Cool Changes is our program that works with local communities across the shire to facilitate the development of local climate action plans.
It evolved from the successful pilot project, Sustainable Malmsbury, and has been informed by a shire-wide survey undertaken in September 2019.
Cool Changes is now being conducted for the wider Woodend district (postcode 3442).
Cool Changes 3442 commenced with an online Foundations Workshop on 25 May 2020, facilitated by HipVHype, the consultants engaged to run the project.
Workshop participants identified focus areas and some associated goals for action on climate change, to provide a base for the development of a climate change action plan over the next two to three months.
After the workshop, an online project hub was established. The project hub contains notes from the workshop, resources relevant to different aspects of the project and many inspiring ideas and comments for local action on climate change posted by project participants.
All this information was then assessed and filtered at two online workshops held in August 2020. A draft plan is currently being prepared, and will be available for feedback from the wider community in and around Woodend. We expect the draft plan to be available after council elections in late October, early November 2020.
If you would like more information on the project and how you can get involved, contact Silvana Predebon on (03) 54219659 or spredebon@mrsc.vic.gov.au
Additional support from Sustainability Victoria’s Zero Carbon Communities Transition program will enable the online approach to project planning to be a model for other communities in the future.
We are currently involved in various projects aimed at mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change in our region.
The term 'climate change' refers to changes in climate, such as increasing temperatures, more frequent extreme weather events and rising sea levels caused by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. While we can avoid the worst effects of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, some impacts are unavoidable and are already occurring.
The Regional Climate Adaptation Plan (2014) identifies risks, vulnerabilities and priority adaptation actions for six partner councils in the southern Lodden Mallee region.
It complements the Macedon Ranges Climate Change and Adaptation Report.
The plan provides a road map for future regional collaborative projects and identifies ways to reduce duplication across local government areas in addressing climate change.
It includes:
Preparation of the plan was funded by the Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership (VASP) and led by the City of Greater Bendigo.
In 2012, Council carried out a climate change risk assessment to understand how vulnerable our organisation, local communities and natural environment are to the potential effects of climate change.
The result of this work was the Climate Change Adaptation Report in Climate Change Adaptation Report(DOCX, 2MB) or Climate Change Adaptation Report(PDF, 3MB).
The report highlights population growth predictions and emerging trends in employment, education, health, population and industry.
It includes details of historic extreme weather events to help us understand the real-life impact of climate change on Council-managed infrastructure and the natural assets of the shire.
It is a valuable reference tool to help build awareness and understanding of climate change in the community.
It also identifies many opportunities available to Council to improve the way we do business and better respond to our community’s needs.
In June 2016, Council adopted a target to reduce greenhouse emissions from its operations by 25 per cent by 2020–21, from the baseline year of 2014–15. On 28 June 2017, Council adopted its first Climate Change Action Plan to outline how it will meet this target, and how it will support the community in climate change action.
We report on progress to achieve our emissions reduction target in our Annual Environment Report.
Through a series of community events and workshops the Sustainable Malmsbury Action Plan was created.
From October 2018 to February 2019 the Malmsbury community were invited to share their ideas about climate change and environmental sustainability.
The Sustainable Malmsbury Action Plan(PDF, 9MB) was created by and for the Malmsbury community. It outlines the sustainability goals along with a set of personal and community actions that can help bring these goals to life.
Sustainable Malmsbury is a living initiative that will continue to evolve.
Stay connected
For more information contact Silvana Predebon on (03) 5421 9659 or via spredebon@mrsc.vic.gov.au, or see contact details for community members listed in the Sustainable Malmsbury Action Plan(PDF, 9MB)