Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader
Monday 26/3/2007 Page: 17
WORKING with schools, educating the community and pushing businesses to become sustainable is on the agenda for the Shire of Yarra Ranges' climate change action plan. The council has revealed more details about its plan to lead the way in addressing global warming, after passing a motion to become carbon neutral at its last council meeting on March 13.
Yarra Ranges chief executive Rob Hauser said the council could declare itself carbon neutral by the end of June 2008 once it had planted 60,000 trees in the shire and bought renewable energy certificates to offset its present carbon emissions. Mr Hauser said the council's progress would be measured in a regular "state of the environment" report, which would also include information such as water quality data and water usage statistics. He expected the first report to be released within six months.
Mr Hauser said the council was already working with 85 Yarra Ranges schools to help them develop environmental policies and create an "environmentally aware next generation". It would also hold a sustainable business forum to help local businesses reduce their carbon emissions.
Yarra Ranges Mayor Tim Heenan said everyone should "get ready" because the council would be calling on schools, friends' groups and private landholders to help plant trees across the shire. Mr Hauser said he was not aware of any other municipality in Australia that had made the commitment to become carbon neutral, and Yarra Ranges would encourage other councils to follow by working through the Municipal Association of Victoria and writing articles in journals.
Cr Heenan said before the next council election in November 2008, the present Yarra Ranges councillors wanted to ensure climate change measures were securely in place so an incoming council would not change them. Mr Hauser said the council would investigate converting methane gas from waste at shire tips into energy.
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