Meeting Name

Environmental Advisory Committee

 

Date

13 April 2023

Time 5:30PM

Venue

Rydalmere Operations Centre (ROC)

316 Victoria Road, Rydalmere or Microsoft Teams

 

Attendees

Chair: Lord Mayor Cr Donna Davis

Deputy Chair: Julia (Julz) Strykowski

 

Councillors: Cr Bradley and Cr Darley

 

Community members:

Melissa Brooks, Crystal Fleming, Adriana Genova, Marina Gilmore, Mark Green, Annie Nielsen, Murray Sayle

 

Karen Jones – Convenor and Project Team Lead, City Strategy

Anthony Collins – Acting Group Manager Sustainability & Environment,

Luke Wolstencroft – Strategy Manager City Strategy

 

Apologies / Leave of Absence

 

 

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.

 

2.      

Apologies

 

The Committee received and noted the apologies for; Councillor Michelle Garrard and Alexi Gilchrist.

 

3.      

Disclosure of Interests

 

There were no disclosure of interest for this Advisory Committee meeting.

 

4.      

Confirmation of Minutes from 9 February 2023

 

The minutes of the Environment Advisory Committee meeting, held on 9 February 2023, was received and noted, and confirmed as a true record of the proceeding of that meeting.

 

Outcome

Moved by Melissa Brooks and seconded by Annie Nielsen, the motion put was CARRIED.

 

 

5.      

 

 

Draft ESS Refresh (confidential)

Presentation & discussion covering:

·            Progress since 9 February 23

·            Reviewing draft priorities and actions, indicators and target setting

·            Next steps – EAC involvement during public exhibition

 

Description

Committee Convenor provided a presentation on Draft ESS Refresh. The Committee workshopped the draft five (5) priorities - Climate Positive, Future Ready City, Blue Green City, Nature Positive and Circular Economy.

 

Outcome

Recommendations provided on draft Environment Strategy Priorities, Objectives and Outputs for consideration as part of action plan development.

 

ESS Refresh to be an agenda item at the next EAC meeting with progress and timeline.

 

An additional EAC meeting to consider draft actions put to the committee for consideration.

 

6.      

Tree Canopy update (confidential):

·            Context

·            Canopy cover baseline assessment

·            Canopy cover study

 

Description

Strategy Manager City Strategy provided an update on Tree Canopy Plan.

 

Outcome

The Committee received and noted.

 

7.      

Standing agenda item: Emerging environmental and sustainability topics

 

Description

The following concerns were raised:

 

·            Use of synthetic fields in the LGA, the impact of decisions, the need to replace the fields withing two (2) years. Potential role for Advisory committee in advocacy to State Government on this topic;

 

·            Noted Guardian article on contemporary approaches to communication and behaviour change programs, website: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/03/lead-litter-picking-group-defend-litterers; and

 

·            Noted new State Environment Minister and potential opportunities for improved prioritisation of the environment.

 

Note: Adriana Genova retired from the meeting at 7:04pm.

 

Outcome

The Committee received and noted.

 

8.      

General Business

·            ESS Refresh: Profiles of Parramatta (bio)

·            Pool to Pond conversions

·            Other business

·            Upcoming EAC meetings

 

Note: Lord Mayor retired from the meeting at 7:05pm.

 

Description

·            ESS Refresh action plans - additional meeting; the Committee has the flexibility to collaborate in-person, via email or scheduled meetings on a Thursday night.

 

·            Climate change - seeking access to Office of National Intelligence report on assessment of Security risk of Climate Change.

 

·            Revolving Energy fund noted as an opportunity being investigated, information requested from Council staff for next scheduled meeting.

 

Outcome

·            Convenor to co-ordinate options for additional date with committee members.

 

·            Committee members main point of contact is Cr Bradley if they wish to contact.

 

·            Acting Group Manager Sustainability & Environment to provide additional information at the next scheduled meeting on 8 June 2023.

 

9.      

Close

 

Next Meeting Date: Thursday 8th June 2023. Venue TBC

 

Meeting Closed:  7:12pm