“The high level of professional excellence among Council staff is reflected in a number of innovative projects,” Janet Dore said.
“Hosting the International Pathways to Sustainability Conference in 1997, marking five years on from the Rio Summit, clearly established Newcastle’s environmental credentials. The award winning Australian Municipal Energy Improvement Facility (AMEIF) is yet another example.”
Council’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, generated by industry and commerce, residents and its own operations, is not only creating environmental sustainability but is saving money as well. Energy auditing, and various ideas suggested by staff to reduce energy consumption, have resulted in Council’s power bill dropping by 35 percent over the past five years with further reductions planned.
Newcastle City Council has now worked with 60 other Local Governments from five states promoting its Green Energy Learning Program. It has recently entered an agreement with the Australian Greenhouse Office to take this program to all Councils across Australia.
An exchange scholarship between Newcastle and the world famous environmental centre, the Rocky Mountains Institute in Aspen, Colorado has also been established.
Extensive community consultation leading to innovative Development Control Plans (DCPs); a place management system, where one Council officer takes responsibility for ensuring all Council objectives are being delivered for a particular locality by improving coordination and communication; job creating economic development and tourism strategies; a Foodsafe education program and a Memorandum of Understanding with McDonalds Restaurants clearly illustrate the range of groundbreaking projects developed by staff.
“As an organisation, it is vital to continually aim for top value,” Janet Dore said. At Newcastle, delivering top value involves the six following principles.
- Continuous improvement
- Customer focus
- Competitive practice
- Action
- Communication
- Team based work.
“Teamwork is not only an internal matter but includes working in partnership with the community,” Janet Dore said. “To do this, we must be totally clear about what we are trying to deliver. Community satisfaction is the key. Awards are one thing, but the ultimate measure is, are we meeting community expectations?”
