Key directions for achieving our planet objective:
2.1
2.2
2.3
Protect and enhance our natural environment
-- Work towards further establishing and building the profile of urban forestry in Banyule and supporting action on canopy enhancement in the public and private realm
Conserve water and improve stormwater quality and impact
Deliver appropriate action on climate change
Banyule’s passive and active open spaces, bushland reserves, and broad tree cover are key features of the municipality and are strongly supported by community values. The enhancement and maintenance of Banyule’s parks, reserves and private gardens is paramount in contributing to sustainability and a sense of wellbeing in the community.
-- Continue to build on research and measurement of management innovations and the way our landscapes are planned and designed into the future, ensuring appropriate engagement with the local community
The conservation of water and energy is a priority for the development of a sustainable community. This is a major focus for us in planning and delivering services and infrastructure, preserving and enhancing areas of high conservation significance and promoting environmental stewardship.
We recognise the threat to all ecosystems and communities from climate change.
We are committed to protecting and enhancing the diverse land and water-based ecosystems in our municipality. We will strive to create and maintain additional habitat areas that are ecologically sustainable, and which will encourage our community’s connection with nature. We will focus on the protection, enhancement and maintenance of our significant bushland reserves to promote biodiversity. This involves managing our parks, reserves and urban forests as key environmental assets for the benefit of our community. Our focus areas We will: 2.1.1 Protect wildlife corridors and enhance waterways and wetlands Key initiatives include: • Complete a strategic environmental and operational management plan for Wilson Reserve • Deliver a heritage and environment study for Banyule Flats • Work with other stakeholders, including the Victorian State Government, to advocate for the ongoing protection and conservation of Gresswell Forest Nature Conservation Reserve. 2.1.2 Protect and plant trees and appropriate vegetation Key initiatives include: • Guide development decisions that protect and enhance our treed environment through Council’s Statutory planning service area • Raise community awareness of Banyule’s Urban Forest through initiatives including: -- Develop an Urban Forestry Policy and Strategic Plan to improve the quality and quantity of the city’s urban forest
-- Work with the Banyule community to broaden our understanding of the benefits and importance of our urban forest, and increase our connection to them. • Continue the work of our arborists and Council’s planning enforcement area to protect our treed environment in private places • Inspect and protect our treed environment in public places through Council’s Parks and Gardens service area, including collection of scientific data on the City’s public realm trees to assist the maintenance and protection of our urban forest • Develop parks, gardens, reserves and bushland facilities, including:
We will provide leadership on water conservation and water sensitive urban design and will explore innovative models for water management for our operations and the community. We will improve Council water use efficiency and develop alternative sustainable water sources and re-uses. This will lower operating costs and provide a positive example to the community, which will help influence community practices. We undertake direct works and work with relevant authorities to improve stormwater quality and lessen its impact on waterway ecology and biodiversity. Our focus areas
We will advocate and seek to reduce Council energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and associated operating costs, and work with the community for further emissions reduction, with the eventual target of carbon neutrality. We will assess and respond to the impact of climate change on the community and Council’s service and infrastructure. We are committed to working with community organisations and other levels of government to pursue environmental sustainability for Banyule. We will explore innovative models for water and energy management in active and passive open spaces to meet community aspirations. We will continue to deliver our services consistent with the International Standard for Environmental Management AS/NZS ISO 14001:2004.
-- Andrew Yandell reserve staircase
We will:
-- St Helena Rd and Yandell Close entrances
2.2.1 Increase Council’s water use efficiency
Our focus areas
-- Reserve Fence Replacement program
Key initiatives include:
We will:
• Complete construction of stormwater harvesting projects at Chelsworth, Kalparrin and DeWinton Reserves that replaces tap water irrigation of sports grounds and filters out waterway pollution
2.3.1 Reduce our impact on climate change by reducing Council’s energy consumption and waste
• Protect our important tree assets by an enhanced tree management and maintenance capability, including: -- Routine Street Tree Pruning - through the existing Tree Management Contract, and assessment and works on 75,000 street trees -- Tree Planting - replace trees lost to drought and enhance Banyule’s urban forest population on nature strips, road reserves, parks and reserves -- Comply with new Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) Regulations 2010 (tree removal and pruning) • Major vegetation strategies: -- Substantial Tree Strategy in the Planning Scheme – complete the public exhibition and planning panel process for vegetation overlay Schedule 5. 2.1.3 Improve the policing of litter and waste dumping Key initiatives include: • Develop strategies to strengthen the enforcement of litter and illegal dumping of items and goods • Increase community awareness of our hard rubbish and green waste collection programs to minimise illegal dumping
• Provide ongoing development and maintenance of warm season grassed playing surfaces, including: -- Yulong Reserve East • Provide maintenance of oval and sports field irrigation, including sprinkler and drainage replacement, irrigation flow sensors, and technology renewals. 2.2.2 Improve our urban drainage and stormwater management
Key initiatives include: • Improve streetlight energy efficiency. This will significantly reduce Council’s ongoing energy costs and result in a 19% reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions • Seek government funding to install solar hot water at Council buildings • Deliver a continued certification program against ISO14001 Environmental Management Standards • Continue Council’s energy efficiency initiatives toward carbon neutrality.
Key initiatives include: • Deliver an evidence based 10 year Capital Works Plan for Council’s stormwater drainage network, including: -- Improved stormwater infrastructure - including the Rosanna Parklands Davis street drain, Mountainview Parade drainage and implementing the emergency drainage works response program.
• Finalise a waste minimisation plan including litter prevention and dumping of waste.
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BANYULE CITY COUNCIL CITY PLAN 2013-2017
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