Mornington Peninsula Shire Council will introduce a roadmap and reporting function to ensure environmental impacts are carefully considered and our assets, land and coastlines are climate resilient.
The development and implementation of a Climate Resilience Plan will give community groups and residents greater transparency, enablingtracking and monitoring of Council's progress on climate adaptation.
The first step of the Mornington Peninsula Climate Resilience Plan will be a proposed framework focusing on practical, place-based, costed and measurable outcomes for climate adaptation, hazard mitigation, biodiversity protection and sustainable infrastructure.
The proposed framework will align with statutory obligations and integrate with existing strategies, policies and programs, including coastal asset protection, drainage and stormwater upgrades, renewable energy initiatives for council assets, erosion management overlays and biodiversity corridor enhancements.
At last night's Council Meeting, it was resolved that the CEO will present a framework for the report in December that will avoid duplication of federal or state responsibilityand target local priorities within the Council's direct influence, where the greatest community benefit can be delivered. The report will also recommend priority projects for the next four years and a proposed timeline and key decision points for preparing and considering the Mornington Peninsula Climate Resilience Plan.
It follows Council's decision earlier this year to conclude the Climate Emergency Declaration and associated Climate Emergency Plan and replace them with a renewed focus on practical, community focused climate initiatives that align with Council's core responsibilities.
Comments attributable to Mayor, Cr Anthony Marsh:
"The community expects councils to move to a more outcomes-based approach to climate action and to focus on areas under our direct control.
"We take our climate responsibility seriously and the introduction of the Climate Resilience Plan gives our organisation a clear focus on the areas we need to be concentrating on to meet community expectations and deliver the tangible outcomes."
Comments attributable to Deputy Mayor, Cr Paul Pingiaro:
"This is a commonsense approach to climate resilience that means we can target local priorities within Council's direct influence where the greatest community benefit can be delivered, while avoiding duplication of federal and state responsibilities.
"Councils cannot continue with broad symbolic declarations and vague aspirations. We're determined to deliver real outcomes for our communities through a practical, accountable, outcomes-based plan that delivers genuine resilience."
