FAQs

Mandurah is part of the Southwest Australia Ecoregion - a Global Biodiversity Hotspot. These hotspots are some of the most unique, yet degraded (and therefore threatened), places in the world. 

Our Manjoogoordap - meeting place of the heart - is exceptional even within this global uniqueness, as it brings together various ecosystems like beaches, wetlands, native bushland, and rivers, all within minutes of each other. 

This overlapping of different environments is what makes Mandurah so special but is also why we are home to a high number of endangered plant and animal species and Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs). The estuary and surrounding wetlands, collectively known as the Peel-Yalgorup Wetlands System, hold significance for both resident and migratory shorebirds. These wetlands have received international recognition and are listed under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.

Being home to such incredible biodiversity comes with great responsibility. We need to protect our natural environment from a variety of new and existing threats, to ensure that it can continue to thrive and we can continue to share it with generations to come.

We also know that working with the environment in mind has the potential to influence better outcomes in the areas of Economy, Social and Health as outlined in the City's Strategic Community Plan (2020-2040), a long-term vision set by our community. 

The Environment Strategy (2023-2033) brings together our environmental work and provides a clear direction and priorities for the future so that our people, our wildlife, our flora and our future generations - everything that makes us special -  can all continue to thrive.

Following community consultation, staff will consider feedback and review the strategy. A final version of the strategy will then be presented to Council for endorsement. 

Following endorsement some of the major key actions that will roll out in the next two years are:

• Review the Bushland Conservation and Management Policy
• Implement the Greening Mandurah Framework Action Plan
• Deliver the Active Mobility Transport outcomes within the Integrated Transport Strategy
• Develop an Urban Stormwater Retrofit Upgrade Program
• Implement the Northern Beaches CHRMAP Action Plan
• Develop and review the Southern Beaches CHRMAP and associated action plan
• Develop the Mandjar Bay Masterplan to facilitate improved water-based activation  
• Implement the Water Supply Infrastructure Upgrade Program
• Deliver and review the Strategic Waste Plan
• Implement the Waste Education Plan Action Plan
• Finalise the solar plan to install Solar photovoltaic systems to key City facilities 
• Review the Energy Management and Carbon Emission Reduction Plan including establishing new targets in relation to the City’s energy consumption and carbon emissions 
• Develop the ecotourism experience at Yalgorup National Park in partnership with DBCA and industry
• Review the Climate Change Response Plan in line with the updated Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports
• Review the City’s procurement process in relation to delivering more sustainable outcomes

1. Review of existing work 

We reviewed the work we are already doing in this space, along with environmental strategies from other Councils and our previous community consultation, to help us understand what our community loves most about our environment.

Our community's environmental priorities were identified during the 2018 community engagement on the City's Strategic Community Plan (2020-2040). Additional consultation on major plans and strategies across the City has confirmed and refined these priorities.

The community were also provided an opportunity to identify key priority areas at a pop-up at the 2022 Mandurah Arts Festival. 

2. Internal engagement

We worked with Elected Members and City staff to identify current environmental priorities, including what we already do well in this space and our opportunities to improve.

3. Targeted community engagement

We workshopped our environmental priorities with local environmental volunteers and groups, and they helped us shape community visions for each of these areas. We also engaged with groups such as the Mandurah Environmental Advisory Group, Access and Inclusion Advisory Group, Youth Advisory Group and Winjan Reference Group.

4. Partner organisation engagement

Being undertaken in September 2023, we're asking local organisations that we regularly work closely with, such as environmental, government and non-government organisations, for their input. We're also identifying areas where we can work more closely together.

5. Broadscale community engagement

Being undertaken in September 2023, we are giving everyone in our community the opportunity to comment on the final draft of the Environment Strategy (2023-2033).