Solar panels on Wonthaggi's Union Theatre. By Maddy Harford
A GROUP of 15 or so Bass Coast Climate Action Network members ‘gathered’ online last week to scrutinise draft actions to be included in council’s 10-year Climate Change Action Plan. The draft actions were released recently for public comment along with a survey seeking feedback.
People hailed from all corners of the shire as well as some from neighbouring districts wanting ideas to prompt their own shires to greater action.
A GROUP of 15 or so Bass Coast Climate Action Network members ‘gathered’ online last week to scrutinise draft actions to be included in council’s 10-year Climate Change Action Plan. The draft actions were released recently for public comment along with a survey seeking feedback.
People hailed from all corners of the shire as well as some from neighbouring districts wanting ideas to prompt their own shires to greater action.
Residents want specific actions and plain English in the council’s climate action plan. Maddy Harford reports
The draft actions address mitigation (reducing emissions) and adaptation (adapting to irreversible changes). They are then structured into sections addressing Residential; Business; Farming and Agriculture actions; actions the council can take in its own operations, together with actions the council can take to support the community.
While the general feeling was positive towards the draft actions, many comments, questions and added suggestions pinpointed gaps and contentious issues.
People had obviously given serious thought to the task of providing feedback. Comments canvassed issues including planning policies and housing design in new developments; incentives for renewable energy uptake across all sections of the community; public and private transport; greater advocacy and community education.
Above all, though, there was unanimous concern for monitoring and accountability for implementing the Action Plan as it rolls out. It is thought this draft is a high level document and we’ll be interested to see how the actions are underpinned by specific strategies to “just do it”, together with targets and performance measures.
Among the discussion group were many fans of “plain English”. If the Bass Coast community in all its diversity is going to get behind the Climate Change Action Plan, it needs to be readily understood by everyone, not just those who are already familiar with the technical niceties and know the jargon.
The deadline for responses is midnight this Sunday (July 12) and we wait to see how all responses have been incorporated (or not) into the next version.
The draft actions address mitigation (reducing emissions) and adaptation (adapting to irreversible changes). They are then structured into sections addressing Residential; Business; Farming and Agriculture actions; actions the council can take in its own operations, together with actions the council can take to support the community.
While the general feeling was positive towards the draft actions, many comments, questions and added suggestions pinpointed gaps and contentious issues.
People had obviously given serious thought to the task of providing feedback. Comments canvassed issues including planning policies and housing design in new developments; incentives for renewable energy uptake across all sections of the community; public and private transport; greater advocacy and community education.
Above all, though, there was unanimous concern for monitoring and accountability for implementing the Action Plan as it rolls out. It is thought this draft is a high level document and we’ll be interested to see how the actions are underpinned by specific strategies to “just do it”, together with targets and performance measures.
Among the discussion group were many fans of “plain English”. If the Bass Coast community in all its diversity is going to get behind the Climate Change Action Plan, it needs to be readily understood by everyone, not just those who are already familiar with the technical niceties and know the jargon.
The deadline for responses is midnight this Sunday (July 12) and we wait to see how all responses have been incorporated (or not) into the next version.