Environment Fund

Content: Environmental Fund | Sustainability Begins at Home | Sustainability Street | Sustainability in the Workforce

We established the Wollongong City Council Environment Fund in 2003. The Environment Fund commits $1 million per annum over five years to environmental management projects across the Wollongong Local Government Area, within the interrelated priority areas of:

• water quality;
• biodiversity;
• sustainability.

These projects focus on conservation, restoration and preservation of the local environment through activities to produce positive environmental outcomes including: 

• on ground work programs;
• community partnerships;
• educational programs.

Council recognises that while the Environment Fund will not in itself achieve environmental sustainability for Wollongong, it will provide the basis for the realisation of environmental protection and enhancement works.

The Environment Fund Governance Group has been established to oversee the implementation of the projects like Sustainability Beings at Home, Sustainability in the Workplace and Estuary Management Plan. Visit the Environment Fund website to learn more about their projects.

Sustainability Begins at Home
Sustainability is all about setting goals for the future of our community. To achieve a more sustainable future for Wollongong, we need to work together to make positive changes in the way we live, work and play. We need to make informed decisions which contribute towards a healthier future for our community. We are working alongside community groups, residents and businesses to take action for a sustainable future. Take a look at our Sustainability Programs to see how easy it is to get involved.

Sustainability Street
You can take small steps at home that are giant leaps for your local environment!

Sustainability Street is a state first community education project run by Wollongong City Council - providing practical information, solutions and support to help people live more sustainably. It also brings residents together and helps promote community spirit in their neighbourhood. The project is being driven by Council's Environment and Health Division and is being run as part of the ‘Sustainability Begins at Home’ initiative.

The central idea of the Sustainability Street approach is that people get together as local communities, learn a bit about ecological sustainability and then do what they can to encourage, assist or 'teach' other individuals or other communities to join the groundswell for ecological sustainability.

The approach was designed and developed by a group of educational educators called Vox Bandicoot, and basically represents a little bit of all the communities we've had the great joy and honour of working with for the last 20 years. Sustainability Street is helping people transform their homes and neighbourhoods into sustainable green environments.

The pilot project resulted in the participants revolutionising the way that they live and transforming their local environments. Many are now growing their own food, using water tanks, carpooling, composting, practicing green cleaning, shopping in an environmentally friendly way, saving money on their power and water bills and generally reducing their ecological footprint.

Sustainability in the Workplace
A sustainable future depends upon efficient use of resources and innovation in the way we live and work. Our Environment Fund has resources available to help local businesses lead the way towards a sustainable future for Wollongong.

Our Sustainability in the Workplace program offers practical assistance for small and medium-sized enterprises to measurably improve economic, environmental and social performance. Join the Sustainability in the Workplace program and find out how your business can help create a sustainable future for our city.

The Sustainability in the Workplace program offers your business:

• financial support;
• expert advice;
• easy assessment tools;
• new professional skills;
• promotion and recognition;
• networking and new relationships.

What can your business achieve?

• cost savings;
• safer, cleaner workplaces;
• new markets;
• greater efficiency;
• healthier environment.