Boroondara Local Government Elections benefits of voting climate

 

Stronger local climate action benefits the whole community!

Council elections are coming up in October, and your vote is a powerful tool for climate action.

Councils can support their communities to:

  • Take up solar
  • Electrify their homes
  • Adopt active transport
  • Protect tree canopy and biodiversity

Council elections matter for climate!

Electing a climate friendly Coucil benefits the whole community

Listening to the community

Real consultations on Council actions
We want a Council that values community input.
A responsive Council would offer:

  • Regular Ward meetings
  • Climate advisory group with community members
  • Real consultation on Council’s budget
Preserving and enhancinhg our green spaces is an important part of local climate action

Protecting green spaces

Preserving leafy Boroondara
Tree canopy loss in Boroondara is alarming, and our biodiversity is under threat.
A climate-friendly Council will:

  • Increase tree planting programs
  • Raise Council tree canopy target
  • Enhance biodiversity corridors
  • Increase efforts to stop illegal tree removals
  • Combat developer moonscaping
Councils can do so much to support EV uptake

Supporting EV uptake

Make Boroondara EV ready
Increasing public EV charge availability improves EV uptake and will help drop emissions.
Council can:

  • Improve charging options for residences with no off street parking
  • Install more public chargers on Council land
  • Accelerate Council fleet transition
  • Advocate for improved EV support in planning rules

Boroondara Candidates Forum – Tues, October 8th online

Ask your Candidates anything! 

  • All Candidates invited – ward-based sessions, RSVP here
  • Quiz your Candidates on support for green spaces, electrification, solar, EV charging and more
October 8 Boroondara Candidate Forum event link 1200
Cycling and active transport reduce congesytion and increase our health

Making active transport easy

Cycling and walking improves our health
Supporting active transport will reduce congestion and help reduce emissions.
Key actions include:

  • More dedicated bike lanes for commuting to school and work
  • Support for walkable neighbourhoods
  • Enhanced school active transport zones
  • Update the 2006 Integrated Transport Strategy
Induction cooktops are better for our health and so easy to clean

Going electric, increasing home comfort

Council can help community along the electrification journey
Local governments have a key role in going electric as they are the closest to our daily lives.
Options include:

  • Targeted grants and support for low income residents
  • Active community outreach and education
  • Tailored advice to business
Electric appliances are more efficient and save money

Electric appliances are more efficient, save money, and do not release irritating indoor pollutants.

Reverse cycle air conditioning for heating (and cooling) is safer than ducted gas heating, improves air quality, is better for your respiratory health, and saves hundreds of dollars per year in running costs.

Replacing your gas hot water system with an electric heat pump, has lower running costs, reduces your energy bills and leads to significant savings in household emissions, particularly when coupled with solar PV or green electricity purchases.

Induction cooking is very efficient with precise control of temperature and is safer than gas cooking. Often gas cooking is the last gas appliance to go, allowing householder to save hundreds of dollars each year from disconnecting from gas – and the cooktop is much easier to clean.

 

 

 

Going electric drops asthma risk

Gas appliances exacerbate childhood asthma and are associated with other health impacts.

University of Queensland research found that gas cooking is causally implicated in 12% of childhood asthma – this was further publicised through a Climate Council report. Asthma Australia is informing parents about the risks of gas cooking.

An epidemiological meta-analysis found that “children living in a home with gas cooking have a 42% increased risk of having current asthma, a 24% increased risk of lifetime asthma”.

The Climate Council reporting on an environmental health study on gas stoves states “more than half of occupants with were routinely exposed to harmful levels of NO2 and formaldehyde” if used with poor ventilation.

Reduce asthma risk immediately for under $100!

  • Always use ventilation when cooking with gas
  • Try out induction cooking with a portable unit – its fast, efficient and easy to clean

 

 

 

A climate friendly Coucil can help increasing solar uptake on appartment blocks

Making your own energy!

Supporting solar uptake
Local government is a great place to offer targeted support for solar PV.
Councils can:

  • Education: seminars and workshops – reduce research time
  • Enhanced bulk buy program and public advocacy
  • Pay back solar through rates and targeted grants

Let’s protect Boroondara’s leafy environment and our families’ health and future

Think about the climate when you vote!

Let’s make sure our community is supported in transitioning to affordable, efficient electric homes and sustainable transport.

Find out more about the local elections in Boroondara and your ward boundaries here.

Check out our Vote Climate page for information about our Vote Climate campaign, placing accurate information in the hands of voters.

Further information

Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC)

City of Boroondara

Lighter Footprints

Going electric and energy efficiency

Solar PV

Tree Canopy

Acknowledgements

We appreciate the efforts of Lighter Footprints and KCCA volunteers who are preparing candidate questionnaires and developing ward-based candidate climate scorecards to help inform your vote.

All candidates will be offered the opportunity to inform the electorate of their climate polices.

All candidates are invited to the Boroondara Candidates Forum, online on Zoom on October 8th 7.30pm – 9pm, to speak to the community and answer questions.

Kooyong Climate Change Alliance (KCCA)

Along with partner local climate groups, Lighter Footprints is a member of KCCA.
Lighter Footprints and KCCA are running the non-partisan Vote Climate campaign in Boroondara.

This page is authorised by L. Frankes, PO Box 487, Kew East, Vic.