Dear Councillor…, Two letters to councillors.

Getting off gas…

Message Subject: Continue making our futures brighter

Dear Councillor  …..

I wanted to thank you for the projects achieved by our local council under the theme of “Creating a Bright Future” over the past ten or more years. Council is to be congratulated for its program of major energy efficiency measures undertaken, such as LED lighting replacements and installation of heat pumps and support of solar on homes. 

EGSC’s Smart Living at Home booklet is a handy guide for us all – but as you know, rapid changes in technology over the past decade have occurred and I think it is time to re-visit the information in the booklet, especially in regards to use of gas in the section “Heating & Cooling”, p48 and 49. Currently gearing up new homes with gas appliances is short sighted and risks a legacy of stranded assets in the domestic realm. Further roll outs of solar and renewable energy is the best way forward.

Latest information put out by reputable organisations leading the conversation in climate change solutions, such as The Climate Council, advise to decarbonise at speed and this means moving away from gas as a fuel source. As a leader in our community in reducing emissions, it is time for the EGSC to step up further in education and leading by example – electrify everything, accelerate the transition to clean energy, invest heavily in renewables and storage, and prioritise energy efficiency in new homes and social housing.

I look forward to hearing of more projects undertaken by EGSC taking the very latest opportunities in renewable energy to create a bright future for its residents and visitors in our world that is facing big challenges in a heating climate.

Yours sincerely

Robyn

Message Subject: It’s Urgent! EGSC must do more to help combat Climate Change

Dear Councillor….,

With the release of the final report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) it is absolutely clear to me that local government is going to be needed to do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.

I would like to acknowledge the already powerful and effective measures taken by the council in recent years. East Gippsland Shire Council (EGSC) is finding useful ways of doing our bit in this actual and existential emergency. Congratulations. 

However, there are many more measures that can be taken that will require courageous decision making and commitment to the fairly daunting task ahead that has been actively ignored or stymied federally for at least a decade.

One of the simplest methods of reducing green house gas emissions is to actively support the electrification of East Gippsland. Regulations that discourage connection to gas in new homes and new housing and business developments is a measure from which the whole community will benefit. We cannot afford to support gas in homes or business anymore. 

Another simple method of greenhouse gas reduction is to make life easier for pedestrians. This would be done in the form of more formal pedestrian crossings with longer cycles, safer footpaths and pedestrian priority on the smaller roundabouts. It’s better to walk than drive. Healthier too. 

A safer and more extensive cycling network would also encourage more people to use bicycles for commuting. 

Not all of these measures fall within local government remit; EGSC is however in the position to lobby State and Federal government to find effective and rapid solutions to the climate emergency in the East Gippsland context.

Yours sincerely

Angela