Frankston City Council is celebrating ten years of action in tackling greenhouse gas emissions. Council was one of the first Local Governments in Australia to sign up to the International Cities for Climate Protection program and one of the first in Victoria to develop a Sustainable Public Lighting Action Plan (SPLAP).
The action plan aims to ensure the current social and economic needs for street lighting in the municipality without comprising the environment.
Frankston City Council is responsible for the costs of managing and maintaining around 10,300 street lights.
Most street lights in Frankston City used lamps requiring large amounts of electricity and contained low level toxic chemicals.
SPLAP aims to provide cost effective street lighting that provides sufficient light for safety and security, is well designed, energy efficient, reduces the use of toxins and is easy to maintain.
The plan is a response to a review, which revealed that 51 per cent of Council’s increase in greenhouse gas emissions between 1999 and 2001 was due to street lighting in newly developed areas.
Council has now set a target to reduce its emissions to 25 per cent below the 1995 level by the year 2010.
Council is also spending over $1 million each year to improve the efficiency of major Council buildings, computer equipment, fleet, offsetting emissions by purchasing GreenPower and providing recycling services to the community.
Councillor Alistair Wardle said spending this money is a wise investment for the future.
“It is very hard to argue that protecting our environment for the future should not be one of Council’s major priorities,” he said. “It is also imperative that Council shows leadership and sets an example that the entire community can follow.”
At its Council meeting in June, Council took the initial steps to becoming a carbon neutral City. A feasibility study on carbon neutral communities will be prepared, and a report will be brought before Council later in the year.
In the meantime, Council is aiming for a 20 per cent reduction in community emissions by 2010 through the provision of community education programs such as Climate Change Forums and GreenHomes.
Frankston City is also working with neighbouring Councils to reduce emissions as part of the Western Port Greenhouse Alliance and the Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere.
In addition, Council is working with businesses through the Local Industry Efficiency Program and Business Energy Efficiency Project, and with schools via the Waste Wise Schools, Planet Savers and Sustainable Schools programs.
For further information contact Frankston City Council’s Sustainable Resource Officer, Sian Jones, on 1300 322 322 or email sian.jones@frankston.vic.gov.au
