An Integrated Sustainability Planning Framework

For New England – NESS2

A Discussion Opener around Opportunities for Regional LGA’s

1. The New Context – planning, monitoring, assessing across regional networks

The New England Sustainability Strategy (NESS1) has initiated a wide, on-going dialogue
around sustainability initiatives, developed a 100yr vision and agreed regional priorities or
key sustainability focus areas, we have termed the ‘foundation strategies’. NESS2 has
piloted holistic community SEED plans or adaptive strategies, which outline some first
steps to building strong, resilient and sustainable regional communities (Uralla, Bundarra,
Guyra and Walcha). A New England Sustainability Scorecard Mach 1 version has also
been co-designed with 6 KPI Sustainability Focus areas to help stakeholders and
communities measure and assess progress towards a sustainable New England.
NESS is now being seen as a regional network of stakeholders, communities,
landholders, enterprises and (some) govt agencies with regional LGA’s, to inform,
support and promote regional sustainability initiatives. NESS has already created much
interest as a possible replicable sustainability regional implementation model.
A Draft Sustainability Regional Implementation Model has emerged out of the NESS2
dialogues. This 3 phase iterative approach includes an integrated planning framework,
monitoring and evaluation and, review, assess and capture learning element with annual
stakeholder and community dialogues (figure 1 attached).
The Integrated Sustainability Planning Framework seeks to enhance collaboration in
integrated regional, sustainability planning processes across this regional network of
stakeholders.
2. Five Opportunities for Regional LGA’s to Model and Enhance Regional
Sustainability Planning, Monitoring and Assessment –
Outlined below are discussion openers around 5 opportunities for regional LGA NESS
partners to model and led the regional sustainability shift as part of an Integrated
Sustainability Planning Framework for New England.
1. Articulate LGA roles and actions in supporting regional sustainability initiatives in
the attached sustainability partnering matrix tool.

2. Identify and promote ‘story style reports’ on the sustainability initiatives that LGA’s
have already initiated across their operations to enhance environmental, social
sustainability, regional economic diversity – resilience, energy, water, fuel efficiency
and sustainable financial management.

The aim here is to develop short accessible multimedia ‘stories’ on the Council’s
sustainability gains and outcomes to reframe LGA’s as ‘a leading partner in the shift
to sustainability in the region’ (from the existing narrative of Councils as the
‘whipping horse’ for complaints). Featuring these story reports on the sustainability
scorecard would provide a higher profile of LGA’s key roles in leading and modelling
the sustainability shift.

NESS2 - Integrated Sustainability Planning Framework – Opportunities for Regional LGA’s

Dr Micheal O’loughlin Adam Blakester October 2010 Starfish Enterprises 1
3. Review possible holistic sustainability indicators and targets for LGA operations and,
new organisational processes to gather data on them.

The Global Reporting Initiative Framework (GRI) provides advice on sustainability

reporting and a range of indicators suitable for LGA’s to select from. The GRI
framework according to Hornsby Council, helps ‘streamline reporting on’ LGA
sustainability initiatives that add to environmental, economic-financial and social
sustainability.
Hornsby Council reviewed existing and included new sustainability indicators that
‘aligned with their strategic themes within their management plan’. (Refer ‘ Sustainability
Tool Selector – a Guide for Local Government, Institute Sustainable Futures, UTS, prepared for the
Urban Sustainability Support Alliance).
A second follow-on phase could include utilizing Sustainability Project Assessment
Tools & Guidelines for Selecting and Re-Designing Sustainability Projects such as
those developed by the City of Ryde and Wingcarribee Shire Council.

4. Ascertain how the new State of the Environment Report can contribute to and be
enriched through the Sustainability Scorecard monitoring process. LGA’s State of
the Environment Reports could be enhanced by regional stakeholders contributing
timely advice on both quantitative and qualitative indicators of progress towards
regional sustainability and vice versa.

5. Revisit existing consultative processes inputting into LGA community strategic plans
to include evaluation and review of community SEED plans priorities, initiatives
such as the Uralla Climate Change Committee recommendations and key regional
stakeholder planning priorities.
Dr Micheal O’Loughlin Adam Blakester 25 October 2010

New England Sustainability

NESS2 - Integrated Sustainability Planning Framework – Opportunities for Regional LGA’s

Dr Micheal O’loughlin Adam Blakester October 2010 Starfish Enterprises 2
Figurev1

New England Integrated Sustainability Network - Implementation Model Bringing Together - People. Communities
Community based initiatives, LGA's
State Govt. Agencies, Business Enterprises
Community SEEDs
stakeholder, LGA
Integrated and landholders to achieve the 100 yr vision
of a sustainable New England
Govt. Agency Stakeholder Planning
CMAs, Aboriginal Dialogues
Community Identifying Shared New England Sustainability
Plans Priorities - Key Stakeholder Clusters - regional communities,
Focus Areas community based groups, landholders, enterprises, Monitoring
Strategies LGA's, Govt Agencies -undertaking sustainability initiatives
Environmental Evaluation
Regeneration
Stakeholder cluster Regional Communities
Sustainability
Social Inclusion Sustainability Scorecard
Establishes quantitative
stakeholder cluster
Strategic Framework qualitative
Agreed Priorities sustainability
indicators & stories of
significant change
Enterprise Industry NESS - a hub for a self-organising
Regional Economy network of stakeholders, communities, enterprises
stakeholder cluster coming together to promote, enhance New England Sustainability
- facilitating stakeholder dialogues, social learning, holder of the shared vision, Aboriginal
regional charter, co-ordinating sustainability scorecard & Communities
New England Sustainability website*

NEW Energy
enterprise
stakeholder cluster
Govt. Agencies New England Sustainability
Annual LGA's cluster
Stakeholder & cluster ..is the regional web portal - brand*
Community Review ..provides an external regional presence
Dialogues & identity
to assess progress, ..links informs, promotes supports
stakeholders & communities initiatives
what's working
what has been learnt
Review for a sustainable New England
Assess
Capture Learning Micheal O'Loughlin Adam Blakester

Figure 1: New England Sustainability Partnership Network - Implementation Model

NESS2 - Integrated Sustainability Planning Framework – Opportunities for Regional LGA’s

Dr Micheal O’loughlin Adam Blakester October 2010 Starfish Enterprises 3