Boroondara Council has new climate action plan; community urges proactive approach
Boroondara Council will have a focus on a new climate action plan in 2020. But a local group is urging the council to make the most of the community support on the issue.
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A greenie group is urging Boroondara Council to ride the wave of rising community support to take environmental action after announcing its climate action plan.
The council has pledged that its plan — which replaces its low carbon future strategy — will be driven by in-depth community consultation and sustainable programs.
Boroondara community group Lighter Footprints convener Carolyn Ingvarson said it was “absolutely terrific” to see the council acknowledging it at a local level.
Ms Ingvarson said climate issues had often been seen as a responsibility of federal and state governments, rather than local.
“I think it’s a shift in taking the responsibility and that’s absolutely wonderful,” she said.
But Ms Ingvarson believes the council, having made a start, needs to fully embrace the situation by consulting with the community before the plan is drafted.
She said that the council needed to recognise that the community was ready “to change its own way of living, its lifestyle, its travel”.
“You (council) have to be the leader in saying ‘this is how we can do that’,” she said.
“They do not need to push an unwilling community, they can assist a community that wants to change but doesn’t have the facilities to do it.”
Ms Ingvarson cited a need for more bike paths, charging points for electric cars and ways to encourage people to get on the train and put solar panels on their rooves.
“What we’re picking up is a general community movement — they’ve got to ride on it,” she said.
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Mayor Cynthia Watson said the council’s goal was to create a sustainable community.
“We need to listen to our community, accelerate meaningful action and implement strategies within our boundaries for a more sustainable Boroondara,” Cr Watson said.
“The … plan will help ensure there is a more sustainable environment for future generations.”