Environmental sustainability initiatives

Whitehorse City Council recognises the importance of taking local action to ensure we live in an environmentally sustainable community and takes active steps to reduce its contribution to climate change.

Council has identified ways to minimise the impacts already being experienced by climate change and in the 2009/10 financial year, commenced work on the Climate Change Adaptation Plan. This plan will build on the strategies outlined in the Whitehorse Sustainability Strategy 2008–2013: Our EcoVision which outlines Council’s sustainability agenda for the five year period.

During the 2009/10 financial year, in line with the Whitehorse Sustainability Strategy 2008–2013: Our EcoVision, many services and programs were delivered by Council, including the following.

Climate change,
greenhouse and energy

  • Increased purchase of GreenPower for
    streetlighting to 100 per cent.
  • Completed the Living Green with LESS
    program, which offered free energy efficient light
    globe and water saving showerhead installations
    to residents. Some 37,872 light globes and 548
    showerheads were exchanged.
  • Facilitated the Solar Suburbs Program, assisting
    172 residents to obtain discounted solar power
    installations.
  • Provided 47 financial rebates for solar hot water
    systems and 328 for solar photovoltaic panels
    to residential homes.
  • Invested $50,000 to incorporate sustainable
    energy initiatives in Council buildings.
  • Invested $100,000 to install solar power
    generation at Blackburn Lake Sanctuary Visitor
    Centre and Box Hill Town Hall with a combined
    total to produce 11 kilowatt hours per day.

Water conservation and quality

  • Invested $100,000 in sustainable water
    initiatives in Council buildings.
  • Plumbing upgrades at several sites to fit
    water-saving devices in showers, toilets and
    hand basins.
  • Installed rainwater tanks at several reserves.
  • Use of recycled water for sports fields and street
    tree watering.
  • Replaced eight sporting fields with drought-
    resistant grasses.
  • High pressure wash of township centres using
    recycled water.
  • Use of ‘soaker’ – a recycled product to soak up
    and clean up oil and fuel spills, preventing it
    from washing into stormwater drainage and
    river systems.
  • Use of recycled water for street sweeping and
    drainage jet pressure machine.

Resource efficiency,
waste and recycling

  • Increased diversion of waste from landfill and increased garden organics service.
  • Used recycled materials and products in works
    programs.

Natural environment

  • Replaced annual floral displays in Council’s
    gardens with drought tolerant perennials.
  • Sustainable landscape design integrated into
    the design and construction of public spaces,
    particularly water sensitive urban design.

Buildings, infrastructure
and planning

  • Engaged Grojan Consultants to undertake a long
    term Sustainable Management and Development
    Plan for sporting grounds and associated
    facilities.
  • Developed local Environmentally Sustainable
    Design Policy to encourage sustainable
    development in the municipality.

Education and community engagement

  • Implemented the innovative Sustainable
    Ambassadors program for the Chinese-
    speaking community, including resource
    efficiency workshops and behaviour change
    training.
  • Recognised local businesses, homes,
    community groups and schools for their
    ongoing sustainability achievements as part of
    Council’s annual Sustainability Awards.
  • Commenced garden programs with the
    children of long day care centres. A number
    of centres are endeavouring to grow
    vegetables that can be used by the centre
    cooks in the preparation of the children’s
    meals.

Sustainability policy,
leadership and reporting

  • Contractors with sustainable initiatives are
    preferred across Council’s operations.
  • Council’s continued commitment to report on
    its annual green spend as a member of ECO-
    Buy.
  • Continued implementation of Council’s
    Greener Office Program.
  • Continued producing publications on 100
    per cent recycled paper using 100 per cent
    renewable energy and preferring waterless
    printers that use vegetable oil based inks.
  • business cards produced from 100 per cent
    recycled paper.