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Local Government Week - Safeguarding our Natural Environment

Possibly the most distinctive feature of the Great Lakes Local Government Area is the stunning beauty of our natural environment, it’s certainly what many of our visitors and locals alike recognise as the major drawcard of our area.

The overall need to preserve and protect this beauty, along with strong interest from our fishing and tourism industries, means that many important Council operations originates from the Natural Systems and Estuaries section.

“We are responsible for undertaking environmental projects essential for the protection and enhancement of our natural resources.  With a strong focus on water quality, biodiversity and catchment planning, we also provide guidance and assistance to community groups working to conserve our local environment” said Mr Gerard Tuckerman, Council’s Manager – Natural Systems.

“One of the major environmental issues for the Great Lakes region is the protection and enhancement of the quality of water in our beaches, lakes, rivers and creeks” said Gerard Tuckerman, “One of the ways we are managing this issue is through the Coastal Catchments Initiative (CCI).

 “The CCI looks at how we can better manage urban and rural areas in order to protect the water quality in our lakes and waterways.” This project is a partnership between the Federal, State, Local Governments and local communities.  

The CCI recognises that in order to tackle water quality issues there is a need to involve those who live and work in the local area. This has meant that the project has involved extensive discussions with local urban and rural landholders, community groups, planners, builders, government agencies and natural resource managers.

“These discussions, combined with new research gained from scientific studies of the Myall, Wallis and Smiths Lakes will help us come up with better ways to manage for improved water quality” commented Gerard Tuckerman. 

Another vital task of the Natural Systems team has been to improve community awareness about climate change and GreenPower.  With assistance from the NSW Government, Great Lakes Council has been implementing a Climate Change and GreenPower Awareness program.

“This program has involved community workshops on climate change and what can be done by individuals to reduce carbon emissions” said Gerard Tuckerman, “and in addition, information and giveaways promoting practical ways to reduce energy usage in the home.  This included free energy audits for competition winning residents and businesses that signed up to GreenPower”.

The Program also included the provision of a climate change resource kit for local libraries and information displays on renewable energy and how to sign up to GreenPower.

Gerard Tuckerman further noted that “the Natural Systems section is also responsible for a range of other programs and functions to protect and enhance the quality of the Great Lakes environment”.  This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

·        reporting on the health of the local environment each year through the State of the Environment Report;

·        reducing Acid Sulphate pollution through the management and restoration of Darawakh /Frogalla Wetlands;

·        working towards the recovery of the Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens Endangered Koala Population as part of the Koala Working Group;

·        mapping and describing vegetation communities to create a framework for informed conservation management;

·        educating the community about the impacts of everyday activities on the health of our lake and waterways through the Healthy Lakes Program;

·        assisting in ecologically sustainable development by providing Council’s Development Assessment and Strategic Planning teams with environmental advice;

·        working in partnership with other natural resource management organisations such as the Catchment Management Authority, Greater Taree City Council and MidCoast Water.

During Local Government Week you can find out more about these environmental projects and perhaps even become involved in protecting the environment in your area.  For further information, please contact Council on 6591 7222.

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Contact details
Great Lakes Council
Tel: 02 6591 7222
Fax: 02 6591 7200
http://www.greatlakes.nsw.gov.au
council@greatlakes.nsw.gov.au

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