Our journey
What council has achieved in the past in energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable transport or broader sustainability
For well over a decade, Baw Baw Shire Council has successfully implemented initiatives to improve our energy efficiency and deliver sustainable outcomes for our community and environment. We’ve installed over 100 solar power systems including solar PV, solar hot water, heat pump, solar ventilation and solar lighting on Community and Council buildings. We’ve replaced over 2,600 Mercury Vapour Street lights with LEDs to complete our Street Lighting Energy Efficient Changeover Program and are actively engaged in recording sustainability benchmarks for our Council buildings while introducing Climate change assessment tools into our capital works processes.
In a wider sustainability sense, the Baw Baw Shire Council is committed to achieving the actions and commitments in our Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2018-2022. The Baw Baw Shire was one of the first Victorian Councils to establish a Native Vegetation Offset Scheme and previous Environmental Plans and Strategies have supported Planning Scheme and Local law amendments, introducing important overlays. These overlays include those protecting the Gippsland Giant Earthworm and Baw Baw’s Significant trees.
What council hopes to achieve in the future in energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable transport or broader sustainability
Baw Baw Shire Council intends to continue to provide community leadership with the development of an Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan. The Plan aims to identify carbon reduction and carbon neutrality targets. Council also intends to establish a Revolving Sustainability Fund to help implement reduction measures and take advantage of State and Federal Adaptation and Mitigation Programs.
What council hopes to gain from being a member of the Cities Power Partnership
Sharing prosperity and knowledge to achieve sustainable living is part of Baw Baw Shire’s Community Vision. Council believes that joining the Cities Power Partnership supports this vision through the facilitation of greater knowledge sharing, and access to analytical tools and industry experts.