Shire’s net zero target at risk

THE Surf Coast Shire Council’s latest commitment to net zero emissions by 2030 is “at risk” due to likely future emissions from the development of the Surf Coast Aquatic and Health Centre.

In adopting the zero corporate emissions target by the end of the decade at its April 26 meeting, the council agreed to a report that noted the existing plan to meet the goal did not factor in future emissions from the centre, which could blow out its target by 10 years.

The report stated the facility was “costed, funded and initiated prior to the adoption of the Environmentally Sustainable Council Facilities Policy”.

Since then, it has been identified that the aquatic centre’s reliance on gas “presents a risk to the achievement of the emission reduction targets”.

“It assumes a gas-powered system and the project budget’s capacity to shift to an all-electric system is yet to be tested,” general manager place making and environment Chris Pike said.

“All electric systems come at a higher upfront cost, but can lead to lower operating expenses.

“We need to understand these financial impacts and our funding options to achieve the high level of environmental performance our community would expect from the facility.”

While an all-electric system is yet to be tested, the council does hold aspirations to switch to the energy source, citing the move as “important for the council to achieve its emissions reduction’s target”.

In the planning phase with a 2025 completion date, the $39.25 million centre with an indoor 50-metre pool is the largest project ever undertaken by the shire, funded by the federal government ($20 million), state government ($13.5 million) and council ($5.75 million).

The council has noted increases in the cost of materials in the construction sector due to the pandemic may also affect the Surf Coast Aquatic and Health Centre project going forward.

The pool is not the only impediment to the shire’s net zero ambitions, with the present targets set excluding emissions from the Anglesea landfill.

“Council have acknowledged that they are unable to eliminate emissions from Anglesea at this time, however, is committed to taking all feasible measures to reduce emissions from the site, including flaring methane and diverting organic material for recycling,” a council spokesperson said.

Declaring a climate emergency in 2019, the council then adopted its Climate Emergency Corporate Response Plan in June 2021, which was a 10-year plan and commitment to climate action and becoming a carbon-neutral organisation.

The council has now set a firm 2030 deadline for when it expects to meet that overall deadline.

“Significant steps have already been taken on corporate emissions, including installation of extensive rooftop solar systems with battery storage at council facilities, purchase of 100 per cent renewable electricity for all council facilities and streetlights, and achieving carbon neutrality by offsetting all our emissions,” shire mayor Libby Stapleton said.

Cr Stapleton also referred to the shire’s latest shift to electric vehicles as helping achieve the goal, with all of its light vehicle fleet set to be electric by 2028 and all its trucks and excavators by 2030.