50/50 for 2020

What a shame the Shire of South Gippsland doesn't have a similar enlightened attitude...

Bega District News
25/08/2006 Page: 1

IN ORDER to tackle climate change, everyone in a packed Bega RSL auditorium on Monday evening, resolved to reduce energy use by 50 percent and generate 50 per cent clean renewable energy by the year 2020.

The resolution also requested the Bega Valley Shire Council to commit to working with the community to meet these targets and to establish a working group with the aim of reversing greenhouse emissions within the shire.

The working group should broadly represent community interests and report back to the community within three months.

The Clean Energy for Eternity meeting had heard from the Member for Bega, Andrew Constance, Mrs Wilma Chinnock, Mr Don McPhee, the Member for Eden-Monaro, Gary Nairn, and Dr Matthew Nott, before Mr John Whyman put forward the resolution.

Mr Constance said that three years ago in Parliament he said it was time to consider every option to help the environment alternative energy, recycling of water or charging market price for the resources we use.

"The degradation of our environment through climate change, the diminution of biodiversity, the salination of our land and the abuse of underpriced and precious resources is a disgrace.

"According to the CSIRO the likely impact of climate change by 2030 is as follows:

• 70 per cent increase in drought frequency
• Increased risk to infrastructure
• Decreased water availability for agriculture
• Increased insurance premiums

"I am calling on my parliamentary Labor and Liberal State colleagues to give consideration to a State based renewable energy target similarly to that which is being proposed for the Bega Valley here tonight and the implementation of a ethanol and biodiesel scheme that if required would be mandated through legislation:' said Mr Constance.

A message from Mrs Chinnock read to the meeting challenged everyone to look at their lifestyles which must be changed if we "are to make a lighter footprint on the planet". With a community rich in talent we do have the power to change, said Mrs Chinnock.

Mr Don McPhee, with stark photos and graphs, showed in his power-point presentation that the Bega Valley is likely to suffer from increased dryness.

He said that scientists working in Antarctica are giving dire predictions of sea rises when the ice melts. "It is time for citizens to stand up and lead and not wait for politicians:' said Mr McPhee.

He said that apart from solar and wind power there were many schemes that could make a difference. One could be by establishing a biodiesel plant to power the Bega Valley, a plant where all its by-products could be used effectively and environmentally safely.

After instancing several more, including carbon credits, Mr McPhee said that this Clean Energy for Eternity campaign was a wake-up campaign, using citizen power.

He said the thousand or so people who turned up at Tathra Beach to make a human sign didn't do it as a stunt. They were the backbone of the community; from every walk of life, young and old, they came because they were truly concerned about climate change.

He said the everyone should start lobbying their politicians, state and federal, on the seriousness of the situation.

Dr Matthew Nott told everyone they had to be pro-active and there were hard times ahead. "Climate change is on us, it is manmade and we have to prepare and be more self-sufficient:" he said.

Dr Nott outlined things that everyone can do to save energy and preserve the environment, such as turning off lights, growing your own vegetables, recycling, reusing, riding a bike, driving slowly and many more. He asked people to go to a Cooma meeting tonight, Friday at 7.OOpm, and encourage those there to support a wind farm on the Monaro.

"We are morally obligated to look after the planet. We didn't inherit it for ourselves, we borrowed it for our children. "Let us here in the Bega Valley lead Australian forward:'

The Bega Valley Shire Mayor, Tony Allen, invited Mr Whyman to put forward the resolution which was unanimously passed.

Mr Andy Willis, representing the bicycle users' group then spoke on the virtues of cycling and Mr Hugh Pitty told the meeting of a conference and expo on a sustainable future at the Sapphire Coast Turf Club, Kalaru, in November.

Businesses which want to show their support for the campaign can send their logos to hpovel@bigpond.net.au

Community feedback suggestions can be dropped into boxes already in place at the Bega Valley Shire Council and at Andrew Constance's office in Carp Street, Bega.