In pursuing international environmental certification, Carrathool Shire Council is seeking to have its operations certified to the world’s leading environmental standard – ISO 14001, by August 2002. This involves the implementation of a strict environmental management system (EMS) and requires an organisation to monitor and continuously improve its environmental performance.
More than 15 criteria are measured through ISO 14001, including processes for identifying and addressing environmental impacts, emergency preparedness and response, training, and employee and contractor awareness.
Carathool Shire is located within the Riverina area of New South Wales, and has a total population of 3,100.
“Development of an environmental management system to ISO 14001 certification will be a clear demonstration of Council’s commitment to environmental performance improvement,” said Carrathool Shire Council’s, General Manager, James Roncon. “An EMS will assist us to reduce our impacts on the environment, and place us as a leader in Local Government environmental management.”
In addition to the environmental benefits, Carrathool Shire expects the EMS to generate substantial savings through improved management of potentially expensive environmental problems.
Omega Environmental Strategies, Senior Partner, Andrew Wales, who is assisting in developing the EMS said, “Within a few years, it will no longer be acceptable to simply say you are an environmentally responsible organisation – you will need to prove it. An internationally accredited environmental management system is the best way to meet this challenge.”
Once the EMS is accredited, Carrathool Shire Council will become only the third in Australia, and the first regional Council in the world to be awarded ISO 14001 across its entire operations.
For further information contact James Roncon, on (02) 6965 1306.
