Town of East Fremantle Minutes – SMRC RRRC WCF Odour Issue – 6 July 2010
144. HEALTH & GENERAL PURPOSE ITEMS
144.1 Progress Report on Climatewise – SMRC response to climate change
By Shelley Cocks Principal Environmental Health Officer on 30 June 2010
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to advise Council on the current and proposed activities to be undertaken by the Climatewise Committee this financial year, following events which have adversely impacted on the work of the Climatewise Committee.
BACKGROUND
Climatewise is an award winning programme that has over 9 years of experience of working in partnership with the Cities of Cockburn, Fremantle and Rockingham and the Towns of East Fremantle and Kwinana. (The City of Melville has always declined to join the program, citing the in-house role of its own officers.) The climatewise team at the SMRC comprises of a group of professionals trained in renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste reduction and behaviour change methodology.
DISCUSSION
Federal and State grant funding has been reduced over the last twelve months for projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the City of Canning has now left the SMRC and is therefore not contributing to Climatewise. Climatewise is currently looking to source alternative funding to continue their work and is seeking sponsorship from appropriate companies.
Climatewise is anticipating working with a larger resident base, as the populations of Cockburn, Kwinana and Rockingham increase. They are intending to deliver communication campaigns, education and awareness raising activities. It also intends to support the development of Living Smart programmes instead of delivering the programs, which is costly and time consuming.
Proposed activities for 2010-11 include:
- Re-write and rebrand Climatewise website
- Audit, re-write and re-brand waste and recycling and Climatewise information and fact sheets and how-to guides,
- All Councils link to Climatewise websites
- Local case studies published on websites and in community newspapers.
- Regional initiatives to encourage environmental action on waste and climate change.
- New models of Living Smart to be developed for new audiences
- Deliver a range of education outreach events including education activities at the RRRC, training of local volunteers on waste and recycling messages, training of volunteers to disseminate environmental and waste and recycling messages at community events.
RECOMMENDATION
That the report be noted and the proposed actions outlined in the report and related attachments be endorsed.
The Principal Environmental Health Officer provided further information on this matter and answered questions raised by elected members.
The Works Supervisor left the meeting at 7.45pm.
Cr Olson – Cr Martin
That the report be noted and the proposed actions outlined in the report and related attachments be endorsed.
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144.5 Carbon Credits
Elected members noted information previously circulated by the CEO regarding this matter.
The Principal Environmental Health Officer outlined the SMRC’s carbon credits system.
Cr Wilson – Cr Nardi
That the information be received.
The Principal Environmental Health Officer left the meeting at 8.35pm.
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146. REPORTS OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
146.5 SMRC Update
The CEO drew elected members’ attention to the SMRC Update he had circulated with this agenda.
The CEO answered queries in relation to matters contained in the report, particularly in regard to matters relating to the withdrawal from the SMRC by the City of Canning, which occurred on 1 July 2010.
Cr Olson – Cr Nardi
That the SMRC Update and report from the CEO be received.
