The Hunter region’s councils face increasing political imperatives, legislative obligations, planning system responsibilities, risk management concerns, ecosystem management priorities and community expectations in relation to a broad spectrum of environmental management issues.
Through the delivery of the Hunter and Central Coast Regional Environment Management Strategy, Hunter Council’s Environment Division plays a critical role in attracting funding and partnerships to support member councils in effectively addressing issues of common concern that are best managed and coordinated at a regional scale.
Staffed by a team of ecologists, engineers and environmental management professionals, the Division facilitates collaboration among member councils and Local, State and Federal stakeholders to deliver:
- relevant data and mapping, analysis, and distribution to inform a wide range of environmental and natural resource management issues
- the identification and facilitation of cost savings, resource efficiencies, networking, knowledge transfer, and coordinated management approach to issues of common concern in the region
- best practice regional scale projects and programs addressing biodiversity conservation, ecosystem health, climate change, urban sustainability and land use planning
- targeted regional capacity building, pilot, monitoring and consultation programs, to all levels of Council, to effectively inform and embed implementation.
In the 2010–2011 year, the Division has delivered:
- a comprehensive regional climate change program making the region’s councils the first in Australia to have all completed comprehensive local and regional risk management and adaptation strategies
- an innovative PC based REF (Review of Environmental Factors) Template tailored to suit individual council systems and designed to substantially strengthen legislative compliance in a range of operations
- a new region wide vegetation classification system – comprehensive vegetation mapping at 1:25000 scale is currently being completed for the first time across all LGAs
- a range of initiatives to assist councils in meeting new waste management legislation and standards, including identification of regional opportunities for collaborative waste management, development of a business case for organics, design and elivery of illegal dumping deterrence measures and community campaigns
- a coordinated Household Energy Reduction campaign across 14 Local Government areas, with 66 libraries issuing household energy meters and education programs to local communities. This program is now being replicated across New South Wales by the State Government
- a suite of urban sustainability programs delivering funds and expertise to councils to improve the energy, water and waste management performance of key facilities
- environmental compliance audits, training, and best practice tools to staff in all councils
- finalisation of an innovative, award winning roadside marker system. Underpinned by an extensive roadside mapping program and technical guidelines, the marker system identifies key roadside management issues to guide works programs, including erosion, salinity, weeds and endangered ecological communities
- completion of a new, landscaped based regional weeds strategy and a five year implementation plan.
For further information call (02) 4978 4022, email envirodirector@huntercouncils.com.au or visit www.hccrems.com.au
