Draft Action Plan to accompany Colac Otway Shire Council’s draft Environment Sustainability Strategy

Although the draft Environmental Sustainability Strategy was set to go before Colac Otway Shire Council in December 2022, it was agreed that a draft Action Plan should also be developed to sit alongside the strategy for the community to consider both.

The draft Action Plan will set out Council’s specific goals to address climate change concerns with Council’s Manager of Planning and Strategic Focus Doug McNeill advising that both the strategy and plan would set a ‘roadmap’ of actions to address Council’s environmental objectives and goals for the next 10 years.

McNeill noted “The Colac Otway community has strongly indicated the need for Council to take action to respond to impacts of climate change; we know this from our extensive community engagement undertaken for both the Council Plan and more recently, the Environmental Sustainability Strategy.

“A key part of the Plan will be the preparation of actions designed to respond to and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

“Both the Strategy and the Action Plan will provide a framework to guide Council’s decision making, advocacy and allocation of resources.

“Our Colac Otway community will be given the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft Action Plan and draft Environmental Sustainability Strategy through a formal engagement process.”

The draft Environmental Sustainability Strategy was developed following extensive engagement with Councillors, stakeholders and the Colac Otway community including a survey, public drop-in sessions across the region and workshops with interest groups.

Council will consider the draft Environmental Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan at an upcoming Council meeting.