1. INTRODUCTION Council has a firm commitment to greenhouse action and reduction within its own operations. This commitment is reflected in the objectives and actions of the Hume City Plan 2030, the Hume Council Plan 2009-2013, Pathways to Sustainability: An Environmental Framework and the previous Greenhouse Action Plan (2009 – 2011). This four year Greenhouse Action Plan (2013 – 2016) has been developed to update and detail the objectives, actions and resource requirements to support this commitment, under the following key themes: Public lighting Buildings Waste Transportation Data Management The goals as relevant for each key theme describe the role and ability of Council to: Demonstrate greenhouse leadership by minimising greenhouse gas emissions in Council’s own operations. Influence and advocate for wider change within Council’s networks, including other local government areas, electricity distributors, community members and non-government organisations. There are several Council Strategies, Action Plans and programs that support greenhouse action both internally and externally: Council document / program Aim and Target Audience Live Green Strategy and Action Plan (2011-13) Engages and educates the Hume community on environmental sustainability. Live Green Work Green program (launched in 2010) Engages and educates Hume staff on environmental sustainability. Business Efficiency Network Engages Hume businesses with energy efficiency and environmental practices. Waste Management Strategy (2012-2016) Reduce waste sent to landfill and implement best practice waste management. The audience includes the Hume community. Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (available in late 2013) Will outline Council’s approach to managing its climate change risks. Green Travel Plan (available in 2013) Will contain initiatives to encourage staff to choose sustainable transport for commuting and business travel. Hume Integrated Land use and Transport Strategy (HILATS) (2011-2020) Integrates land-use and transport planning within Hume, and works to reduce reliance on the private car for residents. Procurement Policy (2011) Outlines the procurement principles for Council purchasing, including environmental sustainability considerations.
(outcome). Annual electricity cost savings for Council (outcome). Improved levels of lighting at Hume sports grounds (outcome). Ensure review and update of Council’s Public Lighting Policy/ies incorporate energy efficient lighting outcomes. N/A Lead: Subdivisions Support: Sustainable Environment, Capital Works, Parks and Open Spaces Medium 2014 Goal: To Influence and Advocate for Wider Change Objective 3: Support and learn from other local government areas to improve street lighting energy efficiency Action / Activity Budget Responsibility Level of Priority and Action Completed Outputs and Outcomes Share Hume’s own key learnings and learn from others through continuing Council’s active participation in the Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (NAGA). ~$20,000/annum for NAGA Membership (Recurrent in GAP operational budget) Lead: Sustainable Environment Support (external): Other Councils, NAGA Medium Ongoing Informal conversations and formal presentations at NAGA / MAV meetings (output). Conference presentations (output). Potential cost savings through shared resources (outcome). Improved capacity within Hume and other local Councils to pursue energy efficient street lighting (outcome). Share Hume’s own key learnings and learn from others through collaboration with other Councils and continuing Council’s participation in bodies including Municipal Association of Victoria N/A Lead: Sustainable Environment Support (external): Other Councils, MAV Medium Ongoing
ceiling insulation, pool pump upgrades and pool blanket installations at Council leisure centres, sports stadiums and a community centre. from existing GAP capital works budget). Communications Improved energy efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions at Council’s existing facilities (outcome). Reduced electricity and gas costs for Council at existing facilities (outcome). Appropriate comfort levels in summer and winter for staff and community users of Council facilities (outcome). Retrofit solar hot water systems at the Broadmeadows and Sunbury Leisure Centres. $91,323 ($73,059 funded under the Australian Government’s Local Government Energy Efficiency Program, and remainder to be sourced from existing GAP capital works budget). Lead: Sustainable Environment Support: Leisure and Youth Services, Services, Marketing and Communications High 2014 Prioritise and implement high energy saving retrofit opportunities at Council’s large and small facilities as identified in recent audits. ~$200,000-$400,000 annually (Existing GAP capital works budget). Lead: Sustainable Environment Support: Leisure and Youth Services, Services, Learning Community, Family and Children’s Services Medium Ongoing Integrate energy and water considerations into Council’s five-yearly Building Service Audit (due 2016). $20,000 (Indicative) (Additional GAP operational budget – applicable to 2015/16 financial year) Lead: Services Support: Sustainable Environment Medium 2016+ Objective 4: Investigate Council’s further renewable electricity generation opportunities Action / Activity Budget Responsibility Level of Priority and Action Completed Outputs and Outcomes
Participate in NAGA’s Solar Scale Up initiative, which aims to catalyse a significant increase in the number of Council and residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems across the NAGA region. To be determined. Lead: Sustainable Environment Support (internal): City Communities, Services, Marketing and Communications Support (external): AGL, Jemena, solar PV installers, NAGA Medium 2015 Participate in NAGA’s Solar Scale Up initiative (output). Recommendations identified for energy generation opportunities at appropriate Council facilities (output). Renewable energy generation business case/s prepared for suitable community facilities (output). Investigate the development of suitable programs to support an increase in the amount of solar PV systems installed by Hume’s residents (output). Installation of solar PV systems at suitable Council facilities considered by Council (outcome). Increased Council understanding of costs and benefits of renewable energy electricity generation for Hume (outcome). Keep a watching brief on the development (technological, financial) of various renewable energy micro generation opportunities, particularly solar PV and wind. Complete investigation and prepare business cases for appropriate Council facilities if appropriate. N/A Lead: Sustainable Environment Support (internal): City Communities, Services, Marketing and Communications Support (external): AGL, Jemena, solar PV installers, NAGA Medium Ongoing
Action / Activity Budget Responsibility Level of Priority and Action Completed Outputs and Outcomes Present a Feasibility Study to Council to consider the costs and benefits of an organic waste bin for Hume households. N/A (Program cost to be determined post-Feasibility Study). Leads: Infrastructure Planning, Services High 2014 Feasibility Study on the costs and benefits of an organic waste bin considered by Council (output). Worm farm and composting bins for residents program continued (output). Increased levels of (landfill) waste diversion rates (outcome). Decreased carbon pricing liability for Council at the Sunbury landfill (outcome). Beneficial utilisation of Council’s waste resources (outcome). Greenhouse gas emission reductions at Sunbury landfill (outcome). Demonstrate leadership in greenhouse gas reduction (outcome). Improved community awareness of the link between waste and greenhouse gas emissions (outcome). Continue to run the worm farm and composting bins for Hume residents program (provided for 500-1,000 residents/annum) to encourage diversion of organic materials from landfill. $30,000/annum (Existing Waste and Litter Education operational budget). Lead: Services Support: Marketing and Communications High Ongoing 5. TRANSPORTATION Key Performance Indicator (KPI) and Target:
KPI 5: Minimise the greenhouse gas emissions of Council’s fleet. Target: 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from Council’s light fleet fuel consumption (2011-12 baseline). Goal: To Demonstrate Greenhouse Leadership Objective 1: Reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of Council’s fleet Action / Activity Budget Responsibility Level of Priority and Action Completed Outputs and Outcomes Continue to monitor new low greenhouse emission (i.e. no more than 175g CO2-e /km passenger vehicles and no more than 185g CO2-e /km operational vehicles) light fleet vehicle options, and update the Fleet Policy if required. N/A Lead: Fleet Support: Sustainable Environment Medium Ongoing Fleet Policy updated as required (output). Fuel efficient fleet vehicles purchased (output). ‘Fleet Respect’ program completed (output). Biodiesel blend (B20) used (output). Council fuel expenses reduced (outcome). Council’s greenhouse gas emissions from fleet vehicles reduced (outcome). Continue to select and purchase fuel efficient fleet passenger and operational vehicles, where operational requirements allow. Incorporated into the recurrent Capital Works budget. Lead: Fleet Support: Sustainable Environment Medium Ongoing Run ‘Fleet Respect’ – a program which will support fuel efficient driving practices and safety outcomes. $50,000 (Indicative) (Additional budget – applicable to 2014/15 and 2015/16 financial years). Lead: Fleet Support: Sustainable Environment, Human Resources Medium 2016 Continue to purchase and use a biodiesel blend (B20) for Council’s heavy fleet. Incorporated into the recurrent Fleet operational budget. Lead: Fleet Support: Sustainable Environment Medium Ongoing 6. DATA MANAGEMENT Key Performance Indicator (KPI) and Target: KPI 6: Strengthen greenhouse data management and reporting processes. Target 1: Energy, water and greenhouse reporting regularly sent to facility managers of key large facilities.
utility cost savings to Council which have resulted from individual energy efficiency projects (including street lighting). Support: Finance 2013 regularly updated as utility data is available (output). Increased understanding and appreciation by Council of direct and ongoing utility cost savings delivered by energy efficiency projects (outcome). Investigate the development of a process for establishing an ‘ESD Fund’ – to re-invest utility cost savings from energy efficiency projects in funding further sustainability initiatives in Council facilities. N/A Lead: Sustainable Environment Support: Finance, Capital Works High 2014 Process to establish an ‘ESD Fund’ investigated (output). Additional budget available for sustainability initiatives in Council facilities (outcome). Objective 3: Assist facility managers to understand and reduce energy, water and greenhouse from their operations Action / Activity Budget Responsibility Level of Priority and Action Completed Outputs and Outcomes Set up an internal dashboard reporting process, whereby facility managers of key facilities will receive regular energy, water and greenhouse performance data for their facility. See Appendix 1 for further details on the key facilities. N/A Lead: Sustainable Environment Support (internal): Leisure and Youth Services, Services, Learning Community, Family and Children’s Services Support (external): AGL, EnergyAustralia, City West Water, Yarra Valley Water, Western Water High 2014 Energy, water and greenhouse reporting system for facility managers established (output). Increased understanding by facility managers of up-to-date energy, water and greenhouse trends due to their operations (outcome). Positive influence on facility managers to drive energy, water and greenhouse reductions (outcome). Objective 4: Improve the integrity and transparency of Council’s greenhouse gas reporting system
generation (solar PV) data via Jemena’s online portal, and collate annual generation data. Collate data on the electricity generated at Council’s closed landfill sites (Campbellfield). Collate data on electricity generated by Broadmeadows Leisure Centre cogeneration unit (from end 2013). Environment Support (internal): Infrastructure Planning, Leisure and Youth Services, Capital Works Support (external): Jemena, EDL (Electricity generation operators, Campbellfield) 2014 established (output). Electricity generation reported to staff and the Hume community via Council’s annual Sustainability Report (output). Increased understanding by staff and the Hume community regarding Council’s own annual clean energy generation (outcome). Goal: To Influence and Advocate for Wider Change