Residents who wish to take real action to improve their sustainability and help the environment have an opportunity to have their say over the next month.
Kempsey Shire Council has placed a draft Sustainability and Resilience Strategy on public exhibition with a view to adopting it in the near future.
The strategy will guide both Council and community actions to improve environmental sustainability within the Kempsey Shire.
At Tuesday’s June Council Meeting, Councillors signed off on the draft Sustainability and Resilience Strategy, that has been developed in conjunction with the community.
General Manager, Craig Milburn, said the need to focus on sustainability locally was emphasised by the extreme weather events experienced recently in the shire.
“During engagement, many residents expressed a wish for a healthy and sustainable valley that will guarantee future generations can enjoy our natural and culture values,” said Mr Milburn.
“It is now time for residents to look at what is included in the scope of this strategy as well as the actions Council will take to achieve its vision and to create a more sustainable and resilient community.”
The vision outlined in the Sustainability and Resilience Strategy is “working together to build an environmentally sustainable Kempsey Shire, creating urban and rural areas that are better prepared for a changing climate and building a more resilient and adaptable community.”
The key themes identified for achieving this vision are:
- Leadership – Lead by example in addressing Council’s operational impacts regarding sustainability and raise staff awareness of their roles in environmental sustainability with regard to procurement, transport and events.
- Environment – Work together to manage and enhance our natural and urban environments to become more resilient to the likely impacts of climate change.
- Community – Build the capacity of the community to live more sustainably including community education and stakeholder support.
The Sustainability and Resilience Strategy is a further example of Council’s commitment to a community vision that “our people are given the opportunities and infrastructure to build a safe, welcoming and sustainable community.”
Councillors also congratulated Council staff on receiving the Excellence in Sustainability Award at the 2022 Macleay Valley Business Awards.
To provide feedback on the draft Sustainability and Resilience Strategy, head to ksc.pub/sustainability
Feedback closes Wednesday 27 July 2022 4pm.
