Local Governments across Victoria are busy progressing environmental programs and strategies to improve local sustainability. Around $1.8 million of funding has been allocated to 16 local projects involving over 50 Councils and other stakeholders through the Victorian Local Sustainability Accord.
Councils from Southern Grampians to East Gippsland have signed up to the Accord program, which encourages partnerships to address sustainability issues and builds the capacity of Local Governments to address them.
Chair of Victorian Local Sustainability Advisory Committee, Mike Hill, said that the Accord allows Local Governments and the State Government to identify opportunities and barriers to progress in sustainability and ways of working together to resolve them.
“In partnership, we have the best chance of protecting Victoria’s valuable natural assets, using resources more efficiently and reducing our environmental impacts,” Mike Hill said.
The Victorian Local Sustainability Advisory Committee, developed as a key action of the Accord, represents Local Government interests at the State policy making level.
The committee advises Gavin Jennings, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, on important strategic environmental sustainability issues for Local Governments.
“Local Governments are an important link between State Government and communities and provide essential feedback on local activity and awareness as well as mobilising and educating communities,” Mike Hill said. “The Accord enhances a strategic partnership approach through funded projects which aim to address jurisdictional uncertainties and generate new working alliances.”
Through the program, participating Councils may apply for funding for projects that will improve the environmental management of their local area.
Funding of up to $5 million over three years was committed from the Sustainability Fund to projects under the Accord program through the Victorian Government’s Our Environment Our Future Sustainability Action Statement 2006.
“Victoria faces difficult environmental challenges and Council programs and strategies directly address these,” said Mike Hill. “Local Governments are leading the charge in creating a sustainable Victoria.”
Councils that have been successful in applying for funding will work in partnership to deliver important benefits in the areas of: sustainable buildings; street lighting; sustainability in planning; management of environmental issues; and increasing the sustainability capacity of rural Councils.
Moorabool Shire Council is developing a Landscape Risk and Biodiversity Asset Mapping Program after receiving $121,000 in funding from round one of the Accord.
Moorabool Shire Council Chief Executive Officer, Robert Dobrzynski, said that the mapping program will assist to determine areas under environmental threat in the Moorabool region.
“The program consists of mapping areas of landscape and biodiversity risk, including threatened species, high value habitat and erodable land,” he said. “The support that Moorabool has received through the Accord partnership has made the project a success.”
In the northern metropolitan area, support from the Accord has allowed Darebin City Council as the lead agency to develop the Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (NAGA) Public Lighting Action Program.
NAGA has used its $143,000 funding to create a sustainable public lighting plan for each NAGA member Council including Banyule, Hume, Manningham, Melbourne, Nillumbik, Whittlesea, Moreland, Darebin and Yarra.
NAGA Coordinator, Judy Bush, said that street lighting is often the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions for Councils.
“Cooperation between the nine Councils through the NAGA project will ensure that significant energy savings can be achieved,” she said.
All of Victoria’s Accord signatory Councils have been invited to develop a Local Environmental Sustainability Priority Statement to recognise the unique character and local priorities of their area
and build relationships with the State Government on environmental sustainability.
Mike Hill said that the Accord is a fantastic opportunity for better communication, coordination and understanding between State and Local Governments.
“The Accord accelerates action on priority environment issues in local communities and celebrates the achievements of Local Governments in environmental sustainability,” he said.
Successful applicants under the second round of Accord funding were announced on 11 September 2007.
Round three funding has now commenced and is open to Victorian Councils who have signed the Accord and begun their priority statements. Partnership projects involving multiple Councils and other stakeholders are encouraged to apply.
Applicants should refer to the Funding Information and Guidelines available at www.dse.vic.gov.au/accord and are required to submit an Expression of Interest form to Sustainability Victoria by 15 February 2008.
The Accord has been developed by the Department of Sustainability and Environment, the Municipal Association of Victoria, the Victorian Local Governance Association, ICLEI – Local Government for Sustainability, Environs Australia and the Metropolitan Environment Forum.
