NSROC manages a wide variety of projects and issues on behalf of the region. Major projects and issues are managed by specific committees or professional officers groups (POGs) which meet on a regular basis to achieve outcomes, develop strategies and policies, and exchange information.
Effective waste management
is a crucial responsibility of councils in the NSROC region. Collectively,
the NSROC councils generate over 114,000 tonnes of putrescible waste and
40,000 tonnes of green waste. In recognition of the development of alternative
waste technologies and the declining availability of landfills in the
Sydney Region, the NSROC councils have engaged in a joint tender process
to secure the provision of waste transfer, processing and disposal services.
Northern Sydney Waste Management Professional Officers Group
This group includes council waste managers and officers from throughout
the northern Sydney region, which meet monthly to exchange information
on waste issues, develop policy and guide the NSROC Joint Waste Tender.
The Chair of the group is Kristian Wynn, Willoughby Council who can be contacted at
Kristian.Wynn@willoughby.nsw.gov.au
Environmental issues are extremely important in the NSROC region, as pressure on natural resources intensifies and the population of the NSROC community continues to expand. At present, the NSROC councils are addressing environmental and sustainability issues in a number of different ways, however all of the NSROC councils have come together to produce a regional State of the Environment Report for 2005.
This document will, for the first time, identify environmental issues and report on environmental outcomes from a regional perspective, allowing for a more consistent approach that recognises many environmental concerns do not correspond with individual council boundaries.
NSROC Environmental
Group
The Regional SOE will be guided by the NSROC Regional Environmental Group,
currently chaired by Dominic Johnson, who can be contacted at djohnson@lanecove.nsw.gov.au
Planning in the NSROC region has assumed great importance as a result of the recent real estate boom and as the rapidly growing population seeks to manage development within their communities. The State Government has also recently embarked on a substantial process of planning reform as well as the creation of a Metropolitan Plan for Sydney, to guide the city’s growth and development over the next 30 years.
For NSROC’s media release on the Metropolitan Strategy Discussion Paper please click here.
This process has made it increasingly necessary for the NSROC councils to identify their planning priorities for the region, and to provide sound analysis of the State Government’s plans and policies based on regional data and consultation.
NSROC Planning
Group
The NSROC Planning Group was formed in 2004 to provide input into the
Sydney Metropolitan Strategy process and to develop a planning framework
for the region. The Chair of the Planning Group is Penny Holloway, who
can be contacted at genmangr@northsydney.nsw.gov.au
Northern Planners
Professional Officers Group
The Northern Planners Professional Officers Group is made up of senior
planning staff from the northern region of Sydney, which meet monthly
to exchange technical planning information, review new planning policies
and prepare submission on planning reforms. The Chair of the Northern
Planners POG is Steven Kourepis who can be contacted at demanager@huntershill.nsw.gov.au
Transport issues have particular currency at present, with the State Government bringing out a number of transport reforms following the release of the Parry and Unsworth Transport Reviews. At present the state government is focused on:
- revamping the existing heavy gauge rail network,
- the corporatisation of Sydney Ferries,
- a reform of the bus service in Sydney, and
- a number of major road infrastructure projects (such as the M4 East, Cross City Tunnel, Lane Cove Tunnel and the Western City Orbital).
In the NSROC region, a variety of transport modes are used, including ferries, trains, taxis, buses and cars, as well as non-motorised forms of transport such as walking and cycling. In many parts of the region, traffic congestion is becoming an increasing problem along with associated environmental problems. Much of the existing transport infrastructure is ageing and operating at near capacity.
NSROC Transport
Group
In order to better deal with transport issues and effectively lobby state
government for change, the NSROC Transport Group was created in 2004 to
develop a Regional Transport Strategy, identify innovative solutions to
community transport needs, and to participate in the transport reform
process initiated by State Government. The group meets every two months
and is chaired by John Owen who can be contacted at email@willoughby.nsw.gov.au
NSROC identified that the opportunity for significant cost savings to their member Councils was by way of a regional purchasing programme. The formation of the Supply Management Group in 1995 was to implement purchasing agreements, which would produce savings to member councils both in the real cost of products which were being commonly purchased throughout the region, and the reduction in the duplication of effort occurring by each council entering into their individual agreements. Since conception the Supply Management Group have negotiated pricing for the region through many commodities, such as asphalt, stationery etc and continue to provide their member Councils with considerable savings.
NSROC Supply Group
The Supply Management Group meet monthly to review agreements in place
and consider future initiatives. The Chair of the Group is Ms Sorina
Ionita,
Lane Cove Council, contact email:
sionita@lanecove.nsw.gov.au
Council staff are the most valuable resource any council has. Each of the NSROC councils is committed to providing a professional and efficient service through its staff, and this requires ongoing training, resourcing and supervision.
NSROC HR Managers
Professional Officers Group
This group meets on an irregular basis to address Human Resource issues.
The current contact for this group is Dominic Johnson who can be contacted
at djohnson@lanecove.nsw.gov.au