Our sustainability journey Sustainability It’s who we are It’s what we do

2 Our vision To be Australia’s most sustainable region – vibrant, green, diverse We define sustainability as: Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland 1987)

3 Getting the balance right Productivity – efficiency, diversity, cost, employment, affordability, compatibility, longevity People - health, education, access, mobility, wellbeing, lifestyles, happiness Planet – conservation, rehabilitation, restoration, adaptation, utilisation Society Environment Economy

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5 ACF Sustainable Cities Index Environmental Air quality, ecological footprint, water, biodiversity, green building Quality of life Health, transport, employment, density, subjective wellbeing Resilience Climate change, food production, education, household repayments, public participation Indicators

6 Sunshine Coast challenges Affordability Low population density Lack of public transport Employment Climate change Maintain the region’s Air quality Water, Biodiversity Wellbeing + health Food production Where do we put our energy

7 Council’s role The Sunshine Coast Council aims to help build a sustainable region by: Being future focussed Developing innovative public policy Partnering with our communities Facilitating networks Stimulating debate Through appropriate regulation Leading by example particularly in sustainable business practice We do not want to stifle innovation through bureaucratic practices

8 Setting the policy agenda Strategies Community Plan Climate Change & Peak Oil Waste Minimisation Biodiversity Affordable Living Sustainable Transport Open Space Waterways & Coastal Economic Development Action Plans Carbon Neutral Plan Energy Transition Plan Public Transport Plan Creative Communities Plan Access and Inclusion Plan All strategies have sustainability as a theme and cross reference one another

9 Community Engagement Our strategies were developed with community input The community plan involved –an analysis of all previous consultations for the past seven years –a photographic competition –market research –a community conference –online engagement Major strategies were discussed holistically with the community under the tag line our place our future Working Groups have helped develop the action plans

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15 Corporate fleet Reduced 6 cylinder petrol cars/utes by 62 = 200,000 litres less petrol used Light vehicle fleet June cylinder vehicles 75% June 10 94% March 12 Diesel vehicles50% June 10 82% March 12 Fuel budget reduced by $1.2 million annually Trial of electric cars, 2 Nissan Leafs Success Stories

16 Recycling Over 30,000 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill In partnership with STEPS 11,000 mattresses diverted and components recycled Landfill gas Flare systems installed at Caloundra and Nambour landfills Assessing commercial flow of gas and potential for electricity generation Garbage trucks Preparing for biodiesel usage Vehicle emission standards incorporated into next collection contracts Garage Sale Trail May 5 th 2012 – part of an Australia-wide program E-Waste Trialling an e-waste collection with BuyEquip Waste

17 This is a partnership with council, developers and land contractors Before: Poor sediment control, no progressive re-vegetation After: Progressive re-vegetation Erosion and Sediment Control

18 Sustainability Action Package addressing the top 10 energy use buildings design guidelines for sustainable buildings coordinated approach to our 2200 buildings & facilities Innovation examining thermal solar chiller for air- conditioning unit at Eddie De Vere Building SmartCool managing air-conditioning at Caloundra Library ‘Power Down’ behaviour change program program targeting actions to facility users, eg pools, halls offices builds on previous behaviour change programs Building and facilities

19 33 traineeships in 2012 Highest number of trainees taken on by SCC Community gardens 4 new groups receiving leases - Cooroy, Buddina, Nambour Showgrounds and Lake Kawana Sport and recreation venues Noosa Aquatic Centre recognised by State Govt as best practice for energy, waste and water use Eg VSDs, backwash system, water tanks Solar PV on Stockland Stadium 30 kW system is council’s largest solar installation Over 10 council buildings now have solar installed Other success stories

20 Council as a community We do not have a department driving sustainability in our Council but rather a network called the Sustainability and Innovation Group which has focused on:  Staff education – 80 people have undertaken a diploma in sustainability  Developing a group of internal champions  Developing a set of sustainability principles  Developing an annual Sustainability Action Plan  ecoBiz accreditation for council businesses  Becoming a carbon neutral organisation  3 key spearhead projects Biodiesel Solar initiatives Sustainable action package for Council buildings

21 Internal Continuing to Developing a corporate culture with sustainability as core business Lifting the bar – “It’s about more than just recycling office paper” Getting managers and budgets on board for integrated results External Public transport Our existing urban form and built environment Population growth and development pressures State and federal governments People…. tend to have an immediate focus over a future focus Future challenges

22 Final thought To be sustainable we need to be like water - Transformative Regenerative Adaptive Mobile Shapeless

23 Questions