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Environment

Caring for Our Environment 

Fostering local land care networks

In recent times community land care groups have been reinvigorated, with the commencement of two Landcare Tasmania groups in Old Beach and Bridgewater (in August 2021 the Bridgewater group became the 300th Landcare Tasmania group). Both groups regularly meet to remove weeds, collect and propagate seeds and replant native habitat.

If you are interested in helping, everyone is welcome to join:

  • Bridgewater Landcare Group meet on the second Sunday of each month 10am-1pm.
  • Friends of Old Beach Foreshore meet on the third weekend each month alternating between Saturday and Sunday – find them on Facebook here

Brighton Council supports the groups through membership and insurance fees, expert advice, weed removal and promotion of key events, such as:

  • Clean Up Australia Day rubbish collection
  • National Plant a Tree Day

Brighton Council continues to support a community network for environmental care working together, such as Landcare Tasmania, the Material Institute (MONA) in Bridgewater, State Government and community groups such as the kutalayna collective and school initiatives.

Cherishing our environment

The Derwent Catchment Project (DCP), a grass roots community Natural Resource Management (NRM) organisation, were engaged by Brighton Council in November 2021 to develop a stakeholder supported strategy to best manage the municipality’s natural areas. The expertise and resources DCP provide have led to:

For more information or to find out how you can get involved email: mel.fazackerley@derwentcatchment.org

To view some videos of community tree planting and weed management visit: Resources – The Derwent Catchment Project

Acting sustainably

Brighton Council has a range of initiatives to reduce the impact on the environment from its own operations, including composting garden waste from outdoor maintenance works and weed management in parks and public spaces.

Managing Weeds

Recognising the serious threat weeds pose to Brighton’s natural resources, Brighton Council has been working with the Derwent Catchment Project to develop a Weed Management Strategy for Brighton. Brighton Council endorsed the Weed Management Strategy in April 2022.

Brighton Council – Weed Management Strategy

APPENDIX V Brighton Council Weed Action Table

The strategy provides a guiding framework for public land managers to work together to manage weeds and promote weed awareness across Brighton. It will guide priority weed management and investment into the region and is designed as a working document that can be adapted and updated as new information becomes available. This weed strategy considers climate change as a management issue as the increasing intensity of events such as fire and floods are creating reactive weed management issues.

Five eradication zones are proposed:

  • Estuary
  • Dromedary
  • Industrial hub
  • Foreshore and walking trails
  • Agriculture and horticulture

Should you have any questions regarding the strategy or land management in our municipality, please feel free to contact Council.

T: (03) 6268 7000
E: admin@brighton.tas.gov.au

 

Climate change is already having significant consequences on Australian ecosystems, Australian’s health, property, infrastructure, as well as industries like agriculture and tourism.

Brighton Council is committed to reducing its emissions and energy use, adapting to the impacts of climate change, and to working with its community to increase awareness and assist in transitioning to a low carbon lifestyle.

The following is a summary of Brighton Council’s latest climate change actions: Climate Change Action Overview – 2022

See Brighton’s Climate Change and Resilience Strategy – Nov 2019

Brighton Council relies on the latest climate change impacts information available from the University of Tasmania, the Climate Change Information for Decision Making paper, provided via the Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority (STCA). Brighton also has a Corporate Climate Change Adaptation Plan, to identify the best ways to manage climate change risks.

Most recently, the Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority released the Regional Strategy – Adapting to a Changing Coastline in Tasmania – August 2022.

Over the past 3 years, Brighton Council has:

  • Undertaken an Energy Audit of Council Chambers
  • Installed 50kw solar on Council Chambers
  • Installed 30kw solar on Council Depot
  • Endorsed the Greening Brighton Strategy 2016-2121 
    • Secured an annual budget for more street trees
    • Planted extensively in:
      • Gage Road
      • Entrances to Herdmans Cove
      • East Derwent Highway
      • Hurst Street
      • Bridgewater Industrial Hub
      • Riviera Drive
    • Became a member of the nation-wide 202020 Vision to see 20% more green space in urban areas by 2020
  • Ongoing participation in the Derwent Estuary Program
    • Science-sharing partnership between state and local government and industry to make the Derwent a world class asset for the benefit of nature, the economy and the community
  • Ongoing participation in the Regional Climate Change Initiative group
    • The group recently completed the report Southern Tasmania’s Changing Energy Use: Information Paper which found regional energy use has increased by 2% and greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 6%
    • The Information Paper will assist Council in working with communities, business and other councils to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and measure the success of any changes
    • By identifying some of our biggest emissions sources the community, individuals and businesses can also work out how to make energy bill savings
  • Became a member of the nation-wide Cities Power Partnership and pledged to:
    • Install LED lights through the Accelerated Local Government Capital Program
    • Investigate the viability of solar on all Council buildings and install solar lighting where possible
    • Lobby other levels of government for light rail and ferry services, and investigate proposed route and plan for activity nodes around future terminals
    • Retrofit existing roads with bike-lanes with a focus on connecting key roads in Brighton to the new Brighton Road streetscape
    • Actively look for opportunities to support community energy projects within the municipality and build knowledge from other CPP Councils that succeeded in this area.
    • Improving walkability and cycle routes throughout the municipality

For sustainable household tips check out the EcoHome Guide by Sustainable Living Tasmania.

Dispersive Soils

Dispersive soils separate into particles when exposed to fresh water. They can be difficult to manage and are an important consideration in land use. Activities such as overgrazing, removal of top soil or excavation in dispersive soils areas can lead to dramatic erosion. The map below details areas of the Brighton Municipality where dispersive soils have been identified.

East Baskerville Land Capability Map

Information on the management of dispersive soils can be found at the DPIPWE website through the following link.

https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/agriculture/land-management-and-soils/soil-management/soil-publications/dispersive-soils-and-their-management-technical-reference-manual