City Partners to Tackle Climate Change

The Cities Power Partnership is a national coalition of councils that are committed to a sustainable energy future.

More than 70 local governments are involved in the partnership, which allows councils from across Australia to work together on tackling climate change.

Mayor Barry Sammels said the City of Rockingham was proud to join a national network of local governments that were committed to championing action on climate change.

"As one of the fast growing coastal cities in the south metropolitan corridor of WA, the City is acutely aware of the need to create a sustainable environment that allows Rockingham to have a prosperous future," Mayor Sammels said.

"With 37km of pristine coastline, a growing population and strong environmental values, the City is always looking at ways to develop its understanding of sustainability and joining the Cities Power Partnership gives us a fantastic opportunity do to just that."

The City has long acknowledged the importance of addressing climate change and sustainability issues, having formally ratified its stance in 2011 when it became a signatory of Western Australia’s Local Government Association - Climate Change Declaration.

Since signing this declaration the City has installed solar PV panels on 74 of its buildings, solar lighting in parks and access ways, as well as progressively upgrading all existing lights to LEDs. Further, the renewable energy generated by capturing methane at the Millar Road Landfill was 1.5 times the City’s total energy use last year.

Mayor Barry Sammels is also the chair of the Australian Coastal Councils Association, giving the City a nationwide voice on coastal issues.

"The City is in the process of developing a Sustainability Strategy that will address six key focus areas including waste, water, energy, health and nature," Mayor Sammels said. "Progress in delivering sustainability actions to date can be seen in the City’s Sustainability Snapshot Report."

"A Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan is also being prepared, which will inform the community and decision makers about the potential coastal hazards relative to sea level rise over the next 100 years.

“The City is also developing a policy position on single use plastics.”

In becoming a Power Partner, the City will commit to delivering a range of actions relating to best practice energy efficiency, reporting progress back to the Climate Council every six months.