President's May Report

CoB 2023/24 Draft Budget

This month the Draft Budget for 23/24 was submitted to Council. The City of Ballarat (CoB) is currently seeking community feedback via MySay Ballarat  on the Ballarat Draft 2023/24 Budget until 5 pm 19 May. BREAZE Inc. believes much more funding needs to be allocated to the Climate Action Program, particularly the Ballarat community-wide 2030 Net Zero Plan- BZE 2030. With less than 7 years left we need to see ambitious action now. We urge you to check out the Draft 2023/24 Budget on MySay Ballarat and complete the survey and make a submission if you can. Make your voice heard. Anyone wanting to cite the urgency for acting on climate change might like to reference this article in The Guardian - World on the brink of five 'disastrous' climate tipping points - published in September 2022. Since then of course the IPCC's Synthesis Report was released in March this year - there's a good summary of it in this ABC article: IPCC climate scientists issue 'a survival guide for humanity', warning window closing to reduce emissions, by Michael Slezack and Loretta Florance.

If you make an online submission via the MySay Ballarat site you are also eligible to make an oral presentation to Council at an unscheduled meeting on Wednesday 7 June at 6:30pm. 

A quick search online will reveal that many Councils are running Home Electrification Programs, something we believe should also be offered in Ballarat.

ZERO EMISSIONS BALLARAT 2030 PLAN 

The BZE Plan has 50 Actions detailed at the end of the document and while many of these are to implemented by different community sectors, there is also a need for Council leadership here.

As noted in the April President's Report, BREAZE Inc. is part of the BZE Alliance, along with a number of other sustainability and climate action groups keen to work with Council to implement some of the Actions in the Plan. You can read the Plan here

The BZE Alliance is keen to work with Council and other sectors of the community in driving down emissions and is hoping to see more funding allocated to climate action when the final 2023/24 budget is presented to Council in June.

BULK BUYS:  COLLABORATIONS WITH HEPBURN ENERGY

Heat Pump Bulk Buy - CLOSED

The Hot Water Heat Pump Bulk Buy has now closed. If you missed out do not despair. The Victorian Energy Upgrade program offers some rebates that should be checked out. 

EV Bulk Buy Event 6 May

Thanks to great planning by BREAZE Inc. Vice President, Campbell Mercer and a great team of volunteers, the Saturday 6 May EV event organised by BREAZE Inc. at the Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre drew over 100 regional residents keen to learn about EVs and take them for test drives. The event was a collaboration with Hepburn Energy and the Good Car Co . If you missed out you can still book a test drive in a Nissan Leaf in  Ballarat via the Good Car Co website  PLEASE NOTE: the booking schedule is due to be upgraded by 13 May. 

BUILDING BETTER HOMES FOR THE FUTURE FORUMS 2 & 3

The public forum for residents interested in building more thermally efficient homes, Achieving 7 Stars and Net Zero Homes was held at the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute (BMI) on Sunday April 3, from 1-3pm. The keynote speaker was Jeremy Spencer – Director at design & build company Positive Footprints, founding member of Builders Declare, and current member of  the Design Matters Board, the Sustainability Hub, and the NatHERS Stakeholder Consultative Group. The Forum was booked out with over 120 attending the event in the BMI's Minerva Room. A recording of the event can be found here

For more information about the Forum read the article on the BREAZE website. Great work again by BREAZE Inc. volunteers, Sue Broadway, Pat Hockey, Lydia Mzondo, and Sue Nunn and special thanks to BREAZE Inc. Board member, Sally Missing, the Coordinator of the Building Better Homes for the Future Forums. Another forum is due to be held in coming months. Follow BREAZE Inc. on facebook for updates.

FREE EVENTS COMING UP THIS MONTH

May 18: Ballarat Green Drinks - Gavin Cerini - An Owner's Review of the BYD Atto 3.

6:30-8:00pm, Bunch of Grapes Hotel, 401 Pleasant St, South, Ballarat - Join us for drinks/dinner and great talks and conversation.

This month we have Gavin Cerini giving an owner's review of the BYD Atto 3. Gavin took delivery of his Atto 3 a few month ago and has no regrets he says, but is happy to share the pros and cons. This year Drive.com.au dubbed the Atto 3 the best value car under $70,000. Those attending Gavin's presentation will also be able to check out the Atto 3 in the carpark.

Free book via Trybooking: https://www.trybooking.com/CEXYC

Volunteer Tree Planting Anyone? Sunday 14 May 2-4, 360 Dobson's Lane Burrumbeet.

Last month's Ballarat Green Drinks speaker, farmer and conservationist, Susan Moodie will be holding a community tree planting session on her land in Burrumbeet and anyone interested is invited to attend. The address is 360 Dobson's Lane, Burrumbeet. Susan says those coming should bring a shovel, sensible footwear and gloves. Volunteers will be rewarded by afternoon tea prepared by Susan. Over many years, Susan has developed wildlife corridors around her property at Burrumbeet, creating habitat for birds and other wildlife. Please email Susan if you are going and include your mobile: <>

May 24: Smart Living Ballarat - 12:30-1:30 pm

On Wednesday May 24 Ellen Burns, host of Smart LIving Ballarat (SLB) will again be sharing her tops tips on beating the Ballarat cold. 'Free ways to stay warm!' was a hit last year so we thought we'd run it again. It's no less cold this year we believe. 

This session will be available to attend in person, with venue yet to be confirmed - please check the SLB Facebook page for details - and will also be livestreamed. Check out the  Smart Living Ballarat Facebook page for our monthly talks.  The recording of the talk will be posted and available to watch, rewatch and share.

BOARD MATTERS

With our focus strongly on the Actions detailed in the Ballarat community wide net zero 2030 Plan, the Board will be endeavouring to align as many of our activities as we can with those Actions - helping with and promoting, the electrification of everything, endeavouring to work with Council in assisting locals to access the assistance they need to make this necessary transition. We know electrification, along with home energy efficiency retrofitting, will help to reduce energy bills as well as reduce emissions.

BREAZE Inc. Board meetings are held on the third Monday of the month and alternate between Zoom and face to face meetings over dinner at the Royal Mail Hotel in Sebastopol. If you are a paid up member of BREAZE Inc. you are welcome to join us. Please email and I will forward you link/details. 

All the best

Mary