Bellingen Shire Council Climate Change Action Plan · The international standard ISO 14046 is used...

Bellingen Shire Council Climate Change Action PlanBellingen Shire Emission Reduction Program May 2012

Bellingen ShireCOUNCIL

Executive Summary

The vast majority of scientists practicing in climate science agree that the world’s climate is changing due to human activity. Climate change is a critical and urgent issue for our community and future.

Bellingen Shire Council demonstrated the strength of its leadership in the area of sustainability and climate change by adopting an emission reduction target of 40% on 1990 levels by 2020 in line with recommendations by the peak authority on climate change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

This report has been developed to identify and prioritise actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions toward meeting the adopted target as well as providing an update on the outcomes of Council’s most recent emissions audit.

Key current emissions data for Council includes the following:

Table 1: Emissions from Council sectors for 2010-2011 audit year and BERP target (emissions expressed as tCO2-e)

Financial Year Electricity (buildings and facilities)

Electricity (street lighting)

Fuel (fleet) Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions Target

2010-2011 1745 473 1041 3259 1229 by 2020

The report proposes a number of key strategies and actions to be implemented over the next ten years such as:

• Undertaking Energy Audits of Council’s 12 most energy intensive sites and implementing actions identified from the audits.

• Purchase of GreenPower.• Implementation of Regenesis offsetting project and retiring of associated carbon credits.• Consideration of a Climate Neutral New Facilities policy.

Contents

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Context 1

1.2 Background 1

1.3 Purpose 2

2.0 Council Emission Reduction Target 3

2.1 Backcasting Methodology 3

2.2 Emission Target 3

3.0 Council’s Emissions Profile 4

3.1 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards 4

3.2 Council Emissions Historical Profile 4

3.3 Council Emissions Profile 2010-2011 5

4.0 Policy Position and Context 6

4.1 Climate Change Policy 6

4.2 Local Government Act 6

4.3 Community Strategic Plan 2030 6

4.4 Sustainability Policy 6

4.5 BERP Phase 2 report 7

4.6 Synergistic Opportunities 7

5.0 Actions Strategy 8

5.1 Types of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Actions 8

6.0 Strategic and Governance Actions 9

7.0 Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency Actions 10

7.1 Potential Reductions 10

7.2 Buildings and Council Facilities 10

7.3 Fleet 12

7.4 Water 13

7.5 Wastewater 14

7.6 Streetlights and Public Lighting 14

8.0 Renewable Energy Actions 15

9.0 Offsetting Actions 16

10.0 Resourcing and Costs 17

10.1 Resourcing 17

10.2 Cost 17

10.3 Funding Sources 19

11.0 Discussion and Conclusion 20

1.0 Introduction

This report considers and recommends actions to reduce Council’s greenhouse gas emissions. A report that describes how Council can assist the community to achieve their targets will also be presented to Council at a later date.

1.1 Context

The vast majority of scientists practicing in climate science agree that the world’s climate is changing due to human activity. Climate change is a critical and urgent issue for our community and future. There is consensus that temperature rises of more than 2°C are likely to result in runaway or dangerous climate change. This is defined as the point where the Earth’s temperature increases under its own momentum and when it is no longer possible to halt climate change through human intervention.

Bellingen Shire Council is committed to providing the necessary leadership and direction to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to ensure that its contribution to climate change is minimised. This commitment is demonstrated through its previous involvement in the Cities for Climate Protection program, as well as the Climate Change Policy, the Bellingen Shire Emission Reduction Program (BERP) and the adoption of an emission reduction target of 40% on 1990 levels by 2020.

1.2 Background

1.2.1 The Cities for Climate Protection Program

Bellingen Shire Council completed Milestone 1 of the Cities for Climate Protection program in February 2008. This milestone was based on 2001 data and did not include Council’s vehicle emissions.

The CCP program ceased on 31 June 2009 due to a loss of Federal funding and BSC has continued to progress its action on climate change under the Bellingen Shire Emission Reduction Program (BERP).

1.2.2 Bellingen Shire Emission Reduction Program

The Bellingen Shire Emission Reduction Program (BERP) follows the same framework as the CCP program and is based on a five phase repeatable process. Once the five phases are completed in the first iteration, the process starts again from Phase 1. This iterative approach ensures that targets, reports and actions are still valid given the prevailing scientific and political environment.

A description of each phase of the BERP is shown below.

Phase 1: Revision of Emissions Audit Phase 1 is a revision of the emissions audit to assess Council’s 2008-2009 emissions.

Phase 2: Adopt an Emissions Reduction Target Phase 2 is the adoption or review of the emission reduction target, which is generally expressed as a percentage reduction on a base year by a target year. Council’s current target is to achieve a 40% reduction on 1990 greenhouse gas emissions levels by 2020.

Phase 3: Prepare a Climate Change Action Plan Phase 3 involves the preparation of a Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) outlining actions to be undertaken by Council to achieve the organisation’s emission reduction target. The CCAP aims to identify and prioritise areas that will yield the largest emission reductions per unit cost. The CCAP will be prepared for a 10-year lifespan with a planned review every two years.

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1Bellingen Shire Emission Reduction Program

Phase 4: Implement the Climate Change Action Plan Phase 4 is the implementation of the CCAP toward reaching the Phase 2 emission reduction targets.

Phase 5: Monitoring and Verification Phase 5 is to undertake another emissions audit and quantify the emission reductions made in order to compare them with the emission reduction target from Phase 2. At completion of Phase 5, the BERP process is repeated.

The phases of the BERP will not necessarily be undertaken in the order in which they appear, and it is likely that various parts of the phases will run concurrently.

1.3 Purpose

This report has been developed under Phase 3 of the BERP and is intended to identify and prioritise actions to reduce Council’s greenhouse gas emissions toward achieving the emission reduction target adopted by Council under Phase 2 of the BERP. The adopted target is a 40% reduction on 1990 level greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. At the time of adoption, it was also resolved that this report will be reviewed every two years.

This report also provides details on the results of Phase 1 – a greenhouse gas emission audit of Council’s operations from 2008-2009 financial year (in addition to all subsequent years). This data has been collected and processed by the external carbon accounting consultancy, Planet Footprint.


2.0 Council Emission Reduction TargetOn 16 December 2009, Council resolved to adopt a greenhouse gas emission reduction target for Council’s operations of a 40% reduction on 1990 levels by 2020. This target was adopted with consideration to the recommendations from the Fourth Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which was released in 2007. The IPCC recommended an emission reduction target of 25-40% reduction on 1990 levels by 2020 with the aim of stabilising atmospheric CO2-e concentration at 450ppm.

2.1 Backcasting Methodology

Council’s adopted target was based on 1990 emission levels, however, emission data for the year 1990 is unavailable. The only year for which Council has accurate emissions data is 2009.

A back casting calculation1 was performed using Australia’s average annual emission growth rate2 to arrive at an equivalent emission reduction target based on 2009 levels.3 Using this methodology, a 62% reduction on 2009 levels by 2020 is equivalent to a 40% reduction on 1990 levels by 2020. Consideration was also given to any significant emission reduction that may have been realised in Council’s operations prior to 2009. The only such reduction is in the consumption of electricity for provision of water.

Council’s emissions for 2009 were 3,223tCO2-e.

2.2 Emission Target

Based on the back casting methodology outlined above and Council’s emissions for 2009 of 3,223tCO2-e, the Bellingen Shire Council emission target for 2020 is 1229tCO2-e by 2020.

Figure 1 shows the estimated ‘business as usual4’ emissions as well as the emission reductions required to meet Council’s adopted emission reduction target. The indicative yearly target is indicated by the ‘Emission Target’ line.

Figure 1: Emission Reduction Target vs. ‘Business as Usual’ Emissions

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1 A weighted average annual emission growth rate for Bellingen was calculated based on the average annual emission growth rate for Australia in each relevant sector. This yielded an Average Annual Growth Rate for Bellingen of 2.3%. The electricity growth rate in the Council facilities and wastewater sector grew with an average annual emission growth rate of 2.5% between 2005-2008. Therefore, while Bellingen’s population growth rate is lower than Australia’s average, it appears that our rate of emission growth is similar (when emissions from the water sector are excluded since they reduced significantly over the study period). Accordingly, it seems reasonable to apply the Australian average annual weighted for Bellingen’s sectors to determine the emission growth rate to project or back cast Bellingen’s emissions.

2 Australia’s emission growth rate was taken from the Australian Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Department of Climate Change, May 2009.

3 The emission growth rate for Council’s electricity use in the wastewater and buildings sector was calculated using electricity account data and found to be 2.49% per annum from the 05/06 to the 08/09 financial years (water was excluded as it had significant reductions in its electricity use over this period). This compares reasonably to the Australian average emission growth in the electricity sector of 2.58% per annum. Therefore, it is considered reasonable to apply the Australian average emission growth rate to Council’s operations.

4 Business as usual emissions are estimated based on Average emission growth rates for Australia. Given the low population growth rate of Bellingen and the past emission profile for Council, it is possible that the Business As Usual emission growth rate for Council will be lower than that used. Future audits will allow more accurate quantification of Council’s emission growth rate.


3.0 Council’s Emissions profile

3.1 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards

The international standard ISO 14046 is used for quantifying greenhouse gas emissions. It divides emissions into three different types known as Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions.

Scope 1 Emissions Include any emissions that occur on-site or from company-owned assets. This includes the combustion of fuels, process emissions, and refrigerant leakage.

Scope 2 Emissions Include any emissions created directly on behalf of the company in the generation of electricity. Scope 2 emissions are also known as indirect emissions.

Scope 3 Emissions Include all remaining emissions, such as those emissions used by contractors in working for Council, employees commuting and any outsourced services. Scope 3 emissions are the most difficult to calculate and an organisation will ordinarily select specific Scope 3 emission generators to audit as opposed to trying to audit all Scope 3 emissions.

In complying with ISO 14046, auditing of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions is required while consideration of Scope 3 emissions is voluntary. Council’s emission reduction target incorporates Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Excluded from this audit are CO2-e emissions resulting from waste sent to landfill at Council’s Raleigh Waste Management and Recycling Centre and Council’s Dorrigo Waste Management and Recycling Centre. These emissions were not included in Council’s adopted BERP as data was unavailable at that time.

3.2 Council Emissions Historical Profile

The total emissions (split by sector) for Council for as far back as records were available are shown in Table 1 below. It is noted that the contribution to emissions from the North Beach Caravan Park and Hungry Head cabins was removed from the yearly totals since these facilities have been taken over by the Land and Property Management Authority.

Table 1: Emissions from Council sectors for all available audit years (emissions expressed as tCO2-e)

Financial Year Electricity (buildings and facilities)

Electricity (street lighting)

Fuel (fleet) Total

2005-2006 2054 469 617* 3140

2006-2007 1932 469 617* 3018

2007-2008 1914 470 617* 3001

2008-2009 1973 473 776 3223

2009-2010 1894 473 1200 3567

2010-2011 1745 473 1041 3259

*Actual data not available (backcasting was used to estimate emissions).


3.3 Council Emissions Profile 2010-2011

Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions were calculated for Council by the external auditing consultant, Planet Footprint. Emissions were calculated using data from Council records as well as electricity use data from providers. Figure 2 shows the proportional split of total emissions from each of the Council sectors for the 2010-2011 financial year.

Fuel

Electricity (wastewater)

Electricity (water)

General Electricity (buildings and facilities)

Electricity (streetlighting)

32%

14%20%

19%

15%

Figure 2: CO2-e emissions by sector for 2010-2011 financial year (Total emissions 3259 Tonnes)


4.0 Policy Position and contextCouncil has adopted a strong position on climate change and the organisation’s imperative for action is inferred from the Council Climate Change Policy and the sources are detailed below.

4.1 Climate Change Policy

The Climate Change Policy recognizes the role of Council in taking action on climate change and includes the specific commitment:

“that consideration of climate change and its potential impacts be incorporated into Council’s operations, whilst appropriate mitigation and adaptation actions must be integrated into all strategic and operational management activities”

4.2 Local Government Act

Under the Local Government Act 1993 Council is required:

“to properly manage, develop, protect, restore, enhance and conserve the environment of the area for which it is responsible, in a manner that is consistent with and promotes the principles of ecologically sustainable development”

and

“to have regard to the long term and cumulative effects of its decisions”.

The contribution of greenhouse gases toward climate change and its impacts on the environment has been demonstrated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in the Fourth Assessment Report.

This Climate Change Action Plan contributes to meeting Council obligations under the Local Government Act 1993 in the area of climate change.

4.3 Community Strategic Plan 2030

The Community Strategic Plan 2030 sets out Council’s overarching strategic direction as envisioned by community members and states goals such as T5G14

“Best practice, sustainability principles, accountability and good governance are incorporated in all we do”

and Theme 4:

“Our natural environment is healthy and clean, we work actively to protect and improve it for future generations”

4.4 Sustainability Policy

Bellingen Shire Council’s sustainability policy commits Council to:

“Set environmental objectives and targets that demonstrate environmental best practice and regularly review and report on our environmental performance”

and

“take action where performance does not meet our expectations”.

The BERP is the practical means under which Council will achieve its commitment under the Sustainability Policy in the area of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.


4.5 BERP Phase 2 report

The BERP Phase 2 report considered emission reduction targets and was adopted by Council at its Ordinary meeting on 16 December 2009. It provided recommendations on an emission reduction target as a precursor to this Phase 3 report.

4.6 Synergistic Opportunities

Actions to reduce emissions often have synergistic benefits. For example, improving energy efficiency reduces overall energy costs (as well as reducing the exposure to risk as a result of increasing energy costs); and promoting sustainable transport, such as walking and cycling, can improve health and morale of employees. These synergistic opportunities increase the argument for taking action on climate change.

In the 2010-2011 financial year, Bellingen Shire Council spent $388,000 on electricity and $494,000 on fuel. There are substantial monetary savings possible through improving energy efficiency and vehicle management. This is evident when considering the approval from the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) to increase electricity costs to the consumer by 20%-42% by 2013.


5.0 Actions Strategy

5.1 Types of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Actions

Actions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions may be one of two types:

Strategic and Governance Actions - such as adoption of policies, awareness raising and education programs. These actions do not necessarily act to immediately reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but are often a critical intermediate step toward achieving emission reductions. The outcomes arising from these actions can be vast and far reaching, however, are typically difficult to quantify.

Direct actions - such as energy efficiency improvements. These actions serve to immediately reduce greenhouse gases and are easier to quantify.

The following action hierarchy has been developed to prioritise types of direct actions to reach the emission reduction target. This hierarchy makes sense financially as well as environmentally. For example, saving 100 tonnes of GHG emissions through energy conservation or efficiency will create a financial saving on electricity not purchased but also on GreenPower expenditure. Off-setting will assist in meeting the target and Council is in the planning stage of Regenesis: a local reforestation project to sequester carbon and enable the trading of carbon offset certificates through carbon emissions trading schemes.

The different types of direct action are shown below in priority order:

1. Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency - use only what is needed, avoid wastage and use necessary energy as efficiently as possible.

2. Renewable Energy - purchase GreenPower (accredited renewable energy for electricity needs) or scope small-scale renewable installations such as photovoltaics.

3. Offsetting - invest in external programs that reduce emissions, such as carbon sequestration programs or the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).

The following chapters outline key actions required for Council to meet its greenhouse gas emission reduction target.


6.0 Strategic and Governance Actions

Strategic and Governance actions are critical to creating the framework and impetus for implementation of direct action. Actions already taken by Council to date in this area include:

• Adoption of a Sustainability Policy.

• Adoption of a Climate Change Policy.

• Adoption of an emission reduction target under Phase 2 of the BERP.

• Development of the Community Strategic Plan 2030

• Identification of actions to reduce the negative impacts of climate change as a key goal in Council’s General Management Plan.

• Support of various national events such as Ride2Work Day.

• Internal staff sustainability team (Bellingen Action Team for Sustainability) to assist in identifying projects.

Actions Proposed:

• Implementation of a Revolving Energy Fund

• Consideration of a Greenhouse Neutral New Facilities Policy.

• Provision of staff training and education relating to Climate Change.

• Implementation of the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework.

• Development of a sustainable procurement guideline and procedure.

• Energy audits and implementation of recommended actions.

• Communication of Council GHG emissions and progress toward target to staff and the Community, by staff sustainability team


7.0 Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency Actions

Actions were identified through:

• Review of an energy audit undertaken by Country Energy in 2005.

• Review of emission reduction actions undertaken by other councils.

• Consultation with Council staff from relevant sectors.

• Consultation with the community.

• Review of practices from government organisations such as the Office of Environment and Heritage.

7.1 Potential Reductions

All GHG figures are based on the 2008-2009 financial year. The potential savings in each of the areas as a result of the identified actions and the resulting contribution toward the 2020 reduction target (40% on 1990 levels or 62% on 2009 levels) are shown in Table 2.

Table 2: Potential emission savings through efficiency measures

Sector Emissions (tCO2-e) Potential emission savings through efficiency initiatives (tCO2-e)

General Electricity 712 142

Street Lighting 473 203

Water 696.8 139

Wastewater 565.29 28

Fleet 776 16

Total 3223 528

The remaining emission reductions required to meet the adopted target can be achieved through further investment in energy efficiency, increasing Council’s renewable energy generation, purchasing GreenPower, or offsetting.

7.2 Buildings and Council Facilities

Buildings were broken in to 3 categories based on their annual electricity consumption

Electricity use Categories Electricity Consumption

Small Facility 30,000 kWh/yr


7.2.1 Large Facilities

Council’s 12 largest facilities use a high proportion of the total energy used across all Council Facilities. The top three sites (Council Chambers, Bellingen Pool and Raleigh Works Depot) account for about 66% of the energy expenditure of the top 12 sites. Focusing on these large sites to achieve greenhouse emission reductions is a key priority.

Total GHG Emitted: 473.64 tCO2-e (15% of Council’s total emissions)

(Note: Responsibility for Hungry Head cabins and North Beach Caravan Park has recently been transferred to the Bellinger Heads Holiday Park Trust; therefore, the CO2-e contribution from these facilities has not been included in the above figure.)

Actions Already Taken:

• Installation of LCD monitors on the majority of computers within the Council Chambers.

• Sustainability measures included in the extension to Council’s Hyde Street Office such as use of energy efficient lighting, installation of ceiling fans and opening windows.

• Installation of 5kW solar array system on Bellingen Library; 10 kW system on the Neighbourhood Centre and 3kW solar system on the new Bellingen Youth Centre.

• Sustainability measures included in the upgrade of Raleigh Depot, including energy efficient lighting and motion sensor lighting.

Actions Proposed:

• Undertake an Energy Audit for all of Council’s Large Buildings and Large Facilities and implement a rolling program to undertake key recommendations arising from the audit(s).

• Virtualisation of IT servers based in Council administration building.

Estimated Reduction: Approximately 119tCO2-e

7.2.2 Small and Medium Facilities

Council owns and maintains many small facilities, such as community halls, sports buildings and amenities blocks. Some of these facilities have sustainability measures implemented, however no systematic methodology has been applied across Council buildings as a whole.

Total GHG Emitted: 237 tCO2-e (7% of Council’s total emissions)


• Installation of energy efficient light globes.

• Installation of solar hot water system at North Beach Surf Life Saving Club.

Actions Proposed:

• Develop a list of key actions that can be undertaken within facility budgets by maintenance electricians toward improving energy efficiency (such as installing energy efficient globes, light sensors and reducing the temperature of hot water heaters).

• Develop a costing and program for implementation of energy efficiency measures as part of the general maintenance regime.


• Identify and prioritise larger actions (such as installation of solar hot water heaters) and aim to source grant funding to complete these actions.

• Purchase of GreenPower for high profile sites.

Potential Reduction: Approximately 203tCO2-e

7.2.3 Future Council Facilities

New Council facilities, or renovations and replacements have often included energy efficiency and sustainable design features; however, these features have not been systematic in the context of Council’s adopted targets.

Renovation and replacement of Council facilities represents a key opportunity for improving the sustainability of Council’s assets. Conversely, construction of new facilities could substantially increase Council’s overall emissions unless the design, construction and maintenance process is closely managed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For example, energy efficiency improvements have been built into the design of the Raleigh Depot upgrade based on a consultant’s comprehensive report investigating a range of options. The new community youth centre has also incorporated a range of sustainability design features, such as solar hot water, insulation of internal and external walls and louvers to moderate solar exposure.

Actions Proposed:

• Investigation of policy position that all new facilities (including extensions) be constructed and managed to be greenhouse neutral in their construction and operation. Greenhouse neutral means there would be no net greenhouse gases produced as a result of the construction, operation and maintenance of the building.

Potential Reduction:

• This action may result in a reduction in greenhouse gases where old facilities are replaced, but equally importantly will serve to ensure that as Council expands, it does not take on further emissions liability. The emissions savings will depend on what facilities are replaced in the future.

7.3 Fleet

Bellingen Shire Council owns and runs vehicles which are used in undertaking Council’s day to day activities. Most of the vehicles run on unleaded petrol or diesel fuel. Vehicles can be split in to the categories of light vehicle fleet (those primarily used as passenger vehicles, including utes) and heavy vehicle fleet (those primarily used for maintenance and construction activities such as graders and tractors).

Total GHG emitted: 776tCO2-e (24% of Council’s total emissions)

Consists of (641 tCO2-e from Diesel and 132tCO2-e from other fuel sources)


• Review of vehicles made available to staff on the basis of efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions.

• Purchase of fuel efficient vehicles.

• Amendment to pricing and selection regime on leaseback vehicles.

• Development and implementation of a vehicle management system to ensure the vehicles get


regular servicing and so run more efficiently.

• Participation in the development of the Carpool Mid North Coast website project through the Our Living Coast alliance.

Note: Although not fleet-related, the Our Living Coast ‘Council Action Learning’ Project has resulted in outdoor staff initiatives such as revegetation activities that have led to fuel savings due to reduced maintenance ie mowing.

Actions Proposed:

• Continue to promote use of fuel efficient vehicles by staff.

• Promote low emission forms of transport to staff such as walking, cycling and car pooling from home to work, particularly through new Carpool Mid North Coast project.

• Consideration of E commuting – staff working from locations closer to their homes.

• Consideration of fuel efficient driver training for plant operators.

• Investigate the feasibility of the use of biofuels (specifically oils from waste streams such as old cooking oils) to replace diesel fuels.

• Consider use of low-rolling resistance tyres (fuel efficient tyres).

Potential reduction: Approximately 16tCO2-e

7.4 Water

Council operates two separate water supply systems; one extracts water from the Bielsdown River to service the Dorrigo area while the second system extracts water from the Bellinger River to service the Bellingen and Seaboard area including Urunga, Raleigh, Mylestom and Repton. Emissions generated through the provision of water result mainly from electricity used for pumping water to and from the treatment works and to the supply reservoirs.



• Installation of pressure reducing valves to reduce water consumption.

• Implementation of a pump maintenance program to keep pumps running efficiently.

• Installation of pressure loggers to allow early detection of water leaks.

Actions Proposed:

• Undertake an Energy Audit for one water treatment plant and implement a rolling program to undertake key recommendations arising from the audit.

• Lead by example by undertaking actions to reduce water use within Council facilities.

• Continued installation of energy efficient pumps.

Estimated reduction: Approximately 139tCO2-e


7.5 Wastewater

Council operates three reticulated sewerage networks, one in each of the townships of Dorrigo, Bellingen and Urunga. Emissions generated through the provision of a reticulated wastewater network result mainly from the electricity used in the operation of the wastewater treatment works as well as pump stations.



• Progressive rollout of Variable Speed Drive (VSD) units for wastewater pump stations.

• Upgrade of 14 pumps to more energy efficient models, in the past 3 years.

• Smoke testing of sewers to identify stormwater infiltration and allow remedial action (to reduce the amount of wastewater that needs to be pumped and treated).

• Installation of VSD coupled with oxygen monitoring for oxygenation cycle in Urunga wastewater treatment works.

• Inclusion of energy efficiency as a key design criteria for the upcoming Dorrigo Sewage Treatment Works Upgrade.

Actions Proposed:

• Continue installation of VSD units for wastewater pump stations.

• Installation of VSD coupled with oxygen monitoring for oxygenation cycle in Bellingen wastewater treatment works.

Potential reduction: 28tCO2-e

7.6 Streetlights and Public Lighting



• Installation of energy saving globes in some public lighting such as in Maam Gaduying Park.

• Lighting upgrades to Council’s streetlight network to replace older inefficient technologies with more efficient lighting technologies.

Actions Proposed:

• Investigate the opportunity to undertake lighting trials with high efficiency technologies such as LED lighting.

• Continue to replace existing globes with high efficiency globes in public places.

Potential reduction: Approximately 23tCO2-e


8.0 Renewable Energy Actions

Use of electricity accounts for 68% of Council’s overall emissions. Therefore, renewable energy generation through installation of small scale renewable energy projects or purchase of green power will be critical to meeting Council’s emission reduction target.

Renewable energy generation is energy generated from sources such as photo voltaic cells, hydro electricity plants, wind power and burning of biomass.

GreenPower is accredited renewable energy from sources such as solar, wind power and small scale hydro and is effectively greenhouse neutral electricity. Purchasing GreenPower is a very effective way to make significant greenhouse reductions. Purchasing GreenPower also demonstrates leadership to the community and supports investment in Australia’s renewable energy industry. Facilities with a high public profile should take priority in having their power needs met by GreenPower. On site advertising can also be used to promote GreenPower to the public.


• Installation of 5kW photo voltaic system on the Council library; 10kW system on the Neighbourhood Centre; 3kW solar system installed on the Youth Centre.

Actions Proposed:

• Undertake a progressive increase in GreenPower purchase to offset emissions.

• Investigate and apply for grants toward small scale renewable energy generation projects such as photo voltaic cells.


Dependent on the scale of adoption. It is estimated that by 2020 a large amount of GreenPower will need to be purchased to mitigate those emissions that cannot be reduced through efficiency measures. Based on current Greenpower pricings by Energy Action in 2012 (5.4c/kWh) this would cost Council around an additional $117,200/yr. This assumes that those energy efficiency measures outlined in Section 7 are enacted.


9.0 Offsetting Actions

Offsetting emissions involves investing in emission reductions realised through actions taken external to Council’s operations, to contribute to Council’s greenhouse reduction target.

Examples of offsetting include investing in tree planting (bio-sequestration) or energy efficiency programs. Local offsetting schemes are currently being investigated by community groups in the Bellingen Shire. These schemes may include actions such as installing solar hotwater systems at the hospital or planting trees to sequester carbon.


• Council’s Regenesis offset project is based on a model for planning and planting locally native reforestation projects that create additional revenue for landholders to establish and maintain native vegetation.


At the time of writing this report, planting sites are being investigated and the projected emissions reduction associated with the project is unknown. For this project to contribute to the emission reduction goal of Council, the expectation is that associated carbon credits will be claimed and retired.


10.0 Resourcing and Costs

10.1 Resourcing

Council currently employs a Sustainability Officer whose role is to administer the Bellingen Shire Emission Reduction Program (BERP) and the Climate Change Local Adaptation Pathway Plan. This does not extend to implementing all sustainability or emission reduction actions across Council and it must be acknowledged that just as for Occupational Health and Safety, sustainability is the responsibility of everyone. Accordingly the practical role of the Sustainability Officer is to develop systems and frameworks to allow adoption of sustainability and emission reduction measures as well as to provide advice across Council on various sustainability issues.

Bellingen Shire Council is currently involved in the Our Living Coast program which is a joint program between Bellingen Shire Council, Coffs Harbour City Council and Nambucca Shire Council aimed at improving the sustainability of the region. This program, which is scheduled to finish in 2012, also contributes resources to Council’s sustainability activities, particularly with regard to programs and workshops to assist the community with their sustainability.

10.2 Cost

The scale of the emission reduction target adopted by Council will require significant resourcing. To date, there has been limited funding provided to energy efficiency actions with the majority of funding provided coming from grants.

For the remaining part of the 2011/12 financial year and the 2012/2013 financial year, Council will receive the following funds from approved external sources to start implementing the Climate Change Action Plan:

1. Environmental Trust (Our Living Coast Alliance) Regenesis Carbon Offsetting Project $40, 000

2. NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (Waste and Sustainability Improvement Payment Program) $20, 000

Sub-total: $60, 000

Additional funds will be available from Council budgets to start implementing the Climate Change Action Plan:

1. Revolving Energy Fund $50, 354

2. Environmental Levy (Sustainability Projects) $38, 000

Sub-total: $88, 354

Total: $148, 354


Council’s focus is to implement the Climate Change Action Plan in the 2012/2013 financial year with the funding amounts outlined above.

Council’s initial preliminary cost estimates for the required funding from the 2013/2014 financial year to achieve the emission reduction target are included in Table 3 and Table 4 below.

However, a progress report will then be put together to update Council on progress made against the emission reduction target in 12 months. This will include a more detailed cost projection required to invest in energy efficiency and conservation measures to achieve the emission reduction target.

Table 3: Council’s initial preliminary cost estimate to meet emission reduction target for 2013-2014

2013 2014

Installation of Energy Efficient Street lights* - -

Allocation for energy efficiency measures $50,000 $50,000

Purchase of GreenPower (in addition to ordinary power cost)#

$51,200 $63,200

Total $101,200 $113,200

* Streetlight capital cost funded as a loan and paid back over 6 years. # GreenPower purchase costs are based on 5.4c/kWh in addition to the normal power cost. Rate sourced from Energy Action May 2012

Table 4: Council’s initial preliminary cost estimate to meet the emission reduction target for 2015-2020

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Installation of Energy Efficient Street lights

- - - - - -

Revolving Energy Fund - - - - - -

Allocation for energy efficiency measures

$50,000 $50,000 $50,000

Purchase of GreenPower (in addition to ordinary power cost)

$75,500 $87,000 $97,200 $106,100 $112,000 $117,200

Total $125,500 $137,000 $147,200 $106,100 $112,000 $117,200

Council’s adopted emission reduction target commits to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1229 tCO2-e by 2020. No interim targets have been adopted however it is recommended that Council attempts to meet the trendline included in Figure 1 from Section 2.


10.3 Funding Sources

Other than allocating funds from Council’s General Revenue, a number of funding sources may be available to undertake the actions outlined in this plan. These include:

• The Waste and Sustainability Improvement Payment (WaSIP) provided to Council on a yearly basis by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW).

• NSW Environmental Trust (Our Living Coast Alliance).

• Funding available through government sponsored bodies such as the Carbon Trust for collaboration on projects.

• Various State and Federal government grants such as through the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program (RLCIP) and the Clean Energy Futures Fund.

• Various State and Federal government incentives such as Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) multipliers.

• Council funds raised through the environmental levy.

• Council’s Revolving Energy Fund.


11.0 Discussion and Conclusion

Bellingen Shire Council has shown leadership in adopting an emission reduction target that is supported by the scientific consensus on climate change. The path toward meeting the emission reduction target will not be simple however the benefits to the community and the planet far outweigh the costs of reducing our emissions.

This plan outlines key actions that will be taken toward achieving Council’s greenhouse gas emission reduction target with consideration to those areas that will yield greater emission reductions per unit cost.

This plan represents the beginning of what will be a continuously evolving journey toward meeting the adopted target and yielding all the benefits that come with that. Momentum of the sustainability movement is such that it is impossible to expect to produce a plan that will remain current for 10 years. New technologies, changes in the political environment, community expectation and monetary incentives mean that changes in the priority of actions is virtually certain over the next 10 years. For this reason, it is intended that this plan be revised at least every 2 years to consolidate what’s been achieved and reassess the path for the future.

Council’s endorsement of this plan demonstrates its intent to take strong action to reduce its contribution to climate change and reflects the strong support of the Bellingen Shire Community.


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Bellingen ShireCOUNCIL

Bellingen Shire Council Climate Change Action Plan · The international standard ISO 14046 is used...

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Transcript of Bellingen Shire Council Climate Change Action Plan · The international standard ISO 14046 is used...