Help shape Ballarat’s net zero emissions future

Are you passionate about creating an environmentally sustainable future?  

Throughout August, you can have your say on the City of Ballarat’s Draft Ballarat Net Zero Emissions Plan for the municipality. 

The draft plan features Council’s resolution to achieve an aspirational target of reaching net zero emissions in the municipality by 2030 and identifies five key areas of action including business, homes, new developments, transport, and waste. 

Emissions in Ballarat were estimated to total 1.5 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent in 2020. These emissions were mostly associated with electricity (61%), transport (17%) and natural gas (16%) use, and are reasonably evenly distributed between the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. 

The plan builds on the work that the City of Ballarat and wider community are already undertaking to reduce emissions in order to achieve an environmentally sustainable future. 

Proposed actions include joint renewable energy purchasing, improvement of energy efficiency and degasification in residential homes, advocating for higher environmentally sustainable design (ESD) standards, supporting the uptake of electric vehicles with public electric charging stations, and co-location of circular economy business. 

The community can have its say on the plan’s actions, identify any gaps, suggest additional programs or actions, provide general feedback and outline what assistance is required to help individuals, groups and businesses reach net zero emissions by 2030. 

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Daniel Moloney said the City of Ballarat is in a unique position to lead and enable our municipality to embrace carbon neutrality.  

“The Draft Ballarat Net Zero Emissions Plan aligns with Goal 1 in the Council Plan 2021-2025 to create ‘an environmentally sustainable future’,” he said. 

“This plan was developed on the back of extensive research and a series of stakeholder consultation workshops with industry and the business sector, environmental groups and the community. 

“While we facilitated its development, the plan is designed to be a roadmap for collaborative action and outlines how we will partner with our community, businesses, community leaders and other levels of government to be more sustainable.” 

An online consultation is available on mysay.ballarat.vic.gov.au until 28 August.