Mayor's - slides - Sustainable suburbia forum April 2011

Lighter Footprints: ‘Sustainable Suburbia’

Councillor Ben StennettMayorCity of Whitehorse

Image: Solar Power at Box Hill Town Hall

Sustainable Suburbia?

Home truths: Australia trumps US when it comes to McMansions Peter Martin ECONOMICS Sydney Morning HeraldNovember 30, 2009

Whitehorse City Council:Policies and Strategies

Sustainability Strategy:Our 10 Key Priorities

1. Climate Change, greenhouse and energy

2. Water conservation and quality

3. Resource efficiency, waste and recycling

4. Sustainable Communities

5. Our Natural Environment

6. Buildings, infrastructure and planning

7. Sustainable Business

8. Education and Community Engagement

9. Sustainability Policy and Leadership

10.Financial Sustainability

Leading by example:Corporate Sustainability

• We aim to lead by example• “Whole of Council”

involvement• Included in strategies, work

practices and Council processes

• Significant budget component

Images:

(top)Solar Power at Blackburn Lake Visitors Centre

(Bottom) Water efficiency at Council’s Jolimont Nursery

Spreading the message: Sustainable Living Week

Dedicated week of high-profile sustainable activities

Spreading the message: Sustainability Street Program

Spreading the message:Sustainable Schools

Walking School Bus Ride to School

Day Sustainable Schools

Creating Sustainable Suburbia: through Child Friendly Cities

According to UNICEF, a Child Friendly City is actively engaged in fulfilling the right of every citizen to:

• Walk safely in the streets, on their own;• Meet friends and play;• Have green spaces for plants and animals;• Live in an unpolluted and sustainable environment;

Whitehorse is working to become more ‘Child Friendly’ using the UNICEF Criteria and working with the Asia Pacific Child Friendly Cities network

Advocating for Change:The Eastern Transport Coalition

The Eastern Transport Coalition (ETC) is made up of 7 Councils in the Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne.

“The ETC advocates for sustainable and integrated transport services to reduce the level of car dependency to secure the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of Melbourne’s East and aims to work in partnership with Federal and State Governments to ensure the future sustainability of Eastern Melbourne”

Eastern Transport Coaltion www.etc.org.au