NEWS DESK
‘Map’ shows the way on climate Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au AN “ambitious” climate emergency plan has been adopted by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council one year after declaring a “climate emergency”. The Ensuring Our Future: Our Climate Emergency Response plan aims to guide the peninsula towards having no carbon emissions by 2040 through seven “summits” and 21 “action steps”. However, the shire says the outcome “can only be achieved by the community and the shire working together”. A 10-year program includes targets around leadership and governance, climate advocacy, zero carbon energy, resilient and adaptive community, sustainable transport and travel, sustainable land use and environmental restoration, circular economy and zero waste. The shire says it was the 34th council in Australia to declare a climate emergency - there are now 96 - while its plan is one of the first six developed and adopted by an Australian municipality. The mayor Cr Sam Hearn likened the seven “summits” to a “map to guide us away from the dangerous emergency situation and the kinds of impacts that should still be stark in our mind from last summer”. “The shire is ready to lead by example and show the way,” he said. “In August 2019, the shire declared a climate emergency. Since 2016, we’ve had a five-year plan for the shire’s operations to become carbon neutral, which we’re on track to achieve by 2021. “The need to act to stop climate change and cre-
ate a better future story is more urgent than ever.” The shire says it is “focused” on achieving the targets of the plan and has accelerated some projects based on the climate emergency declaration. This has resulted in environmentally sustainable design being included in the planning scheme, it says. Three recycled water projects are supporting agricultural growth and drought proof the peninsula. The Beyond Zero Waste Strategy was also adopted on 25 August 2020. As part of the plan the shire’s economic stimulus projects are being aligned to climate emergency objectives, including tree-lined footpaths. “Along the way, we have encountered a stark reminder that we are all connected and our current and future wellbeing is collective,” Cr Hearn said. “This year, the coronavirus pandemic brought home the fragility of our current systems and the vulnerability we have to existential threats. It has also revealed the value of local connectivity, [and] the immense power we have when we do act with a united purpose and move toward selfsustaining community. “Let’s turn that awareness into opportunity. We can each make climate-friendly choices to rebuild the economy, revitalise our community and restore nature. “The climate emergency plan looks ahead 20 years to a world in which the Mornington Peninsula community has transitioned to net zeroemissions. We know there is steep terrain ahead.” Details: mornpen.vic.gov.au/climatechange
The art of growing: Admiring the pond and its revegetated shoreline in bentons Road, Mornington are Amanda Brewer with her children Peyton and Caleb and Jodie Bradshaw with Lennox McCan. Picture: Yanni
Pond opened up for nature PARENTS, staff and students at Goodstart Mount Martha, on Bentons Road, have been bitten by the nature bug. This has led them to beautify and revegetate an otherwise neglected pond area in partnership with Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. From the beginning of June through to late August, works have transformed the area with about 80 plants providing food and protection for native bird and animal life. Passers-by can see it from a nearby path. “Parents and children have been involved in the planning and feedback of the project,”
teacher Amanda Brewer said. “Due to COVID-19 we couldn’t do a community planting as planned, but some children and staff assisted in the planting alongside the shire workers. “We plan to make this a progressive project where we will care and extend the development with a biannual review and yearly development.” The project, which was planned to coincide with National Tree Day (Sunday 2 August) had the added benefit of educating children on land care as well as on Aboriginal perspectives, Ms Brewer said.
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Back In Motion Balnarring 6/2-8 Russell Street backinmotion.com.au/balnarring Mornington News 15 September 2020
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