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Local Councils

City of Gosnells

Home page: http://www.gosnells.wa.gov.au/default-gosnells.asp
Population: 110,000
Annual Revenue: $94,981,867
No of households: 38,637

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.   The City advertises such events widely in the local media.

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.gosnells.wa.gov.au/scripts/viewarticle.asp?NID=11302, http://www.gosnells.wa.gov.au/scripts/viewoverview_contact.asp?NID=2053.

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.  No

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.   Six environmental staff are located in the Planning & Sustainability directorate: • Environmental Coordinator – coordinates strategic environmental planning and initiatives, supervises environmental unit • Environmental Officer – looks after mostly operational environmental planning and projects • Switch your thinking! Program Coordinator (shared with City of Armadale and Serpentine-Jarrahdale Shire) – coordinates and plans climate protection and sustainability projects initiatives, business planning, corporate sponsorship • Switch your thinking! Project Officer (shared with City of Armadale and Serpentine-Jarrahdale Shire) – climate protection project implementation and management • Community Landcare Coordinator (shared with City of Armadale) - coordinates and plans landcare strategy and projects, community liaison, business planning, funding • Community River Restoration Officer (shared with City of Armadale) – landcare project implementation and management, community liaison.

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.   Through its Community Sponsorship Program.

Q5.   Does Council provide funding/assistance for school gardens?
A.   Through its Community Sponsorship Program.

Q6.   Does this Council support any community gardening projects?
A.  No

Q7.   Has this Council hosted a Living Smart course, or similar in 2011/2012? Details?
A.   Waterwise gardening, energy efficiency, carbon price, solar panel and sustainable living seminars were delivered throughout 2011/2012 through the award winning Switch your thinking! program. Workshop presenters included members from the Switch your thinking!, Beyond Gardens, Great Gardens and the Worm Shed teams.

Q8.   Does this Council have any Living Smart courses planned for 2012/2013? Dates, times, venues, booking contact?
A.   A series of sustainability workshops will be delivered through the Switch your thinking! program in 2012/2013, including seminars by Beyond Gardens and Great Gardens. Co-funding is currently being sought to provide a Living Smart course in 2013. For more information on upcoming workshops / seminars or Living Smart in the City of Gosnells please check www.switchyourthinking.com or contact Jessie Parrish, Switch your thinking! Program Officer, on 9397 3208.

Q9.   Does this Council work with schools to provide education on eco-sustainability issues?
A.   The City of Gosnells Switch your thinking! program assists schools to becoming involved, or more involved, in sustainability. Switch your thinking! can provide teachers with sustainability guidance and provide contacts to sustainability resources. Additionally schools can become involved in the Young Re-Inventor of the Year competition, a valuable chance for students to learn about the value of waste materials and creative re-use. The next competition will run in 2013, please contact Jessie Parrish, Switch your thinking! Program Officer, on 9397 3208 for more detailed information.

Q10.   Does this Council support Bushcare Friends and/or other environmentally focused community groups? Details?
A.   The City works individually and with the Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group to support community groups managing natural areas.

Q11.   Does this Council support WA/national/international events to promote sustainability? (eg World Environment Day, Earth Hour, Sustainable September)
A.   The City participates in Earth Hour and Sustainable September through the Switch your thinking! Program.

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.  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.   Local Biodiversity Conservation Management Plan, Corporate Greenhouse Action Plan, Regional Community Greenhouse Action Plan.

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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

Q2.   Does this Council use native plants (vs exotics) for verges, traffic islands, around Council buildings, etc? What % of Council plantings?
A.   Approximately 50% of plantings are native, although local natives form a small proportion of that amount.

Q3.   Does this Council involve the community in native planting days?
A.   The City actively promotes and supports National Tree Day and community 'Friends' group activities in partnership with the Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group.

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.   The City provides two “Grow Local” brochures, available on its website – one for each of the two major soil types in the City. These are also provided free of charge to developers to include in welcome packs for purchasers of residential properties in the City.

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

Q8.   Does this Council award outstanding native gardens?
A.   The City's Great Front Yard competition provides an emphasis on waterwise gardens and use of local flora in the judging process.

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

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 The City previously developed 'The Green House' model retrofit project, but this closed after a 12-month public display period and has now returned to the Department of Housing and Works' rental portfolio.

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.   The City facilitates sustainable home design through its building approval processes, and also provides advice to residents through the Switch your thinking! program.

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 All wall and roof framing these days are plantation timber or steel.

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 the Switch your thinking! program rebates are available for residents and staff installing PV Solar Energy Systems from program sponsors. For more information visit http://www.switchyourthinking.com.au/rebates-4-residents/

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.   Through the Switch your thinking! website (www.switchyourthinking.com), residents are provided advice on energy efficiency, renewable energy technology and solar passive housing design. The website also encourages residents to engage a professional to conduct a home energy audit and advertises local rebates on energy efficient and waterwise products.

Q2.   Does this Council support businesses to improve their energy efficiency? Details?
A.   Through the Switch your thinking! (www.switchyourthinking.com) website businesses can receive advice on how to ‘green their bottom line' by improving energy and water efficiency.

Q3.   Does this Council have measures in place to decrease private car use throughout the municipality? Details?
A.  No

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.   Travel Smart maps are available at libraries and main administration office as well as online.

Q6.   Does this Council contribute to security for bicycles at train & bus stations? Details?
A.  No

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.  No

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

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 There have been no community-led initiatives that the City has been asked to consider supporting.

Q16.   Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A.   Corporate Greenhouse Action Plan, Regional Community Greenhouse Action Plan.

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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

Q3.   Does this Council provide its own local drop-off facilities for recycling of spent fluoro globes & tubes, batteries and mobile phones?
A.   Yes. The City has a CFL drop off facility at its Operations Centre. Battery drop off bins are located at all City libraries, Leisure World, some Schools, the Civic Centre and the Operations Centre. The City provides a mobile phone drop off facility at its Civic Centre and Operations Centre.

Q4.   Does this council provide local drop off points for recycling of e-waste? Details?
A.  No The City currently collects e-waste as part of the residential bulk waste verge collection service.

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.   Yes, for all industrial properties that are provided with a refuse collection service.

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.   Yes. The City runs worm farming and composting workshops.

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.   The City has no HHW collection days, but provides a drop-off facility at its Operation Centre for used motor oil, car batteries. Correct disposal of other HHW such as CFL's, Dry cell batteries and mobile phones is provided as advised above.

Q12.   Does this Council have other policies/practices in this category?
A.   The City currently collects e-waste as part of the residential bulk waste verge collection service.

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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.   Through the South East Regional Energy Group and the award-winning Switch your thinking! program, the City runs various projects and initiatives that include water-efficiency education and materials.

Q2.   Does this Council support businesses to improve their water efficiency? Details?
A.  No But the City piloted Switched On Business and Industry in 2008, a program that aimed to improve sustainable business practices of small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) within the Cities of Gosnells and Armadale. 154 businesses from across the Cities of Gosnells and Armadale participated in the Switched on Business and Industry (SOBI) project, each receiving a Sustainability Assessment by a specially trained Assessor. The one-on-one assessments focused on increasing energy and water efficiency, and reducing waste, whilst simultaneously increasing profitability and service quality.

Q3.   Does Council support residents to harvest rainwater (e.g. through provision of rebates)? Details?
A.   Through the Switch your thinking! program residents are eligible for 15% off the RRP on rainwater tanks purchased from program sponsors. For more information visit http://www.switchyourthinking.com.au/rebates-4-residents/

Q4.   Does this Council promote and provide support for residents to reuse greywater? How? How many applications from residents have been received?
A.   Applications for approval of greywater recycling systems are encouraged and evaluated according to their meeting regulatory requirements.

Q5.   Does this Council take any other action for water conservation? Details?
A.   The City complies with State Government Water Restrictions, and uses weather station information for the control of irrigation systems.

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