Environmental Levy

Why an Environmental Levy?

Council adopted its Sustainable Ashfield: An Ecological Sustainable Development (ESD) Policy in 2003.  Included within this Policy are seven principles that guide the implementation of ESD within the Municipality. The Environmental Levy as part of a special rate variation provides funding to implement programs in line with the ESD Policy. 

The Environmental Levy projects identified for funding include but are not limited to:

  1. Environmental Education & Awareness programs for the community, school groups, local business and Council staff;
  2. Water conservation projects
  3. Energy conservation projects
  4. Street Trees
  5. Cycleway projects.

The Environmental Levy is charged across all rateable properties as a 50% Base Amount and the remainder as an ad-valorem rate.

Projects funded through the Environmental Levy
Council has successfully used funds raised through the Environmental Levy to leverage grants from both the State and Federal Government which have enabled us to undertake more projects.

Projects currently underway:

Sustainability Streets
Sustainability Streets, at its simplest is a solid, fun, basic training program designed to nurture sustainable living both at home and around the neighbourhood. We have over 50 residents organised into 3 suburb based groups participating in this program. This program is supported by funding from the Environmental Trust.

Environmental Workshops
Ashfield and Leichhardt Councils have created a partnership to create environmental workshop program for our residents. The Treading Lightly Workshop Series offers at least one workshop per month. The workshop topics include composting & worm farming, living with less chemicals, ECO-Renovate, Rainwater tanks and energy savings.

Water Conservation Projects
Council through the Environmental Levy and Federal Government Grants has installed rainwater tanks at the Summer Hill Community Centre and Council’s Depot. We will soon be undertaking retrofits of Park amenities blocks to install water saving taps and replacing old toilet cisterns with new water efficient cisterns.

Environmental Education
Council through the Levy and a grant from the Local Government and Shires association recently implemented sustainability training for all staff. This was a very successful program that culminated in the formation of an internal Sustainability Committee for Council.