The WA Government’s Sustainability Policy Unit has logged 120 public submissions on the draft State Sustainability Strategy and is still counting.
The draft, which was released last September had truly engaged industry and community members during a five month public submissions period, Sustainability Policy Unit director Peter Newman said.
Requests for presentations on the 236-page paper poured in, and Professor Newman has now explained the draft on 118 occasions, to professional bodies, community groups, and small and large businesses, state-wide.
After a key workshop entitled ‘Business and Sustainability’, World Business Council for Sustainable Development president Björn Stigson wrote to Professor Newman, saying he had not previously come across a process of such extent and with such a high level of engagement, and would follow it with interest.
The public comment period on the draft strategy closed late last month, and a final report is due by mid-year.
This will include a final action plan – who will do what by when – and a set of partnership agreements with, for example, local government and business groups.
The draft strategy covers 42 areas of Government, Professor Newman said.
"There’s lots of work to do," he said.
"It’s not as though we are sitting here with all the answers