• Home
• >
• Environment
• >
• Council leadership on environmental action
• >
• Council sustainability action

Council sustainability action

Council takes a whole-of-organisation approach to achieving the Environmental Action Plan targets. The following are a sample of Council’s initiatives demonstrating sustainability leadership:

Emissions reduction

• In 2023 the Net Zero Alliance was established by Council, with 34 leading local businesses and community organisations supporting Council to meet net zero community greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.
• In 2022, Council commenced a 100% renewable electricity energy agreement with retailer ZEN Energy for all Council sites.
• In 2022 Council’s first three SkyParks were opened on the roof of Westfield Bondi Junction. In 2023 a further garden opened at UNSW.
• In 2019 Council completed 50 energy saving retrofit projects across 10 of the largest sites, including lighting upgrades, installation of sensors/timers, and heating/cooling efficiencies.
• Since 2020, Council has co-funded and delivered the Solar My Suburb program to help 46 community organisations take steps towards go solar. To date 16 solar installations have occurred.
• Since 2018, Council has run the Building Futures program to assist strata buildings of 25 units or more save on energy and water.
• Since 2017, Council has partnered with Ausgrid to upgrade street lights with more energy-efficient lighting. A total of 760 residential lights have been replaced with new LED lighting.
• Since 2012, 12 key Council sites, including the Library, Bondi Pavilion and many early education centres have been generating renewable energy through on-site solar panels.

Sustainable water

• In 2015 the Tamarama stormwater recycling system became operational, allowing captured water to be used for irrigating the park, Bushcare activities and toilet flushing at the kiosk.
• In 2014 three bioretention gardens (raingardens) were installed in the Bondi Junction commercial area which filter storm water before reaching Centennial Parklands pond.
• In 2012 the Bondi stormwater recycling system became operational, supplying over 50m litres of cleaned water for irrigation, toilets and public cleaning at Bondi Beach.
• In 2008 the Bronte Gully stormwater harvesting system became operational, allowing an estimated 16 megalitres of water every year to be used for parks, public toilets and public pool cleaning.
• In 2008 a groundwater harvesting system was installed, with a bore at Barracluff Park in North Bondi capturing water from an aquifer and constantly filling a 25,000L tank at Barracluff Park and 50,000L tank at Waverley Park. Water is used for irrigation and for filling Council trucks, avoiding use of drinking water.

Sustainable transport

• In 2023 the Bondi Junction Cycleway was opened, connecting the district to the existing cycleway at the northeastern corner of Centennial Park, allowing travel all the way to Sydney CBD.
• In 2023, Waverley, Woollahra and Randwick Councils completed an initial network of 25 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
• In 2023 the Birrell Street Renewal was completed, providing bike lanes and continuous footpaths.
• Between 2021 and 2022 Council installed 36 traffic calming treatments which created a self-enforced 40km/h speed environment, improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

Natural vegetation and wildlife habitat

• In 2023 Council adopted strengthened canopy and vegetation targets through our Urban Greening and Cooling strategy to achieve 35% green cover by 2032.
• In 2019 the Living Connections program was launched, to assist private land owners turn their gardens into urban wildlife habitats.
• In 2015 the Bronte Gully Ecological Restoration Action Plan 2015-2045 was activated, built on two decades of work returning native bushland to this significant location.
• In 2002 the Bronte-Coogee Aquatic Reserve was declared and is managed by National Parks NSW. From the southern end of Bronte Beach to the northern end of Coogee Beach, the Reserve protects a diversity of rocky shore habitats and extends out 100 metres from the shoreline.
• Council’s Bushcare volunteer program has been active for over 20 years. Bushcare volunteers contribute to the restoration of Waverley's remnant vegetation, transforming once-degraded, weed-infested lands into healthy ecosystems.

Circular economy

• In 2024 Council’s first Thinker in Residence was appointed, with Regen Sydney taking space at The Boot Factory.
• In 2023 Council received a NSW Government grant to better understand material flows in the Bondi Junction commercial centre to guide the development of a Circular Economy Roadmap with local business partners.
• In 2022, Council set circular economy targets for Council asset renewals, major projects and procurement.
• In 2019 Council completed its first roads made from recycled soft plastics, glass bottles and printer toner.
• In 2016 Council launched its tricky waste drop-off points at Waverley Library and the Customer Service Centre in Bondi Junction.
• In 2019 sustainability became a mandatory criterion for larger Council procurement processes.
• In 2009 Waverley joined with Randwick and Woollahra Councils to launch the Compost Revolution program, which subsidises the cost of compost equipment and provides resident advice.