Council recognises it has a lead role in ensuring the community's vision and values are well managed and protected through effective planning and on ground action.

To work towards this the community assisted Council with developing a Strategy for a Sustainable Future and later the Great Lakes 2030 Community Strategic Plan.  This provided you (the community) the opportunity to identify changes you would like to see into the future. 

Your input to the development of these documents will be supported by detailed Council plans to ensure the achievement of key long term goals and actions.

Council has also commenced several on-ground projects to progress sustainability within the Great Lakes region. 

These initiatives include:

• Forming a Sustainability Advisory Committee (S-Team) to oversee local sustainability initiatives;
• Staff and Councillor training focused on sustainability for local government;
• Undertaking energy and water saving initiatives to reduce costs and improve resource use;
• Securing funding valued at $1.16 million to implement an Urban Sustainability Program;

• Assessing the sustainability of Council activities using the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage  Sustainability Health Check;
• Joining DECCW's Sustainability Advantage program to improve the environmental sustainability of the organisations business activities;
• Investigating renewable energy opportunities to create jobs and build the local economy;
• Partnering with the community (business, students and residents to name a few) to support sustainable living practices.

Strategy for a Sustainable Future

To ensure Council is committed to and working strategically towards creating a sustainable Great Lakes, a Sustainability Strategy has been prepared and adopted.  The need for the Strategy has been driven by community expectations, legislation and the realisation that being sustainable has considerable benefits for the long term prosperity of the local area.

Council acknowledges that sustainability is already being addressed by other government agencies, local business and residents at varying levels.  The development of the strategy is about building on these existing programs and activities to encourage cooperation and ongoing improvement within our community.

To be sustainable it is widely accepted that a balance between our economy, our society and our environment is required to protect our quality of life beyond the present day.  The Great Lakes is experiencing rapid population growth placing pressure on our human and natural environments, health and wellbeing, infrastructure, services and industries. The Strategy contains an action plan to work towards addressing sustainability issues as the region expands to reduce our impact and protect our cultural and lifestyle values.

If you wish to read more, download a copy of the Strategy for a Sustainable Future.

Sustainability Advisory Committee (S-Team)

A team of staff from various sections of Council are working together to guide and help deliver sustainability initiatives from across the organisation.  The committee meets once every two months to identify funding opportunities, provide input to sustainability projects, support staff initiatives and to learn about sustainability collectively.  The Team is currently working on several programs to work towards being more sustainable.  These include:

• Implementation of the sustainability strategy;
• Delivery of several modules under the Sustainability Advantage Program;
• Completion of the Urban Sustainability Program entitled "Urban Sustainability and Wallis Lake - A Partnership Approach";
• Resource Efficiency to reduce waste, water and energy use;
• Staff and councillor training on sustainability related issues.

Great Lakes Council's Sustainability Advisory
Committee (S-team) supports ride to work day