Sustainable Municipality Action Plan for Chelsea

Chelsea, in the Outaouais region, wants to develop a sustainable development action plan that will incorporate the public’s environmental and economic concerns. Residents’ differing reactions to a new water and sewer service and extension of highway 50 made it necessary to call in an independent expert and organize public consultation forums. Analysis of the results of the public consultations, environmental data and various existing policies will determine a common, structured orientation so that the municipality will be able to practice sustainable development based on everyone’s collaboration. With support from the Outaouais regional council for the environment and sustainable development (CREDDO) and a consultant, the municipality will hold public consultations to study the community’s sustainability challenges. The municipality’s sustainability vision will be developed with the support of environmental, management and administration experts and with community stakeholders. The consultation approach will use SMART indicators: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timetabled. The discussions will cover energy use, planning (e.g., demographic changes), land use (e.g., protection of forests), water and waste management, and transportation planning. An analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) and an overall analysis of the current situation will guide development of a viable strategy that will reinforce the sustainability principles in the current Urban Plan, such as caution in environmental operations and innovation in environmental management. Chelsea will also develop an implementation and monitoring plan. Before the action plan is presented to the Municipal Council for approval and implementation, a draft will be circulated to the stakeholders in the form of an online survey on a dedicated website. This communication method will be an instructive example of a short, medium and long-term sustainable-development consultation and analysis approach. (Project description from original funding application)