Climate report ask binned

A LODDON Shire councillor who failed to win the support of council for a report into local climate risks has not ruled out a second pitch.

Tarnagulla Ward’s Linda Jungwirth posted to her councillor social media page saying the majority vote against her move last Wednesday was unfortunate.

Cr Jungwirth later told the Loddon Herald: “The fact I put up the motion (to commission a report) showed I felt something needed to be done.

“I have been hearing personally from the Newbridge community and a lot of people in the Tarnagulla Ward ... from Newbridge in particular they have concerns for the future,” she said.

“In Newbridge I have heard of at least three insurers who have increased premiums by a third since the flooding.”

Cr Jungwirth said she would need to think about whether to make a second move for a report on local risks of climate change and future climate scenarios for the shire.

“I don’t have an agenda here but I can’t make decisions without facts in front of me,” Cr Jungwirth said. “I owe it to the communities to raise the issue.”

Last Wednesday’s motion was only supported by Cr Wendy Murphy with Mayor Dan Straub and Crs Gavan Holt and Neil Beattie voting against the move.

Cr Beattie said changing climate had produced bumper crop seasons. “If this is climate change - bring it on,” he said.

Cr Beattie said many Loddon residents lived in a flood plain and heavy soils needed to be flushed.

He also said based on current water storage levels, there was a supply of two years for irrigators.

“There are two sides to this story Mr Mayor,” said Cr Beattie.

Cr Gavan Holt said he was always reluctant to disagree with a proposal or motion put forward by a fellow councillor, if that move added value to “people of Loddon.”

However, Cr Holt said he did not see the need for work to be done on a specific report when existing council policies addressed climate change.

He said those plans were overarching documents and council had only limited resources. “I believe what we are doing is adequate in this space and I am not convinced of the value this (proposed) project would deliver to the people of Loddon given what we are already doing within the confines of limited resources,”

Cr Holt said.

Cr Holt said council did not have available staff, a challenge faced by other municipalities, or the budget to commit to a climate change report.

Cr Murphy said a climate change report would support a statement in council’s draft budget that recognised the community wanted to recover from the floods.

“I generally support all Cr Jungwith has indicated,” said Cr Murphy.

Cr Jungwirth said it was crucial to look at climate change on a local level.

“My role tasks me with care for the community now and into the future,” she said.

Following rejection of her motion, Cr Jungwirth asked for a division to formally record the votes of each councillor.

Cr Jungwirth’s notice of motion had called for a report within six months.

Her motion acknowledged positive actions of council to mitigate emissions.

“We have collaborated with 46 other councils to switch to 100 per cent renewable energy. We are members of Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance and have supported many initiatives to reduce emissions locally,” she told councillors