The City of Ballarat, Victoria, is aiming for a zero emissions target by 2025 after endorsing its Carbon Neutrality and 100 percent Renewables Action Plan in April.
The plan provides advice to Council on how to support its community with emissions reduction initiatives and capitalising on renewable energy opportunities.
The high priority items identified in the plan and which have a confirmed business case, are estimated to cost $5 million with an average return on investment of about four years and annual savings of more than $1 million each year afterward.
As of 2018, the City of Ballarat’s greenhouse emissions were 39,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Commitment to major initiatives will reduce this to about 23,400 by the end of 2025, with other initiatives to be explored to achieve
the zero target.
Initiatives include:
- procuring certified renewable energy once the current contract ends at the end of 2020
- migrating from mercury vapour street lighting to LED
- reducing Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre electricity and gas use, and
- developing the All Waste Interchange in Ballarat West to divert 85 percent of waste from landfill by 2028
Consultation on the plan occurred via an internal workshop and an external workshop with the Regional Sustainability Alliance Ballarat, a network of more than 20 organisations, not-for-profit and community groups that are sustainability leaders.
