Climate change action planning for Local Government project
The Local Government and Shires Associations (LGSA) are managing the project, "Climate Change Action Planning for Local Government" to assist NSW local councils to prepare for and address climate change in a strategic, risk-based manner. The project is funded by the NSW Environmental Trust and runs until 30 June 2010. Details of the project will be added to this website as it progresses.
The project will deliver a workshop package designed for councils to use to facilitate workshops to plan a local climate change response.
The LGSA will pilot test the workshop package between November 2009 and May 2010 by partnering with four organisations:
- Clarence Valley Council;
- Bland Shire Council;
- The Hills Shire Council; and
- The WBC Strategic Alliance comprising Wellington, Blayney and Cabbone Councils and Central Tablelands Water.
These organisations are located within four different State Plan Regions (the North Coast, Riverina Murray, Sydney/Western Sydney and Western Region respectively) and face both shared and differing challenges such as those associated with sea level rise, storm surge and flooding, drought and the viability of agricultural industries, population growth or decline, bushfires and heatwaves.
Each organisation will use the workshop package to hold workshops to involve staff from various functional areas of their organisation and external stakeholders in formulating a local climate change action plans. The workshops will explore climate change scenarios, implications for Local Government and identify and prioritise areas for action.
The outputs of the workshops will be climate change action plans which will comprise strategies for mitigation and adaptation.
Case studies will be made available outlining the experiences of each of the four organisations in conducting action planning workshops and drafting climate change action plans.
Following testing of the workshop package it will be refined as necessary and made available on this website in June 2010.
Developing the workshop package
The LGSA has commissioned Hyder Consulting to develop the workshop package. Hyder Consulting will consider input from Local Government and other stakeholders as captured at a focus group session and through the project Reference Group.
In July 2009, the LGSA sought quotations with brief proposals from suitably qualified consultants to develop the workshop package. The period for submitting quotations has closed however the Request for Quotation can still be veiwed, as it provides an outline of the content, structure and format of the workshop package and an overview of the way in which it will be developed:
Request for Quotation for Climate Change Workshop Package (72KB)
Testing the workshop package - Call for expressions of interest from councils
In July and August 2009, the LGSA invited expressions of interest from councils to trial and test the workshop package and prepare case studies of how the workshop package has been applied to develop local climate change action plans. The period for submitting expressions of interest has closed but the form below can still be viewed as it outlines the project, potential benefits of using the workshop package and the commitment required from the councils assisting with the pilot testing.
Expression of Interest Form Climate Change Action Planning (143KB)
Acknowledgements
The project has been assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust.
The LGSA acknowledges the valuable assistance and input from DECCW, members of the Project Reference Group and those who have provided feedback and ideas.
Project contact person
Name: Amy Lovesey
Title: Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Project Manager
Phone: 02 9242 4128
Email:amy.lovesey@lgsa.org.au