Sustainability
Sustainability Strategy 2018 - 2023
Broken Hill City Council is committed to developing a sustainable and liveable City.
Council’s Sustainability Strategy 2018 - 2023 was developed in response to Council’s Broken Hill 2033 Community Strategic Plan and identifies 11 action plans which include energy, water, waste, transport and the built environment.
Cities Power Partnership
The Broken Hill City Council is a Power Partner with Cities Power Partnership. This partnership allows Council and the community to work in collaboration with other Council’s and stakeholders to investigate best practice, share opportunities and knowledge and ensure that a national asset is protected for generations to come.
Broken Hill City Council identifies the following five pledge items which are categorised into energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable transport and working together.
Renewable Energy Action
Install renewable energy (solar PV and battery storage) on council buildings for example childcare facilities, libraries, street lighting, recreation centres, sporting grounds, and council offices.
Council pledge - investigate opportunities for Council buildings and facilities to achieve 100% renewable status.
Energy Efficiency Action
Public lighting can use a large proportion of a city’s energy budget - roll out energy efficient lighting (particularly street lighting) across the municipality.
Council pledge - rollout LED street lighting with smart controls. Council is working with other southern Councils in NSW on the Southern Lights Project to reduce energy usage and maintenance of its street lighting infrastructure with the introduction of LED street lighting with smart controls.
Sustainable Transport Action
Providing for adequate cycle lanes (both space and connectivity) in road design and supporting cyclists through providing parking, and end-of-ride facilities (covered, secure bike storage, showers, bicycle maintenance and incentives).
Council pledge - renew and improve our cycling, walking and mobility connections to reduce carbon emissions and increase our city’s liveability.
Sustainable Transport
Ensure Council fleet purchases meet strict greenhouse gas emissions requirements and support the uptake of electric vehicles.
Council pledge - introduction of hybrid or electric vehicles to Council’s fleet as part of fleet replacement.
Work together and influence
Set city-level renewable energy or emissions reduction targets and sustainable energy policies to provide a common goal and shared expectations for local residents and businesses.
Council pledge - achieve 100% renewable status for the City of Broken Hill by 2030.
Renewable Energy
Broken Hill City Council has a welcoming approach to renewable energy developments and Council is committed to its position as a regional advocate to secure government and industry support to grow the region’s renewable energy industry. The City and surrounding region is a leader in the renewable energy sector in Australia – home to the AGL Broken Hill Solar Plant (the second largest installation of its kind in Australia) that feeds enough energy into the grid each year to power the city’s residential power needs more than two and a half times over. The Silverton Wind Farm further bolsters the region’s renewable industry by generating up to six times the amount of electricity that the solar plant produces.
Smart City Framework
Council’s Smart City Framework endorses key elements designed to reduce human impact on our environment.
Planet Footprint
Council also monitors its energy consumption through the subscription service Planet Footprint.
Sustainable Products & Services Guide
The following websites may be useful when seeking information regarding sustainable products or services available in this region. Council does not endorse specific products or services.
Sustainable Building
Green Building Council of Australia - Information about green building practices.
http://www.gbca.org.au/
Your Home - Resources for sustainable building and renovations including rainwater, solar panels and building material use.
http://www.yourhome.gov.au/
Sustainable Products
Good Environmental Choice - Independent assessment of environmentally sensitive products.
http://www.geca.org.au/
Ethical Consumer Guide - Information in regards to the production of everyday consumer products and its source or impact
http://www.ethical.org.au
Saving Energy and Emissions
Clean Energy Council of Australia - Information about renewable and alternative energy and lists of accredited installers
http://cleanenergycouncil.org.au/
Carbon Offsets, Carbon Neutral - An independent review of and guide to carbon offset programs available in Australia
http://www.carbonneutral.com.au/
Drive Green - How to calculate vehicle emissions and about purchasing carbon offsets
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/myrta/publications-tools-forms/drivegreen.html
Save Power - Useful information on cutting your power and energy bills and reducing your greenhouse gas emissions https://energysaver.nsw.gov.au
Cut Your Power Bills NSW - Information about cutting your power bills and getting the best deal from your energy provider https://www.energy.gov.au/
Government Departments
Federal Government Department of Environment:
Information on living sustainably.
https://www.environment.gov.au
Information for households, community and industry on adapting to climate change and reducing overall impact.
https://www.climatechange.gov.au/
Federal Government Department of Industry, Innovation and Science:
Your Energy Savings - information about saving energy and water and government assistance.
https://www.energy.gov.au