EGCAN members have been writing to our councillors on the theme: Get off Gas. Several submissions have been acknowledged and comments.
Letter from Nola:
Dear Councillor
I am writing to you to express my concerns about any new gas exploration or developments in East Gippsland, and the ongoing availability of gas for usage in homes and businesses. It appears that currently more Victorians than any other state or territory use gas in their homes and businesses, and if we are to be serious about reducing emissions then this cannot continue.
Local Governments can play a critical role in helping their communities to adapt to climate change as well as reduce their emissions. A coalition of over 30 councils have already called for planning laws to be amended to allow gas to be banned in new developments. Gas appliances will soon become stranded assets, and potential homeowners placing building applications in the East Gippsland Shire deserve to be made aware that this is the case.
Developers can also be strongly encouraged to not supply gas to any new developments or projects. Ultimately money can be saved by both the developer and the homeowner as an all-electric house with solar panels is substantially cheaper to run. Gas is no longer a cheaper option and there are now concerns as to the health impacts of using gas for cooking and heating, including an association with the increase in the rate of asthma in children. While EGSC have some good information on the website in relation to energy usage and saving, some of this information could benefit from updating.
East Gippsland already supplies sufficient gas to meet what will, and should, become a dwindling requirement, therefor no new gas should be considered for the area. While I understand that this is mostly out of the control of local government it should be an advocacy priority in any meetings with Federal and State ministers. We all have a role to play in reducing emissions and we all have a responsibility to future generations to ensure that immediate actions are taken.
Yours sincerely Nola
Letter from Judy:
Dear Councillor
I am writing as an East Gippsland resident concerned about climate change. I have lived in this area since 1981 and now have an additional 2 generations of my family living in East Gippsland.
I have been pleased to note that East Gippsland Shire Council has a commitment to addressing the challenges of climate change and has extensive information on its website.
I would encourage the council to consider further ways in which the wealth of information on the website can be shared with residents, as I am sure there are many residents who have not thought to check it out or maybe do not have the technology to do so. The EG Shire community newsletter that is distributed online could also include a section highlighting different programs and initiatives to help people reduce their energy bills and make transitions to renewable energy, as well as all those programs that are contributing to East Gippsland being an environmentally friendly place. The focus could change from month to month.
For those residents who are less inclined to go online, there could be regular articles in the various newspapers across the region and maybe also some helpful information that is distributed along with rates notices.
I believe it has already been pointed out to council that some of the information on the Energy Use and Savings section (specifically in the Smart Living Guide), provides outdated and inaccurate information as to the most sustainable ways to power a house.
It will be important for the Council to show leadership in helping people and businesses to transition away from gas and coal and towards renewable energy sources. Programs that support the approach to “electrify everything” are the way forward for our communities.
Thank you to all those councillors and shire staff who are making positive contributions and who I believe understand the importance of moving away from coal and gas.
Sincerely Judy
Letter from Peter:
Dear Councillors
I write to you as a community member who is deeply concerned about Climate Change.
In this past week we have been warned, yet again, by the United Nations IPCC that unless we, as a world community, take urgent action to cut emissions of greenhouse gases the planet is headed for a civilization catastrophe from which there is no turning back.
Governments of all sorts Federal State and Local can and must play their part to develop policies, laws and regulations to phase out the use of fossil fuels for our energy needs.
This process has begun but the science tells us that we must make deep and urgent cuts to our use of fossil fuels. Time is running out.
My concern is that the use of gas is seen by many as somehow benign. The gas lobby would have us believe that gas is the saviour of climate action. This is simply not true. Gas is a fossil fuel like coal and oil and when burnt it produces CO2 pollution into the atmosphere. Also when gas leaks from pipes and containers methane, a very potent greenhouse gas, is also released into the atmosphere.
Therefore I request that the East Gippsland Shire Council initiate Council building codes and regulations that phase out the use of gas in new construction of buildings within our shire.
Yours sincerely
Peter
Letter from Grace:
To the Mayor, Councillors and Staff,
I write to ask you to consider ways and means whereby EGSC may contribute to reducing the effects of climate change. A few years ago I wrote My Personal Manifesto for the Planet and like many around the world do my utmost to reduce my footprint. I personally cannot do any more so hence this letter to beg you to do all in your powers to reduce emissions in East Gippsland.
A recent Australia Institute report made these key points:
- Cement production contributes just 4% of emissions from Safeguard Mechanism ..SGM..facilities
- Steel production contributes just 8% of emissions from Safeguard Mechanism facilities
- Cement is virtually irrelevant to meeting Australia’s emissions commitments
- According to a recent REPUTEX report, fossil fuel projects will make up at least 82% of emissions from new projects by 2030
- Fossil fuel projects make up over half the emissions from existing SGM facilities today.
The above demonstrates clearly that Fossil Fuels including gas make the biggest contribution by far to emissions, the major cause of climate change and global heating.
Cooking with gas has many negative health effects such as asthma, breathing and lung problems. See https://news.stanford.edu/2022/01/27/rethinking-cooking-gas/ :
“Over one-third of U.S. households – more than 40 million homes – cook with gas. Unlike other gas appliances, such as space and water heaters that are usually placed away from living quarters, cooking appliances directly expose people to their emissions, which can include formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and nitric oxides that can trigger asthma, coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing, occasionally resulting in hospitalisation. Hood use and ventilation help reduce concentrations of nitrogen oxides and other co-produced pollutants in kitchen air, yet surveys show that home cooks on average use hoods for kitchen ventilation only 25–40 percent of the time.”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cities-are-banning-natural-gas-in-new-homes-because-of-climate-change/ :
“Gas has been advertised as this kind of bridge fuel, but we’re at a point where we don’t need a bridge [to renewable energy] — we need to adopt some of these renewable resources,” said Emma Searson, Go Solar campaign manager with Environment America. “We’re at the point where we can actually imagine not using fossil fuels in the home.”
These web sites below provide much scientific reasoning for phasing out gas in the home:
https://engage.vic.gov.au/help-us-build-victorias-gas-substitution-roadmap
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-health-risks-of-gas-stoves-explained/
In: www.renew.org.au “Goodbye to Bass Strait gas” by Tim Forcey, it is stated that in Victoria 350 homes per day need to be decarbonised, away from gas, due to the shortage of gas by 2025. Councils need to work with the State Government to achieve these aims.
There is an opportunity for you as a Council, from the next rate rise to offer a stay on the rate rise for people who switch from gas to electricity in their homes. This may mean a larger increase for those not “making the switch” see www.maketheswitch.org.au or some other incentives may be considered…
As a member of ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) since 2007, along with all the science-based information out there and in this community, EGSC has the knowledge to carry out the necessary community education program.
Potential for local recycling of old gas cookers could be considered.
I wish you all well.
Yours sincerely
Grace
Climate News 