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Overview

Integration of the Natural, Built and Social Environments

Council has developed a structured approach to drafting its strategies and plans. At each stage, the broader community and local interest and government groups, are consulted.

Land use plans such as LEP’s project the future path of land use development, securing areas of environmental or cultural value, and areas to be retained or developed for agricultural or economic production. Development Control Plans (DCP’s) present the character proposed for each of our urban areas or areas of special significance.

Once LEP’s are adopted, a range of head infrastructure and facility strategies are prepared to project the siting, size and timing of asset expansion. Those strategies integrate similar community demands, such as footpaths, bus stops and carparking, into the Public Transport strategy, for example. Again, those strategies embrace the environmental and cultural impacts of providing that infrastructure. The Strategies draw on the condition and pressures identified in the Condition of Public Works Report (CoPW) produced every five years.

Environment Management Plans and Community Land Plans of Management, draw on the issues identified in the LEP’s and State of Environment Reports (SoER), proposing responses to address or resolve those issues, such as sewer surcharges, soil erosion and river water quality.

Similarly, the Social Plan (SP) – together with the outcomes of the 2000 Community Survey and Focus Groups, identify a range of issues that require resolution, investigation or funding.

Council’s role, is to understand the inter-relationships between the Natural, Built and Social Environments, assessing the relative merits and impacts of the proposals we receive, as private or public investment, to achieve the ‘balance’ espoused in our Strategic Objectives at the front of this Management Plan.

Assisted by grants we arrange studies of environmental and human impacts, to underpin our head strategies.

Together, the issues and responses identified in the Condition of Public Works, State of the Environment Report and Social Plan, are included in the strategic actions in the relevant Function areas of our Management Plan.

We will separately account for our environmental, social and asset costs in those three environments generally in accord with the principles of Triple Bottom Line accounting.