NEWS DESK
‘Map’ shows the way on climate Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au MEALS are prepared for daily delivery throughout the Mornington Peninsula (the picture was taken before COVID-19 restrictions were enforced).
Daily delivery provides more than a meal
ANN Smith and husband Les get as much enjoyment out of their Meals on Wheels deliveries as their clients. The Hastings couple enjoy “doing something worthwhile” and are good mates with their often-vulnerable client base. “We get to know them and their funny little ways and always make sure they are OK, especially during lockdown,” Ms Smith said. Last month’s National Meals on Wheels Day (26 August) aimed to highlight the contribution made by more than 700 Meals on Wheels services and 80,000 volunteers across Australia. It’s a big operation on the Mornington Peninsula, with the service relying on 130 volunteers to deliver 74,000 meals a year to older residents and younger ones with disabilities. The Smiths have for the past four years been delivering meals four or five days a week to as far away as Shoreham and Point Leo. They consider themselves lucky to be “allowed out
and about” during lockdown. “We’ve got our little permission slips in the glovebox,” Ms Smith said. The mayor Cr Sam Hearn said of the volunteers: “Under the challenging circumstances we find ourselves in due to coronavirus, it has been outstanding to see the bedrock of community strength and spirit shining through. “Our Meals on Wheels volunteers, with support from our aged and disability service staff, are still working hard delivering meals to our most vulnerable. “At a time when all kinds of services are ceasing, it is more important than ever that our residents in need have dedicated community members watching out for them. “Many of our clients, including their friends and family, say the social connection the service provides is just as important as the meal itself.” Details: mornpen.vic.gov.au/mealsonwheels Stephen Taylor
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
Western Port News 16 September 2020
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