Initiatives
Water in The Landscape
Water in The Landscape is a Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) initiative funded by NSW Environmental Trust. This community awareness and education program for Western Sydney focuses on the management of water resources and the environment.
The Program runs from 2010 – 2012 and was informed by best practice international environmental awareness research and
development. The principles of Education for Sustainability (EfS) underpin this program. Its implementation is supported by a research partnership with the University of Western Sydney. The program uses a multiple pronged approach:
- 18 creative events and activities, such as a short film competition and digital story telling together with music and dance performances
- 5 local community forums and a celebratory regional summit
- A dynamic interactive website and a photo competition which brings people together in appreciating and caring for the water in their environment
Werrington Creek Rehabilitation and Community Engagement Project
The Werrington Creek Rehabilitation and Community Engagement Project (opens in a new window) implemented by Penrith City Council was funded by the NSW Environmental Trust. The project aims to improve the quality of the bushland riparian corridor along Werrington Creek, and improve water quality in the creek and the lake which receives its water.
To complement the substantial work being undertaken as part of the project, extensive community engagement activities are being undertaken. These include general community events such as tree planting days and Clean Up Australia Day activities, and targeted schools activities including bushcare working bees and the development of curriculum based self guided activities for local teachers to utilise with their students. In addition to this, signage and other actions will be undertaken in the Penrith Valley Sports Stadium to promote the project in general, and the water efficiency measures undertaken within the Stadium itself.
Cats Claw Creeper Control Project
The Hawkesbury Environment Network (HEN) have received $20,000 grant for their collaborative Cats Claw Creeper Control (CCCC) project. The aim of the CCCC project is to inform and engage the local community about the value of the bush land and riparian and aquatic ecosystems, the impacts on bush land of invasive weeds and vines, and to engage local landholders and supporters to actively undertake an evaluation, monitoring and control program.
In this program, whole-of-community engagement is desired across age groups and beyond the usual landcare approach. A representative stakeholder committee of agency and organisation reps., community businesses, community people and contractors will be essential to the program success. The key focus will be on residents mapping roadside occurrences, and maintaining a publicly accessed display site within the Kurrajong Village as well as on social media sites.
Western Sydney Dry Rainforest Classification
The National Government has agreed to list Western Sydney Dry Rainforest and Moist Woodland on Shale as a Critically
Endangered category under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
What this means is that much more of this significant bush land now has a big chance of being conserved and managed for the longer term as the Department of Environment (SEWPAC) in Canberra prepares a Recovery program and information materials.
