Sustainability Advantage has recognised MidCoast Council for its environmental achievements with a bronze partner acknowledgement.
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A program of Industry and Environment Department, Sustainability Advantage supports organisations which commit to sustainable practices and achieve improved outcomes in sustainability across their business.
"Council's organisational vision and roadmap includes a transformational project to develop a sustainability action plan that embeds sustainability in everything we do", MidCoast Council natural systems manager, Gerard Tuckerman said.
"There are many actions we're undertaking across our operations to make sure we do that, and we know Mid Coast residents are extremely interested in what we're doing to commit to sustainability."
Council has adopted a climate change strategy which is a commitment to achieve 100 per cent renewable energy and net zero emissions by 2040.
The strategy also commits to a nett zero emissions from landfill by 2050.
In addition, council has a target to achieve a 75 per cent diversion rate of waste from landfill to recycling.
The progress towards these goals will be reported annually.
Council admits there is a long way to go after several factors impacted the 2019-20 results
Council's organisational vision and roadmap includes a transformational project to develop a sustainability action plan that embeds sustainability in everything we do.
- MidCoast Council natural systems manager, Gerard Tuckerman
The devastating bushfires across the Mid Coast during that season meant there was an increase in waste going to landfill.
That situation is likely to be repeated for 2020-21 following a massive clean-up associated with the March 2021 floods.
While council's electricity consumption has held steady, water usage across the region has reduced as a result of the drought and the excellent uptake of water restrictions by residents across the Mid Coast region.
Council's fuel consumption, particularly diesel, was reduced by 233 kilolitres compared to 2018-19.
"We're really looking forward to making some significant sustainability gains in the coming years, and the retrofitting of over 5000 streetlights to LEDs and the recent installation of a 160kW solar panel system at Yalawanyi Ganya, along with consolidating our office administration, should begin to make a real difference in our electricity consumption," Mr Tuckerman said.
"It's important to note that council's wastewater treatment and water supply facilities such as Bootawa Dam account for 65 per cent of council's total electricity consumption, and so council will be investing heavily in making these sites more energy efficient including the installation of five new solar panel systems this year."
Council's procurement and motor vehicle policies include criteria to ensure sustainability factors are considered in the purchase of new stock.
"Four hybrid passenger vehicles have been added to council's vehicle fleet and two electric vehicle charging stations have been installed in the car park of council's new administration centre at Yalawanyi Ganya."
Achieving waste reduction targets requires a whole-of-community approach, and so we're partnering with the community through the Re-Imagine Waste initiative, which provides information via social media platforms and council's website, and promotes various activities and events to help everyone in the Mid Coast recycle, reduce and reuse waste, Mr Tuckerman said.
You can find out more about Re-Imagine Waste on the MidCoast Council website HERE
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