Sustainability Action Plan

Councils 2026 - 2030 Sustainability Action Plan is here - with a vision

Download the 2026 - 2030 SAP

Lane Cove Council has a long-standing commitment to sustainability, adopting our first Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) in 2005 and a Sustainability Levy in 2007. With the support of the SAP and the Sustainability Levy, Council has made significant progress in incorporating sustainability into our programs and activities, and responding to the challenges presented to our environment and our communities.

Council’s new 2026 - 2030 Sustainability Action Plan builds on past initiatives and learnings and provides a renewed strategic focus for sustainability across Lane Cove.The Plan retains the three core themes of Environment, Community and Liveability, while streamlining the framework from 12 Goals to 9, creating a more focused approach. The goals describe the desired outcomes and aspirations for the theme, while the actions under each goal outline what Council will do to work towards those goals.

The 2026 - 2030 Sustainability Action Plan:

• Introduces ambitious new Net Zero and waste reduction targets aligned with the NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041, including:
  • Net Zero Council Operations by 2028
  • Aspirational Net Zero LGA by 2040
  • 80% diversion from landfill by 2030
  • 10% reduction in waste generation per person by 2030

• Places greater emphasis on measurable outcomes and accountability through measurable indicators for each goal, and stronger ongoing monitoring and reporting.
• Introduces the new goal “A Community Powered by Renewable Energy”, reflecting the community’s strong support for the transition to renewable energy.
• Renews the focus on the local economy through the introduction of Goal 9: A Thriving Local Economy.

It also builds on our previous plans through:

• Continuing progress toward Council’s target of an 80% emissions reduction by 2036.
• Maintaining focus on healthy waterways, bushland, and wildlife which remain a top priority for our community.
• Strengthening Council’s commitment to the circular economy through expanded waste reduction and circular procurement initiatives.
• Continuing to support and expand many of Council’s well-established and popular sustainability programs and initiatives

Developing the Plan

To produce the Sustainability Action Plan 2026 - 2030, Council undertook comprehensive, multi-stage process.

Who provided feedback?

The Community Consultation saw over 40 people actively engage in workshops or online surveys, and a further 100+ engaging in our pop-up events. The age of participants in the workshops and survey ranged from 18 to 75+, with 45% of participants sitting between 55 - 75 years of age. All were residents of Lane Cove.

What did we hear from you?

Over 500 thoughts and ideas were shared with Council. The top priority was by far 'Protecting and enhancing natural habitats and biodiversity', followed by 'Improving public and active transport options', 'Reducing waste to landfill', and 'Adapting to Climate Change impacts (e.g heat, floods, storms)'. The main words and themes we heard were:

Outcomes Report for the Sustainability Action Plan 2022 - 2025

To close out the 2022-2025 SAP, Council undertook a detailed review of our progress against this plan and our adopted targets. The outcomes of this review are presented in this Outcomes Report.

Download the Outcomes Report