Seeking input on environment and climate action plans

Published on 06 June 2023

Residents and ratepayers are urged to have their say on Colac Otway Shire Council’s roadmap for environmental sustainability that will guide actions over the next 10 years.

A Draft Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2023-2033 and Draft Climate Action Plan have gone on public exhibition for six weeks and Council wants to know what the community thinks.

Mayor Chris Potter said he was proud to release the documents. “We are really proud of these documents and appreciate the community members that gave feedback through their development,” he said.

“We know our communities have a strong interest in addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and they gave us that clear message as we shaped our Council Plan and Community Vision. So now we want to know what you think about these key documents so we can consider submissions and set our plans in place to manage our environment, adapt to a changing climate and support resilient communities.”

At its May meeting Council endorsed putting these two important draft documents out for public viewing and submissions, acknowledging that “its communities are facing a global climate change and biodiversity crisis, one that requires urgent action by all levels of government, including local councils.”

Residents and ratepayers now have until July 7 to view the documents, via the ‘Have Your Say’ section on Council’s website, or in hard copy at the Colac and Apollo Bay Customer Service Centres, and provide submissions via the website or in writing. Respondents also have the option of speaking to their submissions at a Submissions Committee meeting of Council on September 6.

“We encourage you to view the draft strategy and plan and consider making a submission, whether that be individuals, groups or businesses. And we do hope young people respond because this is about the future of our shire,” Cr Potter said.

“We are also asking people to participate in an online survey so that we better understand our communities’ views about carbon neutrality, emissions reductions and purchase of offsets, as a result of Council’s decision in April 2023 to defer purchasing further certified offsets until we understand the community’s views about where we should be focussing our financial investments in relation to our greenhouse gas emissions footprint,” the Mayor said.

“Please visit our website to find links to the draft plans and instructions on how to respond. We will take all those responses into consideration as we finalise the strategy and action plan.”

Visit https://www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/Community-Consultations/Draft-Environmental-Sustainability-Strategy-and-Draft-Climate-Change-Action-Plan to view the Strategy and Action Plan.