Lowering emissions goal for candidates

GREENS candidates running for Ballarat council are pushing for the city to fast-track its climate action by setting a zero-net target for the entire city by 2030.

Their plan sets out a range of waste and emission reduction schemes including a plan to double the solar use by offering a no up-front cost solar program to households, businesses and community organisations.

Under this initiative, candidate for Central Ward Cr Belinda Coates said the cost of the panels could be paid back over time through rates, using the money saved on electricity.

“If you can get solar panels on your roof at no upfront costs and actually saving you money in the long term is a no brainer,” she said.

“People need incentives as well as information and support, that’s where local councils can really help.”

The pitch to voters also incorporates methods to move away from the use of fossil fuels in municipal buildings and advocates for environmentally sustainable design for future development.

Cr Coates also said the plan proposes to investigate rate incentives for buildings and residents going above and beyond to reduce emissions with things like insulation, double glazing and draft stopping.

“We need to act quickly to support the economy and build resilience for our local communities and businesses,” she said.

“I have led Ballarat council to set an ambitious target for carbon neutrality and 100 per cent renewables for 2025, the next step is to really ramp this up and set a zero target for the entire city.

“The majority of the community do want to see local government taking urgent action on climate change.”

The development of Ballarat’s potential growth areas in a sustainable way is another component of the plan.

Greens candidate for North Ward Ellen Burns said the opportunity is there to build those communities to the highest standard.

“Ballarat is going through a rapid growth spurt, with two more development zones recently announced in North Ward,” she said.

“We want to see them build with carbon neutrality in mind, with renewable energy installed from the start and also green spaces and pedestrian and cycling paths linking them up to the existing communities.

“There’s been a good start made with the current developments but with the next developments we have an opportunity to raise that even further and hold the developers to a higher standard.”

In addition to future growth, Ms Burns said an immediate approach to solving the city’s food waste issues is vital to reducing overall emissions and waste.

“About 40 per cent of landfill waste is kitchen scraps and that can be avoided by something as simple as upgrading our green bins to FOGO bins,” she said.

“FOGO bins are already in the current council so it’s just a matter of having the right councillors in there that are going to push the completion of that as early as possible.”

Also floated are measures to reduce transport emissions which centre around setting a per capita spend for alternative transport infrastructure.

In support, Greens candidate for South Ward Jackson Snep said more active transport would mean lower emissions and fitter, happier residents.

“I think it would be great to have more bike lanes and more pedestrian access,” he said. “It would be a win, win.”

Cr Coates added, “An active transport strategy has got social benefits, health benefits as well as bringing down emissions for the entire city.”