Sustainable water use plan of Hepburn

Hepburn Shire (Australia) established in 2007 a ‘Sustainable Water Use Plan’ that makes significant conservation advances.

Hepburn Shire has set a target of a 25 percent water consumption reduction goal for its corporate water consumption based on water consumption levels for the years 2000-2001, until the year 2009.

The purpose of the Plan is to act as a strategic document that provides direction for sustainable water management and actions to conserve water within Council operations.  The ongoing annual development and review of the Plan is crucial to maintain a continuous improvement and best environmental management approach to water management.

The issue of long term water management within the Hepburn Shire has been identified as a major concern for the long term sustainability of the Shire, based on below average rainfall over a number of years.  Water saving initiatives that have been put in place include:

• dual flush toilets in administrative buildings;
• rationalized watering programs for public ovals and reserves;
• offering clients a ‘replacing tap washers’ service;
• turning off all fountains within the Shire;
• commencing the planting of drought-tolerant plants in street scapes; and
• undertaking a comprehensive water and energy audit of all Council buildings.

Mayor Councillor David Smith, in the introduction of the Plan, states that, “The target is ambitious but realistic to achieve, given the current situation in relation to water resources within the Shire.”

ICLEI has an international freshwater Water Campaign that aims to build the capacity of local governments to reduce water consumption and improve local water quality. In Australia, the Campaign is delivered in collaboration with the Australian Government, the Government of Western Australia, City West Water, South East Water, Yarra Valley Water and the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board.  Hepburn Shire is currently not one of the 100 participants in the Campaign.  For more information on ICLEI’s Water Campaign in Australia, please visit www.iclei.org/index.php?id=water_home.

Hepburn Shire is one of 101 local governments in Australia that are currently Members of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability.  For more information on ICLEI and its activities in the Oceania Region, please visit www.iclei.org/oceania .