Exhibition of Draft Hawkesbury Litter Prevention Plan

Council is inviting community members to view and comment on Council’s Draft Hawkesbury Litter Prevention Plan, which will be on public exhibition for a period of 28 days, from Tuesday, 18 March 2025 to Monday, 14 April 2025.

The Draft Hawkesbury Litter Prevention Plan, through background research, litter counts, and engagement, documents and communicates Council’s vision, objectives, measurable targets, strategic directions, and initiatives with respect to reducing litter and reducing the impact of litter on the environment.

Draft Hawkesbury Litter Prevention Plan Vision:

“Empowering Council, community, businesses, and visitors, to take informed, efficient actions towards a litter-free future.”

Draft Hawkesbury Litter Prevention Plan Objectives:

1. Employ a robust, evidence-based approach to litter prevention decision making.
2. Build Council’s understanding of the financial advantages of investing in litter prevention in addition to litter management.
3. Identify opportunities for efficiencies and maximise the strategic leveraging of Council resources.
4. Build Council’s understanding and ownership of litter prevention, to create a new business-as-usual approach to planning and delivery of litter prevention initiatives.
5. Create opportunities to collaborate with local businesses and surrounding Councils, and champion shared commitment of litter prevention.
6. Leverage individual and collective pride in our community and foster a culture where residents and businesses take localised litter prevention measures.
7. Enhance community understanding of correct litter disposal practices and the benefits of a clean environment.
8. Ensure visitors are informed and encouraged to correctly dispose of litter.
9. Ensure an infrastructure standard that prevents unintentional litter and maximises correct disposal.

Draft Hawkesbury Litter Prevention Plan Targets:

1. By the end of 2029, Hawkesbury City Council will increase investment in litter prevention from the 2022 baseline.
2. By the end of 2029, litter prevention is included in organisational documents aligned with the Integrated Planning and Reporting framework.
3. By the end of 2029, the number of new registrations to Report to EPA via the litter portal will increase by 200 across the Hawkesbury LGA.
4. By the end of 2029, litter in priority locations will decrease by 20% across Hawkesbury City Council area.
5. By the end of 2029, cigarette butt litter in priority litter locations will decrease by 20%.
6. By the end of 2029, the self-reported percentage of the HCC community who litter will be less than 40%.

Draft Hawkesbury Litter Prevention Plan Strategic Directions:

1. Solid Foundations: Getting the basics right.
2. Shared Commitment and Action: Champions against litter.
3. Leading the Way: Council litter prevention action.

The Draft Plan outline’s Council’s planned approach to manage litter and preserve the natural environment of our LGA over the next five years. Building upon State targets and the Western Sydney Regional Litter Prevention Plan developed through the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC), a local plan will ensure our capacity to deliver and plan for litter prevention continues within our Local Government Area (LGA) as part of Council’s processes.

Community Engagement:

Community engagement was integral to the preparation of the Draft Hawkesbury Litter Prevention Plan, and has included:

• 6 surveys – with community, businesses, Aboriginal community, Youth and Councillors,
• Interviews across 14 different internal Council Teams,
• 4 external workshops, including businesses, Aboriginal community, Youth and local Environment Groups,
• 2 engagement activities at Council events, including 2024 Hawkesbury Show and 2024 Are You Ready event,
• 8 phone interviews with neighbouring Councils and regional partnerships.

The Draft Hawkesbury Litter Prevention Plan is listed under the Documents tab on this page, or can be viewed at:

• Council’s Administration Building, 366 George Street, Windsor, Monday to Friday during opening hours, 9am to 4pm.

Council will receive submissions via the Survey Tab below, in writing addressed to the General Manager, by mail to Hawkesbury City Council, PO Box 146 Windsor NSW 2756, or by email to council@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au (External link) up to Monday, 14 April 2025.

Should you lodge a submission, it will be considered, along with any other submissions received and may be included in Council’s meeting business paper. Your submission, including any personal information is accessible by any person upon written application, subject to Council’s Privacy Management Plan and the Government Information (Public Access) Act, 2009. The inclusion of personal information in your submission is voluntary, however, if not provided, may affect consideration of the submission. The information will ultimately be stored in Council’s records system.

The last day for the receipt of submissions is Monday 14 April 2025.

Should you have any enquiries with respect to this matter, please contact Charlotte Weaver, Council’s Sustainability Officer on (02) 4560 4444 or attention email enquiries to council@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au with reference to the Draft Hawkesbury Litter Prevention Plan.