Environmental Management Policy

Purpose

Swan Hill Rural City Council’s (Council) Environmental Management Policy will:
Provide Council with a strategic framework to undertake a range of activities in order to protect and enhance our local environment, including land use planning and management, climate change adaptation and mitigation, the effective management of waste and stormwater, the protection and enhancement of biodiversity, and the control of roadside weeds and pests.

This policy provides the context for the development of specific environmental strategies and management plans to enhance operational procedures and foster a culture of sustainability by aligning with Environmental Management System (EMS) ISO AS/NZS 14001 in identifying and managing environmental issues in a structured manner through the allocation of resources, assignment of responsibilities and ongoing assessment and improvement of practices, procedures and processes.

Scope

This policy applies to all operations and assets of Council that the Council has direct responsibility for and control over. The application of the policy will ensure environmentally responsible behaviour in its staff and contractors and promote actions towards sustainability in the wider community.

Policy

The Environmental Management Policy will contribute towards Council’s effective delivery of environmental management in the areas of compliance, sustainability and management of its own work practices to reduce the impact on the local environment’s air, water, soil and biological systems.

Specifically Council will:

• Reduce its ecological footprint by reducing resource consumption, particularly energy, water and waste.
• Integrate principles of sustainability and sustainable development into decision making.
• Capture renewable resources to generate energy, such as solar.
• Provide for the protection, enhancement and rehabilitation of Swan Hill’s natural environment on land and waters controlled by Council.
• Take into account the affects of climate change on Council operations and undertake strategic actions that enable adaption and mitigation.

Related Policies

To achieve significant environmental sustainability Council will continue to implement and devise a wide range of management strategies and action plans including but not limited to:

• IDM Guidelines –Design and Build New Developments
• ISO AS/NZS 14001
• Resilience Action Strategy 2012-15
• Roadside Management Plan 2009-13
• Strategic Linkages Plan 2008-2011
• Sustainable Living Strategy 2017-2027
• Waste Management Strategy 2015-20
• Urban Tree Management Plan

Related Legislation

• Aboriginal Heritage Act (2006)
• Biodiversity Act (2002)
• Catchment and Land protection Act (1994)
• Climate Change Act (2010)
• Commonwealth Water Act (2007)
• Conservation Forest and Lands Act (1987)
• Environment Protection Act (1970)
• Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act),
• Fisheries Act (1995)
• Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988)
• Litter Act (1987)
• Local Government Act (2020)
• Planning and Environment Act (1987)
• Road Management Act (2004)
• State Environment Protection Policies (SEPPS)
• Water Act (1989) Wildlife Act (1975)

Signed: Bill Moar (Mayor)
Date: 17/06/2021