The City of Melbourne is committed to being an environmentally responsible city and upholding its position as a leader in sustainability. The primary focus of Council’s environmental planning is its Sustainable Energy and Greenhouse Strategy, which outlines how it will achieve greenhouse gas reduction targets over the next 10 years.
Its projects, however, are many and varied and include the following.
Water management
In 2002, Council partnered water company Melbourne Water to establish a sewer mining plant in one of its major parklands and demonstrate that high quality water can be sourced from the sewer system and used in parks and gardens. By 2010, the City of Melbourne aims to be using 20 per cent recycled water in its municipality.
Council’s recently released draft Sustainable Water Management, a joint initiative with Melbourne Water and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, sets actions such as this for the next 20 years.
Council also aims to cut water consumption by 15 per cent in the City of Melbourne with actions such as installation of water efficient devices and equipment in all council buildings, landscapes and public facilities. The strategy suggests reducing the number of fountains in public and private spaces, using the latest technology for more efficient irrigation and the introduction of drought tolerant plants in the city’s parks and gardens.
Growing Green
The City of Melbourne has a 50 year plan to protect the city’s parks, gardens and recreation facilities. Called Growing Green, the plan will help Council improve biodiversity, energy and water efficiency in the city’s more than 500 hectares of parks, gardens, open spaces, and recreational facilities.
Sustainable Melbourne Fund
Council’s $5 million Sustainable Melbourne Fund is used to finance projects that improve environmental sustainability in the municipality and aim to provide environmental, financial and social benefits through new technology, energy efficiency, cleaner technology or education materials.
Green Power
The Community Power program is a not for profit renewable electricity buying group made up of the City of Melbourne, Darebin City Council, Port Phillip City Council, City of Yarra and the Moreland Energy Foundation. The program helps people find financially competitive green energy options for their homes and businesses.
The City of Melbourne already demonstrates considerable commitment to green energy, buying 30 per cent of the city’s street lighting and 20 per cent of the energy required for Council buildings from renewable energy sources. Community Power’s range of energy plans comprises various combinations of accredited Green Power and energy from renewable sources.
Business options include Business Green – 10 per cent accredited Green Power and 90 per cent renewable energy; and Business Economy – 50 per cent renewable energy and 50 per cent conventional electricity. Council is committed to green power to reduce energy consumption in our own buildings by 20 per cent by 2005 based on 1996 levels.
Vic market on solar power
One of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, the Queen Victoria Market, will soon be solar powered. With $750,000 in funding from the Australian Greenhouse Office, Council is installing 1,382 solar panels on the market roof in what is the largest photovoltaic installation in the Southern Hemisphere. The system will have the capacity to generate 252 megawatts each year for the market – enough electricity to power about 63 homes a year. Any excess electricity that is not used by the market will flow into the national electricity grid where it is purchased by Origin Energy and distributed to other customers. The project should save more than 369 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year.
Wise about waste
The City of Melbourne is the first Victorian Local Government to achieve Waste Wise accreditation for superior waste management performance. Council has produced a free Waste Wise Guide with tips for recycling and interesting facts such as nearly 65 per cent of residential rubbish could be composted or recycled.
Organic Recycling Program
Council has joined forces with BP to encourage city food businesses to have their food waste collected and composted. The program collects more than 16 tonnes of food waste per month from food outlets that have signed on to the initiative.
Green Map
The Melbourne Green Map is a unique guide for residents, visitors and business that helps them make greener choices about how they live, work, visit and travel in the City of Melbourne. It includes information on our flora, fauna and land and water sites, locations of businesses offering more environmentally sustainable goods, as well as places of interest around the city for those wanting to find green sites, services, facilities and resources.
Environmental Indicators
Interesting facts about Melbourne’s environmental performance are available in Council’s Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne bulletin. Council produces the bulletin in conjunction with the Australian Institute of Urban Studies.
Sustainable Business Directory
Council has produced a directory to help people locate Melbourne-based businesses that support sustainability. The directory promotes businesses with environmentally sensitive products and processes and/or those that provide environmental management services. It is available on line at www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/sustainablebusiness
