Wollondilly Shire Council’s newly adopted Sustainability Policy will form a blueprint for the incorporation of sustainability into all elements of Council’s future business; including its decision making, processes and operations.

Council has also committed to providing support to the local community, businesses and other stakeholders as they transition to more sustainable practices.

Council exhibited the draft Sustainability Policy at the end of 2022, with feedback from the community included in the final version.

Mayor Matt Gould said, “Council needs to lead by example when it comes to delivering sustainable outcomes, so we can have a healthy environment for our future community.”

“It comes down to balancing our current environmental, social and economic needs with the needs of future generations. I know that many of our residents are already taking steps towards sustainability, such as installing solar roof panels, buying second hand goods, having a native garden, using public transport and recycling, which is a positive start.”

“I’d like to thank everyone who provided input into the Policy to help us set the direction for Wollondilly on this important issue.”

The feedback received from the community was very supportive of the Sustainability Policy, with key themes emerging such as the need to protect biodiversity, increase the use of renewable energy and work towards net zero emissions.

The Sustainability Policy aligns with Council’s corporate documents including the Local Strategic Planning Statement, which investigates how to best embed climate change, resilient practices and mitigation across Council operations including service delivery, infrastructure purchasing and regulatory frameworks.

Council is implementing a wide range of projects and programs to deliver on the objectives of the Sustainability Policy, which will continue as the Sustainability Strategy is developed and finalised.

The Policy, together with the Strategy and Council’s commitment to the Cities Power Partnership, will provide a formal framework for all Council activities.