Maitland City Council signs off on new Environmental and Sustainability Strategy

Maitland City Council endorsed its new Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2030 at last night’s meeting, marking a major milestone in Council’s journey towards a more liveable and sustainable Maitland.

The Strategy is the first of its kind in Maitland, and it outlines realistic goals for improvement that align with both community expectations and State Government targets.

Maitland City Council Manager Environment and Sustainability Catherine Pepper said it was ‘an exciting step as Council embarks on a range of actions and initiatives centred around the environment and long term sustainability.

‘The Strategy provides a roadmap to bolster community health and wellbeing and economic opportunity, through improving the health of our local environment,’ Ms Pepper said.

‘We’ve identified four themes through the development of this strategy, which we feel form a solid foundation from which Council, the community and local organisations can respond to Maitland’s key environmental priorities.

‘Our community told us they’d like to see a greater push towards a circular economy where valuable resources are kept in production for longer and wastes are designed out of the system, preservation and protection of healthy green and blue natural spaces, more resilient and liveable communities, and a stronger focus on sustainable living practices.’

The Strategy outlines 13 targets that Council will measure and report on over time to track progress.

These include delivering functional biodiversity corridors, protecting important natural spaces, improving waterway health, increasing canopy cover in residential areas, targeting net zero by 2050 across Council operations, and reducing illegal dumping.

Extensive community consultation informed the Strategy’s development.

Over 1000 responses were collected via phone and online surveys in 2022, with this insight playing a big role in shaping ‘the focus, strategic direction and actions we’ve outlined,’ Ms Pepper said.

The draft version of the Environmental Sustainability Strategy was then exhibited from 28 June 2023 to 26 July 2023, receiving 60 submissions from residents, community groups, businesses and developers.

‘This Strategy is a commitment from Council to take action and report back on our progress, across our four theme areas,’ Ms Pepper said.

‘We want to see Maitland be known for and proud of its healthy and resilient natural environment, where people and nature can thrive.

‘A city that is full of connected communities who have the capacity to bounce back and adapt to hazards and a changing climate.

‘Somewhere where the community feel supported to reduce its reliance on non renewables.

‘And a Maitland with access to services and facilities that can broaden our circular economy outcomes.’

For more information on how we’re protecting our local environment, visit our website.

FAST FACTS

• Maitland is home to 8,534 hectares of native vegetation, with 425.6km of rivers and creeks.
• Maitland’s ecological profile includes 695 flora species, 45 threatened fauna species and nine threatened ecological communities.
• By 2041, Maitland’s population is estimated to exceed 144,000 people.
• Maitland currently achieves a 38 per cent diversion of domestic waste from landfill.
• Maitland’s bin collection services adds 1,200 new households each year.
• Only 63 per cent of residents said they felt prepared or very prepared for natural disasters, according to a 2022 Environmental Attitudes Survey.