Altona Laverton Mail
Wednesday 23/4/2008 Page: 6
THE environment was the big winner last week after Maribyrnong Council gave the nod to creating a Maribyrnong wind farm advisory committee and peak oil policy. Both measures were unanimously supported by the council at its meeting last Tuesday. The advisory committee will comprise representatives of community organisations and is being formed to help develop a community-owned wind farm - a key proposal in the council's carbon-neutral action plan.
The 1.5-megawatt turbine proposed for Yarraville's Stony Creek Reserve, near the West Gate Bridge, would provide electricity for 750 households. Maribyrnong Mayor Michelle MacDonald said the project aimed to inspire the community that change, especially performed at a local level, was possible. "It's not only a sound financial investment for the community, but the location of the wind turbine - in full view of 190,000 motorists a day - will be a statement about the direction that we as a community are taking in addressing climate change," she said. The Bendigo Bank will partner the council in the project.
The advisory committee will conduct the first step in the project by undertaking a feasibility study, with a review of the committee to be undertaken by the council in a year's time. The council became the first Australian local government body to create a peak oil policy to prepare for future supply constraints on petroleum-based products. The policy and action plan is a bid to protect the council from the impact of rising oil prices.
It sets reduction targets for five oil-based products: unleaded petrol, LPG, natural gas, diesel and asphalt. Cr MacDonald said the policy set out clear targets for the council: to reduce dependence on oil based products by 3 per cent each year; to reduce overall consumption by 50 per cent by 2025; and to increase `green' purchasing levels by 1.5 per cent each year.
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