SECCCA Winter Update 2022

From the Acting CEO...

What a difference a couple of months can make! The federal election is behind us, and the community has spoken - act on climate change! With relentless flooding in NSW and unprecedented bushfires and heatwaves in Europe our climate systems are shifting with catastrophic results. Our community is rightly concerned.

SECCCA in partnership with our member councils are continuing to deliver projects to respond to these concerns and advocate for change in areas beyond our sphere of influence. With the completion of SECCCA’s advocacy plan we are entering a critical time engaging with decision makers with evidence-based policy solutions in the lead up to the state election.

Thanks to Cr Michael Whelan, Mayor of Bass Coast Shire Council, Emily Boucher, President of SECCCA and local councillors who have attended numerous advocacy meetings. The launch of the advocacy plan is the 24th of August.

We have welcomed Georgia Langmaid who has recently started with SECCCA to deliver on a range of projects. Including carbon sequestration opportunities, updatingBriefEzy, supporting council electrification and small business resilience.

We also say farewell and thank you to Victoria Gerrard and Chloe Michaelides who have recently completed the Small Business Energy Saver Project. A challenging yet successful project that has laid the foundations for future programs! Well done Victoria and Chloe.

Looking forward to another season of project delivery and advocacy!

Daniel Pleiter
Acting Chief Executive Officer

SECCCA Advocacy
The SECCCA advocacy activities are well underway with our policy position finalised and meetings with key Victorian and Federal stakeholders starting to be locked away.

In May, we met with Mr James Newbury MP Member for Brighton, Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change and Bay Protection to discuss our priorities and the Coalition’s policies. The meeting was a positive discussion on the needs of our region, and we look forward to the release of their broader climate change policies in the lead up to the 26 November State Election. Pictured (L-R) are Daniel Pleiter, Acting CEO SECCCA; Emily Boucher, President of SECCCA; James Newbury MP; Cr Michael Whelan, SECCCA Councillor Advisory Group Chair and Mayor Bass Coast Shire Council; Cr Alex del Porto, Mayor Bayside City Council; Cr Clarke Martin, Bayside City Council.

Over the coming month we have meetings scheduled with more stakeholders across the SECCCA region including:

• The Hon. Mr Luke Donnellan MP – Member for Narre Warren North;

• Mr Garry Maas MP – Member for Narre Warren South;

• The Hon. Ms Gabrielle Williams MP – Member for Dandenong;

• Ms Pauline Richards MP – Member for Cranbourne;

• Mr Lee Tarlamis MLC – Upper House Member for the South-East Metropolitan Region;

• Mr David Morris MP – Member for Mornington;

• Mr Paul Edbrooke MP – Member for Frankston;

• Ms Briony Hutton – Liberal Candidate for Hastings (replacing Mr Neil Burgess MP who will retire in November);

• Mr Gary Blackwood MP – Member for Narracan;

• Secretary – Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning;

• Executive Director, Climate Change and Executive Director, Energy – Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning; and

• Executive Director, Melbourne Metropolitan Region – Department of Transport.

Meeting invitations are also being sought with all other Local Members representing the SECCCA region as well as the Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Minister for Roads, Minister for Planning and Shadow Minister for Roads.

On August 4, SECCCA will head to Canberra to meet with Federal Local Members representing the SECCCA region and relevant Ministers.

We will keep you up to date on the outcomes of our meetings and our launch event that is in the pipeline to be held 24 August, 7.30 - 9am at Woodlands Golf Club with details soon to be announced of the findings.

Building Business Resilience Project

Small to medium businesses, like all segments of the community, are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in many ways. These could be direct, such as from fire or flood or indirect through the impact on supply chains. Businesses have varying levels of preparedness in relation to climate change, with little prioritising climate change impacts. Many require support and capacity building around the transition to clean energy and energy efficiency. A simple process can help them understand and plan for such events.

SECCCA has recently undertaken a climate change impact assessment of its entire region. Building on this work, SECCCA is able to provide information to businesses that demonstrate their exposure to climate extremes and how they can respond to improve resilience.

The Building Business Resilience Project is currently underway, to help businesses conduct climate risk assessment, mitigation and planning. The project will produce a final report intended to be an easy-to-understand adaptation implementation guide for use by other businesses more broadly. It will also produce case studies with climate change risk assessment and adaptation plans for each business involved.

The project is being funded by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) as part of the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for Greater Melbourne.

Small Business Energy Saver Program

SECCCA has been working on Sustainability Victoria’s Small Business Energy Saver Program over the past year. The program’s funding of $5 million for the Victorian region has now been fully allocated with a great amount of interest in the program.

Small businesses have had the chance to access equipment upgrades which lowers their carbon emissions and enhances their business with new and efficient installations. This equipment has included air conditioning units, hot water systems and refrigerated display cabinets for example. See below photo and quote of a small business in the City of Greater Dandenong which received an upright fridge.

“Victoria provided great customer service and the entire process was extremely easy. We are very happy with our new upright fridge and discount we received.
I would recommend the Small Business Energy Saver Program to other businesses, especially with the help that SECCCA can provide. The process was very streamlined with Victoria’s assistance from start to finish.” – Hugh, Overland Group

The results for the SECCCA region have shown a high number of installations (approximately 1,109 in total, equating to $1,758,457 in annual savings) and interest from businesses to upgrade equipment and/or become more environmentally conscious. Even though the program has now finished, small businesses can still access other programs such as the Victorian Energy Upgrades Program, Solar for Small Business, Energy Compare and the Business Energy Advice Program.

Electric Vehicle Charging Roadmap

The complete and final reports are available!

SECCCA has completed a project to determine the optimal locations for public charging. These reports will assist participating councils, industry and energy network operators plan for and implement charging infrastructure.

Download Reports via the SECCCA website here.

Regenerative Agriculture (Free Event)

Join this free event on Thursday 11 August. Find out how West Gippsland is Regenerating Australia one farm and many farmers, at one time. Come along, listen, learn, and discuss all elements of Regenerative Agriculture, with a handful of the best.

Proudly supported by Cardinia Shire’s Community Recovery team, this is a free event (morning tea, lunch and networking refreshments) but numbers are limited, so you must register.

>> Further information and Register Here