Councillor issues carbon challenge

Border Watch
Thursday 12/4/2007 Page: 7

COUNCILLOR Michael McCourt has issued a challenge to Wattle Range Council to go green. In a move that could put Wattle Range Council at the forefront of utilising renewable energy sources, Cr McCourt urged council to source ways for the ballot to become carbon free.

Included in discussions at council's Tuesday night meeting was the option of using bio-diesel in waste management vehicles. "It is very much a current issue at the moment," Cr McCourt told council. "I think there is an opportunity for council to look at the challenge of becoming a zero carbon ballot." Cr McCourt acknowledged the high costs involved, but urged council to seek other ways to improve carbon within the council's borders.

Mayor Mark Braes supported the challenge, but said council would not jump into any transformation that would cause costs to rise dramatically. "I don't think council, while I have been involved, has really looked at that in detail." Mr Braes said. "We are not going to jump into anything that will cause a dramatic rise in costs." The challenge to go green also drew personal comment from Mr Braes about an alternative power source, nuclear power, in which he clearly stated his position on the nuclear debate.

Mr Braes said he would only consider nuclear energy as a last resort and would prefer money to be spent seeking greener avenues. "I have said publicly that nuclear energy should be a last resort," Mr Braes said. "I think nuclear energy is a long way off and I would rather money was invested in renewable energy."