What is the Woollahra Sustainability Plan (WSP)?

Woollahra Council has recently commenced the prepartion of the WSP. The purpose of the WSP is to provide a long term and integrated approach to planning for a sustainable Woollahra.

The WSP will identify a long term, community derived vision to guide the future of Woollahra. The WSP will also identify future actions for achieving more sustainable practices in all of Council's function areas and activities, as well as a more sustainable community. The WSP's vision and actions will embody, and attempt to achieve, the principles of ecological sustainable development (ESD).

What is sustainability?

The term "sustainability" is short for "ecological sustainable development" or "ESD" and can be defined as development that improves the total quality of life, both now and in the future, in a way that maintains the ecological processes on which life depends.

ESD requires the effective integration of economic, social and environmental considerations in decision making processes.

What is a sustainable community?

A sustainable community is one which:

• meets its social and economic needs in a way that takes account of the environment;
• encourages employment that safeguards the welfare of future generations and the integrity of the environment;
• minimises the use of non-renewable resources and waste production;
• minimises resource usage;
• protects and enhances its natural environment and cultural heritage;
• is safe and accessible for all;
• protects and enhances bio-diversity, maintains ecological process and systems;
• takes account of the global impact of our local activities; and
• engages its citizens to enhance the quality of life and the environment.

What is Council currently doing about sustainability?

Woollahra Council is already contributing significantly to improving our level of sustainability, but we also need to plan to do more.  Some of the projects Council has already undertaken include:

• Cities for Climate Protection - completion of Milestone 5;
• retro-fitting of Council facilities with water and energy saving fixtures;
• bush regeneration and revegetation;
• heritage conservation;
• community festivals and fun days such as People and Pets Day;
• provision of child care facilities;
• streetscape works to assist in revitalising our town centres;
• energy efficiency requirements for new developments;
• reduction in fleet emissions and vehicle sizes and purchasing of a hybrid vehicle;
• environmental works program focussing on stormwater quality;
• at source pollution control;
• potential acid sulfate soils identification and controls;
• community waste audits;
• tree preservation order;
• waste education program;
• access development control plan for mobility impaired; and 
• bicycle plan.

The preparation of the WSP will result in the identification of actions and initiatives to further improve Woollahra's level of sustainability into the future.

What is the process for the WSP's preparation?

The preparation of the WSP will take 18 - 24 months and includes the following three stages:

Stage 1 - Background:

• including a literature review;
• sustainability audit of Council activities, functions, programs, policies and procedures; and
• identification of gaps and preliminary actions.

Stage 2 - Visioning and Issues:

• including community consultation workshops to identify issues and future vision.

Stage 3 - Action Plan:

• including finalisation of gaps analysis, identification of actions and new initiatives, confirmation of vision and objectives.

How can you become involved?

During Stage 2 Visioning and Issues of the project, the community will be invited to help prepare the WSP through:

• community issues and visioning workshops;
• high school students' workshops;
• primary schools' 'sustainability' illustrative competition; and
• community surveys.

For further information please contact:

Rebecca Peacock, Environmental Protection Co-ordinator
Phone: 9391 7140