Debt for the environment

KNOX City Council is considering borrowing $1.4 million to fund an increased short-term commitment to reducing greenhouse emissions.
The council, which recently came under fire for omitting environmental projects from its draft Long Term Financial Strategy, is considering a range of initiatives aimed at reducing its greenhouse emissions by a further 45 per cent.
In 1999, Knox’s involvement in the Cities for Climate Protection Program incorporated a commitment to reducing emissions by 30 per cent by 2010 – with an eye towards a zero net emissions target by 2025.
Knox mayor Jim Penna declared that the council was on target to meet that objective as a result of buying 50 per cent Greenpower for its streetlight network.
The council was presented with a report at last Tuesday’s council meeting identifying potential measures aimed at meeting a new target of a 75 per cent reduction on 1999 levels.
The report suggested a 15 per cent overall reduction could be achieved by implementing the recommendations of energy audits on council buildings, with the remainder being made up by using a more fuel-efficient vehicle fleet and by purchasing Greenpower for the remaining streetlights.
While the council was unanimous in its endorsement of the revised target, opinions were divided on the preferred means of funding the project.
In light of the council’s current focus on addressing its infrastructure renewal backlog, Dinsdale Ward councillor Adam Gill’s suggestion that Knox borrow money to fund the project was approached with caution.
Ultimately, it was agreed that a more detailed assessment of the financial implications of the project would be required.
Cr Gill’s urgency on the issue, however, struck a chord in the chamber, which included Knox Environment Society president Darren Wallace. He reminded his colleagues of the climate change mantra – ‘think globally, act locally’. “We’re thinking about acting locally but we’re not acting locally yet,” he noted.
Mr Wallace, who has previously aired his concerns about the lack of short-term action proposed by the council’s LTFS document, said: “Environmental projects are being put behind those other more significant infrastructure projects.”
He suggested that the council’s commitment to funding infrastructural works could, in fact, be complemented by the cost benefits of energy reduction.
The council undertook to consider the projects proposed by the report in its upcoming budgetary processes.
– Paul Pickering
“There is an enormous opportunity to not only make savings in terms of greenhouse emissions but also to make savings in costs to the community,” Mr Wallace implored.
“I have no doubt at all that the wider community is concerned about climate change and reducing emissions.
“The action required is very clear and there are simple answers but there needs to be a will and I don’t think council’s plan reflects that will,” he said.