Climate Change Strategy

The City of Cockburn's responses to Seven West Media on 9.9.20 about the City's proposed Climate Change Strategy -


Question: How much would a “climate change officer” earn?
Answer: The fulltime Climate Change Officer position would be a level 6 or 7 (starting salary $82k).

Question: Are there any current climate change officers?
Answer: The City employs a part-time Climate Change Officer (to develop the strategy) approx. 20 hours per week.

Question: How much waste is the City contracted to have to provide to the waste to energy plant?
Answer: Under the terms of the agreement with HZI Consortium, the City will supply its residual waste to the East Rockingham Waste to Energy facility on a ‘waste arising basis’, meaning it will only pay for capacity it uses.
This means there is no penalty for implementing waste reduction schemes, such as waste avoidance, reduction, and introducing a third bin for compostable organic waste.
This contracting structure allows the City to recover as much resources from waste as it can and to continue educating communities on waste minimisation.
Currently, general waste tonnages from the City’s red lid bins amounts to about 21,000 tonnes per year.

Question: Are there any projected costs for adopting this plan?
Answer: The following information is in the Resourcing section of the proposedClimate Change Strategy 2020-2030:
 
The action plan is supported by the City’s Greenhouse Action Fund which includes an allocation of $200,000 each year. The Greenhouse Action Fund was established in 2011 using ongoing savings from previous emission reduction initiatives. To date the fund has financed over $2 million in projects including a 1MV PV systems and geothermal for the Cockburn Aquatic and Recreation Centre.
The City will also explore grant opportunities from the state and federal government to further advance the action plan.
Many actions in this strategy align to existing strategies or plans which provide guidance on resources and funding. The remaining actions will be subject to annual budget submissions, approved business cases by responsible leaders and budget capacity.
Coordination of the actions, delivery of education programs and the continued investment in researching new initiatives will require the appointment of a full-time Climate Change Officer (currently part-time contract).
It is recommended a full-time Climate Change Officer be included in the Work Force Plan for appointment in the 2021- 2022 financial year to oversee the implementation of this strategy and the climate resilience roadmap.

Cockburn Council endorsed the proposed Climate Change Strategy 2020-2030 at its 10 September Ordinary Meeting.
Read the Media Release on the City's website.