Context

Biodiversity Action Planning Workshops

Client: Department of Sustainability

Context ran three workshops for the Department of Sustainability and Environment to introduce the biodiversity action planning process to local government, agencies and peak community groups who have an interest in protecting, enhancing and restoring their local biodiversity.

Boroondara Biodiversity Strategy

Client: Boroondara County Council

Context prepared a strategy and action plan for the conservation of native biodiversity in the City of Boroondara, Melbourne. Actions included inventory and monitoring, protection of remnant indigenous vegetation, habitat enhancement, community awareness and education, and measures to reduce biodiversity impacts within and beyond Boroondara.

Clearwater Program

Client: Municipal Association of Victoria and the Stormwater Industry Association of Victoria

This is an education and training program for local government and industry professionals in urban stormwater management. Context worked closely with the project managers and steering committee to develop and deliver an evaluation framework for the Clearwater Program. Context’s approach that evaluation is an ongoing and interactive process has enabled findings to be fed back into the program’s delivery ensuring it is constantly updated to meet emerging needs.

Evaluation of Merri Creek Industrial Stormwater Project

Client: Hume City Council

Working closely with local businesses, Hume City Council’s stormwater project set out to decrease pollutants entering Merri Creek in storm water. Context’s role was to assess how successful, or otherwise, the project was in changing behaviours and business practices which are known to contribute to storm-water pollution.

Greenhouse Research

Client: Moreland Energy Foundation

A desktop review of recent Australian research on community attitudes and behaviour in relation to energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, to assist the Moreland Energy Foundation Ltd in formulating a research strategy within the City of Moreland. Recommendations were made on research topics and approaches.

Maroondah Habitat Corridor Strategy

Client: City of Maroondah

In urban Melbourne, important species of flora and fauna are under pressure from loss of habitat and the increasing fragmentation of that habitat. Physical links – also known as vegetation corridors – between these fragments are essential. Context’s work for Maroondah involved identifying local and regional habitat links crossing both public and private land and creating an action plan for strengthening existing habitat corridors and for developing new ones.

Moreland Open Space Strategy

Client: City of Moreland

A detailed inventory and database, strategic priorities and action plans, and a five year program for planning and development of the City of Moreland’s public open space system. The community consultation process included a focus group, five public workshops and circulation of an issues and options paper as well as the draft Strategy. The project was supported by EDGE and Merri Creek Management Committee staff.

Re-energising Melbourne: Guidelines for the installation of solar technologies

Client: City of Melbourne

Context created illustrated guidelines for Council planners and applicants to assist the installation of rooftop solar hot water and power generation equipment, with a focus on requirements in heritage overlay areas. Training for Council planners and other officers was designed to increase their understanding of solar technologies, and the best ways to facilitate their uptake. Ross Horman and Nigel Lewis provided support for this project.

Review of the Energy Smart Business program

Client: SEDA

Energy Smart Business (ESB) is SEDA’s main program for providing energy efficiency support for businesses. Working with Patrick Crittenden from Sustainable Business, David Speller conducted a review of ESB to identify strengths and weaknesses in the program and to propose strategies to strengthen ESB.

Westernport Biodiversity Plans

Client: Department of Sustainability and Environment

Context engaged the community and local and State agencies in the preparation and implementation of Local Landscape Action Plans for Biodiversity in the Westernport catchment. Two successful community workshops were organised, facilitated and reported on. A report was prepared on marketing the plans to private and public land managers, and to local government, in order to engage them in implementation.

Wind Farms and Landscape Values: National Assessment Framework

Context worked in partnership with Planisphere and Collaborations on a landmark national project to develop a National Assessment Framework for considering and rating the landscape impact of wind farms. The project was a joint initiative by the Wind Energy Industry (Auswind) and the Australian Council of National Trusts (ACNT).

The Framework is designed to assist wind farm developers by setting out a clear sequence of steps for dealing with the assessment of landscape values and identifying potential impacts. It provides greater clarity and certainty about the way that communities can participate in and contribute to the process. The Framework was developed to provide a best practice tool for understanding values and impacts in a way that is consistent with Commonwealth, State and local government regulatory and approvals processes.