A Community Report Card that will rank the overall sustainability of Victoria's south west is being developed by researchers at the University of Ballarat, together with Southern Grampians Shire Council and the Natural Assets Alliance of South West Sustainability Partnership which includes Wannon Water, the Department of Sustainability and Environment and the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority.


Two recent surveys of the Great South West's residents and other stakeholders have been used to guide indicator selection for the Report Card.


The surveys, carried out during April and May this year, asked the community what they felt were the most important sustainability issues for the region, its community and environment into the future.


"The surveys revealed that among the most important issues for the region's sustainability were the quality and maintenance of roads, biodiversity, rates of renewable energy use, waste management, access to health care and the uptake of sustainable behaviours in the community," Dr Michelle Graymore, Research Fellow at the Horsham Campus Research Precinct of the University of Ballarat, said.


"The results of the survey were used to develop a draft list of indicators for the Community Report Card. During a workshop attended by the region's stakeholders and indicator experts, each indicator in the list was considered.


The study, called 'Regional Sustainability Indicators Framework for South West Victoria', is funded by the Victorian Government's Victorian Local Sustainability Accord and the South West Sustainability Partnership.