FAQs

Sustainability for the purpose of this draft Policy means meeting the environmental, social and economic needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The Sustainability Policy is a high-level document that outlines Council’s commitment to ensuring sustainability is incorporated into all elements of business including decision making, processes and operations.  When adopted, it will form Council’s formal position in regard to sustainability.

It is a community expectation that Council join the ‘call to action’ and accelerate progress on delivering sustainability outcomes. Preparation of the draft Policy places Council into the first stage of the sustainability journey. 

The delivery of the draft Policy aligns with a number of actions in key Council corporate documents and is the first step in delivering Council’s 2022-23 Operational Plan Action 7.1.1 to 'Scope and develop a sustainability framework'.

Council has developed the draft Policy in collaboration with expertise provided by the Sustainability Advantage (SA) program run by the NSW Government Department of Planning and Environment.  This included a sustainability diagnostic to review priorities and challenges relating to sustainability within each business unit of Council, and linkages to the corporate vision and Community Strategic Plan. 

The diagnostic report prepared by the SA Team from this workshop has informed the draft Sustainability Policy and future preparation of the draft Sustainability Strategy.  

The Sustainability Strategy will be developed following Council’s adoption of the Sustainability Policy. The Strategy will set out strategic directions, priorities, actions, community / organisational indicators and departmental responsibility for delivery of sustainability outcomes that contribute to making a Wollondilly a more sustainable Shire.

The Sustainability Strategy will be implemented across the 4 key Council functions:

• Corporate sustainability
• Provision of facilities, services, resources and opportunities
• Sustainable growth and development
• Advocacy, education, collaboration and compliance

Once drafted, the Sustainability Strategy will be placed on public exhibition for comments from the community.

Ecologically sustainable development (ESD) is development that improves the quality of life, both now and into the future, in a way that maintains the ecological processes on which life depends. 

In the case of Local Government in NSW, consideration of ESD is a legislated requirement under the Local Government Act 1993. Section 8A of the Local Government Act 1993 includes the requirement for a Council to consider the following principles of ESD:

• The precautionary principle
• Inter-generational equity
• Conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity
• Improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.  

There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals:

1. No poverty: end poverty in all its forms
2. Zero hunger: end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Good health and well-being: ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Quality education: ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promoted lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Gender equality: achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Clean water and sanitation: ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Affordable and clean energy: ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Decent work and economic growth: promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure: build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduced inequalities: reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Sustainable cities and communities: make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Responsible consumption and production: ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Climate action: take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
14. Life below water: conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Life on land: protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Peace, justice and strong institutions: promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Partnerships for the goals: strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

For more information on the UN SDGs visit https://sdgs.un.org/goals

There are several ways to share your thoughts including submitting your comments on Your Say Wollondilly from 26 October – 16 December 2022. 

You can take survey as well, which will help us develop the Sustainability Strategy. 

Plus, you can also find out more at 

• Bloom Garden Expo on 30 October, 
• a Sustainability Discussion Session on 16 November, 
• the Robin Davies Community Nursery Open Day on 10 December
• or contact Council’s Customer Service Centre.