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LGRSI Background and Structure

 

This project has been assisted by the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust.

Background

The Lower Georges River (LGR) is a ten kilometre reach between the start of the Bankstown Local Government Area and the mouth of the Georges River.  For the purposes of the Lower Georges River Sustainability Initiative, the mouth is considered to be represented by a line between Towra Point and Sans Souci.  The catchment of the LGR is contained within the Local Government Areas of Hurstville, Kogarah, Rockdale and Sutherland Councils, and comprises relatively intensive land uses; mostly residential, with some industrial, commercial, recreational and bushland (including National Park).

The detrimental environmental impacts of urbanisation on the catchment and waterways of the Lower Georges River have been noted in a range of recent studies.  The various strategies and plans that have been developed to address these environmental impacts commonly identify pollution by stormwater run-off as the primary threat to ecosystem health and recreational useand loss of native vegetation as a threat to biodiversity. 

The desired outcomes are being addressed by four Action Plans in development:

  1. NRM Integration Program activities focus on the governance issues relating to the overlapping roles of numerous organisations within the catchment, and aim to enhance the integration of these activities and the coordination of related activities and media messages.

     

  2. Organisational Effectiveness Program activities have both environmental and economic implications.  The environmental issues relate to improved waste minimisation and management practices, more sustainable purchasing practices and Council involvement in each of the other Action Plans.  The economic issues relate to prioritising the allocation of resources, and influence on Council purchasing decisions.

     

  3. The Water Sensitive Urban Design Adoption Program has both governance and on-ground implications for Councils.  The governance issues relate to both the manner in which Council staff, departments and Councillors organise and interact for information exchange and planning, and the mechanisms of government (such as DCPs) which regulate the application of water management principles in urban development and construction.

    On-ground environmental issues will be addressed through provision of WQIDs and constructed examples of best practice in WSUD.  These will be prioritised and funded in accord with the decision-making processes determined in the Action Plan.

     

  4. The Community Partnerships Program has economic, governance, environmental and social implications.  The Program has a focus on capacity building for partnerships which involves novel approaches to governance of projects.  In particular, the requirement for a partnership and the support for projects based on a partnership between stakeholders provide a different approach to competition for resources. This program is called getting greener!

The getting greener! program was officially launched on Monday 17th May 2009.  For more details on this program click on the following documents: pdf icon  getting greener - Booklet of Ideas (3.41MB)  pdf icon  getting greener - Background for EOI Project Proposal (141.16kB)   

 Business Plan reviewed and approved by the Environmental Trust, including:

        • Outcomes Hierarchy reflecting review by Steering Committee of project objectives;

        • Engagement and Communications Strategies (Draft);

        • Budget;

        • Appointment and induction of the Engagement and Communications Officer, and development of a workplan to provide for the LGRSI Engagement and Communications Strategy and completion of activities identified in the GRCCC Communications Plan.

Completion of the Strategic Sustainability Plan including:

        • Situation Analysis and review;

        • Completion of four Action Plans.

The Project Steering Committee

The project is guided by a Steering Committee comprising representatives from each partner organisation and two community members.  The Steering Committee want the LGRSI to be practical and focused on ‘results’.  There is an appreciation that the long term aspirations of the project for water quality, biodiversity, governance and community sustainability are not likely to be fully met within the project timeframe.  Consequently, the project should take the ‘next steps’ towards those objectives by putting in place practical arrangements which can underpin sustained change.

The Steering Committee will oversee a Strategic Sustainability Plan by March 2010 that will have several discrete but complementary Action Plans, each aimed at meeting objectives identified as the “next steps” towards achieving the desired outcomes of the Project. 

How you can be involved

Contact Col Freeman, LGRSI Project Manager, to:

  • Ask about how a business, household or individual can be more sustainable;
  • Find out about a range of upcoming workshops and events;
  • Suggest a workshop or event that you would be interested in attending;
  • Tell us about a great ‘sustainability’ idea you have seen or heard of elsewhere.

Col Freeman
Rockdale City Council
Phone:      (02) 9562 1703
Mobile:      0434 154 865
Email:         cfreeman@rockdale.nsw.gov.au