Climate Action Merribek: people in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy wanting action on climate change

Members of a local community group will protest on Sydney Road on Saturday as part of an ongoing campaign to replace Australia’s dirtiest power station at Hazelwood in the La Trobe valley. Community groups around the country are mobilising to call for the closing of Hazelwood, and Climate Action Moreland has played a crucial role in putting pressure on State and Federal politicians.

‘The ALP is failing the community of Brunswick on climate change,” says David Spratt, member of Climate Action Moreland and author of Climate Code Red. “Victoria’s emissions keep rising, and Brumby has no plans to replace Hazelwood with clean energy. He wants to keep three quarters of this polluting dinosuar running at full capacity indefinitely.”

Recently the Labor government vowed to shut down one quarter of Hazelwood, but made no commitments to outright replace the power station, which is responsible for 15 per cent of Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions and uses 27 billion litres of water a year.

Climate Action Moreland has initiated an ongoing door-knocking campaign that has since been emulated by climate groups throughout Victoria and interstate. “‘We’ve door-knocked over 3000 houses in Brunswick talking to them about replacing Hazelwood” said David Spratt “and even we have been surprised at the level of community concern about climate change. Jane Garrett, the ALP candidate, must listen to the people of Brunswick and become an advocate for real action on climate,” said Mr Spratt.

This Saturday, community climate action groups around the country will be holding actions to call for the State and Federal Governments to close Hazelwood and replace it with clean energy.

Climate Action Moreland is a local volunteer community group of people who are concerned about the lack of meaningful government action on climate change.

Hazelwood cake and black balloons outside Mechanics Institute cnr Sydney Rd & Dawson St, 12pm – 2pm Saturday 17 July

For comment and more information contact: Ellen Roberts on 0408 583 694