Governments at all levels have been struggling with the concepts of sustainability, sustainable development or Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) since their introduction to Australia in the late 1980s.
It is not so much the concepts but translating these terms into actions that is proving to be a significant challenge.
This challenge is particularly apparent for multi functional organisations such as local Councils, which not only face the difficulties of providing 80 or more core services to the community, but can suffer from a poor public image and a poor understanding of their role.
The Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney, has been working successfully with rural and metropolitan Councils since 1998 to help progress them towards a more sustainable future.
One recent example of the Institute’s work was development of an ‘ESD Self Assessment Package’ together with 17 City and Shire Councils from the Australian Capital Region.
Through this federally funded project, a practical package was developed to help Councils establish where they are up to now in terms of ESD and to determine the direction they wish to take to become more sustainable.
The package was ‘road tested’ by Snowy River, Eurobodalla and Yarrowlumla Councils to ensure the final product was relevant for all Councils regardless of size, available resources or current capacity.
Results from the self assessment provide Councils with a basis for action on ESD, to be incorporated into existing management and planning documents and enable NSW Councils to meet their legislative requirements under the Local Government Act.
*Copy supplied by the Institute of Sustainable Futures
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