Council has committed to more than 20 key objectives driving sustainability in areas such as community health, the environment and the economy.
The endorsement of the Sustainability Performance Indicators and Targets, follows the Council’s adoption of the Sustainability Framework and Action Plan last year.
The 23 targets detail aims for enhancing public safety and digital inclusion, reducing carbon emissions, waste disposal and water use, encouraging active travel and increasing workforce participation, visitor spending and innovation.
They include a raft of new goals to be achieved by 2030 to help protect the environment, including:
• 100 per cent of garbage, recyclables and green organics collected from kerbside bins to be diverted from landfill;
• Zero waste to landfill from City office buildings;
• 20 per cent of all water used in the municipality is sourced from alternative water sources;
• 20 per cent of all water used by the City is sourced from alternative water sources;
Greater Geelong Mayor Stephanie Asher said the performance measures aim to meet the needs and expectations of the community.
“Taking real action to improve the lifestyle for our communities, indeed everyone’s social experience, while also reducing our physical impacts and maintaining a strong financial position is a priority across the whole organisation,” Mayor Asher said.
“Sustainability can be a bit of a buzzword, but the City of Greater Geelong is putting words into action and it is critical to have targets at which to aim and indicators to measure our progress and keep the organisation accountable.
“Our best practice targets have been developed in close consultation with our Sustainability Advisory Committee, who bring a wealth of expertise. I extend my sincere thanks to this committee and the team for their terrific input.”
A Climate Change Response Plan, which will include a public climate change statement and associated carbon emission reduction targets, is due to come to Council next month.
Councillor Belinda Moloney, Deputy Chair of the Sustainability Performance portfolio, said the Sustainability Advisory Committee, made up of a range of community experts, had provided advice on the indicators and targets.
“These are ambitious but achievable targets, that compare favourably to the highest-performing organisations in both the public and private sectors and align with the four strategic directions in our four-year Our Community Plan,” Cr Moloney said.
“These targets represent an urgent response to the global climate emergency, while also recognising the social and financial challenges and opportunities ahead for Greater Geelong.
“Council aims to lead from the front and help our community reduce emissions now and into the future.”
The City will report annually on nearly 70 Global Reporting Initiative and Our Community Plan 2021-25 Indicators.
“We are committed to annual reporting so we can continually improve our performance and allow the community to track our progress,” Cr Moloney said.
