The Victorian government is running an Inquiry into Climate Resilience, which is looking into the preparedness of communities facing climate disasters across the state. The submissions stage of the Resilience Inquiry process is closed, and the committee undertaking the Inquiry is now conducting hearings.
The sixth of these hearings was in Melbourne on 20 November 2024. At the event, local government, the Federation of Community Legal Centres, Geelong Sustainability, the Housing Industry Association, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and others spoke to the Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee about local climate resilience. City of Melbourne and Mornington Peninsula communities were represented by their councils at the hearing, and Geelong Sustainability represented the local Geelong community.
Before going into the hearing, local community members gathered outside to show support for government funding of community-led climate adaptation. They held up a banner with the words 'Fund Community Climate Resilience' on it.
"To prepare for locked-in climate impacts, we need adequate and ongoing funding for community-led adaptation work. This funding will enable communities to fulfil their plans to build resilient communities in a changing climate and keep those most at risk safe," Vicky Ellmore, Act on Climate Community Organiser, said.
Friends of the Earth Melbourne's Act on Climate collective has been ensuring community members' voices are heard through this Inquiry, both their concerns and the solutions they want to see enacted. The collective is calling for the committee to recommend a Victorian Community Climate Adaptation Fund (VCCAF). The fund would distribute money annually to community groups that apply to undertake localised adaptation initiatives.
Over three quarters (83.75%) of submissions to the Inquiry called for increased funding in climate adaptation, with half (49.58%) calling for ongoing funding and over a third (39.58%) calling for Act on Climate's VCCAF specifically.
In their submissions to the Inquiry into Climate Resilience, people from Melbourne shared their concerns around heatwaves and the heat island effect, heavy rainfall and flooding, and storms. In addition, there is concern about the impacts on community and society as well as mental and physical health due to increasing climate change impacts. Quotes from local submissions include:
"When I bought my house in Brunswick I was shocked to realise that temperatures there were 3-4 degrees hotter than the leafy inner suburb in which I had previously been living. Whilst doing upgrades before moving in I was often sweltering in early morning heat in Brunswick, then returning home to a pleasant temperature and then riding my bike along pleasant shady bike paths to work. It was a real eye-opener."
"I regularly see residents jump on my bus service because it's the only place they can cool their core temperature. It's the only heat zone refuge they have. They often ride the service all the way to the end of the route and then return to the inner city on the same service. These residents are often disabled or suffer from mental health issues. Where can they go?"
"In my community, I've seen the effects of worsening climate change. My neighbours have been flooded. Family members and local children are growing very anxious about how climate change will devastate their futures. Neighbours in poorly built houses and apartments struggle with the heat in the summer and the growing humidity and mould in our changed winters. We need the government to step up and take action."
In their submissions, the actions and solutions locals are calling for include:
Provide substantial shade and cool places, including tree canopy cover, especially around public transport stops/stations
Planning system reform that directs development away from flood-prone areas
Government buy-outs for those who live in flood prone areas
Support vulnerable households in making essential home upgrades such as draught proofing, insulation, and energy-efficient appliances,
Including insulation standards for rentals
Maintain and increase urban greening
Greater collaboration and alignment between levels of government,
Updating of state-wide flood risk modelling, overlays and planning provisions
Provide a realistic and appropriate level of ongoing funding for disaster preparedness and climate adaptation to ensure community resilience
The creation of a semi-independent body that is at arm's length from State and Local Governments, whose task it is to explore, socialise and where possible begin to implement adaptation options in Victoria
Ensure there are government-regulated building standards for all new buildings (regarding efficiency, insulation and passive cooling)
More frequent and air conditioned public transport
Providing more mental health support for increasing climate anxiety and trauma associated with extreme climate impacts
"Communities know what climate adaptation plans and projects are most needed and relevant for them, but they are not getting the support they urgently need to implement them. They are looking to the state government for leadership and assistance to adapt to climate impacts," said Ms Ellmore.
"While the Vic Government has undertaken adaptation planning work, this has not been sufficiently acted on and has not been backed up with ongoing funding to prepare communities for the climate impacts forecast to affect Victoria. Every step we take to help communities adapt to now unavoidable climate impacts secures a safer future and builds resilience, protecting people and Country."
"Building resilience to climate disasters in our communities demands centering the needs of those most at risk in our disaster preparation, planning and response. In preparing for climate impacts the Government must follow a just adaptation framework that addresses multiple and intersecting injustices. This includes integrating learnings from the ancestral knowledges and ongoing adaptive practices of Indigenous Peoples."
IMAGE: Community photo taken outside the Melbourne Resilience Inquiry hearing with Act on Climate's Fund Community Climate Resilience banner
