NEWS DESK
Peninsula on map for climate efforts Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au THE Mornington Peninsula has been recognised internationally as one of “two leading Australian councils” for its efforts to minimise climate change. An invitation for the shire to commit to a Compact of Mayors follows the attendance at this month’s Paris climate talks by the mayor Cr Graeme Pittock, Cr Hugh Fraser and the shire’s renewable resources team leader, Jessica Wingad, who was there to “learn the latest global trends and their potential application locally”. However, two councillors have now publicly criticised the Paris trip as being a waste of time and money. Cr Pittock and Cr Fraser have said they will repay any costs that exceed the $16,000 allowed to be spent over their four-year terms.
It is understood that it cost the shire about $6000 for each of its three representatives to attend the United Nations climate change conference (COP21). Countries represented at the talks unanimously approved the COP 21 Paris Agreement which “strives to limit global warming to well below two degrees Celsius, with the intent to pursue a 1.5-degree target”. Cr Pittock said his attendance at the conference ensured “that the voices of local leaders are heard, and city efforts, like those here at Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, are recognised”. The first news release about the talks issued by the shire included verbatim descriptions of Australia’s climate change strategies supplied by the office of Flinders MP and Environment Minister, Greg Hunt. Last Thursday Cr David Garnock, within hours of the shire announcing the Compact of Mayors commit-
Images reflect knowledge of ‘special’ place MATT Mackay spends a lot of time taking note of the weather and its effects on the scenery. A surfer based in Sorrento, he seeks out tide times and wind speeds. As a photographer, he uses all this knowledge to compose scenes through a camera lens. “I’ve built up a strong connection with the Mornington Peninsula’s coastal and marine environment,” he says. “My main focus is on nature and landscape photography, that’s what inspires me photographically and it’s where like to spend much of my time.” Mackay says this connection to the environment is necessary to “truly capture its essence”. “I can’t imagine living away from the sight, sound and smell of the ocean and, being a narrow peninsula, we’re fortunate to be surrounded by both the pounding waves of the Southern Ocean and the calmer tranquil waters of Port Philip. “We’re also very fortunate to have much of this spectacular coastline within the Mornington
ment and efforts already undertaken to achieve carbon neutrality, said it had not been necessary for the mayor to go to Paris to sign up for the compact. “These initiatives are a result of the enthusiasm of all councillors and senior shire officers to protect our precious environment on the peninsula, not as a result of the occasional participation of councillors or shire officers at international conferences,” Cr Garnock said. His comments followed those made in the previous week by Cr Andrew Dixon who claimed a post-Paris public briefing had been organised by the mayor “so that [the public] believe our Paris journey was totally hip and worth it”. Posting on Facebook under the name “Billy Dixon”, Cr Dixon said those at the meeting would be buttered up with “free booze”. “I'm sure we had a phenomenal impact on global energy policies, but
you'll hear all about it at our cute little slideshow,” Cr Dixon stated in response to an invitation from the mayor for the public to attend an “open presentation” of the Paris climate talks. The Compact of Mayors is an agreement drawn up by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and sees the peninsula sign up with cities such as Copenhagen, New York, Oslo, San Francisco, Buenos Aires and Cape Town. The other Australian municipality is the Western Australian city of Joondalup. The organisation was founded in 1990 as the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) when 200 local governments agreed to aim for “sustainable development” at a conference at the United Nations in New York. A news release issued by the shire on Thursday states that the shire had "fast-tracked" its way to compliance
in a matter of months after years of investment and real action on climate. The process outlined by ICLEI usually takes three years. ICLEI says Mornington Peninsula and Joondalup, having achieved compliance, are undergoing a final audit against the international standard before being listed on the official compact website. Examples of the shire’s efforts to ward off climate change include working with the CSIRO and the South East Councils Climate Change Alliance (SECCCA) understand the impact of climate change over the next 70 years; using methane gas at the Rye landfill to generate enough electricity to power about 1400 homes; cutting the size of its vehicle fleet; and undertaking such renewable energy projects as buying solar power for 11 community halls and installing solar street lights.
Pride of place: Photographer Matt Mackay at Pulpit Rock, Cape Schanck, one of his favourite places on the Mornington Peninsula which features in his 2016 calendar. Picture: Yanni
Peninsula and Point Nepean national parks, providing sanctuary to a range of native flora and fauna. “With such a diverse landscape and coastline the peninsula offers endless possibilities and inspiration for a nature and landscape photographer like me.” Some of Mackay’s images are now reproduced in his 2016 Mornington Peninsula Calendar. “It’s a way to showcase the region’s beauty and diverse landscape,” he says. “It came as no surprise when National Geographic placed the peninsula on its Best of the World – 20 Places You Should See in 2015 list.” Mackay’s calendar includes images from all over the peninsula, has the Port Philip Heads monthly tide chart on each page and lists market dates and other useful information. He says he “tried to produce the most environmentally-friendly calendar-printed in Australia” by using 100 per cent recycled paper and waterless printing. Details: matt@innerlightphotography.com.au or call 0438 508 384.
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