Published on 18 May 2022

Towards Zero Emissions

The City of Onkaparinga has developed a Towards Zero Corporate Emissions Roadmap, which sets a target of 80 per cent reduction in its corporate greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

The roadmap builds on council’s slashing of emissions by almost half over the past decade following a slew of energy-reducing projects.

Its 2030 timeframe has been identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as the most critical to making rapid, deep and sustained greenhouse gas emissions cuts to limit global warming.

The roadmap outlines how council will achieve its target across four key areas:

  • buildings – continue to install solar and improve energy efficiency in council-managed buildings
  • streetlighting – to be 100 per cent LED by 2025
  • fleet and plant– ensure 80 per cent of council fleet vehicles are electric or hydrogen by 2035
  • recycled material buy back 50 per cent of kerbside recycling plastics collected by 2024-25.

City of Onkaparinga Acting Mayor Simon McMahon said he’s proud of council’s track record in managing corporate emissions in a financially sustainable manner.

“Council has been tracking and reporting on our corporate greenhouse gas emissions since 1998, and we’ve managed a 47 per cent reduction in corporate emissions since 2020-11," Acting Mayor McMahon said.

"Our energy use has also reduced by 33 per cent during the same period.

“Our new roadmap builds on this by setting a trajectory toward an ambitious but achievable further reduction in our emissions."

Reductions to date have been achieved by the installation of 1,000 solar panels at council’s three highest energy-consuming sites. Council has established circular procurement targets prioritising the use of recycled materials in council projects including the use of 10,000 tonnes of recycled asphalt in roadworks across the city. Our region also boasts the first South Australian road built using recycled soft plastics and glass.

Council also offers environmental grants of up to $5000 for implementing energy efficiency upgrades in community leased, council owned buildings. This funding can be used for environmental initiatives like installing solar panels which is just what Christies Beach Sailing Club did when they were successful in their 2021 grant application.

The Roadmap outlines actions across the four main areas where further reductions can be made – electricity, buildings, fleet and plant, and purchasing recycled material.

The projects contained in the roadmap are primarily funded through council’s Revolving Resources Fund which is dedicated to funding energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability projects that generate cost savings. These savings are put back into the fund for reinvestment in future energy-reducing projects.

"Council is serious about responding to climate change and the exciting projects in our roadmap will not only be good for the planet, they will continue to reduce our operating budget by lowering the ongoing costs of fuel and electricity," said Acting Mayor McMahon.

"This is good news for our ratepayers."

The roadmap is the latest in a series of climate change response and adaptation initiatives in the City of Onkaparinga, including the construction of the Southern Materials Recovery Facility, the release of the Coastal Adaptation Study and the development of the Resilient South Regional Climate Action Plan.

Next will be a draft Climate Change Response Plan to be presented to Council on 7 June followed by public consultation from 8 June to 6 July.

To view the Towards Zero Corporate Emissions Roadmap visit council’s website.

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