Sustainability and climate change

We want to protect and enhance the incredible natural beauty of Port Stephens so that it can be enjoyed by future generations to come.

We aim to create an environmentally sustainable community by reducing greenhouse emissions and adapting to our changing climate.

Our action plan

Read The Port Stephens Emissions Reduction Action Plan which outlines the short, medium, and long term actions to reduce or remove Greenhouse Gas Emissions:

Our achievements

  • Installing a solar photovoltaic system on Council's Administration Building, reducing our annual energy consumption by 25%.
  • Installing solar photovoltaic systems on many of our libraries, community centres and Rural Fire Service buildings.
  • Installing solar pool pre-heating at Lakeside Leisure Centre, Tomaree Aquatic Centre and Tilligerry Aquatic Centre.
  • Installing solar photovoltaic system and water tank at Salamander Waste Transfer Station.
  • In a first for the Hunter region, we used recycled glass 'greencrete' in the upgrade of Tanilba Bay roundabout. This is a great example of finding new ways to reuse materials as part of a circular economy.
  • Installed Building Management System and Programmable Logic Controller at our Administration Building, Lakeside Leisure Centre and many sports and community buildings to deliver energy efficiencies and lower operating costs.
  • Installing water-saving irrigation and stormwater harvesting at Medowie Park and Kindlebark Oval.
  • Installing variable-speed drives (VSD) at Lakeside Leisure Centre plus Kangaroo Street and Stockton Street flood pumps to save energy consumption.
  • Installing energy-saving LED field lighting at Ferodale Netball Courts, Tomaree Netball Courts and Tomaree Sports Complex fields 4 and 5.
  • Installing energy-saving LED lighting at our Administration Building, Tomaree Library and Community Centre, Council works depots, Birubi Surf Club and a number of community centres and halls.

Cities Power Partnership

We're proud to join the Cities Power Partnership — a national climate action program that is driving local governments and communities to transition to net zero emissions.