Sustainability Initiatives
The Town provides opportunities for residents to access products and services that promote sustainability in our day-to-day lives.
A selection of rewards are available through the Switch Your Thinking program that helps reduce waste, energy and water use.
In the lead up, sustainability initiatives are advertised on our Events page so take a look and find something to inspire you! Or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to receive the latest updates.
View Events
Sustainability Strategy
The Town is in the process of reviewing and updating our Sustainability Strategy. We will continue to implement actions and programs identified in the previous Sustainability Strategy 2019-2023.
To keep up with new technology and environmental challenges, an interim Strategy will be developed based on guiding principles to be developed by the Sustainability Working Group.
Community members are invited to participate in the Working Group. Two members will be selected by the current committee consisting of Councillors Jane Cutler (Chair) and Michael Le Page, with assistance from the Senior Sustainability Officer. Community members must have an interest in sustainability, based on the improvement of the natural environment, social wellbeing, responsible economic development, and good governance.
If you wish to apply, please send through an application form to sustainability@cambridge.wa.gov.au. Applications close Friday, 23 August 2024 at 2:00pm.
Online Application Form
SWG-Community-Member-Application-Form.pdf(PDF, 267KB)
Switch Your Thinking
As a proud partner Council of Switch Your Thinking, Town of Cambridge residents have access to a range of rewards to help you cut waste, and reduce energy and water use.
Switch Your Thinking work with local businesses to offer residents a discount on products that will make your home more sustainable.
Head over to Rewards for residents for more information.
Also have a look at the Young Re-Inventor program.
Sustainable Homes
The resources provided by Gaia Permaculture will help make our homes more sustainable.
From accessing maps and weather trends to help with orientation and designing your garden for all seasons to soil improvement and basic permaculture principles.
You can download all the vital information below.
Accessing-maps-from-Landgate-WA.pdf(PDF, 1MB)
Actively-Aerated-Compost-Tea-Ingredients-and-Instructions.pdf(PDF, 579KB)
Companion-planting-chart-pdf-download-permaculture.pdf(PDF, 2MB)
Composting-Handout-GAIA-PERMACULTURE.pdf(PDF, 1013KB)
Designing-your-garden-for-all-seasons-Town-of-Cambridge-May-2021.pdf(PDF, 12MB)
How-to-access-weather-stats-from-BOM-websites.pdf(PDF, 1MB)
Introduction-to-Permaculture-Workshop-Handouts-June-2018.pdf(PDF, 2MB)
Native-Australia-Plants-Ground-Covers-to-Large-Trees.pdf(PDF, 2MB)
Native Plant Subsidy Scheme
The Town, in partnership with the Western Suburbs Alliance, offers residents the opportunity to purchase subsidised local native seedlings throughout May.
The offer encourages and supports residents to use sustainable and water-wise local native plants in their gardens and verges.
Residents are able to purchase up to 80 plants per household at the subsidised price of $2.50 each, from APACE Nursery in May. The 2024 plant allocations have now SOLD OUT; please check back again in 2025.
Native Plant Subsidy Flyer(PDF, 6MB)
For further details see APACE Nursery.
This Native Plant Subsidy Scheme is Supported by the Water Corporation Waterwise Greening Programme
Sustainable Verge Garden Awards.
Improve your verge and win! Consider creating a sustainable verge garden with local native plants from Apace Nursery and make a nomination for the Town’s Sustainable Verge Garden Awards.
Green Energy
The Town of Cambridge has signed up to sourcing 100% renewable energy for our larger contestable sites, supporting the Town’s Strategic Community Plan 2018-2028 of being environmentally responsible and leading by example.
The Town has fourteen large electricity consuming sites, called contestable sites. Contestable sites consume more than 50,000kWh per year and customers can select their retailer. The current contract with Synergy will expire at the end of September 2022 and the Town will commence with the new contract in October 2022.
The remainder of the Town’s sites will not be supplied by green energy yet, but the aggregated agreement signed through the WA Local Government Association and 50 other Local Governments opens up the possibility of being supplied with 100% renewable energy at all our sites.
The renewable energy and carbon off-set aggregation project was authorised by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission until 2036. Renewable energy will be supplied from 3 WA wind farms at Albany, Emu Downs, and Collgar farms. Participating Local Governments will combine their purchasing powers and negotiate terms of supply centrally.
More importantly the program allows for a long-term commitment towards renewable energy and investment in renewable energy sources and infrastructure.
Learn More
Sustainable Transport
Find out how to access more sustainable transport options to school, work and in the community on our Getting Around the Town webpage.
This includes walking, cycling and public transport around the Town.
Also join the Your Move Network to share your sustainable travel stories and find resources and things to do. The 2022 Your Move Calendar can be found here.
School Resources
Various resources are available to schools with great worksheets and activities, here are some links to help you get started. Contact the Sustainability Officer if you would like to find out more at sustainability@cambridge.wa.gov.au
Switch Your Thinking Program
For sustainable school projects and resources that are aligned to the WA curriculum go to the website here :
Water Efficiency resources
The Water Corporation provides resources and lesson plans click here
Find out more about Waterwise for schools program here :
Sustainable Transport
Share your Sustainable Transport stories on the Your Move program
Download the 2022 Your Move Calendar for a school calendar of key dates and events from the Department of Transport.
Find tips and tools for planning Your Move activities and find out how the program works.
Young Re-inventor of the Year
Need something to do for home schooling or a fun activity for the school holidays?
How we grow, eat and dispose of food will need to be very different in the future if we are going to look after our planet. The current COVID-19 pandemic challenges us to re-think our relationship with food. When we self-isolate we can’t run down to the supermarket and when we do there is less food on the shelves.
We now have the opportunity to consider - How can we stretch our precious food further? What new skills can we learn to grow, cook and recycle food in a sustainable (and delicious) way? How can we use our new skills to look after our planet once things go back to normal?
Re-invent or create something from waste materials that reflects what sustainable food might look like now and in the future. For example, create a recipe using vegetable scraps or leftovers, make a solar oven, an upcycled worm farm or an ingenious way of storing food. Use waste from home or school to be resourceful and creative. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!
For more information, resources and ideas visit switchyourthinking.com.
Road Safety Around Schools
Under the Roadwise program WALGA has developed the ‘Road Safety Around Schools’ guidelines, providing information, tools and advice to schools to improve safety in the greater community. Documents can be downloaded from their website: https://www.roadwise.asn.au/road-safety-around-schools.aspx
Road Safety Around Schools(PDF, 1MB)
Safety Audit Checklist (PDF, 284KB)
Notes for regarding the Safe Routes to School templates (PDF, 656KB)
Waste Wise Schools Programme
The State Government's Waste Wise Schools program supports schools to promote better waste management practices.
Applications are now open for the next round of funding to help Western Australian schools reduce waste to landfill.
Waste Wise Schools Grants help primary and secondary schools set up a range of waste avoidance and recovery projects.
Find out how to become an Accredited school and about available grants on the Waste Authority website.
Aboriginal Culture
Find out more about bush tucker, aboriginal seasons and the Noongar language via these links below:
https://www.noongarculture.org.au/education/
https://www.sercul.org.au/our-projects/bushtucker/
https://noongarboodjar.com.au/education-and-training/for-teachers/
https://www.perthnrm.com/resource/traditional-knowledge/
Sustainable Grants Scheme
The Town of Cambridge Sustainable Grants Program provides funding for community driven sustainability projects which encourage Cambridge residents to be more sustainable.
It aims to give members of the Cambridge community and local groups an opportunity to work together on projects that will benefit the whole community.
The Grants Program opened on 1 September and closed on 25 September 2024.
View the Program Guidelines(PDF, 322KB)
for full details.
Apply here(PDF, 622KB) PDF
Apply online here