Design features, eg earning
a Green Star Rating? Details?
A. No
Q3.
Does this Council actively promote Sustainable Building Design above minimum legal BCA standards?
A. No
Q4.
Does this Council have a Sustainable Design Policy?
A. No
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. Under Local Planning Scheme No 15, Clause 5.7.3(i), development within the flexible-coded residential areas are to demonstrate provisions for solar orientation. Examples include Northwest facing courtyards, wide eaves, doors and windows to take advantage of south westerly breezes and west and east facing windows and walls being protected by the sun. The City applies State Planning Policy 3.1 – Residential Design Codes, element 6.9.1 regarding solar access for neighbours.
This states that development shall be designed so that shadowing onto any other adjoining property (at midday 21 June) does not exceed the following limits:
• On adjoining properties coded R25 and lower – 25 per cent of the site area;
• On adjoining properties coded R30 to R40 inclusive – 35 per cent of the site area; or
• On adjoining properties coded higher than R40 – 50 per cent of the site area.
There are no requirements to provide/deny solar access for the sunlight for garden. However, the R Codes state that no more than two-thirds of the required outdoor living area can be covered.
Q6.
Does this Council allow shading devices in front yards? (eg Shade sails, roller shutters etc)?
A. With appropriate Planning and Building approvals where required.
Q7.
Does this Council allow the installation of solar hot water systems and PV cells on north roofs that face onto the street?
A. No With the exception of Invercloy Estate (Nulsen Haven) Special Development Precinct. As per Local Planning Policy 8, solar collectors are restricted from being visible from the street within this precinct.
Q8.
Does this Council avoid using rainforest or old growth timbers in Council buildings and
constructions?
A. Generally use steel construction.
Q9.
Does thisi Council use recycled/biodegradable materials in its infrastructure/ construction items?
A. Recycled plastic is on occasion used for lumber/ decking for boardwalks, bollards, and signs.
Q10.
Does this Council have policies and incentives for recycling of construction waste?
A. No
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. Yes, through the ICLEI Water Campaign and Waterwise Council Program.
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. Solar PV systems are installed on the Ruth Faulkner Public Library, and solar pool heating at Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre.
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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. One TravelSmart Officer is employed 1.0 FTE.
Q2.
Does this Council purchase government accredited Green Power? If so, what %?
A. The City purchases 25% renewable energy for the top five electricity consuming sites.
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. The most recent inventory was in 2006/07, with 3660 tonnes CO2e produced. This shows a decrease of 27% from 1998 levels, when 4998 tonnes CO2e were produced.
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. The Belmont TravelSmart Plan was endorsed by Council in April 2012. The plan includes programs specific to Council staff to encourage sustainable transport such as the ‘Active Travel-Be Rewarded’ program, staff bike fleet, car pooling register and event days.
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. As the vehicle fleet consists of a variety of fuel types (LPG, diesel, petrol), fuel efficiency alone is not a reliable indicator of emissions. The City instead considers the Green Vehicle Guide rating for vehicles (incorporating CO2e emissions and particulates). An average 3.5 green star rating is required for the Council’s non-commercial vehicle fleet.
Q8.
Has this Council begun to factor in impacts of climate change across all departments and all areas of governance, especially planning?
A. The City of Belmont in partnership with the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council has developed a Local Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan to assist in adaptation to the predicted impacts of climate change. Adaptation is about taking action to avoid, manage or reduce the consequences that will be brought about from climate events. The Action Plan considers risks to the local environment, the City's operations and the local community.
Q9.
Is this Council addressing peak oil risks and vulnerabilities? How?
A. No
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. The City uses the WALGA reporting platform.
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. Street tree prunings are processed into mulch and used in landscaping and environmental restoration projects. In addition to general recyclables, the City also recycles roadbase and scrap metal.
Q2.
Does this Council have a zero waste to landfill strategy?
A. No
Q3.
Does this Council have a methane reduction plan?
A. No The City disposes of waste at Red Hill Landfill Facility, which generates electricity from the methane produced.
Q4.
Does this Council have waste treated by an industrial biological composting system?
A. No
Q5.
Does this Council have an internal program that aims to reduce the amount of waste generated by Council staff?
A. Recycling bins are located close to photocopiers and collection facilities are available for Cartridges 4 Planet Ark, dry cell batteries, fluorescent light tubes and mobile phones. Information is also disseminated through “Team Brief” and emails to encourage waste minimisation.
Q6.
Does this Council process its own kitchen/lunchroom waste in composting/wormfarming/bokashi system/s?
A.
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. Canon 100% recycled paper is used, with exception of several printers that do not accept recycled paper.
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. As per the City’s Environmental Enhancement Policy, the City, where appropriate, will give preference to the planting of native species within its parks and streetscape environments.
Q2.
Does this Council use Best Practice waterwise irrigation within Council properties, verges, public open space? (eg sub-surface irrigation)
A. Yes, the City has endorsed a Groundwater Use Strategy which outlines best practice measures to ensure that irrigated areas are maintained using best practice water wise irrigation techniques and technologies, including hydrozoning major active and passive parks to identify varying zones of water delivery. The City irrigates its public open space in alignment with the winter sprinkler ban and as per plant water requirements which follows evapotranspiration.
Q3.
Is this Council a participant in ICLEI’s (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) Water Campaign? Provide details of milestone and achievements.
A. In 2010 the City was awarded completion of the ICLEI Water Campaign with the finalisation of Milestone 5. A reinventory was completed for 2010/11 scheme water consumption, to determine whether the Water Campaign goals set in Milestone 2 were achieved. The reinventory found that:
• Between the base year of 2000/01 and target year of 2010/11, there was a 24% reduction in ‘per property’ community consumption (combined residential and non-residential), which was below the initial target of a 30% reduction.
• The City of Belmont’s corporate scheme water consumption was reduced by 41% between the base year of 1999/00 and target year of 2010/11, 4% behind the City’s target of a 45% reduction.
The City has set new goals to work towards until 2014/15, for both groundwater and scheme water consumption.
Q4.
Has this Council been endorsed as a Waterwise Council or progressing towards endorsement?
A. The City was endorsed as a Waterwise Council in 2011.
Q5.
Does this Council water its own green spaces between 6pm - 9am as per Water Corporation regulation?
A. The City irrigates its green open spaces between 6pm and 9am as per Water Corporation and the Department of Water (Groundwater Licence) requirements.
Q6.
Does this Council have its own Water Conservation Plan to target groundwater consumption?
A. No The City is currently developing a Water Strategy for the management and governance of its groundwater use for irrigation on parks and reserves. Actions currently being implemented include hydrozoning and irrigation upgrades to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of irrigation delivery. Parks that have recently been hydrozoned include Forster Park, Miles Park and Centenary Park. Demonstration street verges will be planted at Forster Park and Miles Park in winter 2012.
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. Yes, the City has formed two groundwater use management teams with the following responsibilities in relation to management of groundwater abstraction:
• Strategic Team: reviews monthly groundwater use and undertakes strategic roles such as water budgeting, setting irrigation run-times, reporting to the Department of Water on licensed groundwater use, planning for the upgrades of parks with hydrozoned systems, and implementing groundwater use and efficiency tasks as outlined in the City’s Groundwater Use Strategy
• Operational Team: reports directly to Strategic Team. Charged with reading flow meters, implementing on-ground changes such as irrigation run times and reporting on on-ground changes in green open space quality.
A task in the Groundwater Use Function Strategy is to develop a set of contingencies to reduce groundwater use to remain within the licensed allocation. This may include reducing water delivery to some parks or some hydrozones within parks or to even cease irrigation.
Currently the City monitors 51 of its 72 groundwater bores, being the major water using sites through the City. Flowmeters are read on the 1st of each month or the first working day of each month.
Q8.
Does this Council keep a schedule of the amount of water applied and when it is applied in its public open spaces?
A. Yes, the City produces monthly irrigation schedules for each site, which include the system runtimes and volume for each irrigation event. At the end of the month, flow -meters are read and actual water consumption is compared with forecasted consumption. This allows for sites using under or over the forecasted water budget to be identified. The following month’s irrigation schedule is then developed, based on actual water abstraction. There is no record kept on the actual days a site is irrigated as this may change from week to week depending on climatic conditions such as evaporation and precipitation.
Q9.
Does this Council turn off its irrigation systems in winter for Council properties using scheme water, as per Water Corporation regulation?
A. Yes, the City complies with the Winter Sprinkler Ban which also applies to Groundwater Use.
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, the City has undertaken a water audit of the following facilities:
• The Faulkner Park precinct which included the City’s Civic Centre, the Ruth Faulkner Public Library and the Senior Citizens Centre;
• the City’s Operation Centre in Carlisle;
• the City’s Youth and Family Services Centre in Cloverdale.
Each audit report has included recommendations for water efficiency actions which have been implemented where financially viable and available.
Q11.
Does this Council have any water conservation or efficiency measures in place at large water consuming facilities such as Aquatic Centres?
A. The City has one Aquatic Centre which is managed externally. This centre however is required by the Water Corporation to develop and implement a Water Efficiency Management Plan.
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. The City’s Environmental Purchasing Policy includes a requirement for consideration of water efficiency, including a requirement for water using devices reaching the end of their working life to be replaced with a high WELS rated device to ensure continuous improvement in the level of water efficiency.
Q13.
Does this Council have measures in place to ensure that all Council owned facilities are retrofitted with water efficient appliances and fittings?
A. The City’s Environmental Purchasing Policy includes a requirement for consideration of water efficiency, including a requirement for water using devices reaching the end of their working life to be replaced with a high WELS rated device to ensure continuous improvement in the level of water efficiency.
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. Where appropriate, relevant new staff undertake online Waterwise training provided by the Water Corporation, which includes Waterwise Irrigation and Waterwise auditing.
Q16.
Does this Council monitor its ‘Works Depot’ to ensure hazardous materials are managed properly and contaminants do not enter stormwater drains?
A. Yes, the City’s Environmental Officer – Light Industry and Occupational Safety & Health representatives undertake regular audits of the Operations Centre, reviewing the storage and management of hazardous material including herbicides, fuels, cleaning products and other hydrocarbon products. Green Stamp accredited.
Q17.
Does this Council take any other action for water conservation? Details?
A. No
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