Minutes of Environment Advisory Committee - Thursday, 9 February 2023

Meeting Name	Environmental Advisory Committee
Date	9 February 2023	Time 5:41pm
Venue	Rydalmere Operations Centre (ROC) 316 Victoria Road, Rydalmere
Attendees	Deputy Chair: Julia (Julz) Strykowski Cr Phil Bradley Melissa Brooks Cr Kellie Darley Crystal Fleming Adriana Genova Marina Gilmore Alexi Gilchrist Annie Nielsen Murray Sayle Karen Jones – Convenor and Project Team Lead, City Strategy Luke Wolstencroft – Strategy Manager City Strategy James Smallson - Group Manager Environment & Sustainability Anthony Collins - Manager Environmental Sustainability Angelina Gu- Project Officer City Strategy
Apologies / Leave of Absence	Chair: Lord Mayor Cr Donna Davis, Cr Michelle Garrard and Alexandria Moore
Secretariat	Marvi Gordon
HPRM Reference	F2022/01409

No.	Item
1.	Acknowledgement of Country The City of Parramatta Council acknowledges the Burramattagal Clan of The Dharug, the traditional owners of land of Parramatta and pays its respects to the elders past, present and emerging.
Note: Deputy Chair Julz Strykowski joined the meeting online and in transit to the meeting. Cr Bradley assumed the role of Chair.
2.	Apologies
Description	The Committee received and noted the apologies for; · LM Cr Donna Davis · Cr Michelle Garrard · Mark Green
Outcome	Moved by Cr Kellie Darley and seconded by Alexi Gilchrist, the motion put was CARRIED.
3.	Disclosure of Interests
	Cr Phil Bradley declared he is a New South Wales Greens Candidate for Epping.
4.	Confirmation of Minutes from 10 November 2022
Description	The minutes of the Environment Advisory Committee meeting, held on 10 November 2022, was received and noted, and confirmed as a true record of the proceeding of that meeting.
Outcome	Moved by Annie Nielsen and seconded by Marina Gilmore, the motion put was CARRIED.
5.	Draft ESS Refresh (confidential) Presentation & discussion covering: · Progress since 10 Nov 22 · Reviewing draft priorities and themes · Next steps – EAC involvement during public exhibition
Note: Deputy Chair: Julz Strykowski joined the meeting in person and assumed the role of Chair at 5:59pm.
Description	EAC members support the proposed ESS Refresh structure and draft 5 priorities – Climate Positive. Future Ready City, Blue Green City, Nature Positive and Circular Economy. Members look forward to reviewing Strategy development progress at April EAC meeting, especially the draft actions, targets and indicators. Discussion focused on: · Ensuring all relevant First nations are engaged, not just Dharug people. · Catchment management infrastructure and services (including riparian mowing) are being considered. · Community education and behaviour change critical for all of the priorities. Streamwatch and contamination of red landfill bins given as examples. · The flora and fauna of our LGA is to be celebrated and protected. 624 bird species at George Kendall Reserve given as an example. · Resilience, risk assessment and adapting/ mitigating climate change (flooding, bushfire and urban heat) is critical. · Financial support through rebates is encouraged, though caution given that avoidance (waste, private car) is most important. Nappy, solar and electric vehicle rebates/ support given as examples, with active and public transport to be considered alongside EVs in the transport mode-shift.
Outcome	ESS Refresh to be an agenda workshop item at next EAC meeting with progress since this meeting to be reviewed.
Note: The meeting adjourned for a short recess at 6:46pm and resumed at 6:50pm.
6.	Climate Positive update · Community net zero scenario modelling · Corporate carbon neutral certification
Description	Committee Convenor provided a presentation on Community net zero scenario modelling that is informing the direction of the Climate Positive priority within the ESS Refresh. Emission reduction interventions and advocacy will focus on actions and advocacy within Council’s roles and responsibilities. Manager Environmental Sustainability provided a presentation on Corporate carbon neutral certification Council is progressing towards carbon neutral certification for both our operations and Parramatta Square public domain. Emissions have been audited and offsets purchased. Council is in final stages of certification and preparing communications and media campaign. Discussion: · Council to align to scientific evidence. Australian needs to be net zero by 2050 to avoid 2 degrees global warming scenario. · ESS Refresh to align to Councillor directive of 70% community emission reduction by 2038. · Emission reduction is critical, the purchase of offsets is the last resort for all emissions that cannot be reduced. · Advocate and support solar and batteries within LGA. · Early action is critical, including greening of grid and transport electricification.
7.	Standing agenda item: Emerging environmental and sustainability topics
Description	The following concerns were raised: · Weeds located in Allambie Ave Northmead. Service Request raised and staff will respond. · The collapse of soft plastics recycling is of concern and Council supported to (1) continue advocacy to state/ federal government to improve system and (2) investigate soft plastic recycling alternatives. · Bushfire preparedness and risk signage at our bushland reserves, similar to other councils. Bushfire building assessment also mentioned. · Education and community support required to assist them to reduce emissions and urban heat.
Outcome	The development of the ESS Refresh will consider these concerns
8.	General Business
Description	· City of Parramatta Citizen of the Year · LGNSW’s Excellence in the Environment Awards · Vacant EAC community position · Other business o EAC members shared a variety of upcoming sustainability events including Fully Charged conference (11/12 March Sydney), Smart Energy Conference (3/4 May ICC Sydney), Cities Power Partnership conference (6/8 Sept Melbourne) and Clean Up Australia day (5 March). o Education and behaviour change programs to consider multilingual audiences, not just English.
Outcome	All items noted.
9.	Close Next Meeting Date: Thursday 13^th April 2023. Venue: Rydalmere Operations Centre.
10.	Sustainability tour of ROC was postponed to the next meeting.

No.

Item

Acknowledgement of Country

The City of Parramatta Council acknowledges the Burramattagal Clan of The Dharug, the traditional owners of land of Parramatta and pays its respects to the elders past, present and emerging.

Note: Deputy Chair Julz Strykowski joined the meeting online and in transit to the meeting. Cr Bradley assumed the role of Chair.

Apologies

Description

The Committee received and noted the apologies for;

· LM Cr Donna Davis

· Cr Michelle Garrard

· Mark Green

Outcome

Moved by Cr Kellie Darley and seconded by Alexi Gilchrist, the motion put was CARRIED.

Disclosure of Interests

Cr Phil Bradley declared he is a New South Wales Greens Candidate for Epping.

Confirmation of Minutes from 10 November 2022

Description

The minutes of the Environment Advisory Committee meeting, held on 10 November 2022, was received and noted, and confirmed as a true

record of the proceeding of that meeting.

Outcome

Moved by Annie Nielsen and seconded by Marina Gilmore, the motion put was CARRIED.

Draft ESS Refresh (confidential)

Presentation & discussion covering:

· Progress since 10 Nov 22

· Reviewing draft priorities and themes

· Next steps – EAC involvement during public exhibition

Note: Deputy Chair: Julz Strykowski joined the meeting in person and assumed the role of Chair at 5:59pm.

Description

EAC members support the proposed ESS Refresh structure and draft 5 priorities – Climate Positive. Future Ready City, Blue Green City, Nature Positive and Circular Economy. Members look forward to reviewing Strategy development progress at April EAC meeting, especially the draft actions, targets and indicators.

Discussion focused on:

· Ensuring all relevant First nations are engaged, not just Dharug people.

· Catchment management infrastructure and services (including riparian mowing) are being considered.

· Community education and behaviour change critical for all of the priorities. Streamwatch and contamination of red landfill bins given as examples.

· The flora and fauna of our LGA is to be celebrated and protected. 624 bird species at George Kendall Reserve given as an example.

· Resilience, risk assessment and adapting/ mitigating climate change (flooding, bushfire and urban heat) is critical.

· Financial support through rebates is encouraged, though caution given that avoidance (waste, private car) is most important. Nappy, solar and electric vehicle rebates/ support given as examples, with active and public transport to be considered alongside EVs in the transport mode-shift.

Outcome

ESS Refresh to be an agenda workshop item at next EAC meeting with progress since this meeting to be reviewed.

Note: The meeting adjourned for a short recess at 6:46pm and resumed at 6:50pm.

Climate Positive update

· Community net zero scenario modelling

· Corporate carbon neutral certification

Description

Committee Convenor provided a presentation on Community net zero scenario modelling that is informing the direction of the Climate Positive priority within the ESS Refresh. Emission reduction interventions and advocacy will focus on actions and advocacy within Council’s roles and responsibilities.

Manager Environmental Sustainability provided a presentation on Corporate carbon neutral certification

Council is progressing towards carbon neutral certification for both our operations and Parramatta Square public domain.

Emissions have been audited and offsets purchased. Council is in final stages of certification and preparing communications and media campaign.

Discussion:

· Council to align to scientific evidence. Australian needs to be net zero by 2050 to avoid 2 degrees global warming scenario.

· ESS Refresh to align to Councillor directive of 70% community emission reduction by 2038.

· Emission reduction is critical, the purchase of offsets is the last resort for all emissions that cannot be reduced.

· Advocate and support solar and batteries within LGA.

· Early action is critical, including greening of grid and transport electricification.

Standing agenda item: Emerging environmental and sustainability topics

Description

The following concerns were raised:

· Weeds located in Allambie Ave Northmead. Service Request raised and staff will respond.

· The collapse of soft plastics recycling is of concern and Council supported to (1) continue advocacy to state/ federal government to improve system and (2) investigate soft plastic recycling alternatives.

· Bushfire preparedness and risk signage at our bushland reserves, similar to other councils. Bushfire building assessment also mentioned.

· Education and community support required to assist them to reduce emissions and urban heat.

Outcome

The development of the ESS Refresh will consider these concerns

General Business

Description

· City of Parramatta Citizen of the Year

· LGNSW’s Excellence in the Environment Awards

· Vacant EAC community position

· Other business

o EAC members shared a variety of upcoming sustainability events including Fully Charged conference (11/12 March Sydney), Smart Energy Conference (3/4 May ICC Sydney), Cities Power Partnership conference (6/8 Sept Melbourne) and Clean Up Australia day (5 March).

o Education and behaviour change programs to consider multilingual audiences, not just English.

Outcome

All items noted.

Next Meeting Date: Thursday 13^th April 2023. Venue: Rydalmere Operations Centre.

10.

Sustainability tour of ROC was postponed to the next meeting.

Meeting Closed: 7:48pm.