Edendale Community Environment Farm could become a community Climate Action Hub under one of many initiatives to be explored as part of Nillumbik Shire Council's Climate Action Plan.
Council has endorsed its Climate Action Year 1 Implementation Plan, which contains 57 actions or proposed initiatives to investigate.
The 10-year Nillumbik Climate Action Plan was endorsed in April, with Council declaring a Climate Emergency and setting targets for achieving net zero emissions for both Council and the community.
The Year 1 Implementation Plan sets out how Council will work to achieve the goals and focus areas of the Climate Action Plan in 2022-23.
Initiatives of the Year 1 plan include:
- Exploring the opportunity for Edendale Community Environment Farm to become a community Climate Action Hub
- Commencing the development of a Zero Emissions Roadmap
- Progressing the delivery of a solar farm at the former Plenty landfill site
- Identifying and supporting opportunities for community renewable energy such as batteries, micro grids and virtual power plants
- Investigating the feasibility of providing Environmental Upgrade Finance to support residents and businesses fund climate sustainability upgrades
- Developing an electric vehicle transition plan
- Investigating measures to enhance Nillumbik's urban tree canopy
- Preparing for the introduction of a container deposit scheme in Nillumbik by 2023
- Prioritising the use of recovered materials in Council construction projects.
Mayor Frances Eyre said the Implementation Plan clearly outlined Council's priorities in the first year of the Climate Action Plan.
"This is a bold and ambitious plan that demonstrates we are taking our commitment to Climate Action seriously," Cr Eyre said.
"There are many exciting initiatives included in the plan, which has strong backing from our 2022-23 Budget.
"We look forward to working closely with our community and local groups, we know there is a wealth of knowledge in our community and many passionate residents who can and want to work with and support Council with achieving our climate goals."
Deputy Mayor Ben Ramcharan said the plan put Council on the right trajectory to reduce Council's emissions, meet its targets and show leadership in Climate Action.
"One of the things I'm really excited about is supporting the community transition to net zero emissions by 2035. This includes exploring the idea of environment upgrade finance, which would enable us to facilitate loans for businesses and potentially residents to install solar panels, double glazing, better insulation or electric heaters and then they can pay us back over time through the savings on their electricity bill," Cr Ramcharan said.
"We're also exploring how Council can help to facilitate community transition to electric vehicles."
