The SCI provides insights and lessons on how communities, government, non-government, business and research can work together to address complex sustainability issues.

The Sustainable Communities Initiative

SCI overview

• What is the SCI?
• Why is the SCI so important? 
• Where and when does the SCI operate?
• SCI Newsletter

What is the SCI?

The SCI is a multi-partner program that brings together players from the private, public and community sectors to develop and deliver innovative solutions to local sustainability challenges.

It generates important lessons and learnings on multi-partner sustainability projects that will inform the key research question of how can we better work together with communities initiating or responding to change.

Why is the SCI so important?

Climate change, environmental degradation and water scarcity are just a few examples of the complex sustainability issues that impact on the social, economic and wellbeing of Australian communities.

At present, we are poorly equipped to respond effectively to the challenges entailed or recognise the opportunities such responses may present. We need new ways of looking at and responding to complex challenges and opportunities.

The SCI offers an innovative and collaborative approach to these problems that harnesses the energy, enthusiasm and support of cross-sector partnerships. It provides local solutions on a project basis and generates a wealth of knowledge and experience on cross-sector research, innovation and implementation that will inform and improve sustainability policy, programs and practice at a range of scales.

The SCI projects will support communities to:

• define local challenges and opportunities
• develop and implement effective responses
• plan futures, order priorities and make informed investment choices
• realise measurable 'triple bottom line' outcomes.

Where and when does the SCI operate?

The SCI operates over a three-year period from 2006–09.

Seven projects are currently underway across Australia. These projects are:

Planning for sustainable urban renewal of East Lake The East Lake precinct in Canberra is the focus of a new partnership project between CSIRO and the ACT Government to showcase innovative approaches to sustainable urban renewal.

Lockerbie: a Greenfield project setting a new standard for sustainable urban development The collective expertise of the Sustainable Communities Initiative will guide planning of ‘Lockerbie’, a Greenfield residential project north of Melbourne, Victoria, promising a quantum leap in sustainable living.

Maine’s Power: local partnerships for better energy solutions Castlemaine community and industry groups are tackling greenhouse emissions and an emerging energy crisis with support from the Sustainable Communities Initiative and its partners.

Sustainable Whitsundays: a strategy for a sustainable future Sustainable Communities Initiative partners are working with the Whitsunday Regional Council on a strategy to guide the sustainable development of the region.

Supporting communities to understand change in the Surat Basin The collective skills and experience of Sustainable Communities Initiative partners has helped to guide local agencies and groups in the sustainable management of regional expansion associated with a resource boom in the Surat Basin in southern Queensland, Australia.

Linking the landscape leaders: NRM and local government relationships in the Avon River Basin CSIRO is working with local partners on a Sustainable Communities Initiative project to improve linkages between natural resource and development managers in the Western Australian Avon River Basin.

Developing sustainability strategies for regional communities in Victoria The Sustainable Communities Initiative is embarking on a new project in partnership with Regional Development Victoria that will work with five regional Victorian communities on local sustainability challenges.

Other projects are under consideration or development.

SCI Newsletter