Public energy efficiency programs funded under the Rudd government are in doubt, leaving Hume council and 47 other Victorian municipalities, up in the air on the eve of the third annual government sustainability conference in Melbourne.
The conference includes delegates from local, state and federal governments and agencies providing comprehensive analysis and advice about how to embed environmentally sustainable policies and practices within public sector organisations and the communities they serve.
Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) president Bill McArthur has called on state and federal governments to honour commitments and contracts for local energy- saving projects that could deliver savings valued at up to $340 million in coming years.
Hume sourced funding through the federal community energy-efficiency program to transition to energy-efficient street lighting, and was notified in July it had been successful in its application for nearly $2 million in funding from the Rudd government program.
City sustainability director Kelvin Walsh said at the time the $1,883,519 funding for Hume would be used to roll out the council’s Lighting the Way project, upgrading residential street lights to energy-efficient T5 light bulbs. It would also improve energy efficiency at seven council buildings and leisure centres and engage the Hume community to increase energy efficiency in homes.
The project was expected to save Hume ratepayers more than half a million dollars a year in energy and maintenance bills, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 3600 tonnes of emissions a year – the equivalent of taking more than 900 cars off the road.
“We call on the new Minister for Environment, Greg Hunt, to assure councils that these contracts will be honoured,” said the MAV president, adding that the association was disappointed the Victorian government had axed its $20 million Green Lights election commitment last year.
The MAV and project partner Ironbark Sustainability are providing a program to support local governments’ energy-efficient street lighting bulk changeovers.
