All BREAZE

Over recent weeks BREAZE has been active in its advocacy for 100% Renewable Energy.

In response to the City of Ballarat Draft Council Plan 2017-2021, the Board made a written submission requesting that Council include in its plan, actions and targets for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. The Council has since issued amendments to the Draft Plan with corresponding references.

In support of Cr. Belinda Coates' Notice of Motion to the Ballarat City Council, of a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2025, our Treasurer Peter Reid made a verbal submission to the Council Meeting of 26th April together with submissions by Regional Sustainability Alliance Ballarat, Ballarat Climate Action Group, and 6 other submitters. Council resolved to:

The Victorian Government's Renewable Energy Target of 25% by 2020 and 40% by 2025 will be facilitated by a program of reverse auction bids to supply renewable energy by investors.

Under this program the bidders will be required to not only identify the cost of supplying renewable energy, but identify supporting economic prosperity projects to the value of 10% of their investment to meet the selection criteria.

This could translate to $600 million of investment in our region in projects that we can identify to prospective bidders.

Ideas already under investigation include wide scale installations of PV and SHW in social housing, zero emissions public transport vehicles, extensive bio-link establishment on public and private land to connect the Enfield Forest with the Wombat State Forest and a training facility for all aspects of renewable energy.

BREAZE in partnership with the Regional Sustainability Alliance and Committee for Ballarat will be delivering a workshop in early July to further develop support and project scopes for this exciting opportunity.

For further information contact Ian Rossiter 0467 220 442 or email .

10 years!

It's an exciting time for BREAZE members, with our 10 year Birthday celebrations on Sunday 28 May at the Museum for Australian Democracy (M.A.D.E) from 2pm. This is an opportunity to reflect, and acknowledge those who over the past 10 years have committed so much energy, thought and passion to a sustainable Ballarat.  I look forward to BREAZE delivering some amazing outcomes, and you the members, inspiring and joining the current Board and active volunteers to take the Ballarat community into an inclusive and sustainable future.

Stop Adani

I would like to thanks the BREAZE members who have kept pressure on the Australian and Queensland governments, and the banking sector to ensure that the ADANI Galilee Basin Coal Mine and railway to Point Abbott do not proceed.

This is a critical decision in terms of the future global warming scenario for the planet, 70,000 jobs of those who rely on the existence of the Great Barrier Reef and for the traditional land owners whose rights may be overrun.

World Environment Day - Sunday 4th June

To celebrate World Environment Day, BREAZE brings you a special screening of the film "Demain" (Tomorrow) on Sunday 4th June 4pm at the Ballarat Mechanics Institute. The two hour film "Demain" recognises the challenges facing the human race posed by climate change, and brings solutions from a number of communities that have re-invented energy, agriculture, democracy and education to take positive actions to shape our future.

Ballarat Community Power Hub

BREAZE has submitted an application this month to establish a pilot Ballarat Community Power Hub under a 2 year funding program from Sustainability Victoria.

The project aims to establish central coordination body to bring partners, technical advisors and potential funding sources for community renewable energy projects together for the Central Highlands Region.

BREAZEs Social Renewable program which delivered a 30kW PV system to BRIs Sebastopol facility in 2016 will potentially be expanded across the region's social housing properties, and we will work to develop a community electricity cooperative and establish bioenergy supplies for local government operated community facilities.

We expect to know the outcomes of our submission by this time next month.

 Ian Rossiter

Sunday 28 May 2pm - 4pm

Come and celebrate BREAZEs 10th birthday party!
Where: M.A.D.E.  The Museum of Australian Democracy (M.A.D.E) Theatre
102 Stawell Street South Ballarat
Light refreshments will be served.
Please register for the event for catering purposes
RSVP to - Contact Paul Duggan on 0432 390492 if you would like to help with this function.

BREAZE formed as a result of a groundswell of people meeting after Ballarat's 2006 "Walk Against Warming" rally at Lake Wendouree. The concept was further promoted at the 2006 Ballarat Springfest Extravaganza's  Environment Pavilion and a public meeting was convened with representatives of the Mount Alexander Sustainability Group and a local steering committee was established. The group hosted its first formal meeting at Aquinas University in February 2007 and later that month BREAZE became an incorporated body with an initial 44 signed up members. From the BREAZE's 2007 Strategic Plan the following statements that are still valid are provided:

BREAZE's Community Vision

By 2020, the Ballarat community will have significantly reduced its GHG emissions with the direct intention of achieving zero emissions by 2030.

BREAZE's Core Objective

It is the intention of BREAZE to facilitate, encourage and educate the wider Ballarat community towards a goal of zero emissions by 2030.The advocacy, installation and provision of renewable energy sources and improved efficiencies across the residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural and transport sectors of society will reduce Ballarat's greenhouse gas emissions and move the community towards a sustainable future.

BREAZE's Statement of Purpose

The principal objective of BREAZE is to protect and enhance the natural environment and increase sustainability within the region by promoting and developing renewable sources of energy and significantly reducing the region's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.

Getting to know our volunteers –

Many of you would know Joe, he is a founding member of BREAZE and over the years has volunteered in a range of roles: Committee member, co-ordinator for Sustainable House Day and Smart Living Ballarat and Board member. Joe continues to play an active role in promoting renewable energy and sustainable practice.

Q&A by Tarn Kruger with Joe