October 2024 BREAZE Monthly Update special council election edition
BREAZE has made voting easier for you by developing a candidate scorecard. Before you vote, check out what the local candidates had to say about climate change - scan down to see the scorecard for your ward.
IN THIS EDITION
Why your vote matters
Score cards by ward
Upcoming Green Drinks
Upcoming Smart Living Ballarat
Consider environmental impacts this election
Council elections are here again, and your vote could not be more important. Climate change is a defining issue of this election, with 2023 being the hottest year on record, with raging fires, floods and damaging wind events occurring more regularly. We need councillors who understand what can be done about climate change at a local level to enable our city to reach its net zero target by 2030. Recent elections have shown strong voting trends towards candidates taking positive action to address climate change.
What do we need from our councillors? BREAZE sent out a questionnaire to all candidates to find where they stand on climate action. Responses for each ward can be found below and on our facebook page.
The effects of climate change are far-reaching and will impact our daily lives. Impacts on Agriculture, native wildlife and habitat, frequent severe weather patterns, urban heat and less favorable living conditions. Continued action needs to occur to keep temperature increases to 1.5 degrees.
The most effective solution to combat climate change is the transition to clean and renewable energy sources. We already see wind energy being generated close to Ballarat. Around 40% of our electricity in the grid is now produced from renewable sources like wind and solar.
Council sits in an ideal position to facilitate change. City of Ballarat is currently partnering with BREAZE to support reduction in home running costs and carbon emissions through home energy efficiency programs, workshops and information sessions, enabling households to transition to more efficient appliances.
Ensuring that homes and facilities are comfortable, energy efficient and meet the needs of going climatic conditions, can all be influenced by council decision making processes. Amenities like parks, walking tracks, areas that encourage physical activity, recreation facilities, tree canopy coverage and native habitat areas, are all within the scope of council planning and policies.
Ballarat needs to continue its focus and strengthen its efforts in transitioning into renewable energy and building a sustainable city that can adapt to changing climatic conditions. For this to occur we need to have strong leadership from our Council representatives.
Make your vote count for continued action on climate resilience for our city!
Not all candidates responded to our survey. The survey results that we have published are just one source of information to help voters make an informed decision.
Sue Broadway
BREAZE board member
Elisa Zentveld - Elisa indicated on her responses that issues coming before council should be assessed with a range of information including community input. She wants better recycling and a re-assessment on fortnightly rubbish collection. She is influenced by peer reviewed research.
Sundram Sivamalia - Sundram advised he has not been a member in any environmental groups or activities so far.
Ellen Burns - Ellen’s environment involvement includes – hosting Smart Living Ballarat, Co-founder of Hidden Orchard, committee member of Ballarat Permaculture Guild, previous board member for Food is Free, a Circular Economy Champion 2022 and member of Ballarat Zero Emissions Alliance. She is an organizer for Plastic Free Festival now in its 4th year.
Amy Johnson - Amy advised she supported the City of Ballarat’s Carbon Neutrality and 100% renewable Action Plan in 2019 and continues to support it.
Mark Jones - Mark’s number one priority is doubling the city’s tree planting program. He is also wanting to phase out wood-burning stoves to improve winter air quality. He is a member of Friends of the Canadian Corridor and has attended tree planting with FOCC and other groups.
Robert Pattie-Williams Robert views climate action as being the most pressing issue facing Australia.
Ben Taylor - Ben agrees its crucial that we actively work to reduce our environmental impact and supports policies to work towards carbon neutrality. He believes its crucial to strengthen protections for established trees and increase tree canopy. He volunteered with Clean up Australia and Friends of Canadian Corridor and Buninyong Sustainability with the EV charging station.
Belinda Coates - Belinda is a board member with Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, (CVGA), and involved with Regional Sustainability Alliance Ballarat (RSAB). She has participated in: Climate Emergency Conference; Greenhouse Alliance Climate Conference; and National Tree Day with local planting events.
Gab Salkowski - Gab has personally transitioned off gas. She thinks we can always do better with investing in sustainability. She is involved with The Greens, and Ballarat Permaculture Guild. She protested logging in Tasmanian old growth forests, attended the 2019 school strike for Climate in Ballarat, and in 2021 created the Trees for Hope fundraiser – resulting in 343 trees being planted.
Tracey Hargreaves - Tracey advises she is committed to working alongside community groups like BREAZE in achieving shared environmental goals. She actively participated in Clean up Australia Day. She looks forward to continuing discussions about how we can protect and preserve our environment for the future generations.
Tom Madden - Tom is active with Sports Environment Alliance (SEA) as an inaugural team member, and Rotary Club of Wendouree breakfast. He minimized waste as a Director at Obsidian Dark Beer Festival
Adrik Wright - Adrik helped organize and run Caring for Nature Expo in Ballarat in September 2022. He is a member of Gardens for Wildlife Ballarat.
Phillip Yordonopulo - Phillip did not provide additional information.
Stephen Jones - Stephen did not provide additional information
Tess Morgan - Tess has been involved with The State Environment Department. She has worked on protecting biodiversity and native vegetation through statewide policies.
Mark Harris - Mark has been involved in Environmental stewardship and Circular economy discussions with State government on Council.
Josh Whittingham - Josh has previously been active with BREAZE. He was a prospective board member in 2022 and is open to joining again.
Ray Borner - Ray responded to advise he is striving to represent all community members and for him it is essential that he remains unaligned with any political groups, so has declined to complete the survey.
David Harris - David has not been involved with an environmental group.
Rebecca McIntosh - Rebecca is involved in animal welfare. She feels council has not followed the proposed plans regarding climate change and reducing the city’s carbon footprint. She finds council decisions around projects affecting natural spaces and wildlife to be disappointing.
Jay Morrison - Jay is a Co-founder of Ballarat Tool Library, volunteer with The Hidden Orchard and BREAZE member. He Successfully advocated for a community garden at Midlands Reserve. Jay’s commitment is to waste management, housing and local jobs as his top 3 priorities using a prism of climate change on all matters
