Role Title: Project Intern: Managing native vegetation during Local Government delivery of infrastructure projects: Innovative approaches and associated costs
Organisation: WA Local Government Association (WALGA)
Internship Period: Summer (November - December)
Location: West Leederville
The clearing of native vegetation is sometimes required as part of road projects, to meet public safety and road design requirements. With very low levels of remnant vegetation remaining (<10% in some areas), the costs associated with meeting regulatory requirements can be a significant portion of total project costs but are not necessarily covered by grant funding. Local Governments are also utilising Context Sensitive Design provisions for roads (deviation from standards in AustRoads Guidelines) to account for local environmental/social considerations, which reduce the clearing requirement.
The objectives of this project are to 1) Develop case studies showcasing innovative approaches Local Governments are taking to avoid or mitigate the clearing of native in the delivery of road infrastructure projects; and 2) Identify and quantify costs to Local Government associated with meeting native vegetation regulatory requirements for road infrastructure projects.
The intern will work with the WALGA Environment team to engage with 10 Local Governments representing different sizes and geographic locations to document best practice case studies on context sensitive design, and costs associated with meeting native vegetation clearing legislative requirements e.g. biodiversity surveys, onsite rehabilitation, environmental offsets and monitoring. The intern will produce a report on the engagement outcomes.
The WA Local Government Association (WALGA) is working for Local Government in Western Australia. As the peak industry body, WALGA advocates on behalf of WA's 139 Local Governments and negotiates service agreements for the sector. WALGA is not a government department or agency.