Resilient Hills & Coasts Climate Change Adaption Plan

Council Achievements

Climate Change is already affecting our daily lives. Greenhouse gas emissions are ongoing, Sea levels are rising and extreme weather events are increasing frequently (storms, heat waves, droughts).

It is too late to completely avoid climate change altogether but we are committed to ensure that our region remains a strong and vibrant place to live, work and visit. We have already taken a number of steps to both mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. We are primarily focusing on:

• working towards and setting a reduction target for our own emissions
• developing a better understanding of the climate-related impacts and risks for our region
• Building the resilience of Council-managed assets, operation and services.
• Provide information to households and businesses about actions they can take to respond to climate change.

Our achievements to reduce emissions, power consumption and water use are as follows:

• a 16kw solar system has been installed at the Goolwa works depot. This reduces greenhouse gas emission by 25.5 tonnes per year

• the new Strathalbyn Library, Council & Community Centre incorporates numerous green building practices including auto-lighting and auto-ventilation plus high efficiency heating, cooling, lighting, insulation and glazing systems which reduce power consumption.

• in collaboration with the City of Victor Harbor and the District Council of Yankalilla, we supported the highly successful Solar Program which enabled residents to buy affordable roof-top solar systems
• significant expansion of our waste and storm water re-use infrastructure to reduce the reliance on the River Murray

• we apply land use planning and development controls, and work closely with developers to minimise community emissions.

Alexandrina Council plays an important role in providing information on emissions reduction ideas and opportunities to households and businesses (adaption planning).

For more information please download our Environmental Action Plan or visit the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources.

Resilient Hills & Coasts Climate Change Adaption Plan

The Resilient Hills & Coasts Climate Change Adaption Plan is a collaborative project formed to develop a regional climate change Adaption Plan for the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island. This project aims to strengthen the resilience of our communities, economies and the natural environment to respond and adapt to the changing climate. The project is supported by the South Australian and Australian Governments and is an initiative of the region’s Local Governments, Regional Development Australia Committee and Natural Resources Management Boards.

For more information please visit our Council webpage or get in touch with:

Jen St Jack

Regional Coordinator - Resilient Hills & Coasts

Phone: 0438 899 514

Email: jen@jackjensen.com.au

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Cities Power Partnership (CPP)

In 2018, Alexandrina Council became a member of the Climate Council’s Cities Power Partnership as one of many ways to show commitment to the strategic priorities as expressed in Council’s Community Strategic Plan and Environmental Action Plan.

The Climate Council is a non-profit independent organisation which aims to provide clear independent information on climate change to the Australian community.  The CPP is the Climate Council’s national program for local government which exists to celebrate and accelerate the emission reduction and clean energy successes of Australian towns and cities.

Council’s Community Strategic Plan identifies the adoption of progressive approaches to climate change and preparing climate-ready communities as key outcomes and priorities. By Joining the CPP Council is sending out a signal to our community that we remain committed to acting upon these priorities.

Membership benefits

Membership of the CPP comes with several benefits that include:

• It is free to join.
• Monthly webinars with access to local, national and international experts.
• Invitations to networking and capacity building events with other CPP members.
• Access to an online knowledge hub and Power Analytics tools which assist in developing the      business case for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
• Connection and knowledge sharing with Councils taking similar action via a buddying system.
• Assistance with applications for grant and project funding.

CPP Pledges

CPP members are required to submit 5 pledges relating to existing or future action on climate change. Council will be reporting on these pledges to the Climate Council on a half-yearly basis.

On 24 June 2019, Council endorsed the following pledges.

1. Install renewable energy and adopt best practice energy efficiency measures in Council buildings.
2. Roll out energy efficient street lighting in appropriate locations across the Council area.
3. Investigate and consider a revolving green fund to finance renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that result in energy and financial savings.
4. Support the uptake of electric and/or hybrid vehicles including via Council fleet purchases and the provision of fast charging infrastructure at key locations in the district.
5. Implement an education campaign and behaviour change campaign to influence the behaviour of Council staff, local residents and/or businesses to drive the shift to renewable energy and energy efficiency.

More information on the Cities Power Partnership can be found here.