National nominations for borough

THE Borough of Queenscliffe’s community-led Climate Emergency Response Plan (CERP) is a finalist in two national awards, competing against major initiatives by capital city councils.

Queenscliffe’s CERP is one of just three councils vying for the Collaboration Award and one of eight projects nominated in the Community Choice Award, which will be decided by a public vote.

The Cities Power Partnership Climate Awards draw entries from 160 member councils from across Australia, representing about 65 per cent of the population.

Member councils are all committed to tackling climate change and leading the way to a zero emissions future.

Announcing Queenscliffe as an awards’ finalist, the partnership said “Victoria’s smallest council punches above its weight in climate action”.

“The regional Victorian borough committed to deliberate engagement with the Queenscliffe Climate Action Group, a local climate group, collaborating intensively to co-develop council’s Climate Emergency Response Plan,” the finalist statement said.

“Together, they have come up with a long term and far-reaching plan to transition to a Zero Carbon Community by 2031. The best part is the plan has the support of the community because they played a huge role in designing it.

“The collaboration has shown what is possible when council and residents work together in an open, respectful and forward thinking way.”

Borough mayor Ross Ebbels said Queenscliffe was already a winner for such a tiny council to be a finalist alongside some of the largest such as Darebin and Brisbane.

“At the end of the day with our CERP, we represent our community and they said we want you to do that, and we couldn’t have done it without the community,” Cr Ebbels said.

“We’ve been working with others as well.

“We’ve done a lot of work with the Wadawurrung People and also with Barwon Water; we’re one of the councils involved in the Renewable Organics Network.

“But we wouldn’t be here without our community; that’s what makes us very successful as a small council.

“We’re always talking and listening to the community, looking at how we can work closer and engage better, we don’t always agree but the people are very respectful.”

Finalists competing against the borough in the Community Choice category include the ACT Government’s Zero Emissions Transition Fleet, City of Adelaide’s Sustainability Incentive Scheme, Brisbane City Council’s Resilient Clubs Support Program and Tweed Shire Council’s Renewable Energy Action Plan.

Queenscliffe’s CERP, Darebin City Council’s Victorian Energy Collaboration and Warrnambool City Council’s Climate Alliance Establishment Project are all Collaboration Award finalists.

To help Queenscliffe bring home the Community Choice Award, the community can vote via the Cities Power Partnership website, and register to watch the awards ceremony on November 17.