HCCREMS Hunter and Central Coast Regional Environmental Management Strategy

About Us

Hunter and Central Coast Regional Environmental Management Strategy (HCCREMS)

HCCREMS is an innovative and highly successful regional initiative being implemented through the collaborative efforts of fourteen Councils in the Hunter, Central and Lower North Coast of NSW.

HCCREMS seeks to facilitate a regional approach to ecologically sustainable development by actively encouraging greater co-operation between member Councils, state and federal authorities, industry and community groups.

The original Lower Hunter and Central Coast project (LHCCREMS) was developed in 1995 through an extensive twelve-month regional community consultation process using the Agenda 21 model. Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Cessnock, Gosford and Wyong Councils endorsed the LHCCREMS Strategy in early 1996. Implementation then commenced based on the prioritisation of a range of key regional issues identified in the consultation phase of its development. In 2002, the project was extended to include the Upper Hunter Councils of Singleton, Muswellbrook, Scone, Murrurrundi, Merriwa, Dungog, Gloucester and Great Lakes, and in 2004, Greater Taree City Council was welcomed to the program.

HCCREMS is supported by the Environment Division of Hunter Councils (a Regional Organisation of Councils).

To download presentations from our April 2009 HCCREMS forum please click HERE

NEWS

RURAL RESIDENTIAL LIVING GUIDE

This guide has been developed especially for landholders of rural residential properties with 20 chapters plus extra resources of useful information on key land use issues and environmental management issues all located in the one central location.

The comphrehensive range of resources available are from government agencies, councils and community organisations. Click on the badge below to view the guide:

Regional Climate Change Forum

Over 80 representatives from councils, state government agencies and the community recently attended a Regional Climate Change Forum hosted by HCCREMS and the NSW Local Government & Shires Association in Newcastle. The Forum explored a range of potential climate change impacts and the role of councils in managing these, as well as provided an overview of NSW Government Climate Change Policy, research currently underway in the region and potential strategies to assist councils in engaging their communities when responding to this issue.

The Forum provided a particular focus on liability and risk exposure to councils arising from climate change. Presentations provided by Statewide Mutual and DLA Phillips Fox highlighted the importance of councils undertaking climate change risk assessment and planning processes across all aspects of their operations. This is required to minimise the potential for future liability and insurance claims.

Click here to view all of the presentations provided on the day.

Why a regional strategy?

HCCREMS has become widely regarded as a model approach to integrating local government planning and environmental management at the regional level. It:

provides a framework for co-ordinated action in relation to environmental management issues impacting on the region.

addresses those environmental and natural resource issues that are best managed at a regional scale (e.g. biodiversity conservation and water quality management are key issues which require a broad management approach that transcends arbitrary institutional boundaries).

facilitates regional partnerships and resource sharing to address key environmental management issues in a co-ordinated, pro-active and efficient manner.

To download a brochure about HCCREMS please click here.