State of the Environment Report

State of the Environment (“SoE”) Reporting takes place on three levels: Commonwealth, State and Local Government. It allows decision makers in the local community to identify areas in which changes can produce a positive environmental outcome whereby all Councils are able to improve their own area.

The SoE Report is an outcome of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Summit adopted Agenda 21, a principal global plan to confront and overcome the economic and ecological problems of the late 20th century. This puts an emphasis on the role of Local Government that develops and operates economic, social and environmental infrastructure and assists in the implementation of national environmental policies. Under the Local Government Act 1993, Council is required to produce an annual SoE report.

SoE reporting becomes an indicator of all aspects of our natural environment and helps identify ways in which we can plan to protect and preserve the environment for future generations. Our approach to environmental management is developing with the realisation that those aspects of our environment are severely threatened and in need of a comprehensive effort on behalf of both Government and, more importantly, the community. The process of the SoE Reporting has evolved under the direction of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and statutory amendments under the Local Government Act 1993.

View the Report