Posts tagged ‘Moreland’
Inaugural Moreland Climate CUP highlights Race to Zero Emissions – Melbourne joins Global Day of action #COP26
A few months ago the idea was floated in the Moreland Climate Coalition to hold an event around Melbourne Cup day, which also coincided with the UN Climate Change conference, COP26, meeting in Glasgow.
But at that early stage all of Melbourne was in lockdown due to the pandemic with limits on public gatherings, with the vaccination program delayed due to Federal Government vaccine ordering incompetence, and was still ramping up.
When we started organising we didn’t know how many people could meet for a protest under the public health regulations. But as vaccination rate grew rapidly 30 people became the number of fully vaccinated people to meet publicly. Three covidsafe events were held in Moreland, with other climate protests in the city and at St Kilda as part of the Global day of action called by the COP26 Coalition in Glasgow.
(more…)Brunswick Climate Fair postponed due to CoronaVirus
Wilson Street, Brunswick – Climate Fair location
Climate Fair event on Saturday postponed due to rapid escalation of the Coronavirus CorVid-19 public health response.
Climate organisations in Moreland have been working to organise a climate fair to be held at Wilson Avenue in Brunswick on Saturday 14 March, with the assistance and co-operation of state Greens MP Tim Read.
With the cancellation of the Grand Prix in Melbourne this weekend, it is clear that major gatherings of people poses a major public health commumnity transmission risk. Social distancing needs to be employed to reduce level of virus transmission.
Slowing down community transmission of this virus is important to ensure the public health system has the resources to repond adequately to the level of demand required.
Dr Tim Read, the local state MP for Brunswick, put out a statement saying “It now seems the wrong time to bring people together for any non-essential reason.”
“While the Fair would likely be safer than a tram or a classroom, Perceptions matter in campaigning.”
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Moreland summer temperatures increasing with global heating
Moreland’s Average Maximum January temperature trend
“In Moreland, January’s average top temperature is up 2.4C since 1971.” says Dr Allie Gallant, a climate scientist from Monash University.
“Last year was Australia’s hottest year on record, with an annual average temperature 1.52C above normal. It was also the driest year on record, with national rainfall 40% below normal. Much of the country was affected by drought. The drought worsened dangerous fire conditions, contributing to the devastating bushfire season we’re seeing now.” said Gallant as reported in the Moreland Leader (January 27, 2020).
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Moreland Community response on Bushfires and climate action
On January 9 a community meeting was held at the Coburg Town Hall called by Emily and Sam of CERES Joe’s Market Garden.
About 50 people were present from across the community from various local community organisations.
There was Grieving and brainstorming about what we can do for short term and long term climate action.
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Moreland sets zero net community emissions 2040 target
Moreland 2040 Framework
As well as acknowledging we are in a state of climate emergency at the Moreland Council meeting on 12 September 2018, there were several other significant policies and resolutions from Council. The most important was setting a long term target of zero net community emissions by 2040.
As well as the long term target and putting in place a framework and five year activity plans to achieve the target, Council’s 2014 Zero Carbon Evolution Strategy with a target of 22 per cent reduction in community emissions by 2020 from a 2011 base, was also revisited. Some areas of this strategy were not performing up to the targets set, so assessments were done of what was working well, and areas that needed to be closely addressed to rejig the plan to keep it on track.
Moreland roofs now generate 12MWh power annually from Solar PV
Welcome to the local solar revolution.
Moreland City Council has just installed an extra 100kW of solar PV panels – 390 new panels in all – on the Coburg Civic Centre roof. This adds to the existing 9kW system that was already functioning.
These panels will meet 30 per cent of the building’s energy needs, as well as saving 160 tonnes of greenhouse gases every year, with an estimated saving of $23,000 from Council’s electricity bill each year,
Read more at MEFL: Coburg Town Hall gets solar-powered.
We think this is great news. Keep up the good work City of Moreland in transitioning to zero net emissions.
It is not only our Council that has been going solar, another item from the MEFL newsletter uses figures from the Clean Energy Regulator to show that at the end of February 2015:
- 3,961 solar power systems had been installed in Moreland with a capacity of 10,708 kW
- 414 solar power systems (1,622 kW) have been installed the 2014-15 financial year
- 86 households have installed solar (244 kW) through the current bulk-buy coordinated by MEFL’s Positive Charge initiative
- On average, householders in Moreland have installed 3.9 kW solar power systems
I also checked the latest figures for March 2015. In December 2013 I looked at the penetration of solar PV in Fawkner and more broadly across Moreland. Figues in brackets are from November 2013 data, so you can compare the change.
| Suburb | Total Dwellings | Dwellings installed | Percent | Installed capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fawkner 3060 | 4520 | 328 (246) | 7.3% (5.4%) | 940kW (571kW) |
| Hadfield, Glenroy and Oak Park 3046 | 11482 | 811 (635) | 7.10% (5.5%) | 2167kW (1391kW) |
| Coburg 3058 | 11303 | 1092 (835) | 9.7% (7.4%) | 3178kW (1990kW) |
| Pascoe Vale 3044 | 9127 | 680 (546) | 7.5% (6%) | 1716kW (1238kW) |
| Brunswick 3056 | 7014 | 504 (389) | 7.20% (5.5%) | 1264kW (835kW) |
| Brunswick South, Brunswick West 3055 | 3933 | 303 (246) | 7.70% (6.3%) | 756kW (563kW) |
| Moreland LGA | 51330 (56139) | 4027 (3343) | 7.80% (6.1%) | 10950kW (7666kW) |
Congratulations Moreland. We now have a power station the equivalent of a 12MWh of annual generation capacity operating during the day on the roofs of Moreland. A good proportion of this energy would be used near production, saving in energy transmission losses. Of course Moreland is not the only municipality enjoying the solar PV revolution. Here are the latest stats of some Melbourne northern region solar PV installations:
| Municipality | Total Dwellings | Dwellings installed | Percent | Installed capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moreland | 51330 | 4027 | 7.8% | 10950kW |
| Moonee Valley | 36135 | 3050 | 8.40% | 8583kW |
| Darebin | 46499 | 4400 | 9.5% | 11316kW |
| Hume | 54920 | 8007 | 14.6% | 24692kW |
| Whittlesea | 52770 | 7394 | 14.00% | 20888kW |
| Banyule | 43137 | 3681 | 8.50% | 9959kW |
| Maribyrnong | 23539 | 2026 | 8.60% | 5753kW |
| Melbourne | 10236 | 551 | 5.40% | 2132kW |
As you can see from this table the urban/rural fringe municipalities of Hume and Whittlesea have a much greater penetration of solar PV, now exceeding 14 per cent. These are not wealthy areas, with new estates where people have a substantial mortgage but also see solar PV as a cost effective way of saving on their utility electricity consumption. Moreland at 7.8% is second lowest after the City of Melbourne.
This graph shows the solar PV monthly aggregate installation across Moreland postcode areas time series:
Click to open larger version
There is still a lot of opportunity for take up of solar PV in Moreland.
If you are thinking of doing so, Moreland Energy Foundation (MEFL) offshoot Postive Charge offers a solar PV bulk buy to save when purchasing.
This is one reason why consumer demand for electricity is falling.
But due to the loss of the carbon price from July 2014, utility scale energy production from both black and brown coal is rising. We need action at both state and Federal level to enhance emission standards that will result in the closure of some of our ageing coal fired clinkers like Hazelwood, which is the most polluting and inefficient power station in the industrial word, and produces substantial population health impacts and social costs.
Progress on Moreland Council Divestment
We are very excited to share the news that a draft divestment motion is presently being circulated amongst the councillors. It’s critical at this point in time that they know there is community support for the initiative. We have three councillors who have publicly declared support for divestment (L Thompson, S Bolton & S Ratnam). We need six votes to pass – but we want all the councillors to embrace and back the motion.
Our petition is nearing 1000 signatures but showing there’s even greater enthusiasm is important – we need your help to get this historic motion over the line! For those in Moreland, if you could take the time to contact your Councillors to let them know you support divestment, it could be the difference. For those outside Moreland please write to the councillors as well – most of you signed this petition when you were in Moreland to shop, party or visit friends/family, so you are part of our community. You can inform the councillors of your support in a variety of ways.
Use the sample text provided below or your own inspiration to write them an email.
Call/text the councillors directly
Post on the Councillor’s public facebook pages (for those that have them – see below)
Send them a tweet supporting divestment (for those on twitter – see below)
In our discussions with councillors so far, none have ruled out supporting a divestment motion – it’s important we keep all our comments positive and give councillors the encouragement they need.
Here are the contact details of the Councillors – please let them know you support divestment and they should – you can also let the three who have publicly supported divestment know that they have your support.
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Climate questions for Wills Candidates 2013 Federal Election
As well as the Meet the candidates Public Forum on Monday 19 August 2013, Climate Action Moreland have put together a list of question that we would like a response to from each candidate. The list is below. We will publish written candidate responses emailed to us on our website.
Responses have been received from and uploaded in PDF format:
- Adrian Trajstman – Australian Sex Party
- Margarita Windisch – Socialist Alliance
- Tim Read – The Greens
- Kelvin Thomson – Labor Party (Federal Government Policy)
Questions on climate change
- With scientists forecasting substantial sea level rise this century, many people from low lying coastal regions of south East Asia and islands in the south Pacific will be seeking asylum in Australia as climate refugees. What should Australia’s response be?
- The Australian government has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 5% below 2000 levels by 2020. However, under the emissions trading scheme, Australia does not need to reduce local emissions, but can purchase emission reduction certificates from overseas.
- What do you think Australia’s emission reduction targets should be by 2020? 2030? 2040?
- Should these targets be conditional on the actions of other countries?
- How would these emission reductions be achieved? Could you please describe how the emission reduction schemes that your party proposes will work in practice?
- What is your position on whether Australia should be required to reduce its local emissions rather than purchasing certificates from overseas?
- How do you propose to reduce emissions produced in Australia?
- Australia is regarded as particularly vulnerable to climate change. Given the lack of action to date, it is inevitable that Australians will be subject to serious impacts, including adverse health impacts and increased mortality due to rising temperatures and heatwaves, changes in rainfall and water availability for drinking and agriculture. What are your policies to reduce the impact of climate change on Australians?
- Heatwave induced mortality is expected to increase in inner urban areas like the Wills electorate due to the interaction between climate change driven increasing temperatures and the Urban Heat Island effect. While 173 people lost their lives in the Black Saturday Bushfires, 374 people died in Victoria due to the heatwave according to Victoria’s chief health officer, Dr John Carnie. The 2013 State of Australian Cities report found that heat related deaths are expected to quadruple in number by 2050. What is your response to this public health threat?
- Transport is a large contributor to climate change. What are your policies to transform the transport sector to ensure it is sustainable?
- Approximately $10 billion is paid out each year to subsidize the use of fossil fuels, including in aviation, which helps to keep the price of flying low. Green groups have proposed that instead of subsidizing activities that contribute to climate change, we should be funding technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions including energy efficiency and renewable energy. What are your policies on these subsidies to fossil fuels? If you propose to remove these subsidies, please describe how you would do so and over what time frame. What are your policies on redirecting these funds to technologies that do not contribute to climate change?
- The burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) are major contributors to climate change leading to a substantial carbon bubble in conflict with emission reduction targets, according to the Carbon Tracker Initiative, Grantham Institute, and Australia’s Climate Institute. What are your policies regarding the following: coal exports; use of coal for power generation; use of natural gas for power generation? What would be your strategies for phasing these out?
- Households and business can reduce their carbon emissions through increased energy efficiency, solar water heating and generating their own renewable electricity by installing solar panels. Do you support these measures and if so, what are your policies to ensure these measures become widespread? Do you personally use solar hot water and/or solar panels or buy Green Power?
- Some councils, including Moreland, have announced that they are carbon neutral. However, this has been achieved partly through the purchase of offsets from overseas projects. What is your position on councils, businesses etc using offsets to claim carbon neutrality?
- Food waste is a major source of carbon and methane emissions. What are your policies to reduce food waste and reduce emissions from food waste? Do you personally compost waste food?
- Do you know that in Wills we have platypus in Merri Creek? Eastern Grey Kangaroos visit the Fawkner grasslands? We have rare plant species along our creek corridors? Funding for biodiversity has recently been slashed by the federal government. What is your policy on federal government biodiversity funding and species and eco-system conservation?
August 12, 2013 at 6:29 pm morelandclimategroup Leave a comment
Election 2013: Wills candidate community forum on climate and sustainability
For the 2013 Federal Election, come and hear what the candidates have to say about policies, particularly on climate change and sustainability. The Following Wills Candidates have agreed to attend:
- Dean O’CALLAGHAN, (Save the Planet)
- Kelvin THOMSON, (Australian Labor Party)
- Margarita WINDISCH, (Socialist Alliance)
- Tim READ, (Greens)
We are hoping that the other candidates: Shilpa Hegde for the Liberal Party and Adrian Trajstman for the Australian Sex Party, and any other candidate that registers for the poll in Wills, will also come along to highlight their climate and sustainability policies.
When: 7.00pm for 7.30pm start, 19th August
Where: Coburg Concert Hall, Moreland Civic Centre, 90 Bell Street, Coburg
Facebook: register for this event on Facebook
This is a family friendly event. Gold coin donation. Further information: sallyRose m. 0431 445 930
We are also sending a questionnaire to each candidate on climate and sustainability issues, and hope to publish their considered responses on our website, as a guide to residents who can’t make the public forum.
Climate Action Moreland has organised this event but is supported by other community groups around Moreland including: Moreland Bicycle Users Group (BUG), Brunswick Residents Network, CERES, Sustainable Fawkner, Friends of Upfield Linear Park
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You may wish to compare the policies of the major parties ahead of time from the Vote Climate website or check out the Climate Institute 2013 election pollute-o-meter.
Flyers in colour and grayscale are attached below to print or photocopy and distribute.
How not to conduct an interview
As a part of working with CAM I’ve needed to find some new skills. A few of those skills are:
- keeping your banner from drooping in the middle when at a protest march.
- writing to politicians, demanding action on the greatest moral challenge of our time, without swearing.
- knocking on a complete stranger’s door and asking them to help close a power station.
But the most recent skill that I’ve acquired, in order to bring you all the best local climate news, is how to conduct an interview. And my first interview ever was with long-serving member for Brunswick Carlo Carli.
First rule of journalism, be prepared
After playing email tag for a couple of weeks it was proving difficult to find a mutual alignment of our diaries. Thinking I’d have better luck arranging a date and time using the powers of speech rather than type, I decided to ring Carlo’s office.
I was expecting Carlo either not be there or to be unavailable to take a call. So was somewhat surprised when I got straight through. Carlo kindly suggested that we do the interview over the phone. Diary at the ready I was also surprised when Carlo suggested we just do it now. “Yes, thanks – that’ll be great” was my reply – but in my head I was thinking What – now! C**p, I’m completely unprepared. (more…)
July 20, 2010 at 10:36 am morelandclimategroup Leave a comment
Climate Action Merribek: people in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy wanting action on climate change 