Page 3132 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 22 August 2017
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
There is a technical side of that that is very complex, but I think the community has a lot to offer, in contributing ideas, in helping to shape expectations and in giving the government support in moving through to that point.
That element of community involvement in the development of the zero net emissions strategy is very important to me as well. It has been challenging to work out the best way to do that effectively. I have appreciated the input from a range of community organisations, and we are continuing to strategise the best and most effective way to do that.
The ACT government is, of course, committed to our target of having a carbon neutral government in a framework for that, in our own operations, by 2020. By doing that, the ACT government will ensure that it does its fair share of emissions reduction. To support the reduction in ACT government emissions, the carbon neutral government fund provides interest-free loans to ACT government agencies to support approved energy efficiency projects. Energy savings are used to repay the loan, replenishing the loan fund and making funds available for new projects.
Since 2010, 24 ACT government projects have been supported under the carbon neutral government fund, to a value of approximately $13 million. Projects that have been supported include lighting, heating, ventilation and cooling upgrades, smart building management systems, and an off-grid solar photovoltaic system connected to battery storage. I look forward to continuing to work with my ministerial colleagues to identify and support new opportunities to reduce emissions from government agencies and ensure we have best practices in place.
In terms of the community, one of the other elements that this budget funds is investing $550,000 over four years for a new ACT community zero emissions grants program. As the impacts of climate change become increasingly apparent, it is vital that the Canberra community works together to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and ensure Canberra grows into a modern, livable and sustainable city.
To support the next steps towards zero net emissions, this program will deliver grants of up to $25,000 each, with a total pool of $150,000 available in 2017-18.The grants program will support individuals and community groups to run engagement programs and deliver on-ground projects to contribute towards meeting the ACT’s net zero emissions target and help improve the sustainability of the wider community.
I hope that people do come forward and participate in this grants program. I am very keen to unleash the community enthusiasm that is out there, to let people bring their ideas forward. Often these grassroots projects can turn into something much bigger with some of this seed funding that government can put into it. I look forward to seeing the applications that come in through that process.
The budget is investing nearly $2 million over three years to support the implementation of the ACT climate change adaptation strategy, including over $750,000 in this financial year. The strategy is ambitious. It details 27 actions to be implemented across planning, water management, bushfire and drought preparedness,
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video