Event report: Local Government Engagement Workshop (Sydney)

Events

Aug 30, 2019

Event report: Local Government Engagement Workshop (Sydney)

Event

Waste as a Resource

Date

21 June 2019, 9:30am – 3:30pm

Location

Level 48, MLC Centre, 9 Martin Place, Sydney

NSW Circular’s inaugural workshop focused on both broad issues and specific questions that impact industries and matter to local government. More than 60 local government representatives from across the state met to discuss common challenges, identify pain points and understand opportunities in the circular economy. Our aim was to understand the role local government will play in the circular economy, map the opportunities and issues, and start making the right connections across stakeholder groups. The workshop helped attendees to: communicate, connect and collaborate.

Presenters

Professor Margaret Harding, NSW Circular Board Chair

Professor Veena Sahajwalla, NSW Circular Director

Neville Stevens AO, NSW Circular Steering Committee Chair

Michael Sharpe, National Director – Industry, Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre

Rodger Watson, Facilitator ThinkPlace

The vote tallies on key issues drew out these areas as the favourites:

Structural enablers (hypothecation, mandate, legislate, and stewardship)
Social infrastructure/share economy
Physical infrastructure
Research and skills building

“The mix of people…helped me to understand the solution”

The participants generated a spread of ideas across:

System enablers
Pre-product (materials, design and market settings)
Product use
Disposal
Recycle/resource recovery

“Thanks for allowing this level of engagement”

“Great to see the network implemented”

As a result of this session, metropolitan and regional workshops have been rolled out – in Armidale, Gosford and Sydney. Several pilot projects are also under discussion.

Workshop facilitator Think Place prepared this detailed report on key findings and conversations from the day.

The day was informed by a pre-event survey results of participants and a post event survey report found participants had a very favourable experience.