SECCCA Autumn Update 2022

From the Acting CEO...

Without a doubt this year has been a rocky start for SECCCA and in so many other ways for us all. Our CEO, Dominique La Fontaine has had to take unexpected leave and we look forward to her return and leadership of SECCCA once again. In Dominique’s absence we have all stepped up to ensure SECCCA continues to deliver, and I thank SECCCA’s staff and members for their ongoing support.

We’ve all been affected by the continued impact of the pandemic and our concerns for so many people caught in the floods up north and war in Europe. It's easy to despair and wonder will we ever fix the climate change crisis, especially with the increasingly dire projections of the most recent IPCC reports.

So much of this we simply can’t control but what we can control is what gives us hope. Collectively and individually, we are making a difference, and this is the only way we will address the climate crisis. To this end, SECCCA has continued to deliver following on from the launch of our refreshed Strategic Plan last year.

We have welcomed Julie Kirkwood to the team as Project Manager on the Climate Resilience Project. Given recent extreme weather events this project is timely as it will assist councils identify areas of increasing community vulnerability and provide pathways to improve the resilience of these communities to the impacts of climate change. Building on the Asset Vulnerability Project the Minderoo Foundation is funding this next project with a view to see the outcomes replicated and scaled nationally.

The Small Business Energy Saver Project is continuing to deliver exceptional results with Victoria Gerrard and Chloe Michaelides recently spending a week in the Bass Coast Shire engaging businesses to the program. To date 1021 businesses have been engaged across the region with 77 businesses installing energy efficient equipment and products.

We’ve also recently secured additional funding from DELWP to work further in the small business sector under the Regional Adaptation Strategy. This project will assist businesses beyond reducing emissions by undertaking climate risk assessments and adaptation plans to better prepare for the direct and indirect effects of climate change.

SECCCA members are also preparing the way for the rollout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure through the development of an electric vehicle charging roadmap and detailed work is well underway to launch an advocacy campaign in the lead up to both elections, to name a few other significant achievements this year. We’ll also be recruiting shortly for a Climate Change Projects Officer to begin delivery on several other key projects.

As we continue to work, lets remain hopeful, leverage the influence we have and keep family and friends closer than ever. We’re looking forward to continued success this year, working with all our stakeholders to achieve this and if you can, joining us at the annual Greenhouse Alliances Conference on the 29th of April to learn about all the incredible work happening around the state. The conference will be an inspiring event in these challenging times.

Daniel Pleiter
Acting Chief Executive Officer

IPCC Report on Climate Change

The Sixth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Report (6AR) highlights the ways climate change is impacting billions of people worldwide, and the many ways that these impacts will worsen if we don’t take urgent comprehensive action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Working Group II contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report of IPCC provides a detailed assessment of climate change impacts, risks and adaptation in cities, where more than half the world’s population lives. The report provides extensive regional information to enable Climate Resilient Development.

Further reading >> article originally published on The Conversation provides a summary of the findings.

Floods

The recent flood in Lismore reached 14.4 metres, placing it somewhere in the vast gulf between the once-in-500-year and once-in-100,000 year markers – hence, the back-of-the-envelope description of it as a one-in-1,000-year event.

This article published in The Guardian highlights the chance of a catastrophic flood occurring somewhere in NSW, across all the areas at risk of flood in any given year, is much greater than 0.1%.

It is higher still when there is a La Niña weather pattern. A La Niña pushes warm surface water towards Asia and the seas north of Australia, which in turn leads to increased rainfall across northern and eastern Australia. Dr Tom Mortlock, an adjunct fellow at Macquarie University and senior catastrophe analyst with reinsurance broker Aon, says La Niña has “loaded the dice in favour of flooding over the past two years”.

These devastating floods highlight the importance of SECCCA’s commitment to improving climate resilience. The Asset Vulnerability Assessment Project and Resilient Communities Project, recently funded by the Minderoo Foundation are important foundations in this critical work.

Resilient Communities Project – Enhancing Community Resilience to Climate Change

Climate change is significantly increasing risk, such as fires, floods, coastal erosion and heat waves to local communities across Australia. Preparing communities for current and future changes to the climate is a critical task and requires protection of life, property and wellbeing. Proactively preparing communities to act prior, during and after disasters builds community resilience to future impacts and minimises risks and consequences.

The Resilient Communities Project will help prepare communities and councils in the SECCCA region for current and future changes to the climate, by improving community preparedness through practical actions, tools, and resources. Project participants will be empowered with information and access to new or improved services enabling them to make individual decisions to prepare for climate change.

The project is being funded by the Minderoo Foundation. Established by Andrew and Nicola Forrest in 2001, Minderoo Foundation is a modern philanthropic organisation seeking to break down barriers, innovate and drive positive, lasting change. Minderoo Foundation is proudly Australian, with key initiatives spanning from ocean research and ending slavery, to collaboration in cancer and community projects.

Electric Vehicle Charging Roadmap

The transition to electric vehicles is gaining momentum internationally with many major car manufacturers committed to the development of electric vehicles and commitments to net zero. Without a car manufacturing industry locally future vehicle imports will reflect international conditions.

As these vehicles become more popular this requires the development of an electric vehicle charging roadmap, policy guidance and a snapshot of future trends, to help lower transport emissions. To this end SECCCA is currently working with the Institute for Sensible Transport to investigate where the optimal locations are for public charging and the key issues that must be considered for the development of an implementation plan for each LGA participating in the project to create a regional network.

This work will consider the relevant planning and statutory requirements for councils regarding charging stations. Also, ownership models and permits and approvals considerations for leasing public and private land, including on-street parking bays. Further information is shown here.

See you at the VGA Conference in April!

We are looking forward to the Victorian Greenhouse Alliances Conference on Friday 29th April 2022 at the Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre (MCEC).

You can now view the full online programme on the Victorian Greenhouse Alliances Conference website. We are also pleased to announce that the Hon. Lily D'Ambrosio, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change will give an address during the opening plenary.

Thanks to everyone who has already purchased tickets. For those who haven't, you can still register for the Victorian Greenhouse Alliances Conference 2022.

Climate Change Projects Officer

This is an exciting opportunity to join a fantastic team and group of south east Melbourne councils.

SECCCA is seeking an experienced Projects Officer, skilled in project and stakeholder management to deliver priority projects as part of SECCCA’s emission reduction and adaptation goals.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible!

Further information is available here.uty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.