Climate cash for businesses

AN Environmental Upgrade Agreement, or EUA, will be implemented to help local businesses access loans for works to increase energy efficiency. 

The move came at the final regular City of Greater Bendigo council meeting of 2023 and mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said under the agreements a property holder’s loan could be recorded against their municipal rates. 

This means the borrowing is a charge secured against the property, and it’s hoped competitive loan terms could be offered by lenders.  

“The repayments are made via a third-party administrator, in this case Building Better Finance, to the lender, the Sustainable Australia Fund,” said Cr Metcalf. 

“Council is committed to responding to the climate emergency and supporting local businesses to reduce emissions is critical to reach the community target of zero emissions by 2030. 

“The EUA program strongly supports the goals of the City’s Climate Change and Environment Strategy 2021-2026 and the Greater Bendigo Zero Emissions Roadmap. 

“In addition, the EUA program will complement the Beat the Power Bills Program offered to businesses by the City in collaboration with the Bendigo Sustainability Group.  

“This program involves working with businesses to help them identify ways to reduce their emissions and energy bills and an EUA can be used to fund any of the building upgrades identified.” 

 

Impact grants  

Eight organisations will receive $75,000 during the next three years through the City’s Partnering for Impact Grants Program. 

Successful groups include Bendigo Foodshare, Sisterworks, Bendigo Volunteer Resource Centre, Golden Dragon Museum, Sports Focus, Arena Theatre Company, Goldfields Local Learning and Employment Network, and the Indian Association of Bendigo. 

Cr Metcalf said the community grants policy and program were reviewed last year to ensure their effectiveness in supporting local needs and were made fairer and easier to apply for. 

“The PFI Grants respond to community feedback that multi-year grants will increase the potential for strategic partnering and impact and enable grant recipients to plan and move forward with greater confidence,” she said. 

“The City’s community grants are greatly valued. 

“Many different clubs, groups and organisations have received funding to undertake an array of activities that have helped to make our region a great place to live, play, work and visit.   

“Most would not be able to undertake the important activities without community the funding.” 

 

On the move 

A crusher plant at a California Gully recycling facility will be relocated to another part of the site to reduce environmental impacts on surrounding land and people. 

Locals expressed their concerns about pollutants such as dust being spread in areas around the plant, as well as loud noise. 

The State’s Environmental Protection Agency deemed the level of silica dust from the activity of ASQ Eaglehawk to be within the acceptable limit. 

ASQ Eaglehawk will also get a new glass washing facility and the project is considered to have a low amenity impact and to be suitably located. 

Cr David Fagg said it will not result in more glass being crushed, and noise and health concerns associated with related dust will be low due to the glass being washed with water. 

Cr Jennifer Alden said it will create new jobs. 

Meanwhile, councillors endorsed the updated Urban Tree Management Policy. 

It was updated to better reflect best practices in the arboriculture industry, and to better look after council managed trees. 

The City of Greater Bendigo looks after 130,000 trees. 

The elm at Town Hall could be the most valuable of these trees, worth $400,000, said Cr Alden. 

Finally, an amendment to a planning permit for works at Marist College has been deferred to next council meeting. 

 

Housekeeping 

The City of Greater Bendigo’s chief executive officer of 16 years, Craig Niemann, sat at his final council meeting prior to his last day in the job, this Friday. 

He was met with a string of acknowledgements from those he had worked closely with over the years. 

Andrew Cooney will be the City’s next CEO. 

Jovana Obradovic-Tantra was reappointed as chair of the municipal audit and risk committee for a second term from 1 October 2023 for one year. 

Council meeting dates were also locked in for 2024, and will be Monday 29 January, Monday 26 February, Monday 25 March, Monday 22 April, Monday 27 May, Monday 24 June, Monday 22 July, Monday 26 August, Monday 16 September, Monday 14 October, 6 November (to elect mayor and deputy-mayor), Monday 25 November, and Monday 16 December. 

 

Petitions 

Municipal officers will notify the lead petitioner of its decision to widen Sedgwick Road between McCalman Place and Storys Road and add a cycling lane as a future project. 

The works would be subject funding through the Federal Blackspot Program. 

Officers will also assess whether to further reduce the speed at Sedgwick Road and Sutton Grange Road from 100kph to 80kph as well as put in more signage for cyclists. 

Cr Greg Penna said the project would be completed by June 2024. 

Councillors will review a petition to save Bendigo East Swimming Pool which received more than a thousand signatures and deliver their response within three council meetings. 

Petitioners told of the importance of keeping the pool as it is used by many disabled, aged, and beginning swimmers. 

In the Community Aquatic Facilities Strategy 2023, the City outlined a plan to close the pool in four years. 

 

Contracts 

Four contracts were awarded by the City in November.  

Two related to the municipal baths project, one for its boardwalk and feature fencing, and the other for its hardscape.  

The contractor for both is DC and GJ Lightburn trading as GDL Excavations. The cost of the first project is more than $860,000, and the second, less than $530,000. 

The projects are set to be completed by 12 April 2024.  

SEF Services signed for a project involving cricket nets at Mandurang at a price of less than $310,000, to be completed by 31 March next year. 

Safety Systems Bendigo will conduct asbestos auditing at City owned and managed buildings for up to five years, at a budget of $100,000 per year.