Sustainability and climate change
We want to protect and enhance the incredible natural beauty of Port Stephens so that it can be enjoyed by future generations to come.
We aim to create an environmentally sustainable community by reducing greenhouse emissions and adapting to our changing climate.
Our action plan
Our climate policy and action plan has 3 main focus areas:
We educate the community on why our climate is changing and our responsibility to reduce the risks.
Our actions:
- inform the community about how we're adapting to climate change
- develop community and business partnerships to respond to climate change
- receive funding to assist our response
- provide community and business partners with accurate progress reports.
We lead by example — we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions through innovation and using energy efficient technology.
Our actions:
- adopt sustainability principles to reduce the effects of climate change
- use sustainable design for new construction and install renewable technology in existing facilities
- align with State Government environmental standards
- partner with other regional councils.
We implement changes to protect both built and natural environments from the effects of climate change.
Our actions:
- unify our action plan with the Coastal Management Program
- take a risk-based approach to effectively respond to the changing environment
- create more sustainable methods by using the highest quality products and services as best practice.
Our achievements
- Installing a solar photovoltaic system on Council's Administration Building, reducing our annual energy consumption by 25%.
- Installing solar photovoltaic systems on many of our libraries, community centres and Rural Fire Service buildings.
- Installing solar pool pre-heating at Lakeside Leisure Centre, Tomaree Aquatic Centre and Tilligerry Aquatic Centre.
- Installing solar photovoltaic system and water tank at Salamander Waste Transfer Station.
- In a first for the Hunter region, we used recycled glass 'greencrete' in the upgrade of Tanilba Bay roundabout. This is a great example of finding new ways to reuse materials as part of a circular economy.
- Installed Building Management System and Programmable Logic Controller at our Administration Building, Lakeside Leisure Centre and many sports and community buildings to deliver energy efficiencies and lower operating costs.
- Installing water-saving irrigation and stormwater harvesting at Medowie Park and Kindlebark Oval.
- Installing variable-speed drives (VSD) at Lakeside Leisure Centre plus Kangaroo Street and Stockton Street flood pumps to save energy consumption.
- Installing energy-saving LED field lighting at Ferodale Netball Courts, Tomaree Netball Courts and Tomaree Sports Complex fields 4 and 5.
- Installing energy-saving LED lighting at our Administration Building, Tomaree Library and Community Centre, Council works depots, Birubi Surf Club and a number of community centres and halls.
Cities Power Partnership
We're proud to join the Cities Power Partnership — a national climate action program that is driving local governments and communities to transition to net zero emissions.