Bass Coast residents celebrate last year after councillors declared a climate emergency.
By Catherine Watson
IT STARTED with a petition – more than 1000 Bass Coast residents asking the council to take a lead on climate action.
Exactly a year after the Bass Coast Climate Action Network presented the petition, the council has responded with an ambitious climate change action plan that was endorsed at this week’s council meeting.
The plan sets a pathway for Bass Coast to get to zero net emissions by 2030,
recommending actions for the council, households, business, industry and the agricultural sector.
IT STARTED with a petition – more than 1000 Bass Coast residents asking the council to take a lead on climate action.
Exactly a year after the Bass Coast Climate Action Network presented the petition, the council has responded with an ambitious climate change action plan that was endorsed at this week’s council meeting.
The plan sets a pathway for Bass Coast to get to zero net emissions by 2030,
recommending actions for the council, households, business, industry and the agricultural sector.
More than 580 residents were involved in the consultation for the plan, far beyond the response for similar projects undertaken in other shires and cities, demonstrating a strong local commitment to climate action.
The authors of the report note that climate change is already having a very real impact locally with foreshore erosion threatening infrastructure and the natural environment at Inverloch and Cowes East.
“The scale and urgency of the climate emergency mean that Bass Coast Shire and the community need to be well-informed, flexible and prepared to adapt or capitalise on opportunities as they emerge,” the plan states. “Transparent, timely monitoring and reporting on progress is critical to understanding effectiveness of the activities and ultimately delivering on the ambition.”
Moving adoption of the plan, Cr Michael Whelan said there were challenges and rewards in being early adopters of climate change response initiatives.
The authors of the report note that climate change is already having a very real impact locally with foreshore erosion threatening infrastructure and the natural environment at Inverloch and Cowes East.
“The scale and urgency of the climate emergency mean that Bass Coast Shire and the community need to be well-informed, flexible and prepared to adapt or capitalise on opportunities as they emerge,” the plan states. “Transparent, timely monitoring and reporting on progress is critical to understanding effectiveness of the activities and ultimately delivering on the ambition.”
Moving adoption of the plan, Cr Michael Whelan said there were challenges and rewards in being early adopters of climate change response initiatives.
| “Our job is not to scare people and not to dwell on the negatives. Too many people do that. The purpose of this plan is to help people, to show the actions that they can take on their own behalf, on behalf of their children and grandchildren, and on behalf of their community. “It provides the way forward for council to be a responsible corporate citizen and explores ways it can assist our community.” |  Download Bass Coast Climate Action Plan. |
“New local industry will open up new opportunities and green jobs. Bass Coast was a leader in diverting food and garden organics (FOGO) from landfill. Our green bins system now diverts 74 per cent of food and garden waste. But our FOGO is shipped to the Wellington Shire for processing at great expense and the compost product is lost to our farms and households. Let’s process FOGO locally and make use of the compost right here in Bass Coast, resulting in better soils and local jobs.”
He noted that the council has already committed last month to partnering with other local government partners to purchase 100 per cent of its electricity requirements from renewable sources, one of the actions identified in the plan.
“Let’s build our own energy projects, keep investment local with cheaper energy and local green jobs.
“Let’s work with local food growers, perhaps a local growers collective and a food hub promoting local produce and local food security. Again, supporting local producers, enhancing food security and supporting the PICAL Foodbank. Local investment and green jobs.
“There is strong support for a Healesville to Phillip Island biolink. Let’s grow our biolinks and find a way to extend our vegetation cover, perhaps a fund to enhance our environmental assets. Remember the environment is the economy.”
Work will now begin on developing an implementation plan with more specific actions for Bass Coast.
Emissions profile
In 2019 the Bass Coast community produced an estimated 675,300 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2-e), with stationary energy accounting for almost 40 per cent, transport 30 per cent and agriculture 27 per cent.
The land sector provides a net carbon sink with forestry and vegetation activities in the shire estimated to draw down 0.7 per cent of gross emissions.
In 2018/19 council operations emitted an estimated 4163 tonnes of CO2-e, excluding emissions from the Grantville tip which emitted an estimated 9678 tonnes.
Actions
The plan identifies actions that households, businesses, farmers and the council can take to help us reach the target.
He noted that the council has already committed last month to partnering with other local government partners to purchase 100 per cent of its electricity requirements from renewable sources, one of the actions identified in the plan.
“Let’s build our own energy projects, keep investment local with cheaper energy and local green jobs.
“Let’s work with local food growers, perhaps a local growers collective and a food hub promoting local produce and local food security. Again, supporting local producers, enhancing food security and supporting the PICAL Foodbank. Local investment and green jobs.
“There is strong support for a Healesville to Phillip Island biolink. Let’s grow our biolinks and find a way to extend our vegetation cover, perhaps a fund to enhance our environmental assets. Remember the environment is the economy.”
Work will now begin on developing an implementation plan with more specific actions for Bass Coast.
Emissions profile
In 2019 the Bass Coast community produced an estimated 675,300 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2-e), with stationary energy accounting for almost 40 per cent, transport 30 per cent and agriculture 27 per cent.
The land sector provides a net carbon sink with forestry and vegetation activities in the shire estimated to draw down 0.7 per cent of gross emissions.
In 2018/19 council operations emitted an estimated 4163 tonnes of CO2-e, excluding emissions from the Grantville tip which emitted an estimated 9678 tonnes.
Actions
The plan identifies actions that households, businesses, farmers and the council can take to help us reach the target.
Households
• Buy less. Recycle and reuse more to achieve zero waste.
• Reduce energy use. Switch to all-electric and zero carbon energy.
• Improve homes to make them sustainable and climate resilient.
• Switch to more sustainable transport like walking, cycling, ride sharing and electric vehicles.
• Support the natural environment by planting gardens.
• Buy local. Support sustainable and regenerative agriculture.
• Connect with, support and share information with networks – friends, neighbours, colleagues and family.
• Advocate for stronger climate change action by state and federal governments.
• Buy less. Recycle and reuse more to achieve zero waste.
• Reduce energy use. Switch to all-electric and zero carbon energy.
• Improve homes to make them sustainable and climate resilient.
• Switch to more sustainable transport like walking, cycling, ride sharing and electric vehicles.
• Support the natural environment by planting gardens.
• Buy local. Support sustainable and regenerative agriculture.
• Connect with, support and share information with networks – friends, neighbours, colleagues and family.
• Advocate for stronger climate change action by state and federal governments.
Business and industry
• Practice sustainable purchasing, including buying and collaborating with other local businesses
• Share, recycle, reuse more to achieve zero waste
• Reduce energy use. Switch to all-electric and zero carbon energy
• Improve buildings and infrastructure to make them sustainable and climate resilient
• Switch to more sustainable transport
• Connect with, support and share information with networks
• Advocate for stronger climate change action by state and federal governments
• Practice sustainable purchasing, including buying and collaborating with other local businesses
• Share, recycle, reuse more to achieve zero waste
• Reduce energy use. Switch to all-electric and zero carbon energy
• Improve buildings and infrastructure to make them sustainable and climate resilient
• Switch to more sustainable transport
• Connect with, support and share information with networks
• Advocate for stronger climate change action by state and federal governments
Farmers
• Protect and enhance our natural environment, through planting trees and modifying agricultural practices
• Adapt to a changing climate – improving resilience to drought, bushfire and environmental issues such as invasive species
• Collaborate and learn with other local farmers to support sustainable and regenerative agriculture
• Reduce energy use, switching to zero carbon energy
• Advocate for stronger climate change action by state and federal governments
• Protect and enhance our natural environment, through planting trees and modifying agricultural practices
• Adapt to a changing climate – improving resilience to drought, bushfire and environmental issues such as invasive species
• Collaborate and learn with other local farmers to support sustainable and regenerative agriculture
• Reduce energy use, switching to zero carbon energy
• Advocate for stronger climate change action by state and federal governments
Council
• Procure 100 per cent renewable energy
• Transition the vehicle fleet to low emissions
• Drive energy efficiency improvements
• Expand the municipal solar program
• Transition to energy efficient street lighting
• Offset residual emissions through the Biolinks project
• Procure 100 per cent renewable energy
• Transition the vehicle fleet to low emissions
• Drive energy efficiency improvements
• Expand the municipal solar program
• Transition to energy efficient street lighting
• Offset residual emissions through the Biolinks project
Other
The report notes that a number of significant actions are largely outside the control of council or the local community. These include the development of utility-scale wind and or solar PV projects and the delivery of carbon targets by other organisations operating in the community, such as water authorities.
The report notes that a number of significant actions are largely outside the control of council or the local community. These include the development of utility-scale wind and or solar PV projects and the delivery of carbon targets by other organisations operating in the community, such as water authorities.