As part of the Brighton Council’s commitment to tackle climate change, Gen­eral Manager James Dry­burgh recently presented at the 2022 LGAT Climate Change Conference, detail­ing the Council’s climate change action plan.

Over the last 10 years the Council has undertaken 15 greenhouse gas emission reduction measures, focus­ing on energy efficiency im­provements in heating and lighting, renewable energy such as solar generation installations, and organic waste management strate­gies. These measures have saved an estimated $1.7M dollars from an initial in­vestment of $720,000.

Three council owned solar systems have generated 375,000 units of electric­ity, and as of 2021, 1,740 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions are being avoided each year. Since the introduction of FOGO waste services to the Brigh­ton municipality in 2021, an estimated 1000 tonnes of organic waste have been diverted away from land­fill, and now saving 1560 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. Buildings, parks, and sporting grounds have had solar panels installed, their lights upgraded to LED’s, and heating switched to more energy ef­ficient options. Over 1000 street lights have been switched to LEDs, reducing electricity use and saving over $100,000 a year.

In 2021/22 the Council received a $150,000 grant to upgrade and repair over­land stormwater pathways, redirecting them away from homes and reducing flood risk, and a $55,000 grant to identify risks, quantify mitigation costs and engage with the com­munity for the Brighton Derwent River Foreshore Coastal Hazards Project.