In 2011-2012, WAGA developed a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan with funding from the Victorian Government’s Local Sustainability Accord. This followed an assessment of regional climate change risks.

The strategy and action plan summarise the future climate in Melbourne’s west, outline the benefits of adapting at a regional level, and set out a regional adaptation framework. This is designed to:

• Mainstream adaptation across councils
• Embed adaptation in planning processes
• Review progress of adaptation work carried out by the WAGA councils at the municipal level as well as WAGA’s regional work.

Of the 88 risks identified across the region, 17 risks have been assessed as particularly severe. These risks cover a wide range of council service areas, including:

• Assets and infrastructure
• Transport
• Open space and recreation
• Natural environment
• Emergency management
• Health and community
• Planning and building
• Business continuity.

In 2013, WAGA commenced development of a program titled ‘How Well Are We
Adapting?’, which has been providing assistance to WAGA and other subscribing
councils for their own adaptation projects ever since