Managing resources

With its reputation for leafy green suburbs, the City of Boroondara has faced the challenge of protecting its irreplaceable heritage gardens and sports grounds during Victoria’s worst drought on record.

One of the first actions was an audit by Council of more than 600 facilities, parks and sportsgrounds to ensure all water usage was metered and monitored. The survey identified several opportunities to reduce reliance on tap water. Substantial water savings have been achieved across the municipality since 2004 – well before the introduction of the State Government’s 3A water restrictions in April 2007. As a result of the range of measures undertaken, Council is using at least 35 per cent less tap water than the same time last year.

Boroondara was also one of the first Councils in Australia to use tanker delivered water to irrigate sports grounds and ovals, to meet its ongoing commitment of preserving public recreation spaces and facilities. Such public assets mean more than just playing a game, they promote public health, wellbeing and social connectedness.

Council surveys reveal that, each year more than 30,000 people play sports at Boroondara’s 300 sporting clubs, which also accommodate passive recreation park users. Community sport is an activity that brings people together. By actively keeping sports grounds available, the community can continue to participate in recreation, thereby providing healthier outcomes.

In its 2006/07 Budget, the City of Boroondara committed $970,000 for the installation of a recycled water irrigation program to maintain its green spaces. Since then, water storage tanks have been installed at Boroondara’s eight heritage gardens and 15 major sports grounds.

Another part of Council’s water wise strategy involved temporary reductions in the annual tree planting program and channelling of funds into mulching, air knifing and watering 1,000 significant trees using water delivered by tanker. These preventative measures have resulted in minimal tree loss in Boroondara, despite chronic low rainfalls across the State.

Boroondara exceeded its 2008/09 target of a 25 per cent reduction in water usage when it achieved a 30 percent reduction in 2007/08. It is well on target to achieve a 35 per cent reduction by 2013/14. Council is participating in the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives Water Campaign, and achieved ‘Milestone 3’ when it adopted its corporate Water Strategy in 2004. In 2006/07, Council maintained: F 70,000 street trees F 52,000 park trees F 58 sports ovals F 58 sportsground sites F 222 open spaces including 22 formal gardens F 46 environmental sites, 18 remnant sites and eight wetlands F 83 local, 19 district and one regional playground.