Council carbon plan ‘set to hit ratepayers’

Geelong ratepayers could foot the bill for their council’s plan to slash its carbon emissions 30 per cent, a councillor has warned.
Tom O’Connor, who holds council’s environment portfolio, said meeting the emissions target “would not come cheap”.
Cr O’Connor could not rule out rates rising to pay for the carbon cuts.
“I can’t guarantee it,” Cr O’Connor said.
“There is a cost element to it but if we don’t do it (cut emissions) and stay still we will be grossly irresponsible.”
The warning follows a story in the Independent two weeks ago on a study that found the cost of combating climate change would hit Geelong region households harder than almost anywhere else in Australia.
Councillors this week approved the plan to cut City of Greater Geelong’s carbon emissions 30 per cent below 2006 volumes in less than three years. The target rises to 60 per cent by 2025.
A City study found that council buildings emitted almost 15,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, about 46 per cent of council’s total emissions.
Street lights were next highest at 13,000 tonnes, or 41 per cent of emissions, and council’s vehicle fleet pumped out about 4000 tonnes, 13 per cent. A 30 per cent cut would force the City’s emissions down almost 10,000 tonnes a year.
Cr O’Connor said the City would focus on its buildings, street lights and 422-strong vehicle fleet to achieve the cuts.
Consolidating council offices in one “environmentally sustainable” building in central Geelong would tackle the major emissions source, he said.
Council would also investigate installation of solar and wind-powered street lights to cut the second highest emissions source, Cr O’Connor said.
An ongoing “rationalisation” of council’s vehicle fleet with LPG conversions, hybrid power cars and smaller vehicles was also on the agenda.
Cr O’Connor said council was “serious” about achieving the cut.