Sustainability Snapshot

Sustainability Snapshot 2015/16

STONNINGTON.VIC.GOV.AU

stonningtoncouncil

StonningtonNews

City of Stonnington Sustainability Snapshot 2015/16

Introduction

Contents

Introduction

Executive Summary

01 Environmental Commitment and Reporting

02 Energy Conservation

03 Integrated Water Management

04 Waste Management and Minimisation

05 Sustainable Purchasing and Product Use

06 Biodiversity

07 Environmental Education

The Sustainable Snapshot 2015/16 is printed on ecoStar which is manufactured from 100% post consumer recycled paper in a process chlorine free environment under the ISO14001 environmental management system. The printer is certified ISO14001 which covers all elements of environmental management and also certified FSC and PEFC chain of custody ensuring certainty when using FSC or PEFC certified papers.

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the City of Stonnington’s annual Sustainability Snapshot 2015/16 The City of Stonnington is committed to a healthy and sustainable City, with enhanced natural and urban environments that are enjoyed and protected. Council’s Sustainable Environment Strategy 2013-2017 is developed within the framework of the Council Plan 2013-2017 , providing a strategic approach to addressing the key environmental factors impacting the City. The Sustainability Snapshot is Council’s primary means of reporting on its progress towards the seven environmental priority areas identified in Council’s Sustainable Environment Strategy 2013–17 :

Reporting on each area includes information on: goals and objectives for improvement, key achievements over the previous 12 months, and our focus for the next 12 months. The Executive Summary introduces our key achievements. More information is outlined in the body of the Snapshot. Council has made significant progress during 2015/16 in improving our own organisational sustainability as well as our community education and engagement activities. We’re looking forward to another busy year in 2016/17 as we develop a new Sustainable Environment Strategy and continue to seek opportunities to create a cleaner, safer and better environment for future generations.

Environmental Commitment and Reporting

Energy Conservation

Integrated Water Management

Waste Management and Minimisation

Sustainable Purchasing and Product Use

Biodiversity

Environmental Education

City of Stonnington Sustainability Snapshot 2015/16

Executive Summary

Executive Summary In 2015/16 the City of Stonnington has continued to make progress towards addressing the key environmental factors impacting our City.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2015/16

Environmental Commitment and Reporting

» Continued to report on Council’s environmental performance through the annual Sustainability Snapshot » Incorporated a range of leading Environmentally Sustainable Design features at 311 Glenferrie Road

» Brought together Council’s internal Green Team and the Wellbeing Committee to deliver sustainability sessions for Council staff with wellbeing outcomes

» Supported Council staff participation in national environmental initiatives, for example Clean up Australia Day and National Tree Day

Energy Conservation

31.39 kW solar installed

» Expanded Council’s solar program to include a 29.6 kW solar installation on 311 Glenferrie Road » Developed a business case and received support from Council for a bulk upgrade of Council streetlighting to more energy efficient LED lights

» Continued to support the Stonnington community to reduce its energy use through the delivery of the ‘Making Solar Simple’ program, free household Energy Assessments and the Positive Charge Energy Hotline

» 31.39 kW of solar installed on Stonnington homes through Council’s home energy programs » Council has successfully met its 2015 target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% below 2005 levels

Integrated Water Management

» Undertook a review of our existing Water Sensitive Urban Design assets » Delivered sessions to schools, early learning centres and residents about improving stormwater quality » Installed interactive, interpretive signage at Glen Iris Wetlands highlighting the urban water cycle and the impact of pollution on our waterways and beaches

» Commenced a review of our current parks and gardens irrigation systems

» Continued to drought-proof our City by planting indigenous and drought-tolerant exotic species in our gardens and streets

Waste Management and Minimisation

Public Place Recycling bins installed

» Committed to excluding single-use, lightweight plastic bags from Council events and activities » Expanded Council’s Public Place Recycling program across the City’s shopping areas » Expanded Council’s office food waste

» Conducted an Apartment Composting Pilot at three apartment buildings to trial innovative solutions for recycling food waste on site » 4,513 kg batteries, mobile phones and chargers, CDs, VHS tapes, cassette tapes and floppy disks diverted from landfill through recycling stations located at our Service Centres, libraries and pools

» 83,030 kg of electronic waste diverted from landfill through Council’s Waste Transfer Station and our spring and autumn hard waste service

composting program to reduce the amount of food waste going to landfill

Sustainable Purchasing and Product Use

06 Biodiversity

232

» Supported a range of paper reduction initiatives across Council departments, including increasing the use of iPads, paper-free meetings, reducing the amount of printed materials and the development of on-line forms and systems » Embedded environmental specifications in tender documents including events and infrastructure projects » Continued to maximise the use of recycled materials for Council’s Civil Works » Launched the Armadale Baptist Church Community Garden to help residents

» Commenced work on Stages 4 and 5 of the Yarra River Biodiversity Linkages Project » Undertook maintenance of Stages 1, 2 and 3 of the Yarra River Biodiversity Linkages Project » Participated in trialling the Biodiversity Monitoring Framework for Melbourne’s East to monitor urban biodiversity and habitat health » Installed interpretive signage at Glen Iris Wetlands with engaging and interactive information on indigenous plants, wetland birds, frogs, waterbugs and stormwater treatment

students participated in Council events

» 232 students from 10 schools participated in Council events for National Tree Day at the Urban Forest and Glen Iris Wetlands

61,374 plants and trees planted

access locally grown food » Delivered workshops for residents to help them learn how to grow their own food

» 61,374 plants and trees planted across Stonnington

Environmental Education

x 275

» Delivered the school Leadership Conference involving 80 students from five schools within Stonnington to empower students to become the sustainability leaders of tomorrow » Delivered 221 sessions to 2,115 kinder, primary and secondary students across 23 schools and early learning centres

» Delivered 13 workshops and tours through our annual Calendar of Environmental Events to 275 residents to inspire behaviour change and support the adoption of sustainable practices at home

» Developed a series of case studies to promote local businesses who are adopting sustainable practices

City of Stonnington Sustainability Snapshot 2015/16

Environmental Commitment and Reporting

Key achievements

Council has an important role to play in improving the health and sustainability of our City. Through Council’s role in managing local issues and planning for the community’s needs, there are many opportunities to positively influence environmental outcomes both within the organisation and throughout the wider community. Reporting is a key element of implementing Council’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Our annual Sustainability Snapshot is the primary method for tracking our achievements towards achieving this commitment.

Council » Continued to publicly report on Council’s environmental performance through the Sustainability Snapshot 2014/2015 . » Incorporated a range of Environmentally Sustainable Design features at Council’s new office located at 311 Glenferrie Road, including a green wall, LED lighting, rainwater harvesting and use of recycled carpet in the office areas. » Gained approval for the Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) Local Planning Policy. Approval allowed gazettal of the policy and inclusion in the Stonnington Planning Scheme. Council has been actively applying the policy to deliver best practice environmental design. » Subscribed to and commenced the use of the Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) as the preferred tool for assessing buildings for planning permits. » Continued our membership with the Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment (CASBE). » Partnered with the Inner Melbourne Action Plan (IMAP) Councils to develop new fact sheets focusing on areas of the Sustainable Design Assessment in the planning process.

» Provided input into the Victorian Government Better Apartments Design Standards. » Continued to drive Council’s internal strategic sustainability priorities through the Sustainability Leadership Group, comprised of Managers from each Council division and a representative from the Executive Management Team. » Continued to engage and support Council staff in environmental initiatives through the work of the Green Team – a team of dedicated volunteers across Council divisions. » Brought together the Green Team and the Wellbeing Committee to deliver sustainability sessions for Council staff with wellbeing outcomes. » Continued to deliver sustainability-themed workshops as well as environmental training and development opportunities for Council staff. » Supported staff participation in national environmental initiatives, for example Clean Up Australia Day and National Tree Day.

Goals

Create organisation wide commitment to environmental sustainability across the delivery of all Council services and functions

Support staff participation in environmental initiatives

Annually, publicly report on Council’s environmental performance of the Sustainable Environment Strategy 2013-17

Focus for 2016/17 Council » Continue to publicly report on Council’s environmental performance through the annual Sustainability Snapshot . » Develop a new Council Sustainable Environment Strategy to address the key environmental issues of importance to the community. » Partner with IMAP to develop new fact sheets focusing on areas of the Sustainable Design Assessment in the Planning Process. » Consider the impact of the Victorian Government Better Apartments Design Standards. » Procurement of a comprehensive sustainability data management platform to improve data management and monitoring across Council’s electricity, gas and water. » Development of an internal sustainable environment e-newsletter to keep staff up- to-date with sustainability activities across Council sites, projects and programs. » Investigate opportunities to strengthen climate resilience and adaptation within Council and the community.

CASE STUDY:

Little green steps

Stonnington’s childcare centres have a range of innovative initiatives to reduce waste, conserve energy and water, improve green purchasing and help educate children, families and centre educators about sustainable living.

Reuse and creativity is the key to sustainability at Council’s childcare centres. Staff and children use hand towels when drying their hands instead of paper towels. Reusable cloths are used as much as possible and staff hold plastic-free morning teas. Water is captured in containers in the sinks for reuse and scrap paper from Council departments is used for drawing. All the centres have a worm farm and vegetable garden – each of which supports the other. The worm farm provides precious fertiliser for the

vegie patch and the vegie patch can help feed the worms! Both play an important role in educating the children about reducing waste and growing food. Stonnington’s childcare centres have sustainability front and centre. Each childcare centre has a Sustainability Representative who helps drive change, meeting quarterly to share learnings and discuss projects. All new programs and initiatives are considered in terms of their environmental impact.

Facts and figures

152 attendees at

8 sustainability- themed workshops delivered to Council staff

902 bookings of staff MYKI cards for travel to and from meetings

City of Stonnington Sustainability Snapshot 2015/16

Energy Conservation

Key achievements

The City of Stonnington is committed to energy conservation. As the population continues to grow, we are presented with the challenge of providing expanded facilities, services and infrastructure whilst aiming to reduce our corporate greenhouse gas emissions. The main areas of Council’s energy consumption are in buildings and facilities, lighting streets, and running a fleet of vehicles and other machinery. Strategies for achieving our targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions lie in making existing facilities and infrastructure more efficient, on-site energy generation and achieving efficiencies in the development of new infrastructure.

Council » Expanded our solar program to include a 29.6 kW solar installation at 311 Glenferrie Road. This brings the total number of Council sites with solar to 12 with a generation capacity of 280kW. This is enough to power approximately 65 Stonnington homes per year. » Installed energy efficiency features at the Elizabeth Street carpark including replacing inefficient lights with LED lights and painting the ceiling white to reduce the need for lighting. » Developed a business case and received support from Council for a bulk upgrade of 3,070 Council streetlights to more energy efficient LED lights. » Changed Council’s data server to become cloud-based, significantly reducing associated energy use and costs. » Renewed Council’s membership with the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (EAGA) and supported the development and implementation of a range of initiatives

including the Climate Change Adaptation Roadmap and a trial to help sporting clubs reduce their energy use. » Implemented year three of the Stonnington Cycling Strategy (2013-2018) which included: – Reconstruction and widening of the shared path at Sir Zelmen Cowen Park, Kooyong. – Refurbishment of the Church Street Underpass on the Main Yarra Trail, South Yarra. – Construction of a new shared path at Brixton Rise, Glen Iris to fix the ‘missing link’ of the Gardiners Creek Trail. – Reconstruction and widening of the Main Yarra Trail, as part of the Yarra River Biodiversity Linkages Project (Stage 4 and 5). – Installation of over 50 new bike parking stations within strip shopping precincts.

Goals

Reduce corporate greenhouse gas emissions by 20% below 2005 levels by 2015 and 30% by 2020

Reduce Council’s corporate energy consumption and corresponding greenhouse gas emissions

Support the community to reduce energy consumption and corresponding greenhouse gas emissions

Community » Delivered the ‘Making Solar Simple’ program, which assists residents to better understand solar options at their property and can help them source an obligation free quote from a carefully selected solar supplier. » Provided 69 households with free Energy Assessments to help reduce their energy use, including a walk through of their home, energy bill analysis, solar PV assessment and action plan for a smarter home. » Continued to provide the Positive Charge Energy Hotline for residents to receive impartial and up-to-date

» Delivered the second High Life Expo in partnership with the Alternative Technology Association, the Cities of Melbourne, Port Phillip, Moonee Valley and the Yarra Energy Foundation. This event is for apartment owners to explore owner-led innovation in sustainability for apartment buildings. » Worked with the City of Melbourne to monitor improvements and advancements in the Smart Blocks program; an online, interactive toolkit helping apartment owners and managers improve the energy efficiency of apartment building common areas. » Hosted a Ride2Work Day breakfast to promote travel to and from work by bike as a healthy and sustainable habit.

» Supported the Men of Malvern ‘Ride on Stonnington’ charity bike ride, which saw around 90 riders sporting colourful vests complete a 20km tour around Stonnington. » Appointed FlexiCar to expand car share within Stonnington: – An additional car sharing vehicle is now located in each of the Cato Street, Princes Close, Darling Street and Windsor car parks. – A new car sharing vehicle is now located in each of the Caroline Street South, James Street and Surrey Road North car parks. – A single car share bay has been provided in the indented parking area of Barry Street, Prahran. » Develop a program to demonstrate and communicate energy improvements in Council buildings. » Continue to explore opportunities to improve the energy efficiency of the services delivered by Council to the community. Community » Continue to provide ‘Making Solar Simple’ program to Stonnington property owners, tailoring its promotion to inform a broader sector of the community. » Continue to provide Positive Charge Energy Hotline for residents. » Continue to monitor improvements and advancements in the Smart Blocks program. » Continue to explore opportunities to support sporting clubs reduce their energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions. » Explore options to support and enable wide uptake of solar PV systems across Stonnington.

energy efficiency and renewable energy advice over the phone.

Focus for 2016/17 Council » Review and update Council’s Energy Efficiency Implementation Plan to identify and prioritise opportunities to reduce energy costs, consumption and corresponding greenhouse gas emissions. » Explore options to improve data capture on Council’s solar energy generation and use. » Review and revise Council’s corporate greenhouse gas emissions targets and investigate opportunities to track and reduce community greenhouse gas emissions. » Continue to expand our solar program by installing 46kW solar PV system on Malvern Town Hall. » Implement a bulk replacement of 3,070 of Council’s streetlights to more energy

each year, representing 31% of Council’s total emissions from streetlighting and 9% of Council’s total corporate emissions. » Investigate opportunities to incorporate advanced fuel technologies, including electric vehicles, into Council’s fleet. » Investigate opportunities to install electric vehicle charging stations in key Stonnington areas. » Upgrade King Street carpark by replacing inefficient lights with LED lights and painting the ceiling white to reduce the need for lighting. » Undertake energy assessments at top energy consuming sites across Council to support the development of Council’s next five year Energy Efficiency Implementation Program. » Investigate a staff bike fleet program to encourage staff to use more sustainable modes of transport for travel to and from meetings.

efficient LED lights. The projected savings from this are 1,245 tonnes CO2-e greenhouse gas emissions

Facts and figures

280kW of solar across 12 Council buildings

31.39 kW of solar

141 energy enquiries to Positive Charge Energy Hotline

69 energy assessments

completed in Stonnington homes

installed on Stonnington homes through Council’s home energy programs

Total electricity use

Since 2011/12 Council has reduced total corporate and streetlighting electricity use by 7% as a result of measures to reduce energy through the Energy Efficiency Implementation Plan (EEIP). This has been mostly driven by Council’s streetlighting upgrade program which has seen a 29% reduction in electricity use since 2005/06. Council has continued to steadily reduce its electricity use despite the addition of the new Council office, located at 311 Glenferrie Road, in late 2015. Total Electricity Use and Total Gas Use decreased from 2008/09 to 2009/10 aligning with the period that Harold Holt Swim Centre was closed for renovations. Energy use increased when the site re-opened. * Total Electricity and Total Gas consumption presented in the Sustainability Snapshot 2014/15 has been adjusted in 2015/16 due to incorrect data reported in 2014/15 resulting from missing data from utility providers. # Gas consumption at Prahran Aquatic Centre has been averaged over three years from 2013/14 due to significant data anomalies from the utility provider.

12,000,000

10,000,000

8,000,000

6,000,000

4,000,000

2,000,000

Total (KWh)

05/06

07/08

08/09

09/10

10/11

11/12

12/13

13/14

14/15*

15/16

Electricity Streetlighting (kW)

Electricity Corporate (kW)

Total gas use

50,000

40,000

30,000

20,000

10,000

Total (GJ)

15/16*# 14/15*# 13/14

05/06

07/08

08/09

09/10

10/11

11/12

12/13

Total fuel consumption: Council Fleet and Equipment

700,000

CASE STUDY: Solar powered

600,000

500,000

400,000

300,000

200,000

Council now has solar installations across 12 of its buildings including aquatic centres, libraries, community and sports facilities and our Service Centres. Our latest installation is a 29.6 kW solar PV system on the roof of our Service Centre at 311 Glenferrie Road. In 2016/17, we’ll install an even larger system on the roof of Malvern Town Hall. Solar installations across Council roofs currently generate around 362,465 kWh of solar energy per year – the equivalent of approximately 4% of electricity used by Council buildings in 2015/16. This is enough to power around 65 Stonnington homes each year! Within the Stonnington community, solar has already been installed on over 1,360 Stonnington properties and in 1.4 million Australian households. To help our residents understand whether solar would suit their properties and navigate the range of solar options, Council engaged independent energy experts, Positive Charge to: » provide reliable and independent advice on the suitability of solar at a property » source an obligation free quote from a carefully selected and reputable solar supplier, approved through the Clean Energy Council (CEC). Positive Charge undertook a rigorous process to select a preferred solar supplier, in which system quality, price and warranties were considered. All solar suppliers in the industry were invited to participate in this process, which was independently reviewed by the Alternative Technology Association. So far, over 31 kW of solar has been installed on Stonnington homes through Council’s home energy programs.

100,000

Total litres

10/11

11/12

12/13

13/14

14/15 15/16

In 2014/15 Council resumed some street cleaning services previously provided under contract. This resulted in increased fuel consumption due to additional vehicles and equipment.

Council’s fuel use decreased between 2014/15 and 2015/16. This reflects Council’s ongoing commitment to prioritising the purchase of low and alternative fuel consumption vehicles (such as diesel and LPG).

Total Council Greenhouse Gas Emissions

20,000

2015 target

15,000 13,585

10,000 11,887

2020 target

5,000

Tonnes of CO2

05/06

07/08

08/09

09/10

10/11

11/12

12/13

13/14

14/15

15/16

* Total Council Greenhouse Gas Emissions presented in the Sustainability Snapshot 2014/15 have been adjusted in 2015/16 due to incorrect electricity and gas data reported in 2014/15 resulting from missing data from utility providers.

The City of Stonnington has successfully met its 2015 target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% below 2005 levels. Council has managed to meet this target despite the addition of a large new office located at 311 Glenferrie Road. This new building opened in October 2015.

Due to its continued investment in energy efficiency, including a bulk upgrade of its streetlights, Council is confident that it will meet its 2020 target of a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

City of Stonnington Sustainability Snapshot 2015/16

Integrated Water Management

Key achievements

Water is a finite and vulnerable resource that is increasingly in demand and affected by human activities. With high variability across seasons, water conservation has become an increasingly important issue over the last few years. While water restrictions across Victoria have relaxed since late 2010 with the easing of the drought and

Council » Undertook a review of our existing Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) assets to determine their effectiveness and identify improvements for future asset design, construction, operation and maintenance. » Commenced a review of our current parks and gardens irrigation systems, leading to the replacement and upgrade of irrigation infrastructure across a number of sites. » Implemented system changes to better manage and monitor water use, including upgrading our central irrigation controller to maintain connectivity and allow remote access. » Improved water efficiency at Glendearg Tennis Centre: – installed a rainwater harvesting system to service the toilets and green wall. – upgraded en tout cas court surface with a synthetic surface that has significant water saving properties. » Installed WSUD features to our urban landscape, including strata cells, raingardens and tree pits. » Continued to plant indigenous and drought-tolerant exotic species in our gardens and streets to reduce water use.

» Expanded our mulching program in public open space to reduce evaporation, improve soil conditions and reduce competition from weeds. » Continued to implement onsite best practice stormwater treatment through the WSUD Planning Policy resulting in most new building developments including rainwater tanks. Community » Continued to educate the community on options for onsite stormwater treatment and water efficiency through conversations on planning applications. » Delivered sessions to schools, early learning centres and residents about improving stormwater quality in partnership with Melbourne Water and Port Phillip EcoCentre. » Delivered new environmental education » Installed interpretive signage at Glen Iris Wetlands including a push-button light-up stormwater display that highlights the urban water cycle and explains the impacts of pollution on our waterways and beaches. tours to Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands and the Eastern Treatment Plant. » Install a synthetic grass playing surface at Gardiner Park. » Install rain gardens in Chapel Street as part of the Chapel Street Masterplan redevelopment. » Undertake a detailed assessment of water use on public open spaces to determine best practice and more targeted water use. Community » Explore opportunities to support school water conservation projects. » Continue to educate the community on options for onsite stormwater treatment and water efficiency in planning applications. » Continue to explore opportunities to educate schools, early learning centres and residents about improving stormwater quality.

greater availability of water, there remains a strong imperative for Council and the community to continue to conserve water.

Through the Sustainable Environment Strategy 2013-17, Council has adopted an ‘integrated water management’ approach. This recognises that the supply, storage, use and reuse of water is an interrelated process and is best regarded as a whole system in order to have the greatest effect.

Goals

Maintain corporate potable water use through integrated water management to achieve the corporate water target of 60% reduction in water use on 2000/01 levels

Focus for 2016/17

Council » Develop a framework to guide investment in future Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) assets and alternative green infrastructure across Council. » Design a new maintenance regime for Council’s WSUD assets. » Provide input into the Monash University water sensitive urban management tool which aims to improve the implementation process for WSUD. » Continue to explore opportunities to implement and install tree pits, strata cells and structural soils to increase the water holding capacity and improve permeability of our urban landscape. » Continue to improve water use and irrigation systems including investigating opportunities for targeted irrigation of trees and implementing irrigation system upgrades.

Improve water management practices and stormwater quality through an integrated water management model to reduce potable water use and enhance the quality of water in Stonnington’s creeks and waterways

Facts and figures

Compared to 2014/15, water use in Council buildings has reduced by 3% in 2015/16. However, due to the unseasonal long, hot and dry summer, Council’s water use on sports grounds increased considerably in 2015/16. This increase in water use was required to maintain high quality and safe playing surfaces. Council has also reintroduced watering in some of its parks and gardens. This is in response to community demand and expectation for high quality parks and gardens and their ongoing amenity, particularly in the warmer months. In 2016/17 Council is planning to undertake a review of its current irrigation practices to establish a best practice irrigation approach. This will ensure water conservation objectives are met whilst maintaining quality at a level that is appropriate for the intended use of each site. Council has already begun a process to progressively upgrade its sports ground irrigation systems to provide more efficient and effective watering.

Total annual potable water consumption

500,000

400,000

300,000

200,000

Target 189,284

100,000

Total KL

* Excludes potable water used on open spaces at the Malvern Valley Golf Course due to billing anomalies. This does not have a significant impact as the course is watered using dam water and potable water is rarely used.

** Increased water use in 2012/13 can be attributed to a burst water main at the Phoenix Park Community Centre.

Total potable water consumption

12 % BUILDING

49 % SPORTING COMPLEX

16 % AQUATIC CENTRE

2015 / 16

23 % OPEN SPACE & PARK INFRASTRUCTURE

CASE STUDY:

Raingardens

Highly urbanised environments, such as the City of Stonnington, are characterised by a large amount of hard surfaces. This means that rainwater flows across these surfaces to the closest stormwater drain and then into our rivers and creeks. This runoff water carries pollutants such as nitrogen, phosphorus, heavy metals, fine sediments and litter.

Raingardens are specially designed garden beds which filter stormwater runoff from surrounding areas or stormwater pipes. Some are even positioned to capture overflow from rainwater tanks. They are designed to slow rainfall runoff during a rain event and can help solve some flooding issues. Raingardens act as a bio-filtration system, with the soil and plant root network naturally filtering the runoff and removing pollutants. Free-draining sand cleans the stormwater as it flows through the system. Nutrients in the

runoff are soaked up by plant root systems, and any sediment, including rubbish, is trapped on the surface. The City of Stonnington has installed 47 raingardens across the City to improve the quality of stormwater entering our waterways and help reduce the impacts of flooding. Council continues to seek opportunities to install water sensitive urban design assets, including raingardens, across Stonnington. Council also supports residents who may wish to build a raingarden at home.

City of Stonnington Sustainability Snapshot 2015/16

Waste Management and Minimisation

Key achievements Council

Community » Conducted an Apartment Composting Pilot with Owners Corporations at three apartment buildings to trial innovative solutions for recycling food waste on-site. » Participated in Garage Sale Trail 2015 with over 90 sales registered in the City of Stonnington. » Continued to deliver workshops for schools, early learning centres and residents on a range of waste related topics. » Expanded the Compost Revolution program to include Bokashi Bins to cater to small households. » Continued to provide opportunities to recycle niche recycling items through drop off collection points at Council’s service centres, libraries and aquatic centres. » Promoted the Armadale Baptist Church Community Garden as a public food waste recycling site. » Continued to support Sustainability Victoria’s Detox Your Home program by promoting local collection days. » Supported Sustainability Victoria’s Love Food Hate Waste program by promoting information resources and raising awareness on ways to reduce food waste. » Supported community Clean Up Australia

Waste sent to landfill has both environmental and financial implications. Waste going to landfill increases the release of harmful greenhouse gases into the environment and the cost of waste disposal to landfill is increasing. Council provides weekly garbage collection, fortnightly recycling collection, user pays green waste collection and a biannual hard waste and bundled green waste collection. Council also provides opportunities for residents to recycle a range of niche products such as e-waste (electronic), batteries and mobile phones. Council also plays an important role in delivering waste education to the community.

» Committed to excluding single-use, lightweight plastic bags from Council events and activities to help prevent plastic pollution. » Expanded Council’s Public Place Recycling program across the City’s shopping areas. » Continued to provide event waste and recycling bins to the community for events. » Continued involvement in the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group Local Government Forum. » Supported staff participation in national waste initiatives including Clean Up Australia Day and Plastic Free July. » Expanded Council’s food waste composting program into offices at Malvern Town Hall and 311 Glenferrie Road to reduce the amount of food waste going to landfill. » Began an internal program to collect and recycle disposable coffee pods from office coffee machines. » Developed new communication materials to support correct waste disposal practices in Council office areas. » Delivered staff workshops to improve staff waste practices for work and home.

Goals

Minimise waste generation by Council and the broader community

Day activities across Stonnington by promoting the event and providing a rubbish collection service.

Maximise the recovery of reusable resources out of the waste stream

Continue to review and adapt Council’s waste management service to ensure they are responsive to changing community requirements

Inform and support the community and staff to implement correct waste disposal practices

Focus for 2016/17

Facts and figures

Council » Maximise resource recovery across Council office locations. » Explore opportunities to reduce waste and increase recycling at events. Community » Investigate ways to maximise resource recovery through niche recycling stations at Council service centres, libraries and aquatic centres. » Investigate opportunities to support the involvement of Owners Corporations in Council’s garden waste service. » Explore opportunities for Council’s Green Schools program to further support schools to reduce waste to landfill. » Develop a series of case studies, based on the Apartment Composting Pilot Project results, to support Owners Corporations in Stonnington to implement innovative solutions to recycle organic waste. » Consider additional public food waste recycling sites in Stonnington. » Investigate options for minimising business waste in shopping strips using innovative technologies. » Continue to support the Garage Sale Trail and promote involvement by Stonnington residents, community groups and businesses.

3,102 tonnes of garden waste collected through our kerbside garden waste service

4,513 kg batteries, mobile phones and chargers, CDs, VHS tapes, cassette tapes and floppy disks diverted from landfill through recycling stations located at our service centres, libraries and pools

83,030 kg of electronic waste

80 compost bins, worm farms and bokashi bins ordered through Compost Revolution

diverted from landfill through Council’s Waste Transfer Station and our spring and autumn hard waste service

48 Public Place Recycling bins installed across Stonnington shopping areas

Comparison of waste generation in Stonnington

CASE STUDY: Hard waste collections

45,000

40,000

35,000

30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

Council provides two hard waste collection services per year, one in spring and one in autumn. In 2015/16 our annual spring and autumn hard waste collection services collected 1,769 tonnes of hard waste across

10,000

Waste diverted from landfill for recycling

5,000

Waste to landfill

Total kgs

09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 15/16

Stonnington. Green waste

Across the City of Stonnington, household waste to landfill has increased by 15% since 2009/10. This is mostly due to Stonnington’s increasing number of households. At the same time, waste diverted from landfill for recycling has declined by 14%. This is due to the current trend towards consumption and associated packaging. There is a strong link between waste production and economic growth as waste is produced through the increased production and purchasing of goods and services. By weight, the amount we recycle has also decreased. This is partly due to a reduction in the amount of print media paper and the replacement of glass with lighter weight plastic for some containers. These trends are consistent with metropolitan Melbourne.

134.8 tonnes of green waste was collected in 2015/16. The green waste is composted and used to help create nutrient-rich soil and timber is mulched. Scrap metal 152.7 tonnes of scrap metal was collected in 2015/16. The steel is broken down and melted so it can be recycled. Steel is 100% recyclable and can be reused to make new car bodies, cans, aerosols, bikes, BBQs, furniture and whitegoods. 20% of steel products are now made from recycled steel. TVs and computers 31 tonnes of electronic waste was collected in 2015/16. This e-waste includes computers, printers, monitors and TVs. Once collected, it is broken down and parts are sorted for recycling. Other hard waste 1,450 tonnes of other hard waste was collected in 2015/16. This includes items that cannot be recycled, for example broken furniture, broken glass and old carpet. Additionally, 2,856 mattresses were collected for recycling. These mattresses are broken down and the parts separated and recycled, where possible.

Average annual waste generation per household

900

800

700

600

500

400

300

Average household waste to landfill Average household waste diverted from landfill for recycling

200

100

Total kgs

09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 15/16

At the household level, the average volume by weight of waste to landfill has decreased by 8% since 2009/10 while waste diverted for recycling has decreased by 31%.

City of Stonnington Sustainability Snapshot 2015/16

Sustainable Purchasing and Product Use

Key achievements

Focus for 2016/17

Council consumes large quantities of goods and materials which can have varying degrees of impact on the environment. Council can positively influence the environment through selecting products and materials that are manufactured locally and are made from environmentally sustainable products/recycled goods.

Council » Supported a range of paper reduction initiatives across Council departments, including increasing the use of iPads, paper-free meetings, reducing the amount of printed materials and the development of online forms and systems. » Updated Council’s finance system to improve the tracking of sustainable purchases. » Embedded environmental specifications in tender documents including events and infrastructure projects. » Continued to explore opportunities to maximise the use of recycled materials for Council’s Civil Works, including replacing crushed rock with crushed concrete where possible. » Recovered a range of materials for reuse at Council sites including bluestone, bollards and other infrastructure. » Continued to use timber sourced from sustainable forestry in Council landscape projects. Community » Launched the Armadale Baptist Church Community Garden to help residents access locally grown food. » Continued to explore opportunities to support the development of community gardens in Stonnington. » Delivered a series of workshops for residents on growing their own food,

Council » Develop targets and a program to support paper reduction initiatives across Council. » Release a new online Application Portal (ePlanning) for registered users to lodge planning application documents, objections and other planning information. » Upgrade the boardwalk and viewing platform at Glen Iris Wetlands with recycled plastic materials. » Undertake an evaluation of Council’s sustainable procurement practices to develop an action plan for improvements. » Develop sustainable procurement guidelines and training for staff. » Explore opportunities to improve the environmental impact of materials and services related to Council events and events on Council land. » Increase the amount of green stationery purchased for Council staff use. Community » Develop a set of guidelines to support the development of community gardens across the City.

Goals

Increase the amount of materials and services purchased by Council that have lower environmental impacts compared to equivalent alternatives

Reduce Council’s overall use of materials and products through implementing more efficient practices

Support the community to access local produce

including workshops focused on growing food in small spaces.

CASE STUDY:

Recycled materials

Products and materials made from environmentally sustainable products or recycled goods are used across a range of Council projects.

» The new Council office located at 311 Glenferrie Road features carpets made out of recycled materials, a machine that turns food waste into compost and the capture of rainwater which is then used to flush the toilets and irrigate the green wall.

» Solar lights have been installed in Carters Avenue Reserve providing necessary lighting for those using the park link at night. » Surrey Park incorporates environmentally sensitive design features, including the use of recycled timber, drought tolerant plantings of an array of native shrubs and trees and solar powered children’s play area.

» The Yarra River Biodiversity Linkages Project incorporates recycled timber and bluestone as key design features. » Council ‘closes the loop’ on our urban forest through mulching branches and logs to reuse in Council’s parks and gardens.

City of Stonnington Sustainability Snapshot 2015/16

Biodiversity

06 Biodiversity

Key achievements Council » Continued working with the Federal Government’s Green Army who assisted with indigenous revegetation, weed control, mulching, and clean up at the Yarra River, Malvern Valley Golf Course, Glen Iris Wetlands and Como Park North. » Commenced work on Stages 4 and 5 of the Yarra River Biodiversity Linkages Project which includes reconstruction and widening of the shared path east of Chapel Street, installation of new retaining walls, improved access to the bus stop, weed and invasive tree removal and native revegetation. » Undertook maintenance of Stages 1, 2 and 3 of the Yarra River Biodiversity Linkages Project including weed control, removal of dead vegetation, replaced jute matting, native vegetation infill planting and watering. » Participated in trialling the Biodiversity Monitoring Framework for Melbourne’s East, developed in partnership with the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (EAGA) Councils, to monitor urban biodiversity and habitat health. Focus for 2016/17 Council » Complete Stages 4 and 5 of the Yarra River Biodiversity Linkages Project and commence work on Stage 6 which includes weed removal, native revegetation and bicycle path upgrades. » Develop a maintenance program for all completed stages of the Yarra River Biodiversity Linkages Project. » Investigate a routine biodiversity monitoring program for Stonnington using the EAGA Biodiversity Monitoring Framework as a guide. » Continue to explore opportunities to expand habitat and corridors for local wildlife, including additional nesting boxes at key biodiversity sites.

The vast majority of land in Stonnington has been developed for housing, business, transport and public open space. This long-term, wide scale development has depleted the natural environment and resulted in a significant loss of indigenous vegetation. There are, however, still some important areas of native flora and fauna within the city. As the City of Stonnington will continue to be highly developed, protecting and enhancing existing biodiversity areas is critical. Council is concentrating its efforts on enhancing areas where some remnant habitat already exists and Council has management control over the land. The benefits of biodiversity for the community are numerous; not only does a high level of biodiversity result in a healthy and attractive physical environment, but it can facilitate educational opportunities, recreational activities, and add to the amenity of the area.

» Commenced development of an Urban Forest Strategy to provide a long-term strategic direction for Council to plan and manage Stonnington’s urban forest. » Continued to improve biodiversity in our key sites through planting and building habitat. Community » Installed interpretive signage at Glen Iris Wetlands with engaging and interactive information on indigenous plants, wetland birds, frogs, waterbugs and stormwater treatment. Interactive elements include buttons which feature frog and bird sounds. » Engaged our community, schools and early learning centres on biodiversity through a series of new bike and walking tours along the Yarra River and on Herring Island and an Earth Hour event at the Glen Iris Wetlands. » Celebrated National Tree Day with a community tree planting event at Glen Iris Wetlands. » 232 students from 10 schools participated in Council events for National Tree Day at the Urban Forest and Glen Iris Wetlands. » Incorporate plant species into parks and gardens that provide food and habitat resources for wildlife throughout the year. » Install outdoor signage at Percy Treyvaud and TH King Oval to engage the community around local biodiversity. Community » Continue to engage our community, schools and early learning centres on biodiversity through workshops, tours and planting days. » Launch the Yarra River Audio Tour to increase community engagement and connection to the Yarra River biodiversity site, through an accessible audio tour, available to all residents and visitors to Stonnington. » Increase Council’s partnership with local friends groups working to enhance local biodiversity. » Explore opportunities to support the community to develop wildlife friendly gardens. » Investigate opportunities to support the installation of green infrastructure retro-fits in Stonnington apartment buildings.

Goal

Protect and enhance biodiversity and public amenity through enhancing environmental values

“The students love planting trees for National Tree Day because it is hands on and the children get their hands dirty. They love to be directly involved and can see their own personal contribution to the improvement of habitat in an urban area.” Malcolm Dow, Assistant Principal, Armadale Primary School

» Continue to plant a diversity of tree species in the City’s streets, parks, gardens and reserves to increase the biodiversity values and resilience of the Urban Forest.

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24

Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online