Talking budgets and boosting our urban forest

It’s coming up to a particularly busy time of year for the City with work now underway on planning and budgeting for the 2019/20 financial year and future years. The annual budget sets the scene for the City to continue delivering its high level of services, programs and infrastructure as well as move ahead with work on major projects.

Vital to City operations, the budget process involves producing detailed service plans and identifying projects from our Corporate Business Plan, which are then costed and provided to Councillors. From there, two half-day sessions are held for Councillors to discuss these services and projects in more detail. The sessions also cover the City’s extensive capital program and long term financial plan. A final workshop is scheduled for early June before adoption of the plan and budget, which is set to go ahead in early July.

Budget - Mayor and CEO

In 2018, the City’s rate increase was one of the lowest increases across the metropolitan area and we will again make every effort this year to deliver a financially sound budget that benefits the community.

Councillor Proud

Doubleview Ward Cr Stephanie Proud recently attended a family fun day hosted by the West Stirling Neighbourhood House in Doubleview. For more than 30 years, the not for profit community centre has supported local families and community groups with services including weekly playgroup sessions. Cr Proud was impressed with the huge turnout at the fun day as well as all the cavalcade of entertaining activities for youngsters.

Earlier this month, I was honoured to accept the City’s first gold status Waterwise Councils award from Minister for Water Dave Kelly. The award represents a mix of community projects and water saving programs introduced by the City as well as Waterwise endorsement for local facilities including Leisurepark Balga. The community also played an important role in achieving the award by supporting local Waterwise gardening workshops, free Waterwise verge plant giveaway events and the City’s Verge Rebate Scheme.

Waterwise Council

Staying on environmental topics, we have released a Draft Urban Forest Plan in an effort to tackle the declining level of tree canopy cover across the City. In the past six years, the City has lost more than 1.2 million sqm of cover and the rate of loss continues to increase.

Previously, the City had set a target of achieving 18 per cent tree canopy cover by the year 2030, but this recently had to be extended to 2040. With tree canopy loss occurring on private land, City land and State Government land, all tiers of government and the entire community need to be part of the solution to grow our urban forest, as it’s not a problem the City can fix alone.

Urban Forest

Now open for public comment, the Draft Urban Forest Plan outlines how the City will work with the community to retain more existing trees, plant new trees and allow all trees to grow to maturity. The more suggestions and ideas that we can gather from the community, the better we can respond to the deeply concerning trend of tree loss. I would really encourage you to provide your thoughts on the plan via the City’s Your Say Stirling website by Friday 31 May 2019.

When it comes to championing sustainability, schools throughout the City of Stirling are leading the way with lots of great ideas and programs to promote recycling and reduce waste. To acknowledge their efforts, the City runs the Living Green Schools program, which offers incentives, support services and funding opportunities to boost sustainability at a local level.

Living Green

Osborne Ward Cr Giovanni Italiano recently visited St Lawrence Primary School in Balcatta to award the school a Living Green Schools certificate for taking part in the program. During its inaugural year, more than 20 local schools have signed up for Living Green Schools.

All of the City’s Councillors continue to support the program and have either already visited local participating schools to recognise their efforts or are set to present certificates this year. Students, teachers and parents are most welcome to email sustainability@stirling.wa.gov.au for more details on how their school can get involved.

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