Environment
Councils in South Australia play a key role in implementing environmental policies (both their own, or State Government driven).
The Local Government Association provides Councils with project support and a number of resources to assist them work collaboratively.
This category of information (established for website presentation) brings together key resources and information for Councils. Our site is under development and will expand to include information relating to:
Waste and Recycling
Environment Protection
Natural Resource Management
Coastal
For information about specific services your Council provides in relation to any of these topic areas, contact the Council directly - to find contact information, click here.
Click on other sub headings under "Policy & Projects" to see other categories of information or use the search function to search the whole site.
Environmental LG Research and Development Scheme Projects:
A Collaborative Approach to Landfill Reform- To ensure a genuine collaborative approach by State and LG to landfills reform - To provide technical support to the Working Group to implement landfill reform - To assist LG to introduce landfill reforms and determin timeframes to achieve required outcomes |
Accelerating Country Waste Management Reform in 2002A proposal by the LGA to coordinate a strategic regional approach to waste management reform in country areas, with the cooperation and assistance of the EPA. |
Alignment of Regional LG Waste Management Plans and SA Waste Strategy 2005-2010To review all regional LG waste plans including: Identifying common priority waste steams Identifying the shared opportunities and barriers for regional and rural LG waste management reform in SA and to develop a series of recommendations for implementation of the plans consistent with SA's Waste Strategy. |
Alternative Funding Arrangements for NRM BoardsTo build on and further develop the NRM Levy Report (prepared by Peter Emery) into a more substantive report to provide the LGA with a platform to engage the Minister for Environment and Conservation in discussion on appropriate long term funding arrangements for NRM Boards. |
Analysis of Markets for Council Collected RecyclablesTo undertake a wide ranging investigation into local, national and international markets for SA Council collected recyclables: To establish the destination of the major types of Council collected recyclables, and Better understand the long term viability of kerbside recycling and enable better management of collection services and contracts |
Cities as Water CatchmentsTo enable SA Local Government to participate in a national research program tilted Cities as Water Catchments which will focus on effectively harnessing and reusing urban water resources to create water sensitive cities. The funding sought will enable the LGA to coordinate the SA Local Government participation in partnership with Councils and SA State Government agencies. |
Contamination of Council Collected Green OrganicsTo assess the types and quantities of contamination in green organics collected by Councils through kerbside collection or drop off and develop a code of practice to reduce green organic contamination. |
Coordinated Climate Change ResponseTo develop a coordinated LG approach to climate change to enable a logical and confident move towards: - adapting to the long term physical impact of climate change - reducing greenhouse gas emissions and their carbon footprint - providing much needed leadership and capacity building to manage climate change risk and opportunity. |
Council Cemeteries - a new ApproachTo research innovative approaches to providing adequate internment space in current and future Council managed cemeteries that: - meets all relevant legislative requirements - considers new styles of internment - recognises and preserves heritage and conservation values. |
Environment Protection (Waste to Resources) Policy - Facilitating LG Input & PlanningThis project will ensure that Councils are involved, informed and engaged in the process of finalising an Environment Protection (Waste to Resources) Policy. It will ensure that the Local Government sector has as much influence as possible over the future of waste management objectives and operations in this state. |
Environmental Specification in ContractsTo influence the activities of major suppliers and service providers through the inclusion of a standard set of environmental specifications in contracts, the establishment of a tender assessment process and evaluation criteria for the assessment of environmental management plans. |
Establishing an Additional Site for the Australian Alternative Landfill Covers Assessment ProgramTo establish an additional landfill test site that uses alternative final covers for landfills which will meet site owner and regulatory performance criteria more cost competitively (on a life-cycle basis) than conventional covers. |
Evaluate Production of Marketable Compost from Green Waste with De-watered SeptageTo undertake a trial to de-water a quantity of septage (liquid pumped from septic tanks by liquid waste contractors) at a suitable location, then to transport the resultant biosolids to a composting site for a series of test composting. An experienced composting operator, at a suitable site approved by the EPA will undertake the composting of various ratios of septage/boisolids and chipped domestic green wastes. The incoming resources and the final product will be analysed for contaminates and nutrient value so that the market potential can be evaluated and trialled by interested parties. |
Formalising Natural Resource Management Relationships Between Local Government and Regional NRM BoardsTo strengthen and consolidate local government's strategic position and participation in regional natural resource management (NRM) delivery by: - Developing a model NRM partnership agreement based on the Murray Darling Association's 'Protocol for Engagement' between local government in the NRM regions and the regional NRM boards, and - Hosting workshops in the relevant NRM regions to discuss and debate the model partnership agreement and to reach agreement by consensus on its content. It is anticipated that a formal signing ceremony will be hosted in the NRM regions to mark the historic occasion.. |
Future Directions in Waste ManagementTo provide a report identifying a clear strategic path forward for reaching SA's waste targets in the most effective and efficient way while achieving the ultimate goal of reducing our environmental footprint. This project aims to deliver the following outcomes; - An improved capacity in the Local Government sector to contribute to the achievement of SA Strategic Plan and Waste Strategy targets; - Greater recognition by State Government of Local Government's actual and potential contribution to the achievement of the Strategic Plan targets; - Greater clarity and consistency for the citizens across SA as to how they can contribute to the efforts of particularly Local Government, but ultimately all tiers of Australian Government. |
Future Directions in Waste Management Program ImplementationTo roll out a program of projects and activities over the period from September 2008 to end 2009, to address the 26 recommendations of the LGA commissioned Future Directions in Waste Management for Local Government in SA report. |
Influence of Trees on Dwellings and Pavements in an Urban Enviornment- to provide a basis for placing value on trees of different species which take into account their water relations and soil moisture balance; - to examine the potential nuisance that trees may cause to urban buildings and structures under various situations; and - to provide a comparison with current recommended soil suction data for footing design to facilitate improved engineering designs in the future. |
Integrated Coastal Management - Strategy DevelopmentTo investigate the desired role, responsibilities and funding requirements of LG in coastal management to enable LG to effectively participate in the current State Government review of coastal management. |
Investigation of Illegal Dumping in South AustraliaTo investigate illegal dumping in South Australia by: - establishing baseline data on the incidence, locations, volumes and waste types dumped in metropolitan and country areas - developing strategies for intervention and a manual for Councils to reduce the impact of illegal dumping. |
LG Strategic Planning for Water & SalinityTo provide assistance to Councils to incorporate measures into Countcil Strategic Management Plans re managing deyland salinity, water quality improvement and water consumption reduction. |
LGA Committee on Waste - Future Policy DirectionsThe objectives of this project are to provide strategic advice to the LGA Executive Committee to enable a coordinated Local Government approach on waste issues; seek to establish a long term (formal) agreement between State and Local Government on waste management; coordinate constructive LG input to guide the development of the proposed Environment Protection (Waste to Resources) Policy and to facilitate the investigation of new technological opportunities, the sharing of knowledge and expertise within Local Government. |
LGA/ZWSA Waste Management ForumTo deliver in early 2007, in conjunction with Zero Waste SA, a waste management and resource recovery forum to discuss the following issues with Councils and the wider community: 1. Food organics collection (results of trials, case studies and way forward). 2. Contamination of kerbside organics (project results, processor and industry perspective). 3. Hard waste (delivery of audit results and discussion of Council concerns and potential resolutions). 4. Transfer station design (elements of physical design and potential development of LG design template). 5. Regional implementation strategies (project results delivery, discussion of case studies) 6. Landfill closures (EPA guidelines, discussion on LGA/LG perspective) |
Local Government (Stormwater Management) Bill 2006To provide further legal analysis on the issues of watercourses on private land for draft Local Government (Stormwater Management) Bill 2006 which is scheduled to be introduced to Parliament during spring 2006 session. Such legal analysis is required to assist the Local Government consultation process. |
Local Government Coastal Boundary ReformA two stage project. Stage 1: Involves a search of State Govt Gazettes to identify the exact definition of Councils coastal boundaries and Stage 2: To prepare an issues paper regarding the impact of the findings on future boundary adjustments. |
Management of Nuisance Corellas on the Fleurieu PeninsulaThis proposal aims to conduct research on corella distribution, abundance, movements and impacts on the Fleurieu Peninsula, particularly noise and tree health and development community Action Plans. |
Managing Cemeteries for the Preservation and Enhancement of Cultural and Natural Heritage ValuesCemeteries throughout the state generally remain in the care, control and management of Councils. They contain many elements of cultural and natural heritage value. As a tool for identifying and protecting these values, it is proposed to develop guidelines and a management template that can be adapted for the management of these areas. |
Model Contracts for Resource Recovery and Waste ManagementTo develop three model contract documents for LG waste management and resource recovery: General waste collection Resource recovery (recyclable and green organics) collection Landfill operation These documents will provide LG consistency and ensure that legislative and performance monitoring requirements are met. |
Natural Resource Management Scoping StudyTo investigate the desired role and responsibilities of Local Government in natural resource management. This would be done in consultation with Councils and other stakeholders. |
Needs Analysis for Water Resource Management Training & Education Program for LGTo determine the needs of Local Government for Training and Education to address Water Resource Management issues. |
Negotiating Agreements for Regional Waste ReformsTo engage a senior consultant with a high level of experience and credibility within both state and local government to work with each region to develop an action plan agreed within the region and by the EPA and ZWSA, and to secure the financial resources required to carry out the necessary work. |
Operating Procedures and Manual for Water Affecting ActivitiesTo develop a best practice operating procedure and manual for water affecting activities in order to improve environmental outcomes and reduce the time, cost and red tape associated with the permit approval process under the Natural Resources Management Act 2004. |
Septage Treatment and Disposal TrialInvestigate and trial alternative and recently developed commercially available procedures and practices to treat and dispose of septic tank and facultative sludge (septage). |
'Sustainability On-line', a Sustainability Indicator and Data Resource for Local Government* To develop a common framework of sustainability themes and indicators for use by LG. * To develop a data management framework to enable the collection of data on sustainability that is comparable across the sector. * To construct a 'Sustainability Online' website. |
Sustainable Public LightingTo develop a clear, orderly, fair and reasonable framework to help all Councils in South Australia provide more sustainable public lighting services for the community whilst meeting the Australian Standards and State regulations. |
Sustainable Waste Management Technologies for LG Adelaide Metro AreaTo investigate future Local Government waste collection, treatment and disposal requirements within the Adelaide metropolitan area, taking into account the long term impacts on solid waste landfill disposal sites. |
TREENET PilotSurveyed all Councils to determine infrastructure and management issues in relation to urban street trees and to establish a database of results. |
Upgrading Environmental Performance in Country LandfillsThis project will undertake a review of existing Landfill Environmental Management Plans, develop a 'green score' system, develop guidelines for the development of Landfill Environmental Management Plans and provide technical advice & regional forums. |
Urban RegenerationA project designed to enhance knowledge and understanding amongst Councils on urban regeneration and to define what urban regeneration means to individual Council areas. It also determined key issues and impediments for progression, identified common interests and options for implementation and future action that recognised the very different physical characteristics that exist across metropolitan Adelaide. |
Waste Management - A Single Body for LGTo investigate and report on models which could be adopted to create a single structure to represent and advocate the views of the whole of SA Local Government on waste management policy, operations, infrastructure and funding. |
Waste Management CoordinatorTo establish a dedicated part-time resource to work on waste management initiatives. |
Waste Service Charge GuidelinesPreparation of guidelines to assist Councils to consider, assess and, if deemed appropriate, implement a service charge for the collection, treatment or disposal (including recycling) of waste. These will be practical guidelines that will include lessons learnt from other Councils and ensure a consistent approach by Councils who choose to proceed. |
Water SecurityTo identify the current and future roles for Local Government in water management and conservation and the "pre-conditions" that must exist in order to achieve environmental, economic and social benefits. |
Water Supply IssuesThis project aims to examine water supply issues in the Central Region. Will be related specifically to the region but will have general implications for country areas that will be addressed as part of the project. |
Zero Waste SA - getting the best resultsTo gain the best possible outcomes for LG when the new body 'Zero Waste SA' comes into existence during 2003 |
