Embedding & Training
Embedding Climate Adaptation in Council Governance & Operations
ARUP has been engaged to support the Barwon South West Councils to embed climate resilience considerations in council decision making. The project has been identified as a high priority regional project and is following the development of climate adaptation plans, as part of the Climate Resilient Communities of the Barwon South West Phase 2 priority projects.
The ARUP project team has a thorough understanding of the Councils within the region through undertaking contextualisation, risk assessments and the development of adaptation
plans for the eight CRC BSW councils that did not have Climate Adaptation Plans, reducing costs and saving time.
Embedding activities are based on each council’s climate change adaptation plan priorities combined with ARUP’s best practice knowledge, practical experience and implementation of embedding adaptation in the context of Victorian local governments.
Examples of embedding activities at CRC BSW councils include:
- Colac Otway: Preparation of climate adaptation guidance note for asset management and capital works and associated training;
- Queenscliffe: Review of Council Plan and other high level strategic documents, such as Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, to understand current reference to climate change and draft a final overarching policy relating to climate change;
- Southern Grampians: Development of a tailored climate change training package for council staff based on the CAP;
- Glenelg: Detailed review with recommendations of draft open space strategy and opportunities for embedding climate change;
- Warrnambool: Climate Adaptation Plan awareness raising sessions.
Local Government Climate Adaptation Training
A series of training modules have been developed in partnership with the City of Greater Geelong to help build local government capacity. The training package is the first comprehensive local government staff training program for climate resilience.
The training materials range from raising awareness in key areas of local government and developing greater understanding of relevant climate risks to more advanced assessments of climate risks. The training is designed to increase staff awareness of climate risks, including sea level rise and drought, and ways Councils can plan for and respond to the risks.
The training package is for council staff and others working across council operations who design, build and maintain council assets, who plan for future suburbs, protect our region’s environmental assets, and deliver services to our community, and are looking to:
- understand climate change;
- learn how it might impact their work; and
- prepare to adapt effectively.
It is also for those who already understand climate change but now want to respond.
We are currently finalising the best approach to deliver this training across the region, which is planned to commence in early 2018.
Please check out the overview of the training package at http://coggresilience.loopandco.com.au/overview , which includes Geelong case studies, and do the short quiz to test your knowledge at http://coggresilience.loopandco.com.au/basic/assessment .
