GS embarks on major expansion

Hi ,

When combined with our wintry weather, Lockdown #5 has left many of us feeling isolated or despondent. Despite the setbacks, I’m confident we’ll emerge more resilient than ever and ready for the next challenge.
For GS, 2021 has been extremely busy as our work continues to gain momentum. Here’s some of our recent milestones and good news.

  • We’ve appointed Trina Butko as the new Executive Officer for our social enterprise, GreenLight.
  • We successfully pitched a project in the Leaders for Geelong Community Projects Program: A Roadmap to Zero Carbon for Geelong.
  • We’ve completed our biggest-ever project ~ the Climate Safe Rooms, which retrofitted the homes of 15 vulnerable local residents to make them thermally comfortable.
  • We’ve completed a feasibility study for a community solar farm for Cleantech Geelong.
  • We’ve recently won several grants from Sustainability Victoria:
    • To establish the Barwon South West Community Power Hub
    • To set up a revolving community solar fund
    • To develop the Geelong Circular Living Challenge 

Needless to say, FY 2022 is going to be busy! Whoever said, 'the environment and employment don't go together' was incorrect.  Look out for our job adverts in coming weeks as we’ll be recruiting several project and engagement officers.

Regards
Vicki Perrett, President

Geelong Electric Vehicle Community Bulk Buy - closing soon!

A pop quiz question: How many EVs were registered in Geelong in 2020?
Answer: Just 29!! This fact reinforces why this community awareness raising project is so necessary.

  • Book a test drive - be quick 
  • Watch the recording or read the Q&A summary from our recent online Q&A seminar with the guys from the Good Car Co about transitioning to an EV
  • Note the bulk buy finishes on July 29 - more info
  • We're currently investigating car sharing platforms. Connect with us if you’re interested in sharing your EV.

Geelong+ Community Solar Program Update

  • We've reached our first milestone with over 600kW of solar and battery set to be installed soon. 
  • Are you thinking it’s time to go solar or to install a battery? Register your interest to speak to a solar expert and receive a tailored quote before the program ends on 31st August.
  • Solar Victoria battery rebates are holding steady at $4174 for now. However once exhausted the rebate will reduce to $3500 - so be quick!
  • Business breakfast seminar: Beyond Solar: The future of energy for business has been rescheduled for Tues 10 Aug at 7am at the RACV Torquay Resort and hosted by the Geelong Chamber of Commerce - more info
  • Through the program’s social dividend, several free solar systems will be installed on local community buildings. If you know a NFP community organisation that would benefit then nominate them here.

MP Engagement Group

Given what’s happening world-wide around climate issues, we encourage you to get involved. Take the first step by joining this friendly online session. You’ll quickly be writing impactful letters to politicians and the local press. More info
When: Wed 18 Aug, 3.00-4.30pm
Where: online in our Zoom room
RSVP: Email Karen kjlamb99@gmail.com for the Zoom link or more info. See advocacy resources at: Climate for Change.

National Science Week: Self-Watering Garden Box Workshop

A free hands-on workshop for people in the Northern suburbs who’d like to make a self-irrigating garden bed, ideal for herbs, greens or flowers. Materials supplied. More info on National Science Week.
When: Sat 21 Aug, 10am-noon
Where: Rosewall Community Centre, 36 Sharland Rd, Corio
More info: call 5275 7409 - Bookings essential via Eventbrite 

Geelong Small Business Festival: Solar and Battery Energy for Businesses

This free business webinar about Solar and Battery Energy solutions is part of the Geelong+ Community Solar Program.  This event is for businesses wanting a better understanding of the benefits, costs, and practicalities of purchasing solar and battery storage.
When: Thurs 26 Aug, 3:30-4:30pm
More info / Register

Geelong Small Business Festival: Small Business Energy Saver Program

Businesses of all sizes are invited to attend this FREE webinar to find out how they can utilise government incentives to upgrade to more energy-efficient equipment.
When: Tues 31 Aug, 2:00-3:00pm
More info / Register

Sustainable House Day - save the weekend - Sat 16 & Sun 17 October

We're hoping our wonderful knowledge sharing event can be a hybrid model in 2021 combining face-to-face and virtual modes. We’re planning the usual open house tours and a new peer-peer learning series focused on themes including:

  • Ecological sustainable design
  • Retrofitting for energy efficiency
  • Sustainable hacks for renters
  • Getting off gas
  • Productive gardens

Contact Vicki at shdgeelong@gmail.com if you’d like to be part of SHD2021!

Farmers for Climate Action Webinar

Andrew Ward and Rohan Clarke, founders of Regen Farmers Mutual will share their knowledge about holistic/regenerative agriculture, environmental & financial markets and cooperatives & mutuals.
When: Thurs 29 July, noon via Zoom
Topic: The Road to Net Zero: Understanding Environmental Markets
Register: to attend &/or receive recording here

G21 Stakeholder Forum - now virtual & free!

Hosted by former ABC broadcaster Jon Faine, the 2021 Forum speakers include journalist, George Megalogenis and urban researcher, Prof Billie Giles-Corti. Along with a panel discussion they’ll share their insights on how the G21 region can become Australia’s most liveable region.
When: Fri 6 Aug, 9am - noon
More info / Register via eventbrite.com.au

Real Deal Conversation Workshops

The Real Deal Coalition recognises that community power is built from the ground up! These workshops are supported locally by United Workers Union, Australian Conservation Foundation & We are Union.
When: Sat 7 and Sat 21 August, 9am - 2pm
Where: Geelong Trades Hall, 127 Myers St, Geelong
Cost: Free, lunch provided ~ More info / register

Geelong Small Business Festival #GSBF2021

Many people are exploring alternative business opportunities post-COVID. If you’re considering starting a new business or looking for advice on how to improve your existing business then this festival has over 40 events at no or low cost. 
When: Wed 18 Aug - Fri 3 Sep

Zero Emissions Ideas Fest

A new group, Zero Emissions Surf Coast is hosting this showcase and forum.  They’re calling upon residents to help create community action plans so Aireys Inlet and Anglesea can get to zero carbon emissions ASAP. 
When: Sun 22 Aug, 11am-3.30pm
Where: Anglesea Memorial Hall, 1b McMillan St  More info

Climate Action

CoGG Climate Change Response Plan - now out!

  • The Draft Climate Change Response Plan is being released for community feedback.
  • It's great that Council is now accepting its leadership role to support the community to tackle climate change. 
  • The Plan has heeded the scientific evidence and set a community target of net zero community emissions by 2035.
  • This bold target will signal to all stakeholders that Geelong wants to be at the forefront of the region’s transition to a clean energy circular economy.

Please have your say during the 30-day consultation period!

Let’s end the Climate Wars - Take action!

  • Independent MP Zali Steggall’s Climate Change Bills will establish a non-partisan way for climate change to be effectively addressed in Australia. They offer a sensible way for us to finally end the climate wars! 
  • Despite 6,500 submissions to a parliamentary inquiry that overwhelming supported the Bills ~ the committee (with a coalition majority) recommended against supporting them.  Really! The Bills will be reintroduced in August with a vote expected in October.
  • What happens next is critical! We desperately need Parliament to allow the Bills to be debated and for all MPs to be allowed a conscience vote

What can we do to help?

  • Add your name to over 96,000 people supporting the Bills
  • Write to your MP telling them to support the passage of the Bills
  • Join the Mass Mailout: Plea for Climate Action ~ GS blog post / More info

Geelong Renewables Not Gas Campaign Update

The Victorian Government is calling for submissions to the Gas Substitution Roadmap by July 30. Please help us tell the Government that the community wants renewables not gas for Geelong.  GS also thinks the Government should:

  • allow councils to ban gas connections in new and in-fill housing estates
  • mandate most new homes to be 100% electric
  • prioritise and promote the replacement of gas heaters with energy efficient heat pump units in existing homes, and 
  • invest and incentivise improvements of energy efficiency in housing and business as a priority.

A big thank you to everyone who generously donated to our end of financial year fundraising campaign. We’ll be prioritising resources especially signs plus building a new dedicated campaign website. Follow the campaign's Facebook page for latest news.

Renewable Energy

GS to lead Barwon South West Community Power Hub

  • The current Victorian government has been a strong supporter of community energy groups for many years. Now they’re funding the establishment of 7 Community Power Hubs across the state. The hubs will work closely with their communities to offer trusted advice on clean energy solutions and will support, develop and deliver locally owned, cost-effective renewable energy projects.
  • GS is proud to be leading the Barwon South West Community Power Hub (BSW-CPH) on behalf of the BRACE (Barwon Regional Alliance of Community Energy) groups. Over the coming year, GS will be collaborating with our many partners to plan and develop a wide range of renewable energy projects.
  • In the coming days, watch out for our adverts as we set about recruiting a Program Manager, Project Officers and Comms Coordinator.  More info

New GreenLight Executive Officer

GS is delighted to introduce Trina Butko who’s tasked with leading our social enterprise, GreenLight through its next development phase. She brings extensive business consulting and project management skills as well as community development expertise from within Australia and the UK. GS is very grateful to our inaugural EO, David Spear, who established GreenLight as the peak provider of business-to-business and business-to-government energy services in our region. Trina can be contacted at trina@greenlight.org.au.

GreenLight to assist local small businesses

GreenLight has been contracted by Sustainability Victoria to help small businesses to access the Victorian Government’s Small Business Energy Saver Program (SBESP).  

  • Over the next year, GreenLight will be connecting with hundreds of small businesses right across the Barwon South West region to help them reduce the cost of upgrading their equipment. 
  • We’re kicking off the program during the Geelong Small Business Festival.  Businesses in the Geelong region are encouraged to book in for the free webinar on Tues 31 Aug at 2:00pm - Register
  • We’re keen to connect with installers and tradies involved in the Victorian Energy Upgrade scheme, especially hot water, space heating/cooling and refrigeration upgrades. Email trina@greenlight.org.au 
  • Plus we’ll be recruiting project officers shortly so look out for our job adverts!

Circular Economy

Geelong Circular Living Challenge

  • GS in partnership with Circular Economy Victoria has received a grant through Sustainability Victoria’s Recycling Victoria Communities Fund. The Geelong Circular Living Challenge will be launched during Geelong UNESCO Design Week in March 2022.   
  • Household and workplace teams will undertake the 8 week challenge earning points for completing various activities. The game-based approach will ‘nudge’ people to try new experiences in a fun and engaging manner.
  • GS will be reaching out to local businesses with sustainable products or circular economy practices to be included in the Challenge. We want to help strengthen their business, grow sustainable jobs and enhance our region’s prosperity.  
  • GS will be recruiting a Project Coordinator for this innovative role soon.

Prospect Hill Waste to Energy - Campaign Update

A capacity group of 60 concerned residents filled the Lara Masonic Hall on 13 July for the community conference about the proposed Prospect Hill incinerator organised by the EPA. The community left with few satisfactory answers to their many questions. 

  • Where will the waste come from? All local councils have ambitious zero waste policies and plans to recover food, glass and other resources. 
  • Where is the business case that shows the project is feasible? The community doesn’t want the plant to become a massive stranded asset and permanent eyesore in their neighbourhood. 
  • How can this plant be a transitional waste solution when it will operate for more than 25 years? Incineration destroys the material forever, locking in an unsustainable linear approach and impeding innovative circular economy solutions. 
  • Where is the social licence for this project? Lara residents are still dealing with the aftermath of the last disastrous waste facility, which is costing taxpayers millions to clean up. 
  • Why is there no front-end sorting of waste? It’s unacceptable for council waste to be dumped directly into the hopper without pre-sorting to remove dangerous and toxic materials.  
  • Why is there no agreement with Powercor to off-take the energy? Despite years of planning, PHI has no agreement for if or how the produced energy will be fed into the grid.
  • The company has now submitted its planning application to DELWP.

As neither the community nor local councils want or need this facility, we think it would be very inappropriate for the state government to impose the facility on the community. More info: GS campaign - Engage Vic

Surf Coast Shire leading diversion from landfill

  • Surf Coast Shire Council and residents are leading the region on waste minimisation, reducing their volume to landfill by 39%. 
  • Since starting a food organics collection and fourth bin for glass in February, they’ve diverted 74% of waste and recyclables from landfill. Glass collected is being recycled into a sand replacement product. 
  • They’ve also released a clever app named SCRRApp (Surf Coast Rubbish and Recycling App), which allows residents to get bin night reminders, a collection calendar and even check what goes in each bin - it’s pretty neat! More info

Barwon Water good news

Barwon Water recently gave the GS Committee a briefing on current projects.

  • The Renewable Organics Network (RON) has lots of exciting potential. Check out their short video to see for yourself.
  • Their Regional RON project involving all 5 G21 councils plus Wyndham could be a massive game-changer. This processing facility would convert organic matter (food organics, garden organics and biosolids) into renewable energy, heat, biogas and soil enhancers. [It’s why CoGG can set a net zero waste to landfill target by 2030 and why we won’t need the Lara incinerator!]
  • How good is it to see the West Barwon Reservoir spilling for the first time in a decade?
  • Plus we think these water fountains, installed across Deakin campuses are fantastic.  They celebrate Wadawurrung culture, provide free drinking water and reduce plastic waste. How cool is that? They’d be great across the CBD too?

New environmental protection laws

From 1 July 2021, new environmental laws change how we protect the environment with a focus on preventing harm before it happens. The general environmental duty (GED) means all Victorians must take reasonable steps to minimise harm to human health and the environment from pollution and waste. More info

Sustainable Cities & Communities

What concerns young people about climate change?

GS is very grateful to passionate young environmentalist, Isobel Bobbera who spent her mid-year break volunteering with us. Given her interests in sustainable development and environmental stewardship, we challenged her to interview other young adults about their climate concerns. 
Do yourself a favour ~ make a cuppa and spend an enjoyable 20-mins watching this compelling and informative video to better understand their perspectives. The interviews will give you hope that our future is in bright and thoughtful hands.  Watch video

Here's a further reading list of some recent important reports and stories. There is so much news about climate-related challenges and solutions that this curating task is becoming significant!

International news

Fiona Harvey, The Guardian ~ IPCC steps up warning on climate tipping points in leaked draft report - link
A leaked draft of an upcoming IPCC report reveals an increasing concern that global heating will trigger tipping points in Earth’s natural systems. It suggests that unless action is taken urgently this will lead to widespread and possibly irrevocable disaster. 

Alice Bell ~ Sixty years of climate change warnings: the signs that were missed (and ignored) - link
In August 1974, the CIA produced a study on “climatological research as it pertains to intelligence problems”. The report suggested that even though climatologists had not officially recognised it, climate change had begun in 1960. This long read article chronicles the mis-steps and misinformation that have dogged the climate debate since then.

Haroon Siddique,  The Guardian ~ Legal experts worldwide draw up ‘historic’ definition of ecocide - link
This historic definition of ecocide is intended to prosecute offences against the environment. The draft law defines ecocide as “unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts”.

Marian Wilkinson, The Age ~ Crunch time looming for Morrison on climate as the world looks to Australia to act - link
Morrison has never accepted the urgency of the science on climate change, but he is increasingly becoming an outlier among world leaders. Between now and November, he has a decision to make: whether he will join those leaders who see the Glasgow summit as the world’s last best hope to get the clean energy transition on track – or side with those whose aim is to derail it.

Michael Mazengarb, Renew Economy ~ Australia ranked dead last in world for climate action in latest UN report - link
Australia has been ranked dead last for climate action in the latest Sustainable Development Report by the UN

The Fossil Fuel Non-proliferation Treaty - link
 A global initiative to phase out fossil fuels and support a just transition

Extreme weather

ABC News ~ Temperature records tumble again in US, Canada as heatwave enters uncharted territory - link
Temperatures in Canada and the north-west US are smashing records, with Lytton in British Columbia recording 49.6C on Tuesday 29 June – more than five degrees hotter than Canada's former highest temperature. The impacts on infrastructure are devastating - roads and freeways have buckled and cracked.

Climate disruption

Patrick Mazza, The Raven ~ Wavy jet stream - the picture of radical climate disruption -  link
Jet streams are a relatively narrow band of strong wind in the upper levels of the atmosphere, one of which is a major driver of weather in the northern hemisphere. This article suggests that scientists are ‘pretty darned close’ to establishing connections between the wavy nature of this weather pattern and climate change.

Damian Carrington, The Guardian ~ Amazon rainforest now emitting more CO2 than it absorbs - link
Once referred to as the ‘lungs of the earth’, the Amazon rainforest has now become an emitter of CO2. Deforestation by burning is producing more carbon dioxide than the remaining forest can absorb. This deforestation is also creating a range of feedback loops which affect not only carbon dioxide but temperatures and rainfall as well.

National news

Angela Macdonald-Smith, The Financial Review ~ AEMO’s new challenge: 100pc renewables by 2025 - link
The Australian Energy Market Operator is equipping itself to handle 100% renewable energy on the grid by 2025 and avoid having to shut off zero-cost wind and solar generation. Now that’s a great target! AEMO’s new CEO, Daniel Westerman, says Australia’s abundance of cheap, clean energy can underpin a new era of economic prosperity.

Angela Macdonald-Smith, The Financial Review ~ Huge green energy export hub proposed for WA - link
A $100 billion renewable fuels hub proposed for WA’s south-east producing green hydrogen and ammonia is the country’s biggest-yet green energy project targeting the energy-hungry Asian export market.

ABC News ~ Victoria's first large-scale solar farm now home for 300 sheep - link
Another great example of a win-win partnership between farmers and energy providers. 

Peter Hannam, Sydney Morning Herald ~ Southern Australian sharks and rays being ‘cornered’ by climate change - link
Warmer waters are pushing Southern Australia’s sharks and rays southwards and changing habitats, exacerbating threats to critically endangered species.

Gas exploration

Peter Owen, Greenpeace, Santos ceases gas exploration off SA coast -  link
Santos has announced that it’s pulling out of oil and gas exploration in the Great Australian Bight—it joined Equinor, BP, Chevron and Karoon Gas in abandoning its plans. Even the International Energy Agency agrees there is no more room for new oil and gas. It has clearly stated that oil and gas exploration needs to cease this year to secure a safe climate.

Matt Neal, ABC South West Vic ~ Possibility of gas exploration near Twelve Apostles angers locals - link
Locals are furious over a federal government decision to open an area within five kilometres of Victoria's Twelve Apostles for offshore gas and oil exploration.

Electric vehicles

David Leitch, Renew Economy ~ Pedal to the floor: Electric vehicles sales are taking off around the world - link
While electric vehicles sales are taking off around the world, Australia remains a back water although the NSW government is trying to gear itself up.

Carbon Brief ~  Factcheck: How electric vehicles help to tackle climate change - Link
In 2019 UK study found the lifetime emissions per kilometre of driving a Nissan Leaf EV were about three times lower than for the average conventional car, even before accounting for the falling carbon intensity of electricity generation during the car’s lifetime

Human rights

Human Rights Law Centre ~ Charities lodge urgent request for UN intervention to prevent attack on advocacy - link
Twelve Australian charities including First Nations, religious and human rights groups have written to the UN requesting urgent intervention to stop new rules being proposed by the Morrison Government. The proposed new regulations would hand the Charities Commissioner far-reaching powers to deregister charities for the most minor of offences – such as blocking a footpath at a vigil. Subscribe to their newsletter. This is a serious concern for any Australian charity doing advocacy work.

Geelong Sustainability

PO Box 258, Geelong, VIC 3220     Website

Geelong Sustainability acknowledges the Wadawurrung people, the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and live, and recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community.

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