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City of Canning


Home page:	http://www.canning.wa.gov.au/Default.asp?bhcp=1
Population:	90,892
Annual Revenue:	$96,114,217
No of households:	32,334

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. Through the City’s Canning River Eco Education Centre.

Q2. Does this Council visibly advertise events that support eco-sustainability in the community? (ie hazardous waste collections, living smart courses, etc) Details?
A. This is done through the Eco Centre and Council publications.

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 on the website and on the Eco Centre website that is being developed.

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. Information provided by the Canning River Eco Education Centre.

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 Education Officer and assistant.

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. In kind.

Q6. Does this Council support any community gardening projects?
A. Brownlie Towers Garden Group in Bentley.

Q7. Has this Council hosted a Living Smart course, or similar in 2011/2012? Details?
A. At the Canning River Eco Education Centre on a regular basis.

Q8. Does this Council have any Living Smart courses planned for 2012/2013? Dates, times, venues, booking contact?
A. As above. All contact is through the Eco Centre. Details on City website.

Q9. Does this Council work with schools to provide education on eco-sustainability issues?
A.

Q10. Does this Council support Bushcare Friends and/or other environmentally focused community groups? Details?
A. Parks Conservation Officer/Environmental Management team supports 6 community based environmental groups.

Q11. Does this Council support WA/national/international events to promote sustainability? (eg World Environment Day, Earth Hour, Sustainable September)
A. Run Earthday celebrations at Canning River Eco Education Centre. Support other major global events at the Centre.

Q12. Does this Council report periodically to the community on the state of the local environment? How often? (include weblink)
A. In Council publications and through Council agendas.

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. No Not specifically. Many parks have been designed and landscaped with native and waterwise plants.

Q2. Does this Council use native plants (vs exotics) for verges, traffic islands, around Council buildings, etc? What % of Council plantings?
A. 50%.

Q3. Does this Council involve the community in native planting days?
A. Several planting days with environmental groups and Arbor and national tree day.

Q4. Does this Council offer residents free or subsidised native seedlings or plants? Details of when, where & prices?
A. Native seedlings are given out for free at various community events.

Q5. Does this Council provide lists of appropriate local native plants? How are they publicised and distributed?
A. Available at Canning River Eco Education Centre.

Q6. Does this Council warn residents against planting exotic species that may escape into bushland? How?
A. Through workshops at Canning River Eco Education Centre and general advice.

Q7. Does this Council encourage residents to convert some of their lawns and/or verges to native gardens? How?
A. Through verge treatment policy and information sheets.

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. Town Planning Scheme 40 Clauses 2-6. Also ET525 Trees in streets, thoroughfares and reserves.

Q11. Does this Council act on residents' complaints of cats preying on native fauna? What action is taken? On what % of complaints?
A. The City has a Local Cat Law and traps cats in environmentally sensitive areas.

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 Not specifically. Council has worked in partnership with the Department of Housing on this in the Quattro project.

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. 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. Concepts sometimes included in workshops at the Canning River Eco Education Centre.

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. Sometimes, dependent on environmental values of the site.

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. Workshops are sometimes held as part of the Canning Eco Education Centre programs. Energy efficiency testing kits are available through the libraries.

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. Council has an officer who works with the Travel Smart 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. Council has walking trail, canoe trail and bike trail maps available.

Q6. Does this Council contribute to security for bicycles at train & bus stations? Details?
A. Council works with the PTA to provide bike stores at train stations.

Q7. Does this Council have a Travel Smart /Sustainable Transport officer? If so, what fraction of a f/t position?
A. Council has an officer who works with the Travel Smart program.

Q8. Does this Council provide support for Walking School buses? How? Where?
A. Council promotes this initiative and the Mayor has been actively involved in promotion.

Q9. Does this Council provide any local public transport additional to Transperth Services? Details
A. No Not for the general public, but does through Aged Care and Disability Services for specific clients.

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

Q11. Does this Council continue to monitor its community greenhouse gas emissions/ manage climate change?
A. No The City has been involved in climate change programs and achieved the required levels.

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. 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. Unknown

Q3. Does this Council provide its own local drop-off facilities for recycling of spent fluoro globes & tubes, batteries and mobile phones?
A. Battery collection. Campaigns run periodically through the Eco Centre.

Q4. Does this council provide local drop off points for recycling of e-waste? Details?
A. Periodic e-waste collection.

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. No

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 Council did have worm farms, but they did not prove popular.

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. Unknown This is looked at on a case by case basis. Very rarely called for.

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. Hosted Great Gardens workshop 2010 and future planned for 2011. Also provides pamphlets on waterwise plants for gardens.

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

Q3. Does Council support residents to harvest rainwater (e.g. through provision of rebates)? Details?
A. Through promotion and information.

Q4. Does this Council promote and provide support for residents to reuse greywater? How? How many applications from residents have been received?
A. Through promotion and information.

Q5. Does this Council take any other action for water conservation? Details?
A. Unknown Water Conservation Plan.

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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.

Q2. Do Council sustainability staff have input into the Council website layout to ensure that residents can easily locate info on environmental sustainability?
A. Unknown The City is in the process of updating the website, and more accessible sustainability information is an additional process currently being undertaken.

Q3. Do Council sustainability staff ensure that eco-sustainability brochures are prominently displayed in civic centre foyers and ‘satellite’ offices?
A. All such information is readily available, particularly through the Canning river Eco Education Centre

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. Staff in a number of areas are involved in sustainability and the environment.

Q2. Does this Council have a Green or Ethical Purchasing Policy in place?
A. Partially.

Q3. Does this Council use a sustainability framework (economic, social, environment, governance) in all its planning, reporting and decision-making processes? Details?
A. Sustainability is integrated into planning, reporting and decision-making processes.

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. When appropriate to the information being given to Council.

Q7. Does this Council provide staff education on sustainability issues?
A. No

Q8. Does this Council have a ‘green team’ or Sustainability/Environmental advisory group?
A. Environmental Projects Working Group. Council has an ‘In-house Sustainability’ working group and a Travelsmart Workplace group both working on the internal aspects of sustainability.

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. Storm-water Management Plan being drafted.

Q2. Does this Council have Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan Guidelines?
A. Unknown

Q3. Does this Council have a Green Plan in action?
A. Unknown

Q4. Does this Council have a Natural Areas/ Bushland Management Plan?
A. A bushland Management Plan is for specific sites.

Q5. Does this Council have any policies /strategies for retention of mature trees?
A. ET525 Trees in streets, thoroughfares and reserves.

Q6. Does this Council have a strategy in place for the control of phytophora dieback?
A.

Q7. Does this Council have a strategy in place for the control of environmental weeds?
A. There are strategies to control weeds included in the management plans for conservation sites. The City’s Natural Areas Team undertake weed management as part of their daily routine and weeding is undertaken by hand and by herbicide spraying at prioritised sites.

Q8. Does this Council have a strategy to protect and enhance biodiversity in the local area?
A. Policy No. ET520 – Conservation of Flora and Fauna. In addition, the City has a number of management plans for conservation areas such as the Canning River Regional Park Management Plan.

Q9. Does this Council have any strategies for the development of wildlife corridors?
A. No

Q10. Does this Council have a Nutrient/ Irrigation Management Plan?
A.

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 Not Applicable.

Q14. Does this Council manage a substantial area of bushland? How much?
A. Approximately 180ha.

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

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. DEC – Canning River Regional Park. DFES – Fuel load assessments in bushland areas such as Queens Park Regional Open Space. Swan River Trust – Swan Canning River Park (e.g., fringing vegetation along the river).

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

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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

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. Unknown

Q8. Does this Council avoid using rainforest or old growth timbers in Council buildings and constructions?
A. Unknown

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

Q10. Does this Council have policies and incentives for recycling of construction waste?
A. Unknown

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. Unknown

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. Unknown

Q13. Does this Council have a Renewable Energy Systems Policy?
A. Unknown

Q14. Does this Council use Renewable Energy sources in any of its buildings? Details?
A. Council has recently installed a geothermal bore for the Cannington Leisureplex which opened in September 2012. Council is seeking quotes for more renewable energy sources for Council Buildings.

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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. Council has a Travelsmart Team which is working with the Department of Transport to develop at Travelsmart Workplace program, and organised a Ride2Work day in 2012.

Q2. Does this Council purchase government accredited Green Power? If so, what %?
A. Unknown

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. Unknown

Q4. Does this Council publish its annual energy consumption and the GHG emissions of its operations (units of electricity, gas, transport fuel)? Details?
A. Unknown

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. Unknown The Travelsmart Team is working towards this.

Q6. Does this Council regularly tally and graph its employees' commuting carbon emissions to motivate efforts to reduce?
A. Unknown

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. Unknown

Q8. Has this Council begun to factor in impacts of climate change across all departments and all areas of governance, especially planning?
A. Unknown

Q9. Is this Council addressing peak oil risks and vulnerabilities? How?
A. Unknown

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. Unknown

Q11. Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A. Council has engaged the Sustainability Consultants Kinesis to develop strategies and plans in this area, and use their tool to monitor and track these.

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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. This is a high priority in the Waste Management Strategy.

Q3. Does this Council have a methane reduction plan?
A. Unknown

Q4. Does this Council have waste treated by an industrial biological composting system?
A. Unknown

Q5. Does this Council have an internal program that aims to reduce the amount of waste generated by Council staff?
A. Staff have a two bin system- paper/recyclables and solid waste.

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.

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

Q11. Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A. Unknown

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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. At all locations.

Q2. Does this Council use Best Practice waterwise irrigation within Council properties, verges, public open space? (eg sub-surface irrigation)
A. City has a conservation water plan and conducts soil and tissue testing to calculate water and fertiliser requirements. Irrigation staff have attended Fertilise Wise training.

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

Q4. Has this Council been endorsed as a Waterwise Council or progressing towards endorsement?
A. No

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. Water Conservation Plan and Water Usage Plan. 75% of bores are metered and they are read daily.

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

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.

Q11. Does this Council have any water conservation or efficiency measures in place at large water consuming facilities such as Aquatic Centres?
A.

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.

Q13. Does this Council have measures in place to ensure that all Council owned facilities are retrofitted with water efficient appliances and fittings?
A. No

Q14. Does this Council reuse any of its own grey water? If so, what % /how much?
A. Yes, the new Cannington Leisureplex has greywater recycling.

Q15. Does this Council undertake staff education campaigns with a focus on water conservation and efficiency (indoor and outdoor)?
A. No

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

Q17. Does this Council take any other action for water conservation? Details?
A. Unknown

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