City of Melville Awarded for Taking Action on Climate Change

The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) presented the City with an award for completing the Planning and Review component of Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Plus program, which reaffirms the City’s support to reducing emissions. The City has previously completed all five milestones of the initial CCP Australia program.

Chief Executive Officer Dr Shayne Silcox accepted the award on behalf of the Council at the Local Governments Delivering on Sustainability recognition breakfast hosted by ICLEI Oceania on Thursday, 7 August. “Climate change is fast becoming the defining issue of our time and the City of Melville is playing its part to reduce our global impact,“ he said. “Since joining the CCP program in 1998, the City of Melville has engaged the community, business, research institutions and other stakeholders to determine where reductions in greenhouse emissions can be identified. As part of this process, the City has developed and implemented a range of initiatives to achieve reductions.”

 The City of Melville’s achievements have included:

·         Developing an energy efficiency in building design policy to optimise elements of natural heat and light in building design and landscaping

·         Introducing ecologically sustainable design and construction principles and guidelines to create buildings that minimise the draw on natural resources

·         Taking advantage of greenpower where 11 Council sites are powered by electricity converted from landfill gas

·         Converting 46 of the City’s passenger vehicles to LPG

·         Upgrading the City’s building management systems for greater energy efficiency, including conducting regular energy audits.

Mayor Russell Aubrey said overall, the City of Melville had achieved a 16.5 per cent reduction in corporate greenhouse gas emissions from 1996 levels. “This means the City is well on its way to achieving the 25 per cent reduction goal by 2011,” he said. “We are committed to continue our partnership with ICLEI and the CCP program to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At the moment, we are conducting a pilot study for rooftop wind turbines in partnership with Murdoch University. The aim of the study is to provide insight into the feasibility and best practice for placement of residential rooftop wind systems.”

The City of Melville has also welcomed the opportunity to build its long relationship with ICLEI by accepting the opportunity to host ICLEI Oceania’s two WA Water Campaign Officers, providing them with office space at the Melville Civic Centre for three years.

ICLEI Oceania Chief Executive Officer Wayne Wescott said climate change was one of the most pressing concerns facing local governments today. “Communities are aware of the pressing need to act on climate change. CCP demonstrates that local governments are effectively engaging their communities to achieve tangible environmental benefits,” he said.

The CCP Australia Program is a partnership between ICLEI Oceania and the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.