Plan for zero carbon

By Casey Neill
PLANS to attract producers and providers of energy efficient products and services to Knox have been unveiled as part of the council’s goal of achieving zero carbon emissions.
The economic development strategy has been described as one of the most important documents ever produced by Knox council.
Unveiling the plan Knox mayor Jim Penna said the council’s draft economic strategy included plans to boost job growth and reduce the municipality’s carbon footprint.
The 10-year plan contains 11 strategic objectives for building sustainable prosperity.
Cr Penna said the economic blueprint was ‘essential to the future well being of our community’. He said local economic and employment opportunities in Knox were set to boom.
“We need to seize opportunities to boost the economy and this is what the strategy will do,” he said.
Key objectives of the strategy include establishing sustainable and energy-efficient industry precincts and continuing development of Knox Central as part of achieving zero carbon emissions by the year 2025.
The plan includes strategies to attract more industry to the municipality to increase job opportunities.
Cr Penna said Knox had space in its industrial and commercial business parks for more companies to set up operations in the municipality.
The strategy details plans to attract more commercial businesses to activity centres in Knox, including Boronia.
The report also details plans for continued expansion of Knox Central, which Cr Penna said would be bigger than Melbourne’s CBD.
The council last week approved the release of the strategy for community consultation.
Although he expressed concern about the amount of spending in the first year, Cr David Cooper said the strategy was a great step forward for Knox.
Cr Joe Cossari said the level of spending indicated a lack of money allocated for economic growth projects previously.
“We have to spend money because this is about the economic future of Knox,” he said.
An analysis of submissions on the Economic Development Strategy will be made available to councillors before the plan returns to council for final approval.
Council also adopted a revision of its Long Term Financial Strategy (LTFS) for 2008-09 to 2012-13 at last week’s meeting.
Cr Penna said Council decisions made over the next five years would be based on the standards set in the LTFS.
“This financial blueprint enables residents and ratepayers to know what to expect from Knox in the next five years,” he said.
The draft Economic Development Strategy is available for public comment at Knox Council, 511 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South or at www.knox.vic.gov.au.