Wollongong City Council will spend $31.8 million on environmental initiatives in the next two years as it works towards becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
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In its new draft Climate Change Mitigation Action Plan the city has set down an ambitious proposal to implement 92 new actions by 2022.
These will include a new household waste system with the city-wide roll out of Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO), electric cars in the council fleet, more trees, and more efficient energy use in the 740 council-owned facilities across the city.
There's lots happening in this space and it's moving fast. We all look back on the events of recent bushfires and we have been reminded dramatically of the impacts of climate change.
Delivery of these actions is expected to reduce the annual emissions of council operations by 25%, a report to councillors says, which would put the city well on the way to meeting its 2030 target of net zero emissions.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said the council had no choice but to implement these measures, and needed to show leadership to encourage the wider community to take action.
"It's a no brainer when we consider the state of the world and environment at present, we have no other option but to head in that direction," he said.
"There's lots happening in this space and it's moving fast. We all look back on the events of recent bushfires and we have been reminded dramatically of the impacts of climate change."
While not funded in the council's most recent operation plan (set be adopted at the next council meeting) the FOGO system, where food waste can be put into the green waste bin, looks set to get the go ahead.
According to the mitigation plan, it will be implemented between now and 2022, with a report on the recent trial to come to council next month.
As part of the program, green waste pick-up will become a weekly service, and residents will be given an extensive education program.
Also in the plan, the council will buy hybrid and electric cars for its fleet, and will pursue the installation of public electric vehicle charging stations across the city.
Council pools will get new filtration systems worth $4.5 million, $3 million will be spent on new sports field lighting, and $1 million will be spent installing solar panels on council buildings.
The Town Hall and Art Gallery, as well as buildings like Corrimal Library, IPAC, Dapto's Ribbonwood and the Integral Energy building will be upgraded more efficient heating and cooling systems.
New buildings, like the Warrawong and Helensburgh Libraries and the planned Beaton Park overhaul will be built with energy efficiency in mind.
The results of these actions will be shared via the council's website, with a dashboard showing how a cut in emissions is being achieved.
Implementing the 92 actions will cost a total of $31.8 million, with the bulk being spent on energy efficiency upgrades and solar panel installation ($22.4million)
Waste management, community environmental programs, natural area management and urban greening will cost $1.3million and FOGO and the streetlight upgrade will cost $6.4million.
The council's commitment to cut its emissions, and encourage residents and businesses to reach a city-wide target of net zero emissions by 2050, comes after years of policy moves towards better environmental practices.
There has also been strong community pressure to take action.
Almost half of all submissions made during the council's annual budge consultation were about climate change, with 67 residents urging the council to take action on electric vehicles, FOGO and renewable power.
If supported by councillors, the draft plan will be placed on public exhibition.
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Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
