Bass Coast Shire Council voted to endorse the Draft Climate Change Action Plan 2020-30 at its August Ordinary Meeting.
The Plan was developed in consultation with the community through significant engagement with residents, businesses, agricultural sector and stakeholders in response to Council's declaration of a climate emergency.
The climate emergency declaration came as a response to a petition presented to Council at the August 2019 Council Meeting, signed by over 1,000 community members.
The Plan identifies a number of actions that individuals, community groups, businesses, the agricultural sector and Council can undertake to achieve the objective of zero net emissions over the next 10 years and to ensure a climate resilient community.
The next steps will see the development of an implementation plan, which will be informed by previous engagement findings and further consultation with the community.
Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Brett Tessari, thanked the Community Reference Group for all their work to develop the Plan.
"It's important to recognise the steps we have all taken as a community so far, and to continue doing all we can to look after our environment here in Bass Coast," Cr Tessari said.
"Our three-bin system has resulted in a huge reduction in kerbside waste going to landfill, we've installed over 150 kilowatts of solar panels on Council buildings and we continue to increase vegetation cover with our Re-vegetation Officers recently planting 27,000 indigenous plants in the Bass Hills."
"The response to the climate emergency will require our entire community to play a part."
Cr Tessari said the Plan will guide Council's decision making about operational priorities, budgets and allocation of resources.
"We are already working with expert local community groups and organisations to provide programs and support to help the community on their climate response, and this Plan will leverage new technology and funding opportunities to suit the changing needs of the community," Cr Tessari said.
