Working across council and the community, the Office of Sustainability provides an integrated approach to ecologically sustainable development, which is both socially appropriate and economically sound.
The Office of Sustainability's mission is to progress the vision of a Sustainable Townsville by working to facilitate and support the City's response to the challenges and opportunities posed by climate change and ecologically sustainable development through efforts in total water cycle management, sustainable transport, waste management, sustainable development, and urban nature.
Supported by Integrated Sustainability Services, the role of the Office of Sustainability is to:
- Facilitate a coordinated response to the challenge of integrating sustainability in engineering, technology, planning, economics/finance and the important elements of people, place and ecology,
- Integrate sustainability and responses to developing a Sustainable Townsville across Council departments and community (business, industry, developers, government, residents and community groups),
- Communicate, link and promote the various sustainability initiatives and directions of a Sustainable Townsville programme.
The Office of Sustainability forms policy for sustainable development, business practices, biodiversity and ecology and sustainable communities though continued consultation with the community, business and other levels of government.
Solar Learnscape
Townsville City Council has recently developed a solar ‘learnscape’ on the roof of our own CBD administration building which will reduce the building’s cooling load, while also capturing energy from the sun. This demonstration project includes cutting-edge technology in the form of a 20kW Australian-made Sliver Solar Panel array developed by the Australian National University and produced by Origin Energy and uses thin slivers of silicon to create a light, more efficient, flexible panel.
Rebates and Incentives to make your home more sustainable
There are a number of rebates and incentives available for residents to make their homes more sustainable, whether it is focussing on renewable energy, energy efficiency or water efficiency.
Department of Climate Change resources for energy efficiency at home
The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency provides a number of resources and links to assist the community in becoming more energy efficient and respond to the challenges and opportunities that climate change poses.
Further information
Read the Townsville City Council March 2007 Sustainability Summit Report.
For more information email the Office of Sustainability.