Profligacy, greed or simply don't care?

Yet, local government does not appear to think like this and you can't help but ask whether some council operations would be better approached within a combined plan through which the separate councils co-operate. This is not to propose local government amalgamation, although there could be merit in that because the Eastern Suburbs is geologically contiguous and shares a common stretch of seafront that is home to some of the most popular and iconic beaches in Australia.

Treating it as a geographical unit rather than as separate local government areas might make more sense, especially in policy for sustainable development. Surely, Lenzen's research suggests the common sense and planning possibilities that could come from this. In this context, Waverly Council's policy of making its community food garden available only to Waverly ratepayers is curious and, perhaps, something of an anachronism. No such restriction is placed on Randwick's garden. Perhaps it sets a precedent for councils to deny access to facilities such as football fields, libraries and surf life saving clubs to ratepayers, a possibility truly out of kilter with Australian expectations and standards.

Pulled two ways

It appears, then, that Eastern Suburbs residents are being pulled in two directions. The trend towards a growing environmental footprint is being countered by an increasing number of locals who attempt to reduce their footprint while maintaining quality of life.

Reduced impact with high quality of life is not as contradictory as it seems because quality of life does not necessarily imply the accumulation of excessive possessions. It is more a psychological state that grows out of having sufficient material goods, a rewarding livelihood and income security as well as intangibles like social networks and friends. For a great many people these things matter more than material possessions and social status.

Lenzen’s environmental footprint findings for one of the city’s most populous regions has defined a trend. The detail disclosed through his research gives planners and policy makers an improved tool with which to think about the future of the region. All that is required now is the imagination and political will to incorporate it into regional and local government planning.