By now, you may be aware that the State Government is conducting a public consultation on the Surf Coast Distinctive Area and Landscape Draft Statement of Planning Policy – a policy which will decide the future of the Torquay and Jan Juc townships. The formal consultation now underway is the culmination of a long and drawn out process. It was …
Newsletter 2020
In response to a very helpful email from one of our members, your committee unanimously agreed that we haven’t been communicating with our membership well. In response we’re pleased to say that’s been spectacularly turned around with this newsletter. A huge thankyou to our new committee member Isabelle Asfar who not only created this newsletter but also instigated a ground-breaking …
Think Resilience
We live in a time of tremendous political, environmental, and economic upheaval with many of us wondering, “But what can I do?” The Surf Coast Energy Group (SCEG) has invested in an initiative to make this easy for all Surf Coast Shire and Greater Geelong residents. Sign up today to receive directly to your phone the acclaimed Think Resilience program. …
Out and About
The Community of Leaders is a program funded through GORCC Coast Grant Program and focuses on building relationships with local places by going Out and About. Out and About is a project that focuses on spending time with the environment to build relationships that influence how we act and take care of the land, waterways, vegetation, animals, and insects. See www.goingoutandabout.net for …
In a canter? On who’s horse?
As the world meets in Madrid for the COP25, the federal government claims that Australia is on track to meet its emission reduction targets. PM Morrison has claimed numerous times that we’ll “meet Paris in a canter”. Officially, our target is a modest 26% reduction from 2005 levels. Certainly not impressive (when say, compared with the UK’s target of 57% …
Victoria: Lead on Community Energy – Community Groups Brief
While the Federal Government ignores the climate crisis, communities around the country are getting on with the transition to renewables. But without federal energy or climate policy many community energy projects may never come to fruition. That’s why we’re joining with Community Power Agency, the Coalition for Community Energy and Friends of the Earth to call on the Victorian Government …
Climate Change, the Ocean and the Surf Coast
At its recent New York session held last month, the IPCC released its latest special report, the Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate. The report focuses on how ocean (and ice) are likely to be impacted by a changing climate. It notes that those with the highest risks are often those with the lowest ability to respond, …
Climate Change, Land, Food and the Surf Coast.
Last week, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (the ‘IPCC’) released its latest special report on Climate Change and Land Land use, along with energy production and transport is one of the three biggest contributors to greenhouse gases; in order to avoid catastrophic climate change, we must transform all these sectors rapidly. The report highlights that agriculture now uses …
Grassroots Action at it’s Best
Damien Cole is a committee member of the Surf Coast Energy Group. He is also one of those rare breed of people that lives and breathes his principles. A strong connection to country, to people and to nature is how I would sum up Damo. Add the important ingredients of ‘at home in front of a crowd’, an excellent communicator, …
Repair Café Surf Coast Running Strong
SCEG members Jo Murray and Sue Guinness are the co-founders and organisers for the Repair Café Surf Coast. Repair Cafe Surf Coast is a monthly pop-up event where volunteers help visitors from the community to repair broken and worn-out items. It provides the opportunity for skilled, knowledgeable community members to share their skills and help others within our community who …