Environment Sustainability Advisory Committee

The Moira Shire Council Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee has been operating since 2004. In recent times the Committee changed its name from the Environmental Advisory Committee to the Environment Sustainability Advisory Committee. This name change reflects the new direction the committee aims to take; moving from a Council, business and organisational represented group to a community-based group aided by organisational representation.

This new approach was initiated as a result of increasing community concern regarding environmental issues such as drought, climate change and water availability, coupled with a need to ensure new and existing environmental programs undertaken by Council were carried out in a strategic manner. The Environment Sustainability Advisory Committee provides a forum for expert stakeholder and community input into Council's decision making process in relation to environmental and sustainability matters.

Councillor Jessie McCallum is the appointed Councillor to the committee and is joined by community, government and business representatives. Council officers from the internal Environment Working Group provide technical support and are able to provide advice on issues regarding environmental sustainability.

The purpose of the Committee is to provide Moira Shire Council with informed and constructive advice, input and support towards the development of strategy relating to the environment and sustainability issues and the implementation and monitoring of those strategies.

The objectives of the Committee are to:

• act as an advisory and liaison forum between the Council. expert stakeholders, industry, businesses and the community;
• contribute advice and guidance towards the development of environment and sustainability strategies for Council;
• guide the implementation of environment and sustainability strategies adopted by Council;
• monitor and review the progress of Council's environment and sustainability strategies; and
• within the context of council's environmental strategies, to identify, investigate and advise on the environment and sustainability challenges and opportunities in relation to:

                (a) climate change;

                (b) energy efficiency;

                (c) environmental health;

                (d) land and biodiversity;

                (e) other issues relating to natural environment in the Council Plan and Budget;

                (f) sustainable water use and stormwater;

                (g) topical issues as they arise;

                (h) tourism; and

                (i) waste and recycling.

Further Information

For further information about the Environment Sustainability Advisory Committee, please contact Moira Shire Council's Sustainability Awareness Officer on (03) 5871 9222.