Waverley Council | centre, where it would be sorted and dealt with in the most sustainable way possible. Council is currently working with business owners to determine the feasibility of such a system, which has only been attempted once before in Australia and has yet to be completed. The Green Infrastructure Master Plan also looks at alternative energy systems – namely cogeneration and trigeneration plants, which would be used in place of coal-based electricity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “These ideas are quite different and a bit speculative, but we are prepared to think outside of the box and be quite ambitious and innovative in trying to find solutions to some of these issues,” says Peter. Council has received tremendous support from all of the partners involved with the master plan, which include the Bondi Chamber of Commerce, property developers, local businesses and large private groups such as Westfield. In fact, Westfield is Waverley Council’s joint partner for the Green Infrastructure Master Plan – an important relationship considering they own and operate the biggest retail site in Bondi Junction, so both parties have a mutual interest in ensuring a good outcome. Waverley Council has also launched the Building Futures Partnership in conjunction with property owners, industry groups, utilities, government and independent experts. Like the Green Infrastructure Master Plan, the Building Futures Partnership is centred around improving the efficiency of energy, waste and water systems in new and existing buildings in Bondi Junction to help achieve Council’s commendable environmental targets. Moving forward, Waverley Council is confident that the environmental initiatives they have in place will bring about positive, longlasting changes that will serve the LGA well into the future. Even if Waverley Council is amalgamated as a result of nationwide local government consolidation, Peter says that its current members will take solace in knowing that they “have left a very good legacy” that future governments could benefit from. “We have set a very good strategic framework, an innovative framework, that could help influence a new, larger council,” he explains. “And we think that some of the innovations that we’re considering would be very appropriate for the expanded council, and appropriate for our neighbouring communities in Woollahra and Randwick.” “I think that would be our legacy, and we would be looking forward to seeing how a new consolidated council could continue to deliver great community services and great environmental outcomes for the Eastern Suburbs community in the future.”
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