Energy, Fleet, Travel & Procurement

Our Council buildings, vehicle and activities contribute 0.8% of the total emissions generated across our entire Local Government Area. Half of this comes from our street lighting and another 12% from our fleet and plant.

The City has worked hard to reduce emission through energy efficiency upgrades and alternative energy.

Council operates a fleet of 154 passenger vehicles, 56 light commercial vehicles and 111 heavy plant and trucks. While we have direct influence over our own fleet, we have an opportunity to influence staff travel choices both in their commute to and from work, and in travel for business purposes.

29% of trips to and from work are by train and 61% of Council’s passenger fleet vehicles are green rated.

If we are encouraging our residents to swap their cars for other means of transport, we should show that the Council can too. Based on results of staff travel surveys, over half of us commute to and from work as single occupant car users.

There are opportunities for Council to reduce fleet emissions and to increase the shift away from single occupant car trips to and from work.

The City uses a wide range of goods and services to run Council, including tenders we currently make 7,500 purchasing transactions every year.

Sustainable procurement considers where things are sources from, the impact they have on the environment during their lifetime, and what happens to them when we no longer need them.

• Carbon neutral by 2022
• 60% emissions reduction by 2038 (based on 2015 levels)
• Reduce Council fleet emissions by 20% by 2038 (based on 2015 levels)
• Reduce single-occupancy car commutes to and from work by council staff by 35% by 2023 (based on 2016 levels)
• Sustainability criteria are considered in all of Council’s procurement activities

• Delivered Phase 1 LED street lighting replacement program
• Reduced street light electricity costs by $1.7million over the 20 asset life
• Delivering an energy efficiency program for Council buildings
• Inclusion of hybrid vehicles within our fleets
• Providing a Green offsets scheme for Council fleet
• We are a founding member of Western Sydney carpool
• Opted into a car share program for staff trips during work hours
• Provide an incentive to employees who choose vehicles that are lower emission
• Joined the Western Sydney carpool initiative
• Developed educational materials for staff, promoting sustainable travel options
• Established secure bike parking and end-of-trip facilities at the Rydalmere Operations Centre and Church Street offices
• Provided Opal Cards for staff work-related travel
• Developing a Sustainable Procurement Policy
• Including sustainability considerations in some major tenders
• Requiring sustainable measures in contracts, including cleaning, painting, electrical and plumbing
• We participate in the Sustainability advantage and Sustainable Choice program, and monitor our progress through it

• Deliver Phases 2 & 3 of the LED street lighting replacement program
• Continue with energy efficiency upgrades across our building and facilities
• Validate existing audits based on asset type and new technologies available
• Develop Green Building Policy to ensure new assets are designed and built to maximise energy, efficiency, increased renewable energy and reduce urban heat impacts
• Investigate and implement renewable energy opportunities on our Council buildings and facilities
• Transition passenger and heavy vehicle to low carbon options as technology improves
• Promote on-going ride sharing initiative such as Western Sydney carpool
• Investigate incentive scheme to support transition to low carbon travel to and from work for staff
• Promote video conferencing
• Investigate adding bikes or e-bikes to our fleet for short trips during the day
• Ensure sustainability considerations in all procurement decisions, including mandatory weightings in tenders
• Improve procurement guidelines, processes and tools to support staff to actively engage in sustainable procurement
• Measure and report on the sustainability procurement practice
• Investigate divestment options with the intention of developing a divestment policy

Contact the Customer Service Centre on 9806 5050 or council@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au