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The bowls club decision followed discussions and site inspections with QCAG to address questions and concerns with the change.<\/p>\n
QCAG acting president Stuart Kent said community engagement was fundamental to the group\u2019s role in increasing uptake.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt gives organisations a non-biased, trustworthy partner to help them find what they need, rather than someone who\u2019s directly selling them a solution, which is a strong pain point for the market,\u201d Mr Kent said.<\/p>\n
Increasing renewable capacity is one of eight pillars QCAG identified under the CERP when development of the plan started following a 2019 council decision to declare a climate emergency.<\/p>\n
The pillars also address Indigenous heritage, sustainable buildings, transport, education, adaptation, waste management and environmental regeneration \u2013 all of which Mr Kent said had seen progress in the CERP\u2019s first year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re a small group with limited resources, but we have some amazing minds in our group and the community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019re doing a great job of identifying where the pain points are, getting people to adopt and organisations to come along for the ride.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re quietly pleased with how it\u2019s gone over the first 12 months, but we\u2019re not sitting back and expecting it\u2019s just going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Progress is evidently continuing for key CERP initiatives; construction began this week at Queenscliff Town Hall for new bike racks and EV charging stations.<\/p>\n
Initiatives in the pipeline for the next 12 months include efficiency upgrades at Queenscliff Neighbourhood House, tree planting at Victoria Park and a Reconciliation Plan with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, which are all set to receive funding in BOQ\u2019s 2022-23 draft budget.<\/p>\n
The borough said it will continue planning and advocacy for a community battery to boost renewable energy capabilities and continue a rollout of its household food waste collection service, which is due to finish by August 1.<\/p>\n
It had also signed up to 100 per cent renewable electricity for council operations and started development of an Active Transport Strategy since adopting the CERP.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m proud of how our community came together to develop the plan, and how we\u2019re coming together again now to implement each of the emissions-busting projects we identified for our community,\u201d borough mayor Ross Ebbels said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ADVOCATES, council and community groups have all lauded the success of a collaborative Queenscliff climate response, which marks its one-year anniversary today. Renewable energy infrastructure, electric vehicle charging stations, new transport strategies and tree-planting projects are among initiatives already underway in the first 12 months, as lobbying continues for long-term changes aimed at addressing climate […]<\/p>\n