What are the big environmental issues facing Waverley in the next 10 years?

NON-ADHERENCE TO wAVERLEY'S OWN DCP - A GREAT DOCUMENT BUT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE WORTH THE PAPER IT'S WRITTEN ON. GIVES RISE TO OVERCROWDING

Let's think bigger and take Waverley off the grid. If Woking (UK) can do it, why can't we?

Has Waverly joined the Transition Towns movement yet? If not , why not, let's get started. Have a look at what they are doing on the Sunshine coast and in many other Transition Towns across Australia - http://www.seac.net.au/main/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Twinning with a country council

I think that one of the main reasons we have the problem of global warming is that people in cities like ours have lost touch with what their consumption does, when they fly overseas, or drive their 4 wheel drive, they have no concept that the emissions have an effect on the land elsewhere.

Would it be possible to establish a twinning with a country council so that young people and hence their parents had a real link with people on the land.

The ideal would be an exchange program with visits to farms, but even an email link up might help city people gain a real understanding of the whole issue.

The headland will be overrun because of over use. Graffiti, paths worn, grassland annihilated, millions of butts and rubbish everywhere. We need to foster a love and understanding of Bondi in its original state so that visitors respect it.

The largest enviromental problem to face Waverley in the next 10 years is the movement of the people to follow Waverley Councils active lead of managing a more sustainable enviroment.

Waverley Council have very strong and successful programs in place to combat many of the arising environmental issues, however if they are not supported by the local residents to take on being responsible of reducing their own footprints then all the hard work and good intentions of Waverley Council will become undone.

I would love to see somewhere down on Campbell Parade,

a large and visible 'Barometer of Sustainability' displaying the progress of Waverley toward achieving its target of a reduced Carbon Footprint. It must include a time line to success.

The more 'the people' can see a measure of their actions the more 'the people' will be inclined to act.

The Administrator

Thank you for advising me that my comments were considered irrelevant.

Obviously you do not appreciate the reality of urban insanity which I have attempted to relate to the behaviour of leeches so that intelligent man could possibly have a realistic and critical look at himself.

Right at this very moment we are involved supporting Waverley Council in a land and environment court matter, which has taken virtually FIVE years, as we seek the courts direction for developer compliance with the approved DA consent after the developer completely ignored specific Council instructions.

Had you any understanding or appreciation at all more…

Facilities for bicycles - let's make it easy and safe to get around by bike. More lanes, more off-road paths, more parking....

Shouldn't we be looking ahead somewhat more than just 10 years on this topic?

For example, where will all the people who live at Bondi Beach go when sea levels rise 7m due to global warming?

The following concerns,(in no particular order), are for right now and well in to the future:

1. Affect of encroaching development and increasing populations on natural coastal habitats.

2. Noise pollution, with increased traffic along major arterial roads leading to beach areas.

3. Affect of storm water, and other pollution sources on our marine life.

4. Lack of environmental knowledge among residents and how this affects their choices and behaviours in terms of e.g. recycling and energy and water efficiency within their homes. (There are a lot of conflicting ‘eco messages’ out there so even interested residents with strong environmental value systems are often more…

Please don't lynch me, guys, but I'm really think the rail line should be extended to the beach. Whilst I realise it is an emotive issue that has polarised opinion somewhat, I think that increased traffic congestion and its related environmental impact (noise, air, visual pollution) is one of the most pressing environmental issues for our area. Again, council needs to acknowledge the reality of Bondi's popularity and permit better access for all, while getting cars off the road via the legislation against the use of private vehicles for those other than local residents (ie: permits for much reduced/free parking for locals in allocated parking areas whilst increasing parking fees to non-residents get visitors out of their cars and onto public transport).

There should be more people with citizen mindedness and Council should similarly be staffed and have representatives who are citizen, owner and resident minded so that owners and resident take pride in living with their neighbours and in their place. Too much interest in wealth creation by both Council and developers to ease out long term owners and residents which is why we have the mess we have

I have never seen one backpacker or visitor to Bondi fined for littering the Beach or the precincts around it. there are no rangers or officials present to do the policing. Why?

OOn a daily basis visitors to the beach dump their refuse wwhere they sit and simply get up and walk away. Please do ssomething Waverley Council.

Overdevlopment is a major issue going forward. The roads are choking! Saturdays are worse than peak hour these days.u

We had a light rail for many years, they were called trams!A train to Bondi would have been great. Imagine surfing at Bondi, then catching a train to work in the CBD.

I think Waverley needs to start planning to adapt to climate change. The council has done a lot on reducing emissions and moving towards sustainability...but there are unavoidable consequences of climate change coming - like sea level rise - and I think council could adopt a policy on this issue and look to incorporate adaptation planning throughout council operations - for example with regards asset management and financial planning

Rubbish / Consumption

The amount of coffee cups, bottles, plastic bags etc being created through our love of cafe and take-away living needs a better response from the council in terms of recycling. I still can't believe bottles & cans aren't valued as in SA with an incentive to return/recycle. And all those coffee cups and plastic lids...can't we work on a way to get people and cafes to re-use their cups (eg http://www.keepcup.com.au/)? More water fountains to reduce plastic bottes.

Awareness...I still don't think people are aware of just how damaging plastic is. There's a pretty big island of the stuff in the Pacific.

I am very concerned by the ever increasing number of people attracted to Waverely be it to go to Westfield, to work in the Junction or to visit the beaches. Current infrastructure is totally inadequate and considerly more public transport needs to be put in place. The council needs to dissuade ever greater traffic flows into already crowded areas. Parking will inncreasingly be problematic for residents.

The huge drinking and pub culture is a tremendous worry as well. Under age drinking and anti social behaviour in parks is one of the worse aspects.

The infrastructure of Waverely looks and is run down. Thought must be given to how the roads, parks, curbs, pavements can be upgraded.

Thought could be given to storm water storage for parks as well as which pubic buildings can go off grid or supplement the grid with PV's.

A plan to be sustainable and how it will be funded is urgent. Too many visitors to an already congested space.

Increase Bronte Beach Cafe's outdoor seating and take off the paid parking. This will allow you to go to Bronte Beach and enjoy the beach while having a coffee.

With the continued development and denser housing, garden space naturally is disappearing which in turn means less space for large trees. I would like to see more trees along our streets, and suggest that Council investigates all roads and laneways which could have additional trees planted. The trees would add to the greening of Waverley.

Any concern about additional leaves could be dealt with by the types of trees chosen and/or additional street cleaning. Also some community consultation on a street by street basis with the types of trees to be planted could be considered and would allow the people living on that street taking some ownership of making the area they live in more green. (it could become part of the adopt a tree project).

Dear All

I sent the email below to David Mills, the editor of the Wentworth Courier, with some queries and concerns about the hundreds of thousands of plastic bags used in the distribution of the Courier and its sister titles. The email was sent on the 27th of July.

I received no reply, and to the best of my knowledge the letter has not been published or responded to in any way. Nevertheless, I believe the points it raises are valid, and deserving of a public debate.

This is a matter of concern for Waverly Council too, both because they often have more…