Environmental Sustainability
Environmental sustainability encompasses all elements associated with the natural environment. The newly developed environmental section is focused on providing advice and services for the Shire and the wider community in addition to addressing sustainability and implementing best practices. The Shire recognises the importance of protecting the native flora and fauna and is committed to protecting the natural environment whilst maintaining a balance between biodiversity and development.
The environmental section of the shire provides an advisory role in addition to developing and implementing:
- Environmental Strategies, Policies and Local Laws.
- Conducting environmental assessments for development.
- The Implementation of the Local Biodiversity Strategy.
- Encouraging and sourcing best practices through the Cities Power Partnership Program.
- Environmental Approvals Processes in an advisory capacity for Shire departments.
- Environmental compliance and addressing complaints.
Environmental Sustainable Energy
A key performance area identified in the 2022 adopted Shire of Northam Plan for the future relates to our planet and the Shires desire to be a leader in sustainability. While there are a range of objectives within this area, a critical commitment made by the Shire of Northam is to take a shared responsibility for climate action and sustainability.
If you would like more information on the future direction of the Shire of Northam, please take the opportunity to view a short video we have prepared outline some of our key focuses below.
Resources
Click the links to read and download easy-to-understand PDF factsheets about buying and using new sustainable energy tech.
Solar Power
Electric Vehicles
Off Grid
Virtual Power Plants
Monitoring Systems
Have You Considered Environmentally Sustainable Developments?
The Shire of Northam encourages environmentally sustainable building and planning projects by incorporating sustainable energy, water and waste practises.
To find our more information on accreditation, and how your future home or business can work towards a better planet, visit the following webpages.
Green Star Developments
Green Building incorporates principles of sustainable development – meeting the needs of the present without compromising the future.
Green building:
- has design, construction and operational practices that significantly reduce or eliminate its negative impact on the environment and its occupants.
- promotes efficiency – it can reduce construction and ongoing performance costs significantly.
- uses resources effectively and creates healthier environments for people to live and work in.
What is Green Star?
Green Star tools offer a framework of best practice benchmarks for sustainability – to help you develop a green building.
https://new.gbca.org.au/green-star/certification-process/#:~:text=Green%20Star%20certification%20is%20a,document%20based%20assessment%2C%20undertaken%20online.
EnviroDevelopment
EnviroDevelopment is a scientifically-based assessment scheme that independently reviews development projects and awards certification to those that achieve outstanding performance across four or more of the provided elements – Ecosystems, Waste, Energy, Materials, Water and Community.
Find out more here: https://envirodevelopment.com.au/certify-your-project/
One Planet Living
Provide a range of sustainability consultancy services that make it easier for people to live sustainable lives within the planet's boundaries by:
helping major developers create pioneering eco-communities
supporting businesses, including retailers, to create sustainable products and services
delivering projects with communities around the world to enable them to take local climate action and build their environmental resilience
Find out more here: https://www.bioregional.com/one-planet-living
Living Community Building Challenge.
What if every single act of design and construction made the world a better place?
Create buildings that generate more energy than they use, capture and treat all water on site, and are made using healthy materials. The Living Building Challenge framework creates spaces that reconnect occupants with nature. Find out more here: https://living-future.org/lbc/