Climate change - what is Council doing?
Council's Counting Down to Zero Plan targets zero net emissions by 30 June 2030, outlining more than 30 recommended actions for Council to reduce, avoid or offset its existing emissions while also influencing key stakeholders to do the same.
These actions include phasing out the use of gas in favour of more efficient energy sources, embedding sustainable initiatives into the design and construction of projects, and replacing redundant Council passenger vehicles with electric alternatives.
Declaration by council
Council joined over 30 councils in Victoria and almost 100 councils across Australia in passing a motion at its Council Meeting on 24 March 2021 to declare a Climate Emergency.
The declaration recognises the urgent need to address the causes and impacts of climate change across all aspects of Council’s operations, and in its work with the community.
Click on the infographic to enlarge.
Infrastructure upgrades
Buildings
Since 2016, Council has installed a total of approximately 380kW of roof top solar arrays over 17 of its buildings, reducing emissions by over 500 tonnes CO2-e / year.
Council also aims to reduce energy consumption through improving the environmental performance of its buildings as circumstances allow, through installing LEDs, upgrading heating and cooling systems, sourcing energy efficient appliances when renewing assets, and conducting audits to identify key opportunities for future works.
Streetlights
From 2017 to 2019, Council converted 2,548 streetlights in residential areas to energy efficient LEDs. This investment reduced emissions from streetlights by approximately 755 tonnes CO2-e / year. It also provides ongoing savings to council, in both consumption and operational and maintenance costs.
In 2021, commenced replacing streetlights on major roads (where costs are shared with VicRoads) to energy efficient LEDs, as part of a regional project coordinated by the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance (CVGA) aimed at further reducing emissions from public lighting and providing ongoing operational savings to councils. The project was completed in early 2023, and has allowed Council to reduce emissions from its operations by an additional 75 tonnes CO2-e / year.
Ten decorative lights will be replaced with suitable energy efficient lamps by June 2023, completing the program for converting public lighting throughout the shire to be as efficient as possible.
More information about this regional project can be found at CVGA Lighting the Region Major Roads.
Fleet
As part of Council’s 2030 net zero emissions target, the transition of our passenger fleet is considered a high priority. To enable this transition Council has installed EV charging stations at three office sites and we will continue to grow our electric fleet in the future years.
Healthy Landscapes
The Healthy Landscapes program promotes regenerative farming practices, through providing information resources, hosting field days and webinars, and facilitating peer support. The holistic approach to regenerative farming enables improvement in soil health, biodiversity and productivity, and helps reduce emissions through storing carbon in soil.
The project is being delivered as a partnership between Council, Hepburn Shire Council, the City of Greater Bendigo, A Healthy Coliban Catchment project (North Central Catchment Management Authority and Coliban Water), Melbourne Water and the Upper Campaspe Landcare Network.
As of 2024 project partners now welcome Mt Alexander Shire to the program.
Electric Vehicle charging stations
We are pleased to be expanding our Electric Vehicle Charging network throughout the shire, with charging stations at:
- Kyneton (Baynton and Hutton Streets)
- Woodend (High Street)
- Macedon (Corner Smith and Victoria Streets)
- Lancefield (The Crescent)
All facilities are rapid 50kW DC chargers which enable an average electric vehicle to be fully charged in less than 30 minutes.
Users are charged per kWh of electricity used.
Thanks to Evie Networks, Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance (CVGA) and the Victorian Government for their assistance with funding the project.
More charging stations will be available soon
This ever-growing public network - a priority project for Council - expands on existing stations.
Council continues to support the community transition to zero emissions transport by actively seeking grant funding for additional EV charging stations throughout the shire in the remaining major townships of Gisborne, Malmsbury, Romsey and Riddells Creek.
The public rollout complements new Council-use stations at offices in Kyneton, Gisborne and Woodend, supporting the organisation's transition to an all-EV passenger fleet. These Council-use chargers, were supported by the Victorian Government through the EV Charging for Council Fleets program.