Local Government
Councils set to spend up on climate change
Geelong Independent, Friday May 29 2009
The region’s councils plan to spend millions of dollars battling climate change. City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire and Borough of Queenscliffe set aside cash in the draft 2009/2010 budgets for various environmental projects linked to climate change. The City proposed spending $1.0 million on water initiatives and $300,000 on a greenhouse ‘local action plan’.
The City and Borough also recently signed an Association of Bayside Municipalities Climate Change Charter. The charter sets guidelines for bayside councils to act on supposed climate change impacts such as rising sea levels and drought.
Councillor John Duoll, who holds a climate change portfolio on Geelong’s council, said the City had already implemented various environmental initiatives to address climate change. “Last year’s council adopted its greenhouse response, which implements actions to reduce our corporate greenhouse footprint through energy conservation, changes to the types of fuel we use, more efficient equipment and using alternative power.” he said. “This ongoing program will continue and will now also examine the possible impacts of climate change and how we may have to plan and adapt, particularly along our long coastline.”
Surf Coast Shire’s draft budget included a $25 increase in the shire’s “municipal charge”. The shire’s budget said $19 of the increase would be spent on “environmental management and addressing the effects of climate change”. The shire also planned to employ a climate change expert.
Borough planning and places manager Karen Hose said council would undertake various climate change-related activities in the next four years, including employment of a “sustainability and community development officer”. The Borough had also adopted a project to identify climate change risks, Ms Hose said.
Geelong Environment Council president Joan Lindros welcomed the council’s spend up on climate change. “I think it’s really good they’re incorporating climate change issues into their budgets but it’s most important it’s all transparent and people are aware of what’s going to be spent, how it’s going to be spent and what the final outcomes are” she said. However Ms Lindros wanted council to account for its spending on climate change “transparently” so ratepayers could determine whether they were getting value for money.
New Climate Change portfolio on City of Greater Geelong
Geelong Independent 19/12/08 :
- Geelong’s council has assigned two councillors to a new portfolio for climate change.
- John Duoll and Andy Richards will share the job after councillors dealt out portfolio responsibilities in their first meeting since November’s council elections.
- The duo will also share the transport and infrastructure portfolio as well as environment and sustainability for Cr Duoll and parks and gardens for Cr Richards.
- You can read Andy Richards' detailed response to our sustainability survey below
Sustainability survey of COGG candidates
Below are the results of our sustainability survey sent to all COGG Candidates in the November 2008 elections. People who responded :
• Andy Richards – Candidate for Buckley
• Stephen Juhasz – Candidate for Corio
• Nathan Oakes – Candidate for Windermere
• Ron Nelson – Candidate for Buckley
• Bronwyn Jennings – Candidate for Cowie
At the bottom is a preliminary analysis we conducted based on candidates' public statements.
Note : GSG is non party-political. At this stage we are not endorsing any candidates but invite you to read the information we have collected.
Copy of original questions
Dear City of Greater Geelong candidate,
Geelong Sustainability Group is a community group formed of Geelong citizens who are concerned about climate change and wish to create a sustainable future for Geelong. Our website is www.geelongsustainabilitygroup.org.au. We are non political, but would like to provide information to our members and to the media as to which COGG candidates are most likely to take strong action on climate change and sustainability in the Geelong region. We have conducted a preliminary analysis based on your candidate statements at the VEC website. If you wish to add any further information could you please reply to any or all of the following survey questions by Wednesday 19 November.
If you wish to further show your support for sustainability issues you may like to attend the Walk Against Warming Geelong! which we are organising on Saturday November 15. I have attached a poster.
Dave Campbell
President
Geelong Sustainability Group
Sustainability Survey Questions
1. Climate Change: How would you encourage COGG to reduce its carbon emissions? How would you encourage COGG residents to reduce their carbon emissions? What steps will COGG need to take to prepare for the effects of climate change in the Geelong region?
2. Planning : How can planning processes be modified to obtain more sustainable outcomes in the City of Greater Geelong?
3. Waste : What further measures can COGG adopt to reduce waste in the region?
4. Biodiversity : How can management of biodiversity be improved throughout COGG ?
5. Public transport : Why has public transport usage in Geelong declined when it has skyrocketed in Melbourne? How can COGG assist in achieving better public transport outcomes?
Sustainability Survey Questions : Andy Richards – Candidate for Buckley
Hi Dave.
I will be coming to the walk on Saturday.
I thought you should know that I am an union official at the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union. Part of my job is to work on Green Jobs and other solutions to climate change. I am a member of the Victorian Trades Hall Climate Change Working Group. The AMWU is the key union driving Green collar jobs in Australia.
1. Climate Change: How would you encourage COGG to reduce its carbon emissions? How would you encourage COGG residents to reduce their carbon emissions? What steps will COGG need to take to prepare for the effects of climate change in the Geelong region?
Refit solar hot water and water tanks to all council premises. Change over all light bulbs. Move the council car fleet to vehicles with a lower carbon footprint. Provide information, including possibly a shopfront where residents can find out how to refit their houses with solar hot water and water tanks. COGG needs to audit all low lying land and properties that may be affected by a rise in sea level. Also, council needs to help provide an audit process for residents to measure their water usage, and find ways to recycle and reuse waste water.
2. Planning : How can planning processes be modified to obtain more sustainable outcomes in the City of Greater Geelong?
The recycling and reuse of waste water needs to improved. The ability to access and use public transport and cycle paths needs to be improved. Building methods that produce low carbon footprint buildings need to be built into planning processes.
3. Waste : What further measures can COGG adopt to reduce waste in the region?
I’ve already stated some solutions. However, anywhere the council can cut waste in terms of resources, I would be interested in.
4. Biodiversity : How can management of biodiversity be improved throughout COGG ?
Replanting native trees and other native plants. Keeping areas of land from being built on that help retain biodiversity.
5. Public transport : Why has public transport usage in Geelong declined when it has skyrocketed in Melbourne? How can COGG assist in achieving better public transport outcomes?
Public transport use has declined because the system is badly designed, hard to use and often doesn’t go anywhere that people want to go. Apart from the parts of the system that COGG controls which need to change in relation to the criteria I’ve already outlined, the council needs to lobby the state and federal government to improve train parking and travel.
Andy Richards
Council Candidate for Buckley ward
City of Greater Geelong
M: 0400 967 537
E: andyrichards@dodo.com.au
Sustainability Survey Questions : Stephen Juhasz – Candidate for Corio
Hi Dave, hope this finds you well.
I have been keenly aware of the failure of successive governments at all levels to
truly come to grips with these important environmental issues.
I am already on your email list and know Monika and encouraged her to stand for council.
The politicians talk environment but never really address the problems.
If elected I will work towards making Geelong the most environmentally friendly place in Australia.
I will press for council vehicles to be the most efficient cars on the market and even look at alternatives.
Council buildings should be efficient so we conserve as much energy as possible.Council House 2 in Melbourne should be our benchmark not some vague arbitrary notion from people who don't understand or are incompetent or corrupt.
New developments aren't even what they could be. We need to encourage renewable energy as much as possible.
Any patent that will help the environment and is not used within 12 months should be made public domain. Then we would see the the release of these shelved technologies
Barwon Water has failed the people of Geelong and we need to get it back to the ratepayers.
Our water problems can be fixed with better efficiency and management, not selling it off to some foreign corporation which is the hidden agenda of the government.
I have been running the Fluoride Referendum in Geelong since mid May to give people a voice on this most
important health and environmental issue. The fluoride that is used is not pharmaceutical but rather an industrial waste
that comes from Pivot Incitec and contains arsenic, lead , mercury, cadmium..etc. This material accumulates in our bodies
and the rest goes into our environment polluting our ecosystems hence the warning to expectant mothers not to eat certain types of fish eg tuna, sword fish...etc. There are other polluting industries in Geelong that do not follow EPA guidelines either.
This is not sustainable and needs to be addressed. Our environment is getting sicker as are Australians and it's pretty clear why,
we just need to get serious about fixing it and I am committed to doing that!
We have a breakdown in our government they no longer serve the people they are supposed to represent.
We pay for they wages but they don't work for us. It's time to change this.
I hope your members will consider giving me their vote and together we can make these things happen and give Australians
a better, sustainable future.
Regards
Stephen Juhasz
Candidate for Corio Ward
Sustainability Survey Questions : Nathan Oakes – Candidate for WindermereG'day Dave,
Thanks for your email. Sustainability is definitely an issue close to my heart both personally and at a broader community level as well.
If elected to council I would fight for new energy and waste efficiency codes to be developed for all council buildings.The city's greenhouse reduction strategy developed last year is a good start but there needs to be more investment, tighter goals and better reporting.
I know that I do not have all the answers on this topic but there is some very good work being done in this field by various architects, community groups, universities and the CSIRO and I would look to these to guide these initiatives. These would look at reducing the water and energy costs and the greenhouse outputs of the council. The code would cover retrofitting existing buildings with architectural solutions such as usable windows, shade/louvers, appropriate indigenous plantings, skylights, bicycle parking etc. as well as fitting active energy collection systems such as photo voltaic solar cells, solar hot water systems, grey-water collection systems etc. and to expand the auditing of heat, materials, water and light use and subsequent investment in waste reduction, reuse and recycling.
I would fight for council to have stronger requirements for any new buildings and developments. Grey-water and roof rainwater harvesting would be a must as well as passive solar design systems included in any designs. We need to encourage and also challenge the developers and make Geelong a leader in "Green Development" and show what can be done. Community groups like BREAZE in Ballarat need to encouraged locally and the city should assist in developing neighbourhood purchasing schemes for photo-voltaic and solar hot water systems.
There is so much that can be done and the City of Greater Geelong should be showing what can be done with suitable energy investment.
With regards to the specific questions raised on climate change, planning and waste - these issues are all inter-related and there needs to be a thorough and integrated response by council. As I have outlined above council should be a leader, advocate and facilitator for change.
With regards to biodiversity the council should use the expertise already in the area to ensure that appropriate and indigenous species of flora are planted to support the indigenous fauna with 'green' corridors to the outlying state and national parks planned and planted to support them.
Finally on the public transport front- my family and I are users of public transport and are aware of the foibles of the current system. Ideally Geelong would have a comprehensive and free public transport system that would link with the regional trains. Until we get the state government there we need council to be a loud advocate for better public transport. Council could also provide resources to fill in some of the glaring gaps such as the need for smaller shuttle transport in areas like Lara to augment the gappy (at best) bus service.
I hope that I have answered your questions adequately. Feel free to email if you have any further questions or would like me to expand on any of the points I have covered.
Sincere regards
Nathan Oakes
Sustainability Survey Questions : Ron Nelson – Candidate for Buckley Ward
My name is Ron Nelson and I am the candidate for Buckley ward.
I am as concerned for our environment as you which is one of the reasons I decided to stand for council.
Like you I believe that Armstrong Creek needs to be built with the most sustainable living measures that is available.
This is also why I am a member of the Geelong Sustainability Group because I want to change the culture of this council to become more responsible, open, accountable and transparent.
Kind regards,
Ron Nelson
Local Candidate for Buckley Ward.
Sustainability Survey Questions : Bronwyn Jennings – Candidate for Cowie WardAttached are some brief repsonses to the survey. More extensive SA policies on the environment are available at the Socialist Alliance website www.socialist-alliance.org We will also be updating our Environment Charter at our conference in December
1. Climate Change: How would you encourage COGG to reduce its carbon emissions?
Implement immediate emission reduction targets with the aim being to reduce net emissions to zero as soon as practicable, with a goal of achieving 95% of Geelong power from renewable sources by 2020. Monitor these targets and adjust them if further information suggests more rapid and greater action is required.
How would you encourage COGG residents to reduce their carbon emissions?
Require the fitting of all feasible energy efficiency measures to existing houses and subsidise owner-occupiers for the cost (insisting on Federal and State government support for these subsidies) and renters. Set annual targets for solar power and heating installation. Set a 10 star minimum efficiency rating for all new buildings, with the goal of zero emissions.
What steps will COGG need to take to prepare for the effects of climate change in the Geelong region?
Educate the community on the need to make rapid changes to avert what we can of climate change.
• promote urban agriculture,
• support community gardens,
• launch a public campaign to demand the state government make public transport free and frequent and that it an integrated system is essential.
• enforce water conservation measures on industrial and commercial users
• reaffirm Geelong’s status as a nuclear free zone.
• Establish a system of free bicycle use in each council ward, similar to free bicycle programs that exist in Europe.
2. Planning : How can planning processes be modified to obtain more sustainable outcomes in the City of Greater Geelong?
• Set a minimum 10-star efficiency for all new buildings.
• Require the fitting of all feasibility energy efficiency measures to existing houses, and subsidise owner-occupiers and renters alike.
• Recycle water for appropriate industrial and outdoor use
• Require sustainable water use planning for all new industrial, commercial and agricultural developments
• Prioritise public space for public use – no sell offs of public land.
• Increase bike pathways and walkways.
3. Waste : What further measures can COGG adopt to reduce waste in the
region?
• Education to reduce consumption of products that contain wasteful packaging.
• Aim to reuse all organic waste including green waste and sewage and methane gas produced harnessed for energy production.
• Extend producer responsibility so that Geelong producers must take back their products and reuse the components, in order to decrease waste and ‘inbuilt obsolescence ’
• Greater education of what can be reduced, reused and recycled
• Encourage all businesses community organisations and government facilities to introduce sustainable practices.
4. Biodiversity : How can management of biodiversity be improved throughout COGG ?
• Declare COGG GM-free
• Plant carbon sinks throughout council areas
• Consult experts including the Wathaurong community about indigenous plant life and plant indigenous plants, trees, etc in public areas
• Maintain and extend public areas to increase biodiversity.
5. Public transport : Why has public transport usage in Geelong declined when it has skyrocketed in Melbourne? How can COGG assist in achieving better public transport outcomes?
Public transport use has declined in Geelong, whereas in other regional areas such as Ballarat and Bendigo it has increased. There is no doubt that moving the central bus interchange has impacted on people’s ability to find and use buses in Geelong. The bus interchange must be relocated centrally within the city. The COGG must run a campaign demanding from the state government, the provision of a Free and Frequent bus network that services Greater Geelong, the Peninsula and Surf Coast. The bus network must link up with the train system. Trains must run more frequently to and from Melbourne and have more carriages to cater for increased demand. In off-peak times, trains must run at least every half hour.
Preliminary Analysis of Candidates based on public statements
Brownbill Ward
Lisa Gleeson from the Socialist Alliance wants to take strong action against climate change
Nick Montgomery from the Greens has also prioritised strong action against climate change
Buckley Ward
Fiona Lorimer has listed environmental sustainability + social justice as her main priorities
Maria
Canadillas has stated “Climate change will make a huge difference to
the way we live our lives and the council is not doing enough to help
on this issue. I also want to make sure there is a good level of public
transport as the current system does not work well”
Corio ward
Kylie
Fisher – “, I feel that it is important to provide our community the
best possible public transport system, to encourage use, reduce
greenhouse gases and decrease congestion. “
Coryule ward
John Doull – has listed that he wants to improve public transport and respond to climate change
Tom
O'Connor – “Our future will centre around improved rural, residential
and recreational water availability, renewable energy options, and
responsible waste and environmental practices.”
Cowie ward
Bronwyn Jennings – from Socialist Alliance, a member of Geelong Sustainability Group, wants strong action on climate change.
Kardinia Ward
Lee
Chandler – “I will ensure that the Barwon River area is properly funded
and our environmental issues are addressed as priorities. We must also
adapt Council policies to meet the needs of climate change pressure”
Nicole Robertson – wants to represent young people on the council, sees the need for action against climate change.
Windermere Ward
Sue Mclean – wants to investigate alternative energy sources, better public transport and recycled water