Blog
Powering 2025 with Simon Holmes à Court and Ric Brazzale
Held for the first time in the Malvern Town Hall, the Lighter Footprints annual energy transition event featuring Simon Holmes à Court and Ric Brazzale was a big success. The 400 attendees were treated to an inviting array of community organisation stalls, an engaging...
Rain and shine – volunteering at the Ashburton Festival
"For the Kids". So true at the Ashburton Festival - climate volunteers getting out there for kids, families turning up with kids. This is why we step up and talk of all the good things that climate action can bring to communities, and listen deeply to parents, busy...
Launching Kooyong Votes Climate!
The community really turned out to launch our 2025 Kooyong Votes Climate campaign. Starting off with a bang! Sarah Hegarty said that the campaign launch was fantastic. "A highlight for me was to see the venue packed out with people - just about standing room only!...
Local Government Working Group response to Boroondara Council Community Consultation on the Climate Action Plan February 2025
Lighter Footprints Local Government Working Group Response to Community Consultation on Climate Action Plan The Local Government Working Group is pleased to be able to provide feedback to Boroondara Council on the progress of the implementation of the Climate Action...
Getting out on the streets!
One on one conversations really matter They are our most effective form of communication with our community. Our Saturday morning conversations interrupt people in their daily lives and say implicitly, “Look up, climate change matters, you need to think about this...
Bluesky basics – Education and mobilisation
Can Bluesky become a new Twitter? Part A: Bluesky - helping to get people to field campaigns and election events In the 2022 election, particularly in Kooyong, Twitter was used extensively in helping to gather volunteers and getting them to campaign events as well as...
Material benefits, and staying the course: Lessons from the US
Trump's election and climate Although a major setback, climate impacts can be lessened if other countries stay the course Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics writes “The energy transition is now well under way. The economics of renewable technologies are so attractive...
Climate wins in 2024: Boroondara’s historic result
What a win! From a pretty conservative Council to a strong climate-active majority The result is historic, a profound shift, and a testament to the huge volunteer efforts for individual progressive Councillors across Boroondara. As Lighter Footprints committee member...
Consideration needed – Camberwell Activity Centre proposal
Activity Centre Proposal Camberwell has been designated by the state government as an Activity Centre ‘pilot’ with the plan to implement the rules developed across metropolitan Melbourne. The State government’s Camberwell Activity Centre includes the Commercial ‘Core’...
Energy Policy: Facts and Fiction blog
Energy Policy: Facts and Fiction with Dr Dylan McConnell In order to be strong advocates for the energy policy Australia needs to rapidly decarbonise the Lighter Footprints community seeks information from well credentialed experts. On Wednesday 21st August we were...
Energy Compare: Quick wins on energy bills
Can you believe it? Attendees at the upcoming Electrify Boroondara Expo could probably save a total of $100,000 per annum if they used the Victorian Energy Compare website! Let's justify this claim! In December 2023 the ACCC published a report into the National...
Kew Recreation Centre Presentation
Presentation of Petition to the City of Boroondara The Kew Recreation Centre is undergoing a major redevelopment, however in October 2022 a section of the steel roof structure partially collapsed. There is more detail on progress here on the Boroondara Council’s...
Nuclear & CCS: Wrong turn or right turn?
After all these years of numerous detours, blind alleys or failed energy plans, coupled with Peter Dutton’s nuclear challenge, it’s time for a clear-eyed look at some energy supply facts. What about nuclear, and what is the likely impact of the Liberal policy? What...
Knowledge is power – control your energy bills, increase home comfort
Despite the wintery conditions, was an enthusiastic audience to listen to our speakers Tim Forcey, David Coote, Ken Parker and David Strang, learn about electrifying and increasing their home’s energy efficiency, and launch Tim Forcey's new book, The Efficient...
How to make a personal contribution on the road to net zero
What can we do and why? The road to net zero is one we must travel and it is important that we arrive as soon as possible. The good news is that every individual can play their part even if the heavy lifting must be done by Government and Industry. Lighter...
Richard Denniss: We can and we must get cracking on clean energy and climate!
There are more people washing poodles or serving Big Macs than working in the gas industry, but Australians still believe that fossil fuels are the backbone of Australia. Why is this, and what are we going to do about breaking free of coal and gas industries’ death grip on our politics? Tough talk and a hopeful message from Richard Denniss.
Boroondara’s new Tree Canopy Strategy 2024
The role canopy trees play in providing shade and countering the urban heat island effect. Image credit: GroupGSA Tree Canopy The tree canopy in Boroondara includes trees in streets and transport corridors, parks and nature reserves, private gardens, waterway...
Your 2030 Home and Neighbourhood
On 17th April 2024 we held a public meeting at the Balwyn Park Centre to discuss what changes are likely between now and 2030 in our homes and in our neighbourhoods. We had three knowledgeable speakers addressing the issues followed by a lively Q and A session.
Help make forest protection permanent: Forests Working Group updates
JUNE 2025 UPDATE Destruction continues The Victorian goverenment ended the harvesting of native forests on 1 January 2024 but contractors are still employed in forests under the Forestry Transition Program doing other things including fire breaks, tree removal in the...
Submissions by the Energy Transition Group
About the Lighter Footprints Energy Transition Working Group The Energy Transitions Group meets fortnightly with a focus on pulling together energy data, latest innovations and submissions to government and making climate solutions accessible to a variety of...
Protected: Fundraising progress 2023-2024
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The State of the Forests and the Recovery Challenge
Our 27th September public meeting at the Balwyn Park Centre was a standing room only event. You can view the event here. We welcomed a capacity crowd and listened intently to the three passionate forest defenders; Professor David Lindenmayer from ANU with Sue McKinnon...
Greater Glider Spotlighting Magic at Toolangi Forest
Family forest adventure and Greater Glider spotlighting On Saturday 16th September Lighter Footprints, Boroondara ACF and Kinglake Friends of the Forest hosted our first Family Forest event. It was a most wonderful event. We had over 60 participants ranging in age...
Increase the comfort of your home!
Learn more about being cooler in summer and warmer in winter Lighter Footprints members were delighted to welcome two experienced industry speakers talking about increasing home comfort (and lowering energy bills) through draught proofing and insulation. A big thanks...
Public EV chargers: what’s available in Boroondara Council area (and Stonnington and Whitehorse Councils)
Where can I access a public charger for my EV around Boroondara?