5.1.1 Roles, Responsibilities and Procedures

5.1.1.1  The State Government should provide appropriate regional support to Local Governments to assist in administration of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and other environmental reforms.

5.1.1.2  Local Government supports the development of voluntary State of Environment reports to assist the Department of Environment in their reporting on Queensland's environment.

5.1.1.3  A State Government funding initiative should be made available to encourage Councils to develop State of Environment reports.

5.1.1.4  Local Government supports the development and use of corporate Environmental Management Systems to achieve best practice environmental management.

5.1.1.5  The State Government should recognise and take into account the use of corporate Environmental Management Systems if the approved or certified quality assurance or Environmental Management System or standard complies with the requirements of environmental legislation.

5.1.2 Air

5.1.2.1  Local Government supports the development of regional cooperative air quality strategies.

5.1.2.2  The establishment of statutory regional air management authorities is opposed by Local Government.  Councils will seek to maintain good local air quality that complies with appropriate standards through cooperative, voluntary regional approaches with contiguous Local Governments and the State Government.

5.1.3 Noise

5.1.3.1  Local Government, in consultation with the State Government, should seek to achieve the effective management of noise levels in the community through utilisation of planning and building policies and standards.

5.1.3.2  All Government and private enterprise activity should be bound by environment noise control provisions.

5.1.4 Contaminated Lands

5.1.4.1 The Department of Defence should fund the investigation and remediation of potential and identified unexploded military ordinance sites.

5.1.5 Energy

5.1.5.1  Local Government supports the State's energy policy framework for energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction and urges greater recognition of Local Governments' powers and capabilities in delivering on those targets set for improved energy performance.

5.1.5.2  Local Government supports a whole of government approach to ensuring policies, funding programs, civic projects, grants and legislation demonstrate consistency and commitment about improving energy performance across all sectors.

5.1.5.3  Local Governments require access to appropriate programs of incentives, and models, to improve existing technologies and change practices and plans.

5.1.5.4  The State Government should provide accessible and relevant information on energy management including information about improved technologies, planning for energy efficiency as well as government incentive programs.

5.1.5.5  Local Government support effective and consistent standards and regulations where necessary for cleaner and more efficient energy management.

5.1.5.6  Local Government supports whole of government support for regional implementation of energy management initiatives including capacity building programs, incentives schemes, regional strategies for land use planning and transport.

5.1.6 Climate Change

5.1.6.1  Local Government is committed to providing a leadership role to assist local and regional communities, including industry, to understand and address the impacts of climate change.

5.1.6.2  Local Government is committed to working in partnership with all spheres of government, industry and community to develop and implement effective climate change strategies focusing on mitigation and adaptation.

5.1.6.3  Local Government is committed to utilising current and reputable scientific information, robust risk assessment methodologies and community engagement when developing mitigation and adaptation strategies, establishing priorities and the allocation of resources.

5.1.6.4  Local Government requires appropriate policy and legislative frameworks from the Federal and State Governments to allow required decision making and responses to climate change without prejudice or undue risk exposure.

5.1.6.5 Local Government requires timely access to high quality, nationally consistent but locally appropriate data and methodologies from the Federal and State Governments to assist it in responding to climate change impacts.

5.1.6.6 Local Government requires timely access to high quality, nationally consistent but locally appropriate standards and codes from the Federal and State Governments to assist it in ensuring responses to climate change are safe, appropriate and equitable.

5.1.6.7 Local Government requires appropriate levels of funding and resourcing assistance to meet urgent climate change mitigation and adaptation requirements for the short and long term protection and benefit of communities.