Cardinia Shire Council mayor Bill Pearson receives the award for the council’s water saving initiatives from councillor Geoff Lake, president of the ALGA.CARDINIA Shire Council has been commended for its commitment to addressing sustainability through water saving initiatives.
The council is a participant in the ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) Water Campaign, an innovative international campaign that helps local governments reduce water consumption and their impact on the environment.
Mayor Bill Pearson joined delegates from state and local governments at ICLEI Oceania’s Step Up Recognition and Briefing Breakfast, delivered during the Australian Local Government Association’s National General Assembly (ALGA) on Monday 22 June at the Canberra National Convention Centre.
The ICLEI awarded Cardinia Shire Council for achieving milestone four in the five-milestone program whereby council has implemented and then quantified water reduction actions from its Sustainable Water Use Plan.
Cr Pearson said the council was committed to playing a leading role in reducing the impacts of global warming through reducing water consumption.
“Council is actively engaged in reducing the effects of climate change through its water saving initiatives, which not only has benefits for the environment, but also results in positive impacts on the quality of life in our community,” he said.
Cardinia Shire Council’s Sustainable Water Use Plan was developed in partnership with Melbourne Water, ICLEI, South East Water and Yarra Valley Water, as a result of funds received from the State Government.
The council’s Sustainable Water Use Plan is on track to reduce the impacts of global warming through setting and following through with two key reduction targets which are:
· To reduce per capita water consumption across the municipality by 15 per cent per person by 2011, and
· To reduce council/corporate water usage by 20 pe r cent by 2011
The council also reduces the impacts of global warming through other water saving initiatives such as the showerhead swap program for residents, installing water tanks for recreation clubroom toilets across the shire, and the water harvesting project at the aquatic centre.
These projects have saved around 57,000 litres of water this past financial year.
The Sustainable Water Use Plan aims to pursue sustainable water management through reduced water consumption, improving efficiencies in managing water resources, demonstrating leadership in promoting water conservation in the community, and improvements to water quality and the health of local waterways.
“By achieving a milestone four award, council has proved that we are committed to the Sustainable Water Use Plan reduction targets, and we are on track to have them met by 2011,” Cr Pearson said.
Cardinia Shire Council was one of a number of Australian councils recognised at the breakfast by the Oceania Secretariat of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, an international not-for-profit organisation that supports local governments worldwide to achieve sustainable development through local action.
As a member of ICLEI, Cardinia Shire Council is part of a worldwide network of over 1000 local government organisations.
