BULOKE Shire Council will integrate climate into its operations, reduce landfill emissions and invest in greener transport as it takes action on climate change.
Council last week adopted a 10-year climate change mitigation and adaption strategy and plan for community consultation.
A community survey has already been undertaken which identified risks and opportunities under the themes of people, natural resources, built environment, economy and council operations.
Director of community development Travis Fitzgibbon said actions were categorised into 13 goals for climate action including integrate climate into council operations, robust emissions measurement, ongoing emergency management and waste and landfill emissions reductions.
Other goals were council building improvements, community building improvements, energy security and technology switching, low emission transport, transport infrastructure improvements, improve septic tank management, enhance biodiversity, conservation and revegetation, adaptive agriculture and shared community vision.
The report said general projection for climate scenarios in Buloke included average temperature increases across all seasons, increase in the number of extreme temperatures, reduced annual rainfall, increase in heavy rainfall intensity, increased evaporation, and reduced humidity and frosts.
“The wide-reaching impacts associated with climate change present an adaptation challenge for the Buloke Shire,” the report said.
“Plenty of opportunity is also present in this adaptation challenge.
“Innovating new ways to achieve outcomes with a softer touch on the planet, adapting to a climate with more extremes, enhancing renewable options and understanding the combined community approach needed for the long-term risk reduction.
“Climate change mitigation refers to measures to avoid and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while adaptation refers to measures to adjust to current and expected impacts of climate change.
“Mitigating climate change will help to avoid future climate change scenarios and adaptation will help manage the effects of climate change impacts that are unavoidable.”
The report highlighted extreme events such as floods and fires that were “likely” to increase.
Buloke Shire Mayor Daryl Warren said of the 2030 climate scenario predictions, survey respondents were most concerned about increase in extreme temperature days, fire risk and reduced annual rainfall.
“The top concerns about climate change impacts included disruption to essential services closely followed by loss of native plants and animals, and reduced crop yields or livestock health, followed by increase in pests, and water quality and security,” he said.
“When asked how they felt about how climate change may impact their lives, respondents were mostly concerned about the impact on their quality of life, cost of living and economic viability of businesses (particularly farming and family farms).”
Cr Warren said the Buloke community was already making progress towards climate change mitigation and adaptation to reduce their emissions, particularly towards waste reduction, improving energy efficiency, installing solar panels and making improvements to their property.
Buloke councillor Graeme Milne said some people in the community would “wonder where this is all going to go”.
“It’s great that we have made a decision to have a clear and concise step towards the right direction.
“I would just hope the community get into it and consults with us about it because it does cover a wide range of things that we are responsible for in daily lives.
“It will be one that dictates where we spend our money and some other things may miss out so to speak.”
