Green ticks for city report

THE City of Greater Geelong council has highlighted its progress towards environmental initiatives in its latest yearly report card.

The city released its 2021-22 Annual Report as part of its October meeting last month, which outlined its progress towards objectives, achievements and challenges during the 12-month period.

In a joint statement, city mayor Peter Murrihy and acting chief executive officer Kaarina Phyland highlighted sustainability progress as a key achievement, including a 29 per cent drop in carbon emissions after a switch to renewable energy for all electricity use.

“We also continued to trial the use of innovative products made from recycled materials in road reconstruction projects and completed stage one of Victoria’s largest streetlight upgrade program – switching around 13,000 of our streetlights to energy-efficient LEDs.”

The city is working towards a goal of net-zero organisation emissions by 2025 and community-wide by 2035.

Meanwhile, the financial year also included $195 million worth of capital spend on infrastructure projects – headlined by the beginning of projects including Norlane’s $61.6 million Northern Aquatic and Community Hub, Drysdale’s $15.5-million first stage of the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre, and the $13-million Armstrong Creek West Community Hub.

Mr Murrihy and Ms Phyland also celebrated Reconciliation Australia’s endorsement of the city’s Reconciliation Action Plah, which it had developed in collaboration with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners and community members.

The full annual report follows the release of financial results earlier this month, which reported a $10.6 million operating surplus – following two consecutive deficits during COVID-19 and a forecast negative bottom line for 2021-22.

The result was largely due to the early receipt of grant funding, with finance chair Cr Anthony Aitken foreshadowing a period with limited discretionary spending following the “sobering” outlook.