City of Rockingham Minutes – SMRC RRRC WCF Odour Issue – 26 August 2008
PURPOSE OF REPORT
For Council to consider the proposal from the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council (SMRC) for their climate wise team to undertake a Regional project to manage National Greenhouse Energy and Emissions reporting for participating Council’s including the City of Rockingham.
STRATEGIC PLAN
Function Area 3.
Action Plan 8.3 Implement Community and corporate greenhouse gas reduction strategies in cooperation with the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council.
BACKGROUND
As a member of the SMRC the City of Rockingham is a participant in the Regional Community Greenhouse Gas Abatement Project. The SMRC have adopted a proposal to extend that project to incorporate the reporting requirements under the Commonwealth National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Act 2007.
The Commonwealth Government passed the National Greenhouse and Energy reporting (NGER) Act in September 2007. The purpose of this law is to ensure that there is a consistent approach to greenhouse gas emission reporting across Australia. The collection and reporting of information related to greenhouse gas emissions, greenhouse gas projects, energy production and energy consumption is a precursor to establishing the Australian Emissions Trading Scheme (AETS). Compliance obligations under the new law began in July 2008 with the first reporting period for the
2008/2009 financial year.
The legislative framework for NGERS is established by the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007. The Act makes it mandatory for Australian corporations to report annually on greenhouse gas emissions, energy production and energy consumption at certain threshold. The Act also enables corporations to voluntarily report projects to remove or reduce greenhouse gases.
Whilst the Federal Government is yet to the make final decision there is a strong possibility that Local Government will be required to report greenhouse gas and energy emissions under the Act.
DETAILS
The SMRC are proposing to establish a Regional Project to manage the participating member council’s reporting requirements under the Commonwealth NGER Act 2007.
The SMRC project will include the following activities:
- Establish an Online System for Comprehensive Activity Reporting (OSCAR) accounts for each member Council and set up the OSCAR format (with required reporting items e.g. ‘entity’, ‘fuel type’, ‘waste’, etc.) as required by the individual member Council’s operations and activities;
- In consultation with the member Council staff identify the sources of emission and develop a data collection framework;
- Collect the energy and waste data and input them in the OSCAR on monthly basis;
- On behalf of each member Council, prepare annual reports in the format advised by the Department of Climate Change;
- Develop a comprehensive ‘users manual’ to help the member Council staff collecting the data and recording in the system;
- Train member Council staff on OSCAR data management and address queries.
In addition, SMRC will also check the mandatory reporting requirement for each member Council and will help preparing all necessary paper works and application for registration in the NGERS.
COMMENT
It is highly likely the City of Rockingham will be required to report its greenhouse gas and energy emissions under the new Commonwealth NGER Act. Particularly as we own and manage the Millar Road Landfill.
The reporting requirements will require specialist knowledge and a good understanding of energy and waste and associated greenhouse gas emissions. The SMRC have extensive knowledge in this area therefore it is considered of significant benefits for the City of Rockingham to participate in this Regional Project.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Nil
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The SMRC have estimated that the cost to the City of Rockingham to participate in this project will be approximately $40,000 over the next four (4) years with the cost in 2008/09 being $15,000. Funds are available in account number 200898.1726 Emissions Control Act Implementation to cover this cost.
STATUTORY IMPLICATIONS
This project will satisfy Council’s likely reporting requirement under the Commonwealth NGER Act 2007.
VOTING REQUIREMENTS
Normal
OFFICER/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION/COUNCIL RESOLUTION
Moved Cr A Prince, seconded Cr J Stewart That Council endorse the proposal to allow the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council’s Climate Wise team to manage energy and emissions reporting requirements under the Commonwealth National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act.
Committee Voting – 4/0
Carried – 10/0
