Council in `change' first

Yarra Ranges Journal
Tuesday 20/3/2007 Page: 11

ADDRESSING climate change will cost Yarra Ranges ratepayers less than the price of a "six pack of stubbies", Cr Len Cox says. In an Australian first, Yarra Ranges Council will make itself carbon neutral. At a cost of $790,000 a year, the council will plant 60,000 trees and buy renewable energy credits to offset the amount of carbon emissions produced by council buildings and vehicles.

Fed up with waiting for higher levels of government to seriously tackle climate change, Cr Cox proposed the radical move which gained unanimous support at last Tuesday's council meeting. "[Climate change] is standing there with big flashing lights saying do something about it. "There's no government at any of the three levels of government in Australia that's doing this," Cr Cox said.

The cost of becoming carbon neutral will account for less than 1 per cent of the council's annual budget and increase rates by an average $10. Cr Cox ranked the landmark declaration, alongside the Lillydale Lake development, as the council's greatest achievement.

While it will make a relatively small difference given the global scale of climate change, the council emphasised its strength as setting an example for other councils and governments. Cr Cox said the declaration would be publicised to other Australian councils and urged them to follow in their environmentally friendly footsteps.

Warburton residents, dressed in radiation protective suits, kicked off the climate change discussion at the meeting, calling on the council to declare the region nuclear-free. An expert panel will also be set up to advise the council on climate change issues.