Leichhardt Council taking it beyond carbon neutrality
Leichhardt Council has drafted an action plan for tackling climate change focused on reducing emissions in Council facilities.
The draft plan reinforces Leichardt Council’s commitment to renewable energy after it became the second council in NSW to achieve carbon neutrality late last year, after the City of Sydney.
Mayor Darcy Byrne said the plan provides further steps improving on Leichhardt’s already green facilities.
“The goal was to become the second council in NSW to be carbon neutral and we’ve achieved that; what’s important now is to build on that,” he said.
The plan outlines initiatives to set up Council facilities with energy efficient and renewable energy sources. A large number of solar panels will be installed across Council facilities, including at Leichhardt Town Hall and Balmain Library.
A cogeneration plant is being constructed at Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre – Council’s largest consumer of electricity.
A cogeneration plant uses waste heat to generate electricity. The plan proposes retrofitting existing energy sources in facilities to be environmentally friendly.
“Under the Greens’ leadership, Leichhardt has become only the second council in NSW to be carbon neutral,” said Greens Councillor and chair of the Environment Committee, Daniel Kogoy.
“We have increased solar PV installations eight-fold, rolled out Sydney’s first active LED lighting project at Johnstons Creek, established the annual Footprints Ecofestival, and are taking the lead on a seven-council and community-owned inner Sydney renewable energy masterplan. The masterplan will map Leichhardt Council’s progression to 100 per cent renewable energy.”
Greens Councillor Rochelle Porteous is a member of the Climate Change Taskforce (CCT) established in 2008 and remains actively involved in Council’s plan for climate change.
“[We’ve] been working hard; first to accurately calculate Council’s carbon emissions and then to develop and implement a comprehensive action plan,” she said.
The CCT was established and steps in the action plan were formulated with a Greens majority in Council. Major Darcy Byrne from the Labor Party took over from Rochelle Porteous last September.
“In the last term all political parties worked together to achieve greater protection of our natural and built environment … I would hope that the new Council will take the same approach,” Ms Porteous said.
Mr Byrne said: “I’m certainly committed to maintaining carbon neutrality. It’s been an unanimous position of Council across all political parties to take serious action to address carbon emissions.”
The draft plan is on public exhibition for feedback until March 1.
By Fintan McDonnell
