Breadcrumb links
Environment
Shire initiatives and projects
- State of Environment Report
- Cities for Climate Protection
- Sustainability Working Group
- Sustainability Advisory Committee
- Living Smart Program
- Solar PV/ wind turbine project
- Biodiversity Conservation Incentive Strategy
- ICLEI Local Governments for sustainability
- Waterwise Councils
- Stormwater
- Clean Site Fact Sheets
- Coastal Management Plan
State of Environment Report
State of the Environment (SOE) reports are designed to communicate credible, timely and accessible information about the condition of the environment to decision makers and the community. The Shire of Augusta Margaret River SOE 2009 focuses on the major environmental issues within the Shire, to guide the development and implementation of future environmental strategies.
The report addresses 8 themes; Atmosphere, Biodiversity, Coastal and marine, Inland waters, Land, Heritage, Settlements and towards sustainability, including 29 issues and makes 141 suggested responses.
The format of this report is similar to the Western Australian State of Environment Report with components of Western Australian State of Environment report copied into this report to ensure a consistent reporting process is achieved.
The SoE has been advertised for public comment, submission are now being reviewed and it is anticipated that the report will be updated prior to going to council for final adoption. It is anticipated that the State of Environment report will be regularly reviewed and updated to incorporate new knowledge about the overall condition of our environment and will become a more comprehensive document overtime. The report provides a valuable resource for the council and community to understand the current threats to the environment, identify what programs are in place to address environmental concerns and to prioritise responses.
To view the State of Environment Report click here or visit the Shire Offices.
Cities for Climate Protection
Council joined the Cities for Climate Protection Program in 2007 - 2008. As part of the program it committed to reduce carbon emissions by 20% from the 2006 - 2007 levels by the year 2017.
Sustainability Working Group
The Sustainability Working Group is a house group of Shire employees that look at the impacts of climate change. The objective of the group is to reduce gas carbon emissions in line with Council’s Strategic Plan and the Cities for Climate Protection framework.
Sustainability Advisory Committee
The Sustainability Advisory Committee established in 2007 aims to promote sustainable environmental practices.
The purpose of SAC is to:
- Promote sustainable environmental practices within the Shire of Augusta Margaret River and across the community; advise Council officers and Council how to increase community engagement with sustainable environmental practice.
- To provide a forum for community representatives, councillors and council officers to focus on sustainability issues.
The objectives of SAC are to:
- To advise the Shire of Augusta Margaret River officers and Council on sustainable environmental issues including:
- Air quality;
- Biodiversity;
- The built environment;
- Community engagement;
- Land degradation;
- Transport;
- Water;
- Waste management.
- To identify strategies which increase real and sustainable behaviour change in residents, businesses and other members of the community (including tourists) to improve environmental outcomes.
- To recommend to the Shire of Augusta Margaret River Council on policy, advice and appropriate courses of action which promote sustainability which is (1) environmentally responsible, (2) socially sound and (3) economically viable. SAC is made up of community members with an interest and expertise in sustainable building design, engineers, architects and environmental champions, appointed by the Council following public advertisement.
Living Smart Programme
The Living Smart Programme is an initiative which has stemmed from SAC and is looking to be developed upon in the future.
Solar PV/ wind turbine project
Council, on advice from the Sustainability Advisory Committee, initiated and implemented a Solar PV / wind turbine project on the roof of the Recreation Centre. Funding was received through grant funds from SEDO and the Shire. This project will generate approximatelly 20% of the energy requirements for the Recreation Centre in Margaret River. It has been listed as a finalist in the Landcorp Community Achievement Awards for Sustainability.
Biodiversity Conservation Incentive Strategy
The Shire embarked on the development of a Biodiversity Conservation Incentive Strategy after receiving funds from the South West Biodiversity project. The strategy investigates various incentive options for private landowners to conserve biodiversity and habitats. For further information you can read the Draft Biodiversity Conservation Incentive Stragegy.
ICLEI Local Governments for sustainability
Waterwise Councils
Stormwater
- Waste and Sediment Management on your Building Site
- Guidelines for Erosion and Sediment Control at Building Sites in the South West of WA
Clean Site Fact Sheets
Containing your building site
Managing your building site
- Builders and Supervisors
- Delivering to Building Sites
- Sand and Soil Stockpiles
- Soil and Site Checklist
- Stabilised Entry and Exit Point
Recycling and Waste
Trades
Coastal Management Plan
The Shire of Augusta–Margaret River has a spectacular coastal environment that is exposed to the full energy of the Indian Ocean in the west and a relatively more sheltered embayment facing the Southern Ocean in the south. The high energy west coast has a number of world renowned surfing breaks and attracts large numbers of surfers at certain times of the year. The sheltered embayment on the south coast is an ideal habitat for
whales to spawn and that has created a great attraction for people to observe the mammals and their young. The coast is a major attraction for residents and tourists, and there has been a lot of pressure exerted on the coast for residential and recreation uses. Large concentrations of surfers and beach users have led to the degradation of the coast in some areas. For this reason it is essential to establish a good coastal management regime to ensure that no irreversible damage will result.
The Shire has also experienced a high population growth rate in recent years. There is ongoing pressure to open up more coastal areas to give more and more people access to the coast. The coast is potentially an unstable landform. Sandy coasts in particular accrete and recede in response to changing coastal processes such as wind, waves and sediment supply. Large numbers of people using the coast can destabilize coastal dunes and may cause irreversible damage. Careful planning and management is therefore needed to
protect the environment.
The purpose of the present project is to review the existing management plans and PE 15 Coastal Management Policy, and prepare one overall Coastal Management Plan (the Plan) of the Shire’s coast. The Plan is made for the purpose of drawing together and integrating all previous plans developed for the Shire’s coastal reserves, identifying areas where further detailed planning is required and for developing an action plan to guide and
prioritise Council expenditure on coastal reserves.
A copy of the Coastal Management Plan is available for viewing at the Shire offices.
For more information contact:
Customer Service Officer, Customer Service Centre
- Hours
- Mon - Fri: 8.00am to 4.30pm
- Telephone
- 08 9780 5255
- Fax
- 08 9757 2512
