Mayor Amanda Findley is a strong advocate for climate action, actively tackling the big issues for the Shoalhaven community.
This case study takes a closer look at Mayor Findley’s sustainability work, exploring what led to her taking home the Climate Ambassador Award at the 2021 Cities Power Partnership Climate Awards.
Caption: Shoalhaven Mayor, Councillor Amanda Findley and Leading Seaman Aircrewman Bradley Thomas carrying boxes of sweet potatoes to feed the wildlife in a burnt out area of Moreton National Park. With the recent bush fires that devastated a large portion of the Shoalhaven flora in recent months, the local wildlife do not have sufficient food until this regenerates over time. Therefore, sweet potatoes and carrots are on the menu courtesy of Mayor Findley, 808 squadron personnel and the MRH90 helicopter.
How Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley is leading her community to a sustainable future
Mayor Findley’s work in increasing renewable energy, sustainable transport and resilience within the community has included driving a fully electric Council fleet car, providing financial support and ongoing advocacy to bushfire victims, encouraging more solar power installations and regularly attending Cities Power Partnership events. The Shoalhaven Mayor ‘walks the talk’ when it comes to climate action, embracing renewable energy for both Council and in her personal life.
Mayor Findley has represented Shoalhaven City Council in numerous media events to showcase and promote the achievements of Council in mitigating and adapting to climate change, as well as increasing renewable energy and community resilience. These have included:
- Presentation on bushfires at the National General Assembly
- Signed a joint statement under the Cities Power Partnership seeking more action from the federal government on climate change in order to prevent more extreme bushfires and floods from hitting regional areas, which had cost communities millions of dollars in damage.
- Provided quotes for the published media release on Shoalhaven Council winning the 2020 Cities Power Partnership National Climate Award in Energy Efficiency Achievement.
- Endorsed the Australian Bushfire and Climate Plan report
- Support for the proposed biogas plant in Shoalhaven, which would take dairy farm manure and convert it into renewable energy.
- Provided quotes and photos for Shoalhaven City Council winning the Local Government NSW 2020 Excellence in Environment Awards in the Towards Net Zero Emissions category.
- Supported energy-savings LED lighting upgrade for local sports fields.
- Announcement of energy efficiency initiatives including almost 4,000 residential street lights replaced with energy efficient LED lamps across the Shoalhaven LGA, and Council’s Revolving Energy Fund.
- In late 2020, Shoalhaven City Council renewed its CPP pledges towards a sustainable future, which Mayor Findley promoted across the media.
- Media and Council support for the Shoalhaven’s first solar farm coordinated by Repower Shoalhaven, a community energy group, now under construction at South Nowra.
- Shoalhaven City Council recognised the one-year anniversary since the Black Summer bushfires with the release of a short video titled: Our Shoalhaven: 2019. The video reflects on the impact of the bushfires for the Shoalhaven and features Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Amanda Findley along with community leaders from the region.
This broad range of media opportunities listed above demonstrates just how active and prominent Mayor Findley has been in sharing and recognising the efforts of Shoalhaven City Council staff and the community on climate action.
Mayor Amanda Findley was a winner in the Climate Ambassador category in the Cities Power Partnership Climate Awards 2021.
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