SECCCA Summer Update 2020
FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER.....
It’s been very encouraging to see out this challenging 2020 with some good news on the climate change front. The Victorian Government Budget announcement includes an array of exciting climate change related initiatives that will improve the resilience of homes and help to keep energy costs down. A commitment for 12,000 dwellings to meeting 7-star energy efficiency standards; substantial spending on efficient heating and proper sealing; replacement of old wood, electric or gas-fired heaters with new energy-efficient systems that are safer and cheaper to run; and upgrading heating and hot water in 35,000 social housing properties. Also being funded are renewable and hydrogen energy projects and $31 million for the new Business Recovery Energy Efficiency Fund providing grants to help large energy users to introduce energy efficiency and demand management technologies to reduce costs. The list goes on.
Of critical importance will be the effective delivery of these programs, to ensure the energy efficiency is realised.
More and more major Australian businesses are taking action against climate change as they recognise the financial imperative to do so. One example is the recent ANZ bank announcement of a zero emissions goal by 2050 and committed to support customers and projects that reduce emissions as well as support economic growth through their lending decisions.
And the community alarm at the impact of climate change has not abated. The Climate of the Nation 2020 Benchmark report which has tracked attitudes on climate change since 2007, has found that over 80% of Australian’s are concerned about climate change resulting in more bushfires, and that over 70% want Australia to be a global leader in finding solutions.
With the hope that we can keep COVID-19 under control, next year promises to continue this strong climate action resurgence. We at SECCCA are very excited about continuing our program of work, building on our successes and supporting our members to address climate change. May I take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very happy and safe festive season, with, no doubt, some extra cherished time with loved ones. See you all in 2021!
Dominique La Fontaine
SECCCA Executive Officer
SECCCA Annual Report
SECCCA is pleased to publish our 2020 Annual Report. With an introduction from the inaugural chair of the SECCCA Councillor Advisory Group, the report details some of the key projects, advocacy and forums that SECCCA has undertaken throughout the year. The establishment and achievements of the CAG has been a highlight for SECCCA this year and a big thanks to the councillors who supported its establishment.
SECCCAs AGM held in late November saw City of Kingston’s Emily Boucher resoundingly re elected to the position of SECCCA President. We said goodbye and a big thankyou to Mornington Peninsula Shire Council's Nicci Tsernjavski who has performed an invaluable role as Secretary for the last several years and we welcome Jessica Harrison from the City of Greater Dandenong who has taken up the role. Thanks also to Bayside City Council’s Julian Donlen who again will steadfastly looked after our finances as SECCCA Treasurer. Acknowledgement and thanks to all the SECCCA management committee, without whom the organisation could not undertake the work that it does.
The 2020 Annual Report can be found here.
SECCCA Councillor Advisory Group 2021
We welcome a new cohort of representatives to our Councillor Advisory Group. A number of new faces will be around the table as well as several who participated last year. The CAG promises to have an energized focus on collaborative climate change action across the region. The following councillors have been appointed by their councils to the CAG;
Bass Coast Shire Council - Cr Michael Whelan and Cr Leticia Laing
Bayside City Council - Cr Clarke Martin and Cr Fiona Stitfold
Cardinia Shire Council - Cr Jeff Springfield and Cr Stephanie Davies
City of Casey – Michael Jansen
City of Greater Dandenong - Cr Rhonda Garad
Frankston City Council - Cr Claire Harvey
City of Kingston – Cr Hill and Cr Saab
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council - Cr Kerri McCafferty and Cr Sarah Race
City of Port Phillip - Cr Katherine Copsey
Parliamentary Inquiry Into Tackling Climate Change Report
The Victorian Government Parliamentary Inquiry Into Tackling Climate Change Report was recently released and, pleasingly, demonstrated that the inquiry had listened closely to the community and also the Victorian Greenhouse Alliances. SECCCA made a submission and gave a presentation to the inquiry and was both quoted and referred to in the report.
The report found that it was essential to provide targeted support to help communities tackle climate change. The 38 findings and 72 recommendations included recognition of the need for:
collaboration to produce local emissions inventories for all regions across Victoria
implementation plans for regional renewable energy roadmaps
support for local government to strengthen Greenhouse Alliances.
Unsurprisingly, the inquiry also found that it makes economic sense to tackle climate change and there are substantial economic opportunities that are associated with decarbonising the Victorian economy. Strong partnerships between local and state governments are key to realising these opportunities.
Engaging with Builders on Residential Energy Efficiency
SECCCA recently presented at the Master Builders Association (MBA) Green Living Conference - Affordable Net Zero Carbon Homes for the Volume Home Market. The conference was well attended by 100 builders, suppliers and other participants from across Australia.
SECCCA presented the findings of the New Homes Energy Advisory Service (NHEAS), a project recently completed with funding from the Victorian Government. The presentation detailed the barriers, benefits, costs, return on investments, affordability, and the experience of builders involved in the project.
Engaging with the Master Builders Association is recognized as a key strategy to help influence and support builders recognise that climate-resilient homes are affordable and doable. And, most importantly, that happy customers will be the result!. SECCCA is continuing to liaise with the MBA to further communicate the findings of the project to the broader building industry through MBA communication channels. SECCCA has also submitted the NHEAS findings to the National Construction Code review calling for:
1. Energy source 100% renewable energy (eg. on-site solar or off-site GreenPower purchase)
2. External shading for east and west windows
3. Roof insulation minimum R2.5 walls and R5 in the roof
4. Glazing minimum R0.3 and U value 3.3 windows & doors
5. Achieve a building envelop airtightness value of less than 5ACH(Air Changes per Hour) at 50pa of pressure under tests conditions
6. Achieve an air ventilation rate of 1ACH every 2 hours (under natural air exchange conditions). Including the recovery of heat to 90% in exchanged air and filtering of air to M5 / G4
7. Three additional onsite inspections ie pre-insulation, pre plaster & post occupancy: on-site as built verification and certification
Presentations from the MBA conference can be found here.
Asset Vulnerability Assessment Project Commences
Councils have various levels of understanding about how climate change will impact assets and service delivery, particularly on roads, buildings and drainage. The Asset Vulnerability Assessment project is being funded by members and will support councils to understand how council buildings, drainage and local road assets will be impacted by climate change and what works are required to make them resilient.
After an exhaustive selection process (and two years in planning) the project has commenced in earnest with the appointment of Spatial Vision in partnership with Marsden Jacobs and Associates to undertake the project.
The project will involve close engagement with the member council’s asset and infrastructure officers. A technical reference group including representatives with specific climate modelling expertise from DELWP as well as the Insurance Council of Australia has been established to ensure the project utilises the best climate data available. It is envisaged the project will be complete by the end of June 2021.
And, as part of the Greater Melbourne Regional Adaptation Strategy, DELWP has provided funds to enable SECCCA to undertake a formative evaluation of the AVA project and to also produce guidelines that will assist SECCCA member councils and other local governments to understand how to undertake this work going forward.
Dr Anthony Boxshall from Science into Action and Simon Torok from Scientell have been appointed to undertake this component of the AVA project.
Local Government Legal Liability Advice
With funding support from the Insurance Council of Australia, SECCCA has engaged Baker Mckenzie to provide legal advice on the extent to which councils will have a responsibility to act upon information that a vulnerability assess of residential homes could reveal, if this was to be included in the AVA project.
This consideration in part arises out of the recently released Local Government Climate Change Adaptation Roles and Responsibilities, which sets out the duties of senior local government decision makers in relation to climate change.
The legal liability report is due for completion by early March 2021.