With Sydney dam levels at a critical level and residents facing level 3 water restrictions, Sutherland Shire Council is forging ahead with its water conservation policies. Sutherland is the first Local Government in Australia to receive ‘milestone 4’ for its water saving initiatives from the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), Cities for Climate Protection (CCP).
Before a Council can become a CCP participant, it must adopt a resolution to commit to undertaking the five milestone process. Milestone 4 is achieved following the development and approval of an action plan enabling Council to implement its policies and measures. Sutherland achieved milestone 4 for implementing a range of savings including retrofitting its beachfront facilities with water saving showers, taps and toilets. Rainwater tanks and water saving devices have also been installed in all new Council facilities.
“Sutherland Shire is a leader in water quality and conservation and this award is recognition for a lot of hard work undertaken in recent years by our staff,” said Mayor Kevin Schreiber. “Council has an excellent Shire wide street sweeping program which contributes to water quality improvement and we’re moving towards water sensitive urban design with improved stormwater management at sites like the Sutherland Shire Hub for Economic Development located at Loftus. We are also leading the way with business and public education and are at the forefront in Development Control Plans in environmental site management and plans of management for acid sulfate soils.”
Other measures included comprehensive reviews of all water meters with many being repaired or removed and asylum taps being installed to ensure taps cannot be turned on without a key. Staff are also investigating the potential to use treated wastewater from Cronulla Sewerage Treatment Plant on playing fields and other Council facilities. In the future, Council will also investigate capturing runoff from playing fields for reuse.
“Sewer mining is also being investigated as a viable option where sewage mains are tapped and treated in small scale on site plants which then could be used for irrigation,” Mayor Schreiber said.
For further information contact Bob Connors, Manager Building Services, on (02) 9710 0416.
