June 3, 2019

Delivering environmental sustainable design (ESD) services into Loddon Campaspe Local Governments

A group of Loddon Campaspe Regional Partnership councils have successfully obtained funding for a project designed to enable the delivery of ESD services in rural and regional councils.

Greater Bendigo City Council (lead) is working with, Campaspe Shire Council, Loddon Shire Council, Central Goldfields Shire Council and Macedon Ranges Shire Council to investigate the feasibility of delivering ESD expertise into service delivery and explore options for integrating ESD expertise in individual councils in a collaborative way.

The project will focus on policy, processes and resources (financial/human) and ultimately recommend an operating model and business case to support investment. Successful implementation will assist with financial sustainability and improve service delivery in participating councils.

Councils want the most cost effective, efficient, comfortable, healthy buildings and infrastructure constructed in their community. However not all councils are equal in their capacity to resource the ESD expertise required to achieve this. This project will enable a better understanding of the service delivery costs and the benefits of integrating ESD either individually (council by council) or collaboratively. A service delivery plan will assist with implementing the preferred operating model.

The Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment and the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance are supporting partners in the project which is expected to conclude mid 2020.

The ‘Delivering Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) services into Loddon Campaspe Local Governments’ project is supported by the Victorian Government through the Finance and Accounting Support Team Grants Program.