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Petitoner: Latrobe Valley Sustainability Group treasurer Lorraine Bull has presented a petition to Latrobe City asking it to update its climate chane policies. photograph michelle slater

Moving with times

By MICHELLE SLATER

LATROBE Valley Sustainability Group has re-ignited its push for Latrobe City to update its climate change policy, which was developed more than a decade ago. The group has presented Latrobe City with a petition containing more than 330 signatures urging council to review its 2010 Position on Climate Change and its Impacts. Latrobe City had agreed to review the document in March 2020, but so far has not updated its position statement. The 10-point statement includes an acknowledgement that climate change is real and recognises international scientific consensus that climate change is influenced principally by human activities. It also stated that Latrobe City is committed to greenhouse gas reduction goals and any response to climate change has the potential to drive innovation in industry and the community. Latrobe Valley Sustainability Group treasurer, Lorraine Bull, said council was overdue to update the policy in the midst of increasing climate change impacts on the Valley. Ms Bull said in the past 10 years, the Valley has been affected by bushfires, prolonged drought, extreme storms leaving residents isolated for days and repeated flooding in Traralgon. “Since 2010 we’ve had a lot of movement in renewables and increased knowledge around climate change and emissions,” Ms Bull said. “We need a clear and concise statement we can point to that say these are the targets and goals and how we can get there.” Ms Bull said a clear policy would encourage sustainability actions including on renewables, electric vehicles, urban greening, community gardens, housing design and regenerative agriculture “These are things council can do to help us deal with a changing climate,” she said. “We want Latrobe City to lead the community, which is being impacted by climate change, in the closures of the coal economy.” Latrobe City will prepare a report on the petition that will be presented at council’s December meeting.

A year gone by, council’s plans

LATROBE City has issued more than 370 planning permits with a total value of nearly $500 million in the past year, according to the council’s latest annual report released last week. Latrobe has also been able to deliver all its services despite challenges from storms, flood recovery and global crises, says the 2021-22 annual report, which looks at its performance measures for the past financial year. It also marked the first year of reporting on actions from the 2021-25 Council Plan and community vision, which was developed in 2021. Apart from permits, other key achievements included completing the $42.1 million Gippsland Performing Arts Centre in March and delivering $41.66 million in capital works projects throughout the municipality. More people were using the Latrobe City libraries borrowing nearly 220,000 items, or a 26.3 per cent increase on the previous year due to extended closures. Latrobe City mayor, Kellie O’Callaghan, encouraged the community to review the annual report, which examined council operations and reflects on how its work connected communities. Cr O’Callaghan also cited the adoption of council’s four-year Living Well Latrobe municipal public health and wellbeing plan. “Our achievements are also the community’s achievements, and throughout the year we have celebrated some significant projects together from sporting club and community facility upgrades to the opening of the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre,” Cr O’Callaghan said. “We look forward to continuing with the momentum of the past year as we deliver the Council Plan and Community Vision, ensuring economic prosperity as Latrobe City transitions to a new energy future.”