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.  

Q2.   Does this Council visibly advertise events that support eco-sustainability in the community? (ie hazardous waste collections, living smart courses, etc) Details?
A.   – for planned events like Sustainable September, any other associated events eg recycling days, garden workshops, etc.

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.southperth.wa.gov.au/Our-Future/Sustainability/

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.   The Customer Focus Team answer all enquiries at Tier 1 level under the CoSP Customer Focus Model. They are informed by the Sustainability Coordinator of any new information or events, these are listed in an information database. In addition, customers are referred to the sustainability information on the City’s website. Higher level enquires are forwarded to the City Sustainability Coordinator.

Q5.   Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A.   The following information is available on the CoSP website P692: Sustainability Policy, P103: Communication and Consultation, P201: Sustainable Procurement, P202: Energy Conservation, P208: Ecologically Sustainable Building Design, City of South Perth Strategic Plan 2010-2015, City of South Perth Sustainability Strategy 2012-2015, Sustainability Management System. New resident packs are offered to all our customers, it is up to the City’s Sustainability Coordinator to update and maintain the front office brochures that relate to their business unit which gets included in the “New resident packs”. The City has several external websites that customers are referred too such as Planet Ark, Zero Waste, Wastenet, Dep. of Environment & Conservation etc

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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.   Sustainability Coordinator: Dept – CEO; Manage and implement the Sustainability Management Plan and other related daily activities City Environmental Coordinator: Dept – Environment; coordination of environmental programs in the city Environmental Officer: Dept – Environment; delegated tasks from CEC Manager City Environmental: Dept – Environment; manages above Fleet & Waste Coordinator: Dept - Engineering & Operations – Manage rubbish & recycling contract, waste transfer station, city generated waste, procurement, disposal and maintenance of fleet & plant.

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.   Yes with schools through a partnership agreement with Millennium Kids

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.   see http://www.mcdougallfarmcg.org/

Q7.   Has this Council hosted a Living Smart course, or similar in 2011/2012? Details?
A.  No

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

Q9.   Does this Council work with schools to provide education on eco-sustainability issues?
A.   Partnership with 10 schools, through Millennium Kids

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

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

Q12.   Does this Council report periodically to the community on the state of the local environment? How often? (include weblink)
A.   State of Environment Report 2002. State of Sustainability Report 2012 due for publication in June 2013.

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.   Green Procurement Plan, Sustainability Strategy, sustainability embedded into Council Strategic Plan, sustainability addressed in presentations to Councillors, Sustainable Community Living Plan, Climate Change adaptation communications

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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.   Yes: Murray & David St, Civic Centre,

Q2.   Does this Council use native plants (vs exotics) for verges, traffic islands, around Council buildings, etc? What % of Council plantings?
A.   around 80%

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

Q4.   Does this Council offer residents free or subsidised native seedlings or plants? Details of when, where & prices?
A.   free plants to residents scheme (annual), verge make-over (limited to budget)

Q5.   Does this Council provide lists of appropriate local native plants? How are they publicised and distributed?
A.   - Verge brochure on website

Q6.   Does this Council warn residents against planting exotic species that may escape into bushland? How?
A.   Weed brochures (hardcopy)

Q7.   Does this Council encourage residents to convert some of their lawns and/or verges to native gardens? How?
A.   through Verge policy

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.   Significant Tree Register

Q11.   Does this Council act on residents' complaints of cats preying on native fauna? What action is taken? On what % of complaints?
A.   through cat legislation

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

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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.   however the recently approved Cygnia Cove subdivision is a certified EnviroDevelopment project. EnviroDevelopment is an initiative of the Urban Development Institute of Australia which recognises developments that satisfy a range of sustainability criteria. Certification has been achieved in the categories of Community and Ecosystems. Homeowners are required to satisfy various sustainability criteria related to the EnviroDevelopment certification as set out in the following text and in the Restrictive Covenants. Further information relating to EnviroDevelopment can be found at www.envirodevelopment.com.au (the EnviroDevelopment accreditation was proposed by the developer, not the City).

Q2.   Does this Council have an interpretive display of sustainable features on any of its buildings?
A.  No

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

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.   eg Building a Sustainable House brochure, SEAWA: Your 6 Star Guide

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.   Only in some circumstances

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.   We have a policy P350.1 ‘Sustainable Design’ (residential) which has no minimum requirements and reads like an information brochure – this is planned for significant review and update in 2013-2014. No funding or other incentives exist. The Sustainability fair in September is the only opportunity for the public to be engaged by the City on such issues. http://www.southperth.wa.gov.au/Documents/Our-Council/Council-Policies/Strategic-Direction/P350.01.pdf The Building a Sustainable House brochure promotes the us of solar power.

Q8.   Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A.   Sustainable Design PP350.01 and Policy P208 Ecologically Sustainable Building Design – both are very watered down and have limited useful application. http://www.southperth.wa.gov.au/Documents/Our-Council/Council-Policies/Strategic-Direction/P208.pdf

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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.   Living Smart course planned for 2013

Q2.   Does this Council support businesses to improve their energy efficiency? Details?
A.  No A sustainable business awareness campaign is planned for development in 2013-2014.

Q3.   Does this Council have measures in place to decrease private car use throughout the municipality? Details?
A.   New cycle paths, Bicycle User Group, newsletters and web site promotions, South Perth Bike Plan 2012-2017, lobbying for South Perth railway station

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

Q5.   Does this Council provide free cycling/public transport maps to residents? Details?
A.   Bike Plan map, PT maps, Access and Mobility map

Q6.   Does this Council contribute to security for bicycles at train & bus stations? Details?
A.   for example, 14 new bicycle cages /storage areas at Canning Bridge PTA (to be confirmed)

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.  

Q9.   Does this Council provide any local public transport additional to Transperth Services? Details
A.   Community bus for hire

Q10.   Does this Council show a comparison of its expenditure on infrastructure for road transport incl. carparks /public transport/cycling/walking?
A.   WALGA documents

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

Q12.   Does this Council publish the annual energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with its operations (units of electricity, gas, transport fuel)?
A.   through Planet Footprint program.

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.   Developed a Climate Change Strategy, a Climate Change Adaptation Plan, and a Climate Change Adaptation Working Group (internal)

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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 However some bins are being retrofitted with receptacles

Q3.   Does this Council provide its own local drop-off facilities for recycling of spent fluoro globes & tubes, batteries and mobile phones?
A.   Waste transfer station provides all of these

Q4.   Does this council provide local drop off points for recycling of e-waste? Details?
A.  No The City transports e-waste to the City of Armadale (a designated receival point within the Rivers Regional Council) for separation and recycling

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.  Unknown N/A

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.  No

Q10.   Does this Council participate in Resource Recovery Park or tip shop for residents?
A.  No

Q11.   Does this Council provide local drop-off points or collection days for HHW (Household Hazardous Waste)?
A.   On occasion throughout the year, drop off times and points are provided for materials like asbestos, TV’s, oils, paints etc

Q12.   Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A.  No The City also adheres to the waste policies of the Rivers Regional Council

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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.   Verge booklet, waterwise garden workshops, Sustainable Living awareness campaign, Sustainable September etc

Q2.   Does this Council support businesses to improve their water efficiency? Details?
A.  No Occasionally conduct water audits for some businesses

Q3.   Does Council support residents to harvest rainwater (e.g. through provision of rebates)? Details?
A.   In Building a Sustainable House guideline

Q4.   Does this Council promote and provide support for residents to reuse greywater? How? How many applications from residents have been received?
A.  Unknown Passive promotion through the Building a Sustainable House brochure, but no formal promotion or support. Only one application for a greywater system was submitted for 2011-2012.

Q5.   Does this Council take any other action for water conservation? Details?
A.   Water Strategy has been devised, City is actively reducing reliance on scheme water, changing plant selection, putting in hydrozone, to reduce reliance on groundwater, Water Campaign Milestone 4 achieved, commencing stage 5

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