Grass roots are green

Cooma Monaro Express
Tuesday 13/3/2007 Page: 10

LAST Friday over 100 members of the Snowy River Shire community agreed unanimously to support the target of reducing energy use by 50 per cent and generating 50 per cent clean renewable energy by the year 2020, in order to tackle climate change.

Commenting after the event, Greens' candidate, Catherine Moore, said: "It's a really good example of grass roots action where governments can see communities responding even if they are not. ' The motion will be debated at the Snowy River Shire council meeting and already has the support of Mayor Richard Wallace but Ms Moore would also like to see Cooma Monaro council supporting the motion too.

She believes that it is a positive step for a local council to take and would ultimately provide a healthier lifestyle for local people. Ms Moore also believes that more sustainable agriculture would be better for local health too, while at the same time recognising that farming can be tough in the area.

"We need to support rural communities so that they can carry on the business of producing our food and fibre and we need to make sure that they can access the same health and educational facilities as people in the city."