City of Charles Sturt

Is a Power Partner

We recognise that climate change is a matter of great significance to our community in the City of Charles Sturt. We have acknowledged that we need to act quickly together to achieve the significant emissions cuts required to keep warming to 1.5°C to reduce climate change impacts, some of which we are already experiencing.

We are excited to join the Cities Power Partnership to learn from, advocate with and join a network of councils across Australia who are addressing climate change and provide confidence to our community that we are taking action. This program will complement the work of our western Adelaide climate change adaptation council alliance, AdaptWest.

Mayor Angela Evans

Council has chosen the following pledges

Install renewable energy (solar PV and battery storage) on council buildings.

Provide fast-charging infrastructure throughout the city at key locations for electric vehicles.

Encourage sustainable transport use such as public transport, walking and cycling through council transport planning and design.

Set city-level renewable energy or emissions reduction targets.

Lobby state and federal government to address barriers to the take up of renewable energy, energy efficiency and/or sustainable transport.

City of Charles Sturt

What council has achieved in the past in energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable transport or broader sustainability

Major energy efficiency upgrades at our Civic Centre and Woodville Library as part of the Kill Bill$ energy efficiency program. Lighting and air conditioning unit upgrades, a building management system tune up and window shading has resulted in a 20% energy efficiency improvement.

Solar installed on our owned and operated buildings including the Woodville Library and three community centres.

Solar hot water program for eight sport clubs located in our buildings across our City.

Community energy efficiency grants for clubs and community organisations located in our buildings. This saw 128kW of solar installed and many other energy saving measures implemented. The program was funded by the savings achieved by the Kill Bill$ energy efficiency program.

Currently working on a project to changeover 8,200 inefficient street lamps to LEDs. This project will reduce carbon emissions by approximately 1,600 tonnes every year, on an ongoing basis.

We encourage alternative transport options and have installed bicycle racks at local railway stations, bike maintenance stations across our City and we support a free bike hire scheme.

 

What council hopes to achieve in the future in energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable transport or broader sustainability

Our Environmental Plan will be updated in 2020, providing us an opportunity to review our approach, resources and progress on climate change mitigation. Some of the actions that we aim to implement in the near future are to:

Explore the options to increase the uptake of electric vehicles

Continue to assess options to cool our streets and neighbourhoods

Increase the amount of food and garden organics that are diverted from landfill

Roll out up to 240kW of solar on our buildings over the next 2 years, and an additional 224kW of solar on our new Materials Recovery Facility in Kilburn (which is being built in partnership with the City of Port Adelaide Enfield)

Continue to work with our partners to implement the regional climate change adaptation action plan

Actively participate in the regional Zone Emergency Management process to plan for future emergencies including heatwaves and floods (both of which are forecast to increase in likelihood and severity as the climate warms)

 

What council hopes to gain from being a member of the Cities Power Partnership

 

By becoming a Power Partner we aim to strengthen our response to climate change mitigation by learning from others and having access to the resources and expertise the program provides. By being part of the Local Government voice on this issue we hope to provide confidence to our community that we are taking action.