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Sustainable Us

Child in a vegetable garden tending to plants

On 13 February 2020, Wingecarribee Shire Council declared a Climate Emergency, joining numerous global jurisdictions in committing to action against climate change.

The Wingecarribee Council is dedicated to urgent climate action, focusing on reducing the environmental impact of its operations and supporting sustainable living in the community through various programs and services.

In 2022, the Council launched "Sustainable Us," a community-based initiative addressing global warming and providing clear information for sustainable living. The work needed spans multiple Council areas, emphasizing the need for collaboration internally to facilitate community-wide action.

"Sustainable Us" offers workshops, events, videos, and other initiatives to the Wingecarribee community. In 2024, the program introduces "Earth Flix: Cinema 4 Change," a series of free, monthly environmentally themed films screened at the Empire Cinema, Bowral, followed by panels featuring local speakers.

By offering clear and relevant community resources, we aim to empower you to live more sustainably and reduce your environmental footprint.

Please get in touch if you'd like us to explore a particular topic by emailing mail@wsc.nsw.gov.au.

Behaviour Change

Behaviour change doesn’t happen overnight, but from internal drive. This can be influenced by things like cost savings, a desire to reduce environmental impact, or influence from friends or family. Reducing impacts on the environment is a driver for many people.

Energy Efficiency

Energy savings tips for home and business.

Earth Flix: Cinema 4 Change

Earth Flix: Cinema for Change is a monthly free screening of films that are inspiring, educational and environmentally themed, all shown locally at Empire Cinemas.

Community Gardens

Community gardens are part of a growing movement towards growing your own local food, with many benefits for personal and environmental health and social togetherness.

Future Proofing our Gardens

Healthy soils are a natural carbon sink and can hold significantly more water than nutrient-depleted soils. This in turn improves fertility and reduces run-off and flooding. By choosing the right native plants for your garden and managing soils you can help regenerate the land and provide habitat for native animals.

Sustainable Us Video Series

The Sustainable Us video series was created to provide our community with examples of local work that is being done in the field of sustainability. The local sustainability heroes featured in these videos have achieved wonderful sustainable improvements, within their organisations, individually and in the community.

Grow or Buy Local Food

Ever realised how much impact your food has on your carbon footprint? Let’s take a closer look at food miles and ideas on how we can all do our bit to reduce them.

Environmental Events

Council supports and promotes a number of events each year with the support of the Environment Levy. These events include Schools Environment Day, World Environment Day, National Tree Day and more.

Environment and Climate Change Strategy

This strategy updates the previous Environment Strategy 2012-2017 and builds on the work of Council and the community to protect, restore, and enhance our local environment and adapt to the challenges of a changing climate. The Wingecarribee Environment and Climate Change Strategy was developed to complement the Community Strategic Plan and include local input.

Climate Change

Wingecarribee Shire Council recognises the scientific and government position on climate change. Climate change may manifest as variable and intense weather patterns causing environmental, economic and social harm through drought, flood, bush fire, storm and sea level rises.

Community Resilience

The Wingecarribee Shire has experienced a series of unprecedented shocks including record-breaking drought and heat, the Black Summer bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. To assist community in their journey to resilience we have provided a number of tools, information and resources.