Strategic Plan

Our vision is a Sutherland Shire in which community, business and government work in partnership to bring about a sustainable natural environment and a sustainable productive, healthy urban society.

To achieve this, the Centre works to:

Increase community awareness of the environmental standards needed to underpin a sustainable Shire
Encourage increased understanding of the link between environmental health and community health
Campaign against activities that will lead to a decline of the Shire's environmental health
Become involved in out-of-region issues that have the potential to affect the Shire's environment.

The Environment provides the Shire with:

Relatively clean waterways and air quality
Opportunities to enable all generations to experience nature
Aesthetic charm
Opportunities for recreation

The Centre will work in the following ways to achieve these aims:

Maintain a knowledgeable, reliable and visible presence within the Shire on environmental matters
Devise pro-active programs which stress the relevance of the environment for social welfare
Develop and maintain resources for use by those who seek environmental information
Support councillors, members of Parliament, individuals and groups who act on Centre's goals
Partner actively with other organisations and individuals on environmental projects.

The Shire's environment is under constant threat from:

Urban development which:
- Clears native vegetation, replacing it with non-indigenous plants and/or hard surfaces
- Fragments native vegetation areas and habitats
- Changes or destroys natural drainage areas
- Modifies or destroys physical features

Poorly managed urban development which places unsustainable strain on the environment, such as sedimentation of waterways, and overuse and abuse of natural areas
Lack of resourcing and expertise in the management of the environment, such as in the control of environmentally insensitive urban design, and management of invasive weeds and pest animals.
Ignorance about the constraints placed on the Shire's sustainability as a result of activities in adjoining areas to the Shire

Management of the Sutherland Shire Environment Centre

The Environment Centre, directed by a Management Committee, has minimal paid staff and many volunteers who carry out its varied functions and campaigns. Its organisational structure is summarised in this figure:

The Management Committee is set up under the Centre's constitution. Its functions are to:

Review the operations of the Centre, determine how its goals should be achieved, and advise the Executive Officer on ways to implement its strategy.
Oversee the Centre's finances and advise on how to maintain financial security.
Oversee the management of affiliated organisations according to their constitutions.
Appoint the Executive Officer.

Agenda for monthly Management Committee meetings:

Welcome and apologies
Receive minutes of previous meeting and deal with matters arising
Report on progress of the Centre's programs in light of its aims
Report on finances of the Centre
Invite general business

Executive Committee

Currently an Executive Committee, comprising the Chair, Executive Officer and Office Manager, reviews weekly progress on the various operations, projects and campaigns of the Centre.

Campaign convenors and program managers are invited to meetings to provide updates.

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