Shire to press on with carbon offset planting

THE Surf Coast Shire has lost its accreditating partner in a carbon offset planting near Buckley but is pressing ahead with the project regardless.

Last week, councillors resolved to proceed with its earlier plan to establish the planting on about 12 hectares of shire-owned land at 185 Waltons Road.

The original resolution, passed in January 2021, would have seen the shire put $10,000 towards signing and register a formal Carbon Agreement with national carbon offset provider Greenfleet.

Under the Carbon Agreement, the shire would have committed to retain the trees for at least 50 years.

The land is the northern portion of a 20-hectare lot next to Lake Modewarre that contains the clubrooms of the Modewarre and District Angling Club, and is not used for any community purpose.

Greenfleet has been establishing offset plantings since 1997 and was still keen in April 2021 to work with the shire at the Buckley site.

However, since then, “Greenfleet has refocused its priorities and a collaboration with the council on this project is no longer possible”, according to the officers’ report presented to councillors at their meeting on Tuesday last week.

Instead, councillors changed the Buckley project’s status from an accredited carbon offset site co-ordinated by Greenfleet to an unaccredited carbon offset project led by the shire, and committed to retain and protect the planting for at least 50 years.

The shire will lead the establishment of the carbon offset site, and manage the planting in collaboration with interested community and school groups.

“These council and community partnerships are the best kind of projects as there’s always a great sense of community pride and ownership,” Cr Kate Gazzard said.

“We have some really passionate and active local community and school groups who are eager to be part of planting projects so we want to work closely with them.”

The shire says although the planting will not be verified and certified under global standard, it will still provide important carbon sequestration, biodiversity and community benefits.

The original project was expected to have sequestered approximately 800 tonnes of carbon at a low cost.

Planting is expected to begin in autumn this year.

Cr Gazzard said the shire was proud to be a carbon-neutral accredited organisation with a strong, clear commitment to climate action.

“Addressing the climate emergency and reducing our impact on our precious environment remains a top priority. We’re focused on reducing our greenhouse gas emissions wherever we can.

“Carbon offset projects like this help us to sequester carbon locally, improve habitat for local wildlife, provide seed collection for other plantings and help to build community understanding of local offset options.

“Lake Modewarre has strong environmental and culture values and this project will also support partnerships with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners.”

The council has reallocted the $10,000 towards plants and associated planting costs, and will seek grant funding to complete this work.

Learnings from this project are being fed into a broader initiative under way through the Barwon South West Climate Alliance to establish a local carbon offset planting program.