Shellharbour City Council’s commitment to sustainability starts at the top with Mayor Chris Homer, an avid surfer who can now tuck his boards into a new electric Volvo XC40.
The Council recently added a pair of fully electronic vehicles to their fleet as they continue to drive towards an environmentally friendly future.
“When it comes to climate action it’s important that we lead the way and show our community that we are on this journey with them,” Mayor Homer said.
The Mayor’s new Volvo, along with a newly acquired Toyota BZ4X complement the Council’s growing fleet of sustainable vehicles.
Shellharbour City Council already boasts eight plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles and two hybrid trucks.
“The addition of electric vehicles to our fleet underscores our long-term commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and supporting the city’s environmental goals,” Mayor Homer said.
By investing in sustainable transport options, the Council is supporting local climate action whilst building a greener, more environmentally responsible community.
Over the coming months Shellharbour Council will be installing fifteen green powered electric vehicle chargers across their facilities, all made sustainably possible by the Council’s renewable power purchase agreements.
This is just one facet of the Council’s operational goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2035.
The City’s strides in sustainability extends to ten Council sites featuring solar power systems, totalling a renewable energy generation capacity of over 380kW.
Daily data updates of the solar production can be viewed in real-time on the Shellharbour Council webpage.
It’s no wonder Shellharbour Council had plenty to celebrate during the recent National Recycling Week, which was led by the City’s Library system hosting a series of workshops to promote waste reduction and community skill-building.
Initiatives to help residents repair and repurpose clothing in eco-friendly ways were featured, as well as special Makedo kits to encourage kids to create STEM-themed projects using repurposed cardboard.
One of the most innovative and forward-thinking programs on offer is their Seed Library, which helps people learn to grow their own plants and food by sharing seeds and gardening tips.
Library members can borrow seeds, grow them at home and return some seeds after harvesting to keep the cycle going.
Quite literarily, from the ground up, Shellharbour City Council is taking all the little steps towards an environmentally friendly future.
