Environmental Commitments

Greenfleet

Boroondara’s commitment to emissions reduction is continued with our subscription to Greenfleet.

Environmental Management and Policy

Council is implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS) across the organisation as the framework for addressing environmental issues.

An EMS is a tool for planning and implementing environment protection measures and enables Council to regularly assess its environmental impacts and performance. As part of this, Council has adopted an environment policy and developed e-learning training programs for staff. 

The process is well suited to managing Council’s wide range of services and is in line with the international standard called ISO 14001.

Environment Policy
An outline of Council's commitment to a number of environmental policy objectives.

Awards

World Environment Day Awards 2003 & 2006

In 2003, the City of Boroondara was awarded a United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Award, in the category of Local Government, for Overall Excellence in Environmental Management. Council was also a finalist in the Excellence in Water Management category. These achievements commend Council for its water management program.

In 2006, Council was a finalist in the Local Government Awards category, for Best Specific Environmental Initiative for the Living for our Future Pilot Program.  

The program is an outstanding example of what can be achieved through a partnership approach.  Staff worked closely with the National Centre for Sustainability at Swinburne University to develop and deliver a carefully researched program of workshops for residents on how to live more sustainably.

Victorian Savewater!™ Awards

The Savewater! Awards are designed to acknowledge leadership in water conservation across several categories.

The City of Boroondara was a finalist in the Built Environment category of the 2005 Savewater! Awards for its submission on the installation of a remediation system and two 45,000 litre water tanks at Freeway Golf Course.

Council also won the Efficiency in Local Government category in 2003.

This award commended Council's implementation of water audits in the Camberwell Market and leisure centres, commitment to improving water management through its sponsorship of ICLEI's Water Campaign, numerous water conservation initiatives such as improved irrigation efficiency, use of drought tolerant plants, and Council's new footpath maintenance process that does not use water for grinding.

Victorian Energy Smart Awards 2001

Boroondara was proud to receive Outstanding Achievement in the Best Government Operation category of the 2001 Victorian Energy Smart Awards. The award commends the launch of the Boroondara Energy Saving Team (BEST), Council's energy audits, and actions taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Energy Smart Awards recognised outstanding innovation and achievement in energy management in Victoria.

Waste Awards

Council's achievements in Waste Minimisation and Litter Reduction Education from the South Eastern Regional Waste Management Group include:

• 2005 Platinum Certificate
• 2004 Platinum Certificate
• 2003 Platinum Certificate
• 2002 Gold Certificate
• 2001 Gold Certificate
• 2000 Silver Certificate
• 1999 Certificate of Merit

Council was also recently awarded the Waste Wise Community Award 2005 for excellence in Community Education.

Melbourne Water Innovation Award - Water Sensitive Urban Design

In September, 2007 the City of Boroondara was proud to receive an innovation award from Melbourne Water for the Marwal Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project.  The project was the first of its kind in the City of Boroondara incorporating Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) into a commercial streetscape. The WSUD in Marwal Avenue is in the form of 'rain gardens' which collect run-off from the street and filter this water through the garden area to remove nutrients and suspended solids before it enters the storm water system and then the Yarra.

Melbourne Water worked with the five local Councils that front the lower Yarra over an 18 month period to incorporate WSUD into Council projects.  Of all the projects developed across these five Councils during this time, Marwal Avenue was given the Innovation Award for the innovative integration of rain gardens into the streetscape.

 

Environmental Reporting

Environmental Indicators for Boroondara

Council has developed several environmental indicators to track its performance.

Indicators for the community include:

• Number of environmental groups
• Waste to landfill
• Recycling materials collected
• Total greenhouse savings

For Council operations, these include:

• Total water consumption
• Total greenhouse gas savings
• Green purchasing

Reporting against these indicators can be found in Council's Annual Reports. To view these reports, see the links below.

Environmental Indicators for Melbourne

Council has also supported the Australian Institute of Urban Studies (AIUS) Steering Committee to develop environmental indicators for metropolitan Melbourne since 1997.

The committee produces annual bulletins that present indicators and information on air quality and emissions, transportation, litter, beach and bay, open space, water quality, waste and biodiversity. This is providing valuable information that Councils can monitor and incorporate into future strategies. To date eight bulletins have been published.

These bulletins can be viewed on the AIUS website, see the links below.

Australian Institute of Urban Studies (AIUS)
Environmental indicators for metropolitan Melbourne.

Graffiti

The presence of graffiti on private and public buildings is generating concern for Council. Graffiti destroys the appearance, and can mar the charm and character, of property and buildings.

Research and experience through interstate and overseas initiatives suggest that to reduce the amount of graffiti a co-ordinated approach is required by all members of the community. 

Graffiti removal from Council property

The City of Boroondara removes graffiti from Council property within 24 hours. Graffiti can be removed within four hours for particularly urgent cases involving offensive material. It is removed during working hours and after hours if required. Council properties include:

• Council buildings;
• public toilets;
• parks and reserves;
• street furniture such as litter bins and seats;
• playground and equipment;
• council signs; and
• fire hydrants.

Graffiti removal from private property

Council will assist private property owners with reported graffiti by issuing:

• Up to four litres of free paint to cover over graffiti on painted surfaces. Council officers will inspect the graffiti and issue the resident with a signed letter that can be presented to the Dulux Australia Paint Store at 95 Camberwell Road, Camberwell.
• On non painted surfaces a free environmentally friendly and biodegradable graffiti removal kit will be issued. Council officers will inspect the graffiti and issue the resident with a signed letter that can be presented to at 648 Riversdale Rd, Camberwell.

If you would like to report any graffiti please contact the City of Boroondara 24 hour Graffiti Hotline on 9278 4444.

Public property

Graffiti on public property is the responsibility of the relevant custodian authority. If you would like to report graffiti on public property please contact the relevant authority listed below or the City of Boroondara for further assistance.

Authority	Contact	Responsibility
Connex Trains	1800 800 705 6am - 10pm	Graffiti on  railway stations Incidences of trackside graffiti
Telstra	13 22 03 24 hour, 7 Days	Graffiti on telephone boxes, telephone poles and other Telstra property
Vic Roads	13 11 70 24 hour, 7 Days	Graffiti on traffic signal boxes, traffic lights and traffic signal poles
Citipower	13 12 80 24 hour, 7 Days	Graffiti on electricity poles, electrical sub stations
Yarra Trams	1800 800 166 6am – 10pm	Graffiti on tram poles located in Toorak Rd, Camberwell Rd, Riversdale Rd, Cotham Rd, High St, Burwood Rd & Power St

Police Reports

All Graffiti is to be reported to police to assist them in tracking and apprehension of offenders.

Local Environmental Sustainability Priority Statement

The Local Environmental Sustainability Priority Statement has been adopted by the City of Boroondara and is a critical step towards supporting the Victorian Local Sustainability Accord. The Accord itself seeks to strengthen cooperation between local and state governments in a bid to improve environmental sustainability across the State. The priority statement officially established the key environmental issues, challenges and opportunities for the City of Boroondara and includes our three priority projects.

Local Environmental Sustainability Priority Statement
Please download this document to view the Victorian Local Sustainability Accord Local Environmental Sustainability Priority Statement.