The community was extensively engaged in developing Council’s Environment and Climate Change Strategy 2040. This has wide community support, with a comprehensive set of realistic commitments and more ambitious aspirations. A series of tactical action plans are being developed to support the Strategy, the first being the Climate Change Action Plan. Other plans will address bushland, biodiversity, waterways and catchments, urban tree canopy and sustainable living.

Robust systems and approaches have been put in place to better manage bush fire risk, flooding, and biodiversity. Around 5,000 hectares of bush regeneration has been completed, over 11,000 trees planted, and over 5,000 native plants provided to residents in the Backyard Habitat program. There is still strong support for protecting bushland and biodiversity, including threatened species. Land in Newport was purchased to protect its high habitat value and wildlife corridor.

Large animal refuges (e.g. for horses) have been successfully set up during high fire risk, and the new Warriewood Community Centre is planned to also act as an evacuation centre. A new coastal early warning system was installed at Manly, and a best-practice Emergency Management Framework was developed. Major coastal erosion protection works are also being constructed along our most vulnerable beach at Collaroy.

There is a strong urge to ensure the environment and community are resilient to threats from urban development, a growing population and climate change. Taking a leadership stance, Council has declared a climate emergency, and is strongly advocating for our marine environment regarding plastic pollution, shark nets, and offshore gas and oil exploration proposals.

Our community are concerned about climate change, environmental degradation and pollution. Continued population growth was singled out as major concern due to the infrastructure and housing density needed, and the resulting impacts on the natural environment, for example:

• Encroachment on bushland, causing loss of habitats, more feral animals and weeds, with impacts on threatened species and communities
• Extra stormwater and pollutants from developed catchments affecting streams, lagoons and flooding
• Stormwater infiltration to sewerage systems causing sewer overflows in catchments, and periodic bypass of Warriewood Sewerage Treatment Plant into the ocean
• More impacts from recreation in open space, bushland and waterways, with more intensive use by people, dogs, and boats
• More people and infrastructure at risk of natural hazards and climate change, and potential loss of habitat by providing adjacent protection zones and structures

While many residents largely accept environmental hazards and express confidence in the community’s ability to respond, others report being concerned about bush fire and storms and are more likely to undertake preventative actions.

The community also desires a commitment to include First Nations people in decision making. Council is seen to be well placed to empower the community through capacity building in resilience, connection, inclusion and provision of safe spaces.

The community strongly desires careful planning to contain the impact of development and population growth on the natural environment. This includes protection of scenic and cultural landscapes, with a desire to recognise heritage and key landscapes including the Brookvale escarpment, the ocean and harbour foreshores, Manly Dam, Mona Vale-Ingleside escarpment, Warriewood Valley and Wetlands.

The community also expressed that biodiversity and natural areas be protected by preventing encroachment of bushland in developed areas; better compliance, monitoring and control of weeds and of feral animals. Areas of valuable habitats can be increased by purchasing more high quality bushland and connecting wildlife corridors. Other suggestions to benefit biodiversity include:

• More volunteer bush regeneration, backyard plantings and street trees
• Preventing roadkill with better signage, fencing, wildlife bridges etc
• Increasing marine parks and reducing boating impacts in waterways e.g. speed limits, mooring caps, and seagrass-friendly moorings

To ensure resilience to natural hazards, preventative action is expected to reduce or stop development in locations at most risk from climate change effects i.e. the coast, floodplains and bush fire prone areas. A planned approach to managing coastal erosion is desired, including a planned retreat of development away from the erosion zone. A robust bush fire response is seen to include reliable water supplies for firefighting, good road access, safe refuges as well as considering other approaches to hazard reduction, such as cultural burning led by traditional owners.

Council is seen as a leader to help the community prepare, respond to and learn from natural events such as storms, flood, king tides and bush fires. Council is expected to have a strong focus on planning and recovery from natural disasters, and to ensure good community connections to facilitate our preparation, response, communication and learning.

Community education on the environment is seen as fundamental to achieving change and resilience. There is support for targeted programs from Environment Centres to help people value and respect the natural environment, and practical solutions to help it improve and thrive. Key topics include bushland, coast, marine and other habitats, Indigenous heritage, climate change as well as practical solutions for backyard habitats, bush regeneration, controlling weeds and pets. There is also a strong appetite for environmental volunteering and training opportunities with recognition for participants.